When the Nutcracker King takes on the evil Mouse King in this year's Moorpark Civic Ballet production of Nutcracker, it will be 14-year-old Elizabeth Romano dreaming up the whole battle.
Romano, a ninth grader at Mesa Verde Middle School, will perform the role of Clara Stahlbaum, who dreams her toy nutcracker comes to life, fights off an army of mice and takes her away to a winter wonderland. Next, he takes her to a land of sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, before she awakes with her toy nut cracker.
The performance, a collaboration between Pam Rossi's Dance Ten dance studio and the Civic Ballet, will feature more than 75 dancers. Rossi is the Civic Ballet's artistic director and Val Manchin will serve as assistanct director.
Joining Romano on stage will be Kenny Borchard of Simi Valley as the prince. Hannah Yasenchock will play Clara's brother, Fritz. Courtney Scarr will perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Keri Pelletier will play the lead maid and Katie Jan will perform as the Dew Drop Fairy. Christopher Rossi will perform the role of the children's godfather, Drosselmyer, who gives them their toys.
One of the dances will also feature guests from the Los Angeles American Ballet.
The performances will take place at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center, . For tickets, $24-$28, call Pam Rossi Dance Ten at 805-529-1958. Tickets are not available thorugh the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center.
