Win tickets to ‘The Nutcracker’
It’s become a Fresno Thanksgiving Weekend tradition: First you stuff yourself with turkey on Thursday, then you shop on Friday, and then you go to “The Nutcracker” on Saturday or Sunday.
Fresno Ballet Theatre, under the umbrella of the Valley Performing Arts Council, once again partners with the Sacramento Ballet for two full-scale performances of the holiday tradition. The show features 37 professional dancers and more than 100 student dancers.
Campbell Nearn plays Clara in the Sacramento Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” at the Saroyan Theatre. Photo / Valley Performing Arts Council
I know it can be expensive to go to the ballet, especially when you have children. That’s why I’m excited to give away four “family packs” of tickets to readers of The Munro Review. (Thanks, VPAC!) Each pack consists of four tickets. For details on how to enter, go to the end of this post.
This year’s “Nutcracker” performance features Campbell Nearn, 12, of Fresno, dancing the role of Clara. Some details:
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Campbell is a seventh grader at Granite Ridge Intermediate School and is performing in the ballet for the third time. Her previous roles were “Baby Blue” in the party scene and a “Ginger child.” Campbell began dancing at age 9 and has trained at The Dance Studio 2 and Northwest Studio. She has also performed in Fresno Ballet Theatre’s “Don Quixote” and competed at the Youth American Grand Prix. She has attended the School of American Ballet California Summer Workshop 2016 and the Boston Ballet School Summer Intensive 2017.
Another major role is Fritz:
Seventh grader Devyn Sasai, a four-time veteran of “The Nutcracker,” will dance the role of “Fritz.” Devyn started dancing at age 3 and has taken lessons at Kingsburg’s The Dance Company, Kingsburg Ballet and Northwest Studio in Fresno. She’s previously appeared as a “Party Boy,” “Party Girl” and an angel in “The Nutcracker.” She’s also had roles in Fresno Ballet Theatre’s productions of “Don Quixote” and “Cinderella.”
Performances are 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Saroyan Theatre. Tickets are $31.50-$71.50 adults, $34.25 children.
The Nutcracker Tea will be held at 2:45 p.m. following the Saturday performance. Tickets are $25.
Win tickets to “The Nutcracker”
To win a four-pack of tickets to “The Nutcracker,” leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite “Nutcracker” memory. (If you don’t have one yet, just say why you’d like to go to the show.) Be sure to include which performance you’d like to attend. You’ll be able to pick up your tickets at Will Call. Please don’t enter if you won’t be able to use the tickets. I’ll select four winners at random. Deadline to enter is 6 p.m. Wednesday. I’ll inform the winners on Wednesday evening (so be sure to check your email).
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Live Vi-Carrie-ous
My sweetest Nutcracker memory is my father and his wife taking my daughters when they were young to the San Francisco ballet. I want to continue the “tradition” and take my granddaughters. Thank you for the opportunity to make that happen.
Live Vi-Carrie-ous
Saturday afternoon!
Denise Norwood
My favorite Fresno Nutcracker story happened one of the many years I brought my grandson and granddaughter to the event. My grandson started sobbing because he couldn’t wait to go pick out his annual nutcracker gift, and my granddaughter started sobbing because she wasn’t allowed to go onstage and dance. I kept handing them tissues and they enjoyed the show through their tears. My grandson is 19 years old and still loves his Nutcracker collection, and my 16 year old granddaughter finally did make it onto the stage…
Love,
Denise Norwood
Eva Mee
I was taking my daughter to see this every year and then she moved out of state for school, she will be here this year and I’d
love to take her, my memories of her at the nutcracker are precious and memorable..
Joie Adams
One of my earliest theatre memories was attending the Nutcracker and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Joie Adams
I’d love to attend the Saturday matinee.
Tamara Tackett Dent
We would be thrilled to attend Saturday or Sunday!
My favorite Nutcracker memory is watching my young son’s face during the battle scene, his eyes widening, and then slowly standing and leaning forward, watching, fully engrossed. He fell in love with the whole story then and there. I would love to be able to take him again, and his little sister for her first time.
Thanks from the chance!
Chris Foshee
I have never attended a performance of The Nutcracker, but I love the musuc by Tchaikovsky.
Heather
Loved taking my daughter once when she was younger (now 20) and I’d love to take both her and my son Sunday afternoon
Jasmin Kloos
My mom supported me through years of dance by driving me to class and rehearsals, sewing costumes and pointe shoes and taking pride in my moments onstage. I couldn’t have gotten through years of doing Nutcracker without her, and attending local productions together is our tradition. I’d love to attend the Sunday performance with her, and see several of my students who are in it!
Kelly Manley
My favorite memory was the first and only time when I took my daughter to see it. She was performing in her own nutcracker performance with her dance studio that year. She loved it so much and at 4 years old she sat through the whole show with admiration and awe. We haven’t had the chance to go back, but I would love to take her again to witness the magic and inspiration it will bring to her. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to win. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Kelly Manley
Sunday afternoon show
Dona Shurtz
My mother and my sisters went when I was a little girl. Such fond memories that I would love to share with my grand children. Sunday afternoon would be a perfect time for us.
Eileen Fisher
My favorite Nutcracker memory was watching the performance at the Pacific Northwest Ballet theatre. My be
Rother-in-law, the principle male dancer, and the principle female dancer were both retiring after the performance. We sat by Bill Nye, also. Wonderful dancing.
Kristin Baer
I’ve never been to see The Nutcracker, but I’ve always wanted to see the ballet. I fell in love with the story as a kid, when I first encountered in an illustrated Christmas Treasury at my Grandma’s house. 🙂 Preferably Saturday, but I’d honestly be happy to see either performance.
Shelly
I would love to attend so I could experience the Nutcracker! I have never been so it would be fun experience for me.
Anna Gonzalez
My favorite Nutcracker memory was going with my grandma every single year. It’s been years since she passed away and I haven’t been since. I’d love to take my husband so her can experience for the first time!
Donna Beavers
It’s been many many years since I’ve seen a live performance of Nutcracker. It’s just a delightful story and it certainly would be wonderful to get that opportunity. Alas. Not in my budget this year due to kitchen renovation underway!
Stephanie
When my daughter Stella was a cook. We love the Nutcracker and VPAC! …we can go Saturday.
Kaelin Huebner
My grandma was a dancer for a long time. When I was young I danced as well. The nutcracker was a special event we would go together. Probably my favorite memory with her. I felt so special. (Sat or sun)
Jessica Chavez
I will Never forget the first (and only) time seen The Nutcracker. I went to visit my aunt in Seattle and she surprised me with a fancy dinner and the ballet. As we drove to the theater it began to snow as if on cue. What a beautiful memory. One day I hope to take my niece and give her a beautiful Nutcracker memory as well😃. Either performance we could attend
Amy Morgan
Cincinnati ballet in a scratchy dress with my mother….I didn’t “get it” until the magical moment when the Christmas tree grew past the confines of the stage. Then the music hit. Thanks to all the moms who know we need This! Sunday please!
Ivonne
Im not sure if the giveaway will be happening this 2018, but if there is a slight chance, I would like to give it try. I have always loved ballet, never had the resources to do it while young, but as a young adult I got the chance to take a class, which only made me realize I would of loved to have done it while young. At the end of the class I with my sister went to see The Nutcracker for the FIRST time and we absolutely loved the performance. My baby sister then, wanted to come soon bad but I only had 2 tickets. She is 10 now and has NEVER forgotten that I promised her to take her when she was just a little bit older. I would definitely love to gift her, my niece who is her acquaintance in everything she does, my older sister once again and I the wonderful experience. Thank you for if any chance I do have.
Donald Munro
Hi Ivonne, I am sure we will be giving away tickets to both big Fresno “Nutcrackers” this year. Keep an eye on the site for the giveaways. I will note your email address and try to give you a reminder when I post them. Thanks for reading!