American Ballet Theatre Soloist to Star in Neglia Ballet's THE NUTCRACKER

Neglia Ballet Artists' annual production of The Nutcracker is back to kick off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving weekend of performances at Shea's Buffalo Theatre with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performing live. Audiences will delight in this annual holiday production as we follow Marie on her journey through a wondrous battle scene, breathtaking winter wonderland and delectable land of sweets. The Buffalo News called this production "a holiday spectacle capable of eliciting wide-eyed wonder in children of all ages."

Performances are Saturday, November 26th at 7pm or Sunday, November 27th at 2pm.

For tickets ($29, $40, and $55 and premium seating $75), call 1-800-745-3000, go to www.ticketmaster.com or to Shea's Box Office (open M-F 10a-5 p; Sat. 10a-2 p and during shows through intermission.) For more information, visit www.sheas.org

For the eighth year, Neglia is collaborating with Shea's Performing Arts Center and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra who will play Tchaikovsky's iconic "Nutcracker" score. BPO Executive Director Dan Hart says, "Collaborations such as this one between Shea's, the BPO and Neglia really showcase the creativity and talent of the cultural community in Western New York." The addition of renowned guest artists such as Paris and Sebastian takes this already world-class production to new heights.

This year's production of The Nutcracker will again be conducted by the BPO's Associate Conductor Stefan Sanders. He says, "I have been looking forward to this season's Nutcracker collaboration with Sergio Neglia and the Neglia Ballet Artists as soon as the final curtain came down on last year's Sunday matinee performance. Sergio, Heidi, and the company are a delight to work with. Their production is breathtaking, bringing Tchaikovsky's sublime music to life. The Nutcracker is a real treasure piece of the repertoire, made even better that it is perfect for families to enjoy together at our beloved Shea's Performing Arts Center."

In Neglia's traditional staging of "The Nutcracker," Buffalo News called a previous year's production "a holiday spectacle capable of eliciting wide-eyed wonder in children of all ages."