THE NUTCRACKER Set for 12/7-8 at Ruth Page Civic Ballet

The Ruth Page Civic Ballet is proud to present its annual production of The Nutcracker this holiday season. This production marks the 10th season the Civic Ballet performs The Nutcracker and the first co-directed by the newly named Director of the Ruth Page School of Dance, Victor Alexander, with Ruth Page School of Dance Associate Director and Co-Founder Dolores Lipinski Long. The Nutcracker by the Ruth Page Civic Ballet is performed Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1 and 5 p.m. at Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $18 for students and senior and $5 for Northeastern Illinois University students, faculty and staff. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.RuthPage.org or call 312.337.6543. The Ruth Page Civic Ballet also performs The Nutcracker Saturday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Tickets range from $12-$30. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.jlc.clcillinois.edu.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE NOTE: There will be a special "Brunch with Clara" event prior to the Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. performance. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ticket buyers can meet the dancers while enjoying a magical brunch. Tickets for the meet and greet, brunch and performance is $85 for adults and $50 for children and can be purchased at www.ruthpage.org.

Central to the Civic's performance schedule is their annual presentation of The Nutcracker, the popular recreation of the beloved holiday classic. Originally presented in the Arie Crown Theater from 1965 to 1997, the Ruth Page Civic Ballet's performance recreates Ruth Page's original full-length staging. Exquisite dancing, stunning costumes and magical settings in the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets, these performances promise world-class entertainment and holiday joy for children of all ages.

Comprised of members of the Ruth Page Civic Ballet, guest artists, adult and child performers, and students of the Ruth Page School of Dance, The Nutcracker features a cast of over eighty performers. Select artists include Ruth Page Civic Ballet Member Julianne Kinasiewicz (Clara), Elliott Rogers (Fritz), Leonard Perez (Nutcracker Prince) and Randall Newsom (Drosselmeyer).

Also joining the cast of The Nutcracker are special guest artists Jennifer Goodman (Sugar Plum Fairy for NEIU performances), RAndy Herrera (Sugar Plum Cavalier for NEIU performances), Meredith Seeley (Snow Queen), Ariel Cisneros (Snow Cavalier), Katherine Bruno (Sugar Plum Fairy for College of Lake County performances) and Yosvani Ramos (Sugar Plum Cavalier for College of Lake County performances).