Media City Ballet Searches for 'Clara' in Upcoming 'Nutcracker'

IN SEARCH OF CLARA…Who will wear the crown next? Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director of Media City Ballet (MCB), has announced Open Call Auditions will be held for the leading role of Clara for the ballet company’s 2008 production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, to be presented at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA during the upcoming holiday season.  The Auditions will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at Media Dance Centre; 237 East Palm Avenue; Burbank, CA  91502.  For further information, please call Media City Ballet at 818-972-9692 or visit online at www.mediacityballet.org

Audition candidates should be female dancers between the ages of 16 – 22 years of age and 5’4” tall or under, with classical ballet training.  Those auditioning should be prepared to dance en pointe with a solo piece.  Dancers may bring along music on CDs to dance to, if they wish to do so, but this is not required.  Audition candidates should be prepared to partner that day and to stay for Call Backs.  Audition candidates should bring three copies of their headshots and three copies of their biographies to the audition.
 
For the past three seasons MCB dancer Amara Baptist of Sunland, CA, has danced the role of Clara in the ballet company’s annual productions of The Nutcracker at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.  This year Baptist is prepared to surrender the crown she has worn as Clara to a new dancer.
 
Whoever is engaged to dance the role of Clara in MCB’s upcoming production of The Nutcracker this year, she will be performing with the ballet company at the Alex Theatre; 216 North Brand Boulevard; Glendale, CA  91203 on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at both 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at both 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
 
Tickets to individual performances of MCB’s magical production of The Nutcracker are $20.00, $38.00 and $48.00 each and may be purchased by calling the Alex Box Office at 818-243-ALEX (2539).  Discounts are available for Groups of 15 or more, Seniors, Students and Children under 12.  For information on Discounted Family Packs and Group Sales, please call the Alex Theatre at 818-243-7700, ext. 216.  To purchase tickets online, please visit the website, www.alextheatre.org.
 
Natasha Middleton will choreograph this year’s production, which will feature award-winning dancers, dazzling magical illusions, special effects and aerialists performing fetes of daring.  For further information, please call Media City Ballet at 818-972-9692 or visit the website, www.mediacityballet.org