THE LITTLE DANCER Returns To NYC At Theatre 71

On Sunday, December 1, 2019, The Little Dancer... a holiday family musical will make a triumphant return to New York City for its second production at Theatre 71 on the Upper West Side, right off Broadway on 71st Street.

Written by Steven Fisher, the one-hour show tells the heart-warming story of how 14-year-old Marie Van Goethem, Edgar Degas' model for his one and only sculpture, became the most famous ballerina in the world.

Last year's premier received rave reviews. "Steven Fisher's The Little Dancer is nothing less than extraordinary," wrote Kristen Morale of BroadwayWorld. "This production captures the very essence of magic that exists in a child's heart." The show was also featured on Good Morning America.

The Little Dancer will once again be directed by Richard Vida and choreographed by Lainie Sakakura.

The cast of The Little Dancer features New York actors Evan Wormald (Degas/Ed), Georgia Monroe (Marie), Heather Caderette (Mama/Mistress de la Ballet), Beatrice Howell (Charlotte), Avelina Sanchez (Louise), Jordan Stanfield (Georges) and Liz Friedman (Swing/Dance Captain), as well as 29 young people who make up the show's "Musical Theatre Geek Chorus" (MTGC) - Charley Bazzle, Audim Brokenbough, Cole Bryne, Maya Collins, Silas Costa, Lexi Eichel, Margalit Eisenstein, Logan Ford, Chelsea Gadsden, Tate Hamburg, Rose Jeffres, Jeremy Peyton Jones, Ella Keim, Channa Lewenson, Stephanie Moorhatch, Elizabeth Mun, Sade Mutua, Mekhi Patterson-White, Arabella Pirrone, Sophia Repkoe, Nicolena Rivera, Sophie Santago-Sterling, Emma Shay, Christopher Simcox, Cobrin Stanish, Giuliana Stout, Amalia Matetic Undurraga, Sarah Weil-Jones and Tabitha Wismer.

The production will feature Music Director Evan Alparone and Josh Suslak on Piano, Set Design and Costume Design by Jeremy Bailey-Smith, Costume Supervisor Rashidah Nelson, Associate Art Designer Chris Williams, Production Stage Manager Tama-Rose Bazzle and Assistant Stage Manager Moriah Tobin.

Fisher prides himself on writing elevated theatre for young people. "Children's Theatre doesn't have to be dumbed down for kids or boring for adults. Kids today are savvy, and their parents always appreciate not being put to sleep," says Fisher. "This particular show has it all for young people, offering them the world of theatre, art, dance, and musical theatre all in one."

The kids who make up the MTGC are members of Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY), for which Fisher serves as Founder and Artistic Director. CY transforms the lives of over 800 young people through the power of making music together. Like last year, proceeds from the production will benefit Find Your Instrument!, CY's award-winning outreach program, which offers hundreds of students in under-resourced schools the opportunity to experience the profound joy of singing with others.

Recommended for children ages 6 to 106, The Little Dancer... a holiday family musical will run at Theatre 71 (152 W. 71st Street, 10023, right off Broadway) throughout the month of December. For more information, visit thelittledancermusical.com. For tickets, visit the Box Office.

Photo credit: Lia Chang