When the Genesee Theatre was renovated a decade ago, Cheri Lindell, then the owner of the Dancenter North studio in Libertyville, thought it would be a perfect venue to feature its annual “Magic of the Nutcracker,” showcasing local student ballerinas and regional professionals.
On Sunday, Dancenter North celebrates its 10th season performing “Magic of the Nutcracker” at Genesee in Waukegan. The studio also performed the show for the 27th season at Libertyville High School on Dec. 5.
The show is based on “The Nutcracker,” a two-act ballet written in 1892 about a toy nutcracker that comes to life at Christmas time. Pyotr Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the ballet, and today, “The Nutcracker Suite” featuring some of the best music from that score, is still performed, especially around the holidays. Some familiar melodies from the Suite include “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” and “Waltz of the Flowers.”
Using music from “The Nutcracker Suite,” Lindell created “Magic of the Nutcracker” to showcase local ballerinas.
“‘The Magic of the Nutcracker’ has really become a tradition in the community,” said Karen Sue Landrian, who assumed ownership of Dancenter North when Lindell retired. The high school auditorium usually sells out, she said, and having it at Genesee as well gives more people the chance to see it.
“There is something for everybody in this production,” Landrian said. “A lot of it is because of our sets and the costumes, which are handmade annually by parent volunteers, along with quality of the dance and the liveliness on the stage. There’s even a battle scene with soldiers and artillery, which the boys love. There’s a lot of action.”
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Stages in both venues are perfect to host 67 young ballerinas, dressed in colorful costumes to the backdrop of a holiday-themed setting, Landrian said. But she added: “The beauty of Genesee is breathtaking. When you walk on that stage as a performer at that first rehearsal and the curtain goes up, the grandeur of the theater sinks into you. Sometimes it can be overwhelming emotionally.”
Dancenter North begins auditions for the production in August and watches each performer closely to choose the perfect Clara, the star of the show. In the story, a young girl falls asleep on Christmas Eve dreaming of a nutcracker prince coming to life. Two other major parts are the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen.
Libertyville High School freshman Katie Waldvogel will play Clara this year.
“Only the best students from our studio perform in the show,” Landrian said. “We fill in with some professionals, and the students get to dance alongside them.”
Nearly three decades ago, Lindell conceived the idea of producing the annual holiday show, said Landrian, who has worked at Dancenter North for 15 years.
“Cheri is a master storyteller. I think that’s why ours is different from many other productions. She really stuck to the story — beginning with the grand party scene that opens the show where Clara is having a Christmas Eve party, and then a mysterious man walks in.”
Landrian will perform a small part in the show, which she has done in the past, and said she’s looking forward to dancing on the Genesee Theatre stage and reveling in the tradition of a long-loved holiday ballet.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Dancenter North’s ‘Magic of the Nutcracker’
When: 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Tickets: $15-$36
Information: www.geneseetheatre.com/events/detail/dancenter-norths-magic-of-the-nutcracker