‘The Nutcracker’ ballet returns to Downey Theatre this weekend

Photo courtesy Dance! To Your Hearts Delight

DOWNEY – Downey’s Christmas Parade has made its way through town. The Downey Christmas tree is shining bright. Even palm trees have lights on them.

The 21st annual ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet is returning to the Downey Theatre with three magical performances Dec. 20 at 2 pm and 6:30 pm, and Dec. 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are available through the Downey Theatre box office and at downeytheatre.org. The lobby features an impressive holiday boutique for those special Christmas gifts.

This Dance! To Your Hearts Delight (DTYHD) production is an annual gift to the city of Downey. This Nutcracker is a spectacular production with a talented cast of young artists and returning professionals. It takes maximum advantage of this fully equipped proscenium theatre and orchestra pit. It is enchanting.

Whether you have never seen ‘The Nutcracker’ or it is an annual family tradition, this production is a must-see.

‘The Nutcracker’ features the famous score by Tchaikovsky performed by a full, live orchestra. A young girl has a very special Christmas. At a fun-filled family party with dancing, magic, and dolls that come to life, Clara receives a special gift: a Nutcracker. That night she dreams of an epic battle between mice and toys, a magical journey to the Kingdom of Sweets, where she dances with her Prince and meets the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.

You can expect audible reactions from the audience throughout who are active vocal participants. Little children squeak and squeal, especially at the dancing mice, seeing themselves reflected onstage. This is one of the few dance companies that allow children as young as two years old to attend.

The remarkable Kelly Myers is the director and choreographer. She is the founder and artistic director of DTYHD. Myers has a keen artist’s eye for stage composition, and a gift for storytelling through movement. Curtains unfold beautiful background drops, and set pieces. Sixty people of all ages will appear onstage. There are dazzling costumes designed by Natasha Quintiliani.

“Each year, our dancers bring new heart, dedication, and magic to this timeless holiday tradition,” says Meyers. “Our Nutcracker is more than a performance—it is a celebration of community, generosity, and the joy of sharing the arts with others.”

DTYHD’s Nutcracker celebrates connection and service. This season, dancers have presented ‘Nutcracker in a Nutshell’ a charming, abridged performance designed to delight families and first-time audiences at numerous community locations.

Myers reminds us that even community productions of the performing arts don’t come cheap. Raising their own funds, the budget for mounting these performances in the Downey Theatre is $85,000. A gift for Downey.

For more information, please contact Dance! To Your Heart’s Delight at info@dtyhdg.or www.dtyhd.org