You won’t want to miss this holiday season’s 44th annual “The Nutcracker” which returns to the Milford High School stage and is being presented by the Greater Milford Ballet Company on December 14 and 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Milford High School auditorium, Milford, MA.  The Greater Milford Ballet (GMBA) and the Deane School of Dance were founded by the late Miss Georgia Deane. 

This state-of-the art ballet production includes local dancer and performer talent from Hopedale, Bellingham, Blackstone, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Uxbridge and Wrentham, MA and Cumberland and Newport, RI.  The production is under the Artistic Direction and Choreography by Cynthia Marnik and Susanna Vennerbeck.

This production has been a traditional favorite for many who return yearly because every year something new is introduced such as a new costume, new set feature or new character to add to the element of surprise. The adult cast members and young dancers in the production play multiple roles in the production dancing in scenes and corps numbers often requiring precision timing backstage quick changes.  The production is complete with special effects like dolls that magically grow to adult size, a magical dancing bear, vanishing furniture, a growing tree, falling snow, and lively duel between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King. 

Previous guest appearances with the Greater Milford Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” in the role of Sugar Plum have been played by Misty Copeland of the American Ballet Theatre, Ashley Murphy from the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Emily Loscocco of Festival Ballet Providence and Ashley Ellis from Boston Ballet to name a few. Our guest performers this year are Lauren Difede as Sugar Plum Fairy along with Azamat Asangul as the Cavalier from the Newport Contemporary Ballet.

Samantha Novelli, from Hopedale, plays the roles of  Columbine, Candy Cane Lead and is in Snow and Waltz Corps in this year’s Greater Milford Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.

Other Hopedale residents that are performing in this year’s production as families are: Paula Cerulli (who also plays The Fairy Godmother) and her husband Doug Lock as Party Parents; Lorelei Lefever as Party Child, Soldier, Lady in Waiting, Angel and Chinese and Marzipan Corps; Josiah Lefever as Arabian Consort; and Lorelei and Josiah’s father Jason Lefever as a Party Parent.

At intermission, holiday raffle items will be available including gift certificates from local restaurants, retailers and themed gift baskets.

Tickets are priced at $25 and $30. Ticket sales are available by calling the Deane Dance Studio at 508-473-3354 or at Charles River Bank located at 16 Hastings Street in Mendon. Tickets at Charles River Bank will be available from November 19 until December 14. Discount sales for Council on Aging and non-profit 501(c)3 groups of (10) or more can be arranged by calling Colleen O’Brien at (508) 954-4756. Tickets will be sold at the auditorium depending on availability