Dancers & Musicians From Newtown

Will Populate Danbury Music Centre’s ‘Nutcracker’

DANBURY — The largest cast in the Danbury Nutcracker history is busy preparing for another year’s production of the Nutcracker Ballet to be performed on Danbury High School’s stage the second weekend of December. Over 230 local dancers, 40 of whom are from Newtown, will be accompanied live by Danbury Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s much loved music. It is the only production in the region to perform with live music.

For associate choreographer and props coordinator Dody Flynn, Nutcracker is a family affair. This year she and her husband Herb Flynn will dance the key roles of Dr and Mrs. Stahlbaum, hosts of the party and parents to the main character, Clara. Her children Kira and Logan Flynn, dance along with their cousins Ashlyn Deloughy and Brianna Worthington, as well as Dody’s sister Amy Deloughy and her husband Mark Deloughy who are dancing as party guests.

The Flynns aren’t the only talented Newtown families in this year’s production: Michael Wright will dance as a Party Adult, joining his Battle Mouse daughter Jerusha Wright; Hampton Cobb, a Mini Mouse, is one of the youngest cast members and joins seasoned siblings Haley Cobb and Hunter Cobb; also dancing are siblings Alec Hersh and Jennifer Hersh and Johanna Tartaglia and Nicolette Tartaglia.

The other dancers from Newtown are: Lauren Bauer, Morgan Cebry, Elizabeth Delp, Allie Duris, Robyn Gaines, Dani Gaiser, Alexandra Hamar, Justine Hawkins, Brittany Hawley, Jacqueline Hoolehan, Catherine Ingersoll, Meagan Larsen, Brianna Linden, Victoria Madden, MacKenzie Maude, Natalia Nikitchyuk, Rhyan Pitts, Megan Primavera, Julia Reczek, Katerina Ringes, Rebecca Romano, Ashleigh Shaw, Mary Siroky, Charlotte Stenz, Ryan Straiton, and Austen Wagner.

Also performing this weekend will be Sandy Hook residents Christopher and Donna Locke, who play celeste and oboe, respectively, in Danbury Symphony Orchestra.

The magic of this holiday favorite will once again come alive under the acclaimed direction of Arthur Fredric, artistic director for Danbury Music Center since 1997, and his team of choreographers. Danbury Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Ariel Rudiakov. Professional costuming and experienced stage technicians transform the auditorium into a palace of sweets full of a young girl’s colorful dreams.

Performances are planned for Friday, December 12, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 13, at 6 pm; and Sunday, December 14, at 3 pm.

Tickets are $15 or $20 and historically sell out and are not always available at the door. All seating is reserved. For last-minute reservations call Danbury Music Centre, 748-1716.

Performances are at Danbury High School, on Clapboard Ridge Road (Route 39; turn left off I-84 Exit 5).