Lynn Marchant Ballet Theatre and Oregon Children’s Ballet Theatre will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” in McMinnville and Newberg.
Submitted photo

During “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy,” possibly the most famous sequence of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” the audience might feel it’s seeing double. That’s because two fairies will perform instead of one when the production by Lynn Marchant Ballet Theatre and Oregon Children’s Ballet Theatre opens Friday.

“This duet will be very dynamic,” said Director Emma Seth. The double role is one of many changes made to the performance this year, she said.

Seth began directing “The Nutcracker” last year, taking over for her mother, Lynn Marchant. Before that, her mother had staged the local production for more than 30 years.

Her father, Philip Seth, will play the Mouse King. She said he brings a sense of humor to the role, which “takes the intense focus away for a while.”

“The Nutcracker” tells the story of Marie, a little girl at a Russian Christmas party where the children’s gifts are all handmade by Herr Drosselmeyer.

After everyone falls asleep, Marie’s gift, the nutcracker, comes to life along with the other toys. They commence to engage in a dance with snowflakes, candies, flowers and mice.

Thirteen-year-old Emily Smith will perform as “Marie.” It will be her first major performance role, but she has danced for 10 years under Seth’s direction, and has begun co-teaching some classes with her.

Smith’s personality as a dancer is very different from that of Amanda Noble, last year’s “Marie,” Seth said.

She said Smith is gentler and more collaborative, whereas Noble, who will be performing as a sugarplum fairy this year, is very independent. Consequently, scenes have been reconstructed to bring dancers on stage with Smith, including the scene where the Nutcracker enters for the first time.

Marie’s family is smaller, to create a more intimate, less overwhelming feel, Seth said. Fritz, Marie’s younger brother, is more playful this year, and livens up the more gentle Marie.

Seth will be playing a pair of roles herself. She will dance as a Sugarplum Fairy alongside Noble during the duet. In another part of the ballet, she will play a very different role, that of the Snow Queen.

The variation of personalities between dancers allows the same production to seem new and different every year, Seth said. She said the choreography and costuming get new twists each year as well, adding to the effect even though the music stays the same.

“Just because you hear the same music doesn’t mean you have to do the same step to it,” she said. There is plenty of room for creative interpretation, even with a traditional ballet, she said.

The music changes in subtle ways as well.

Seth chooses movements from four or five separate orchestras, she said, and then combines them on one CD. Eventually, she’d like to see the ballet company get the chance to perform with a live orchestra.

Even during performances, dancers can adjust and change the performance.

“You adapt to the audience you have,” Seth said. “Nothing we do is set in stone.”

Shows planned in Newberg, McMinnville

“The Nutcracker” opens this weekend in Newberg High Schooll’s auditorium. Performances will be given at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.

Shows continue the following weekend in the McMinnville High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.

Tickets at the door of both venues cost $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children. Advance tickets may be purchased at a $2 discount at Oregon Stationers in McMinnville and Izzy’s Restaurant in Newberg.

Advance tickets also may be ordered by calling Marchant Dance Academy at 503-472-4573.