Sarah Connolly, of Boston’s North End, is performing in Boston Ballet’s production of Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker in the role of Clara. Sarah has been a student at Boston Ballet School for 10 years, having started ballet lesson when she was three years old. The Nutcracker opens November 24 at the Boston Opera House with performances through New Year’s Eve, December 31.
Sarah was born and raised in the North End. She is a former (North End Performing Arts Center) NEMPAC student, having performed in numerous NEMPAC productions such as Wizard of Oz, Jr., Annie, Willie Wonka, Jr., Honk, Jr., Peter Pan, Jr. as well as taking voice and piano lessons for several years.
Sarah is a current eighth grade student at Boston Latin School
Sarah joins 250 other young Boston Ballet School students from around New England in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker. Three different casts will take on various roles, such as toy soldiers, pages, reindeer, lambs, polichinelles, baby mice, and party children during Boston Ballet’s 44 performances of The Nutcracker.
Since its world premiere in 2012, Mikko Nissinen’s and Robert Perdziola’s re-envisioned production has been delighting audiences and critics alike. Nissinen’s The Nutcracker marked the first time Boston Ballet built a new production entirely from the ground up, engaging crafts men and women from all over the United States. Robert Perdziola illustrated more than 40 sketches that were transformed into the production’s larger-than-life sets that range from calm, subtle colors in the Act I party scene to vibrant colors in Act II’s Land of the Sweets. The 2012 production also incorporated more than 350 beautifully intricate costumes and fine-tuned choreography. New lighting design by renowned Finnish designer Mikki Kunttu was added in 2015.
All children performing in The Nutcracker are students of Boston Ballet School and coached by an experienced staff including Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet School Director Margaret Tracey, Children’s Ballet Master Miranda Weese, and Boston Ballet School’s world-renowned faculty. Students auditioned and started rehearsing for the production in October. They will continue rehearsals through November, which includes rehearsals with Company dancers and costume fittings with Boston Ballet’s Costume Shop. They will experience the unique, backstage atmosphere at the Boston Opera House through technical and dress rehearsals, as well as performances accompanied by Boston Ballet Orchestra and attended by more than 2,000 audience members each night.
Participating in a full-length ballet is an important performance opportunity for students, exposing them to aspects of ballet they do not experience in a regular class. The students learn about the hard work and enjoyment that composes a live ballet performance, and have the unique opportunity to dance alongside Boston Ballet’s 66 internationally-acclaimed professional dancers from around the world. This season, Boston Ballet School students also have the opportunity to appear in other Company productions: Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty and August Bournonville’s La Sylphide.
For a full synopsis and additional details, visit bostonballet.org.
All 44 performances of The Nutcracker will take place at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111):
Friday, November 24, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 1, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday December 2, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday December 2, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 15, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 22, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 11:00 am
Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit bostonballet.org/nutcracker/ or call 617.695.6955.
The Nutcracker performance length is approximately 2 hours including one intermission.
Choreography: Mikko Nissinen
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set & Costume Design: Robert Perdziola
Lighting Design: Mikki Kunttu
