Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre will ring in December with three cherished holiday classics.
The first production will be Twas the Night Before Christmas, a musical adaptation of the famous poem by Clement Moore. Performance dates and times are Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors, students and children.
The cast stars Ken Ambs as Clement Moore, Diane Wargo as Eliza Moore, Caroline Herbert as Margaret Moore and Caroline Bednar as Charity Moore. John Costello stars as Kris Kringle. Also featured are Camryn McAuliff, Jillian Ambs, Logan Ambs, Mason Ambs, Emma Behrens, Taylor Bell, Karenna Breslow, Aimee Clark, Hayden Clark, Melissa Clark, Alisa Danley, Katelyn Dimsey, Bridget Godfrey, Freddie Iezzo, Luddy Iezzo, Marla Iezzo, Mateo Iezzo, Matthew Immordino, Courtney Kosman, Fallyn Niedermaier, Alexys Pulsinelli, Abby Scatena, Leif Simonelli, Sofia Staub, Isabel Urban, Tobias Urban, Zachary Urban, Charley Wojtowicz and Kaitlyn Young.
The production team includes director Diane Wargo, music director Pat Masterson, choreographer Danielle Varanyak and stage manager Ginny McGowen. Lighting and sound is by Bernie McGowen and costumes are by Kate Pinner.
For two shows only, the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will return to Kelsey Theatre for El Sueno: A Cultural Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Alborada is New Jersey’s premiere Spanish dance company, which has built a following at Kelsey with its unique version of The Nutcracker. Set to live music, Alborada’s professional dancers and young artists will perform gypsy flamenco, Spanish regional and dances from various Latin American cultures. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students/children.
Lastly, The New Jersey Youth Ballet will present its original hour-long, narrated adaptation of The Nutcracker ballet on Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dancers in full costume perform to the famous Tchaikovsky score as they transport audiences to The Land of the Sweets. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors, students and children.
Kelsey Theatre is an official drop-off site for the Marine’s Toys for Tots annual holiday drive. Patrons are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy in the drop box located in the Kelsey Theatre lobby. Donations will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 15.
Kelsey Theatre is located on the college’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets for all shows may be purchased by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 570-3333 or online at kelseytheatre.net. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Free parking is available next to the theater.
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