Beck Center's 'Nutcracker' Debuting In March

LAKEWOOD, OH — The Beck Center for the Arts will debut a virtual production of "The Nutcracker" in March.

The show will be available for streaming at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on March 12, 7:30 p.m. on March 13, and 3 p.m. on March 14. Tickets are available now at $12, $24 and $35.

The Beck Center's usual production of "The Nutcracker" is held before the holiday. Due to the pandemic, the show was moved to the spring.

“Nutcracker has been a biannual tradition for the dance department. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, our show will go on, albeit socially distanced and delayed by three months. We are using the traditional story, but each dancer stays in their allotted ‘rectangle’ on stage while dancing which has necessitated creativity from our staff choreographers," said Associated Director of Dance Education Melanie Szucs.

"The Nutcracker" features 60 Beck Center dance students, all 18 or younger. All dance sequences were choreographed by Szucs, Anna Roberts and Rachel Soucie. Ron Newell will play the "story teller" who pulls the show together.

"The ballet is being filmed one class at a time and edited into a full ballet. Local favorite Ron Newell will be tying it all together with his animated storytelling," Szucs said.