Dreaming of sugar plums

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“It was time for an upgrade,” says MacNaughton. “We wanted to do a Nutcracker that would be as thrilling and wonderful as theater that we are performing in. The Madison Theatre gave us an opportunity to showcase our professional full-length ballet with the South Shore Symphony on a world-class stage. We now have all the elements of Lincoln Center right here at home.”
And with Sarah Hunt as Clara, supported by a cast of professional dancers — featuring Francesca Forcella (who has appeared with the Washington ballet, Houston Ballet and Ballet X) as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Richard Villaverde (with the American Ballet Theatre and Ballet X) as her Cavalier — and 75 aspiring young dancers, the stage is set for production that is sure to delight both performers and the audience.
“It’s always a challenge to find young dancers who can act,” says MacNaughton. “By the time Sarah and her family came to the studio we had already had three auditions and I had someone in mind. But once we saw Sarah audition, we knew she was the one to take on the role of Clara. I am absolutely shocked and delighted that this all came about. This is amazing for us. Sarah and her family are the nicest people and Sarah is tremendously talented and absolutely delightful — she never stops dancing.”
For the nine-year-old Hunt, who trains and competes with the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, it’s been a whirlwind few months for her as she has traveled from her hometown to Rockville Centre with her family every weekend to rehearse for her role in her first Nutcracker production.
“I saw a show of The Nutcracker in Pittsburgh,” says Hunt, “and loved it. I knew then that I wanted to do it. But this was totally unexpected. I never thought any of this would happen. I was totally surprised when my mom said that I was coming to New York to audition for The Nutcracker. “
“Everyone here is so nice and this has been a great experience for me.”
Hunt is so enthusiastic about her role in Leggz’s Nutcracker that she even manged to bring her seven-year-old brother, Zachariah, into the cast as a party boy.
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