x
Breaking News
More () »

Spectators Travel for Annual Nutcracker Performance

LACKAWANNA COUNTY — For the past 39 years, The Ballet Theatre of Scranton has called its free performances of The Nutcracker, its “holiday gift to t...
nutcracker

LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- For the past 39 years, The Ballet Theatre of Scranton has called its free performances of The Nutcracker, its "holiday gift to the community."

It has been a family tradition for many spectators, and some of them travel far to get to the show in Lackawanna County.

It is pretty easy to understand why a little girl might want to see the nutcracker on stage.

"Because it`s fabulous and all the dancers have really nice dresses on and they perform really nicely," said Elektra Kehigas of Damascus.

But, Elektra's mom keeps bringing her back each year because of the quality.

"This is the best Nutcracker performance I have ever seen and I have gone to many places and seen it and even in other big cities and stuff. I enjoy this more than I enjoyed Lincoln Center," Theresa Kehigas said.

The mother-daughter pair traveled more than an hour from their home in Wayne County to get to Marywood University.

The Ballet Theatre of Scranton's Nutcracker performances are free to the public. They are often called "The gift to the community."

But, that communiy is not only local.

Stephanie Adams is visiting NEPA from Colorado.

"I have always loved going to The Nutcracker and I have not been able to see it in a couple of years and I just wanted to see what their take is on it," Adams said.

Some people travel a very long distance to be at the shows and they wait a pretty long time too. The line starts to round the block an hour before the show even starts.

It takes about that long to get everyone filed into the seats of the University's performing arts center. Mary Jane Memolo and her friends, all Marywood graduates, were among the first to get in.

"I have seen the Nutcracker other times and it is a great Christmas production," Memolo said.

Spectators said it is a great way to cap off the Christmas season, whether it is your first time or your 39th.

Before You Leave, Check This Out