Delta Festival Ballet will present its 40th-anniversary production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 18, and Sunday, December 19, at 2 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, accompanied by the full Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Glenn Langdon.
This year’s performances are dedicated to the memory of Delta Festival’s late co-director, Maria Giacobbe, who died on May 29, 2021.
Meredith Maggio and Toni Gagliano will appear in the lead role of Clara in the delta festival Ballet 2021 production of “The Nutcracker.” Photo courtesy of Delta Festival Ballet.
American Ballet Theatre’s Sarah Lane will appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Miami City Ballet’s Rainer Krenstetter as her cavalier. The couple will also perform the Snow Pas de Deux at the close of Act I. Lane is perhaps best known to the broader community as the dance double for Natalie Portman in the 2010 film Black Swan. Native New Orleanian Janessa Touchet will dance the Arabian variation with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater’s Michael F. McBride. Divertissement in Act II will include oustanding local dancers Kate Corcoran, Jenna Galeas, Clay Kinler, Molly McCaffery, McCall Schlosser, Lilette Schmitt, Zoe Springfloat, Abby Toups and Chase Zibilich. Celebrated New Orleans actor Cutting Jahncke will reprise his role as Herr Drosselmeyer and Liam Van Vrancken, a sixth grader at Stuart Hall, will dance the role of Fritz.
Toni Gagliano and Meredith Maggio have been cast in the role of Clara. They have fond memories of Giacobbe and feel honored to perform in memory of her legacy. Gagliano is the 16-year-old daughter of Mary and Philip Gagliano. She is a sophomore at the Academy of the Sacred Heart and has been dancing since the age of two. She studies dance at Giacobbe Academy of Dance where she has also participated in several summer intensives. She has also performed in The Nutcracker for Delta Festival Ballet for the past 8 years. Maggio is the 14-year-old daughter of Britt and LaShon Maggio. She attends Mount Carmel Academy as a ninth grader. Previously, she attended Lusher Charter School since kindergarten. Maggio has been dancing since she was three, including the last seven years with Giacobbe Academy where she has participated in several summer intensives. This will be her eighth year performing in The Nutcracker.
Tickets are on sale now at deltafestivalballet.com and Ticketmaster.
Meredith Maggio and Tony Gagliano will appear in the lead role of Clara in the delta festival Ballet 2021 production of “The Nutcracker.” Photo courtesy of Delta Festival Ballet.
