TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A Classic Comes To Life

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Members of Plant City Childrens Theatre run through a dress rehearsal at Plant City High for in preparation for their performance of The Nutcracker on Dec. 13.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: December 24, 2008

PLANT CITY - A Christmas gift that comes to life each year, in the form of "The Nutcracker" ballet, depicts a battle between good and evil, with the good guys coming out on top.

More than 70 performers from the Plant City Children's Theatre, directed by Sharon and Jackie Everidge and assisted by Erick Corryn, played to a packed house Dec. 13 in the Plant City High School auditorium.

"This was our 15th production of 'The Nutcracker,'" Sharon Everidge said. "It seems to get better and more enjoyable every year."

Everidge, the executive director of the children's theater, is the daughter of Jackie Everidge, the founder and artistic director of the dance studio that bears her name. Neck and back problems have kept Jackie Everidge out of her Jackie's Dance Theatre and Gym recently, but she "was there for the performance," Sharon said.

One of the performers, Marissa Aloyo, has been dancing at Jackie's since she was a 3-year-old. Now 17, the Plant City High School junior was featured as the Sugar Plum Fairy, a major role in the holiday classic.

"We all wanted to do our best to make Miss Jackie proud of us." Aloyo said. "We knew she was in the audience. And we knew she wanted to be with us during rehearsals but couldn't. We worked especially hard to do our best for her."

Sharon Everidge said this year's performance was especially satisfying.

"The costumes were beautifully done," she said. "And the younger cast members did more than just hold their own. They were focused and right on the mark. Everyone practiced hard to learn their parts so Jackie would be pleased."

Aloyo said her adrenaline level reached new heights during her solo performance.

"I was an understudy in that part last year, so I know it well," Aloyo said. "But when the curtain went up and I took that first step across the stage I could feel the excitement building inside me. All of the work I have done over the years to learn and complete that performance was suddenly all worth it to me. I felt accomplished."

During her four- or five-minute solo Aloyo dazzled the audience with spins, leaps, jumps and arabesque. The Cavalier, the good guy in the play who battles the evil mice who would ruin the day, stands on stage during the Sugar Plum solo. The two then dance together to close the show.

"Eric Williams played the part of the Cavalier," Sharon Everidge said. "Eric is a guest performer to us from the University of South Florida. He is a brilliant dancer. Eric was also invaluable during rehearsals as he helped all the dancers become better performers. He was extremely helpful."

Other cast members who played important roles in the 90 minute production included:

Cierra Craft as Clara Stahlbaum; Myles Layman as Fritz Stahlbaum; Brady Kennedy as Joshua Stahlbaum; Erick Corryn and Cheryl Worsham as Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum; Vlad Dubov as Judge Kristopher Drosselmeyer; Chris Romano as The Nutcracker; David Cox and Aidan MacGirvin as the evil mice; as well as Eric Williams, Whitney Stephenson, Ashley Wilkinson, Jessica Wudtke and many others.

Romano, a senior at Newsome High School, also helped out in the choreography, Sharon Everidge said. "Chris was one of many who stepped up to make 'The Nutcracker' a great production."

At the end of the show, Jackie Everidge came on stage and "the kids' eyes lit up," Sharon Everidge said. "They all rallied around her, all excited and pleased with what they had done."

"She was more than pleased with all the performers," her daughter said. "She was pleased with them. But pleased to be there, period. But she was also happy that 'The Nutcracker' went off again without a hitch."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT