DOWNEY - The classic holiday production "The Nutcracker" will be performed at the Downey Theatre on Dec. 21-22, but special no-cost preview performances are planned around town before then.Presented by Southern California Dance Theatre, the show features about a dozen dancers who reside in the Downey area. On Nov. 26-27, Downey's own Clara, portrayed by Damaris Chacon and Angeline Bourne on alternate shows, will read the story of "The Nutcracker" at the Downey City Library starting at 11 a.m. They will be joined by fellow "Nutcracker" dancers, including Blake and Kevin Cordova, Tania and Luisa Medina, Natalie Moreno and Kaiden Chacon, among others who will help illustrate the story by performing selected scenes in full costume. A second opportunity to see the "Nutcracker" troupe will come Nov. 30, when they will perform three 15-minute shows at Stonewood Center starting at noon in center court. This performance will feature Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, the Chinese Tea, the Arabian Coffee and Spanish Chocolate. As an added bonus, one family will win a family four-pack to see the entire performance live at the Downey Theatre. All others can purchase tickets by calling the Downey Theatre box office at (562) 861-8211 or online at downeytheatre.org.

********** Published: Nov. 21, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 32