
Marian Faustino
The AAPAS, Soles4Souls and The Academy of Performing Arts present The Mini Nutcracker.
The Asian American Performing Arts Society (AAPAS) will partner with the Academy of Performing Arts and Soles4Souls to present the first annual Southeast Nashville Mini Nutcracker December 4th and 5th, 2009 at the Tennessee School for the Blind Auditorium. Performances will be held at 7:00pm, Friday and Saturday, with a matinee at 2:00pm on Saturday.
Led by Nashville dancer Christopher Mohnani and resident choreographer Brian Williamson, the Mini Nutcracker is an abridged, narrated version of the full-length ballet The Nutcracker. It provides an opportunity for the community to usher the holiday season in a relatable, accessible and affordable way. It also provides local youth an opportunity to perform and participate, starting a holiday tradition they can call their own.

Youth performers have been pulled from areas throughout middle Tennessee. Nashville premiere danseurs Christopher Mohnani and Brian Williamson will be performing in addition to choreographing and staging the performance. Marian Faustino, Principal Ballerina from Ballet Philippines, international ballet competition medalist, will be performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The production will also serve as a donation center for Soles4Souls. Audience members are requested to bring gently used pair of shoes to donate to national charitable organization Soles4Souls. These shoes will be recycled and distributed to people all over the world who are need of footwear.
Tickets are available at TicketsNashville.Com. General admission tickets are only $10 if bought online and are $15 at the door. Additionally, from November 16-28, 2009, the performers will visit the following area schools: Village Learning Center, Mt. Juliet Elementary, Hermitage Elementary, Ruby Major Elementary, Dodson Elementary, WA Wright Elementary, Rivergate Mall and Barnes and Noble Opry Mills. Students and other visitors will have a chance to learn about the performances, purchase tickets, watch excerpts from the Mini Nutcracker, and have their pictures taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy.
For more information, please visit the Donelson/Hermitage Academy of Performing Arts website, their Facebook page, or call 615-391-5500.
November 6, 9:43 AMNashville Theatre Examiner Logan L. Masterson





