‘Nutcracker’ is still same show

Taryn Nowels has been promoted more times than the average four-star general during her years with “The Nutcracker.”

The Huntington Beach resident joined the Ballet Repertory Theatre production at the age of 3, playing a baby mouse. As she grew older, she moved up the ranks through angel, soldier, party girl, doll, lead entertainer and a few other roles before finally landing the loftiest part of all — one of the three Sugar Plum Fairies, who perform the most challenging leaps and steps.

After 14 years with the venerable Tchaikovsky ballet, Taryn sometimes feels like she’s memorized it — although that feeling has changed more than once.

“You know, I always want to say I know every single part,” Taryn, 17, said during rehearsals for this year’s production at Golden West College. “But then, when I go and do it, I realize I didn’t know it at all.”

There’s plenty to learn in “The Nutcracker,” which Ballet Repertory Theatre first performed in 1977 and has offered every holiday season since. This year’s production boasts a cast of 342 dancers, ranging from toddlers to adults, and with parents helping in the wings and kids growing from one role to another, it’s a family gathering as much as a performance.

No one in the cast, though, goes further back with “The Nutcracker” than Artistic Director Anthony Sellars, who first danced in the New York City Ballet production in 1959 and choreographed the Ballet Repertory production 32 years ago. Since that first 1977 performance, Sellars said, he’s made few changes to his original vision.

“It’s the same production,” he said. “I sometimes do little changes based on certain people’s strengths, but it’s basically been the same the whole time. The community has really accepted it. The way the audience applauds, it makes me feel grateful.”

The plot, in short: Clara, a young German girl, is presented with a toy nutcracker by her godfather on Christmas Eve. Overnight, as her family sleeps, she creeps downstairs to have a look at it, only to have the nutcracker come alive and defend her against an army of mice. The nutcracker then turns into a prince and whisks Clara away to the Land of Sweets, a fantasy world populated by the Sugar Plum Fairies and a multicultural cast of characters.

Sylvie Nguyen, Ballet Repertory’s volunteer in charge of publicity, said the production’s simple plot serves mainly as a clothesline for elaborate dance numbers, which feature dozens of brightly costumed performers at a time.

“It’s a lighthearted production, but let’s not fool ourselves,” she said. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Especially for the Sugar Plum Fairies. The three dancers who play the role in this year’s production — Taryn, Elle Macy and Megan Steinkirchner, all of whom attend the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts — spent years honing their skills in hopes of getting the call.

“For us, it was such a surprise,” said Megan, 16. “It took a while to even hit me.”

Elle, 16, who started as a baby angel in the show at age 6, had a similar reaction.

“It’s kind of surreal,” she said. “You never know if it’s going to happen to you, but you hope it will.”

If You Go

What: Ballet Repertory Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker”

Where: Golden West College Theater, 15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 p.m. Dec. 24

Tickets: $14 to $16

Contact: (714) 895-8150