Northwestern Studios presents
The Fantastic Toyshop May 23-24

The children’s ballet, The Fantastic Toyshop, will be performed at Valborg Theater on the Appalachian State University campus Saturday, May 23, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 24, at 3 p.m., by Northwestern Studios.

Originally titled La Boutique Fantasque, this ballet was first performed in London in 1919 by the famed Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. Ottorino Respighi composed the music based on piano pieces by G. Rossini.

The ballet features a magical toyshop filled with dolls that come to life, much to the surprise of some mischievous Village Girls, who sneak in one night. The Shop Keeper returns in the morning to find complete doll pandemonium.

Featured performers are Annie Jo Buchannan, Emily Bullock, Willa Finck, Carrington Haas and Grace Owen as the sneaky Village Girls and Courtney Cutillo as the harried Shop Keeper. The Dolls are played by Calista Addis, Isabella Cutillo, Candace Honeycutt, Anna Jobe and Kelly Perry. The students of Northwestern Studios round out the lively cast.

Also on the program is the iconic ballet, La Bayadere – Kingdom of the Shades. The great ballet master, Marius Petipa, first staged this ballet for the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1877. The Kingdom of the Shades is one of the most celebrated excerpts in all of classical ballet and is considered an important connection between the romantic and classical eras. In the lead roles are Emily Little and Abbey Reynolds. Featured are Sarah Barnard, Shauna Godwin, Maddy Koch, Joanna Mildenberger and Lindsay Scarborough. Rounding out the cast are Calista Addis, Candace Honeycutt, Anna Jobe, Kelly Perry and Laura Price.

Also being performed is Northwestern Studios’ Jazz & Tap Revue on Thursday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m., and Friday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m. The award-winning competition dance team, the Northwestern Starz, will be featured, as well as upbeat jazz, clogging, hip-hop and modern dance. There will be a special performance by the students of Northwestern Studios’ ballroom instructors, Robin and Andy Lane.

Tickets are $7 for children and students, $10 for adults and may be purchased at the Valborg Theatre box office weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Valborg Theatre is located on the ASU campus behind the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. For more information, call (828) 262-3262 and leave a message.