'The Great Russian Nutcracker' to open at Southeast on Dec. 8

Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus will host Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

"The Nutcracker" is a two-act ballet based off of the book, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the score for the ballet in 1892.

In "The Nutcracker," a young girl, Marie Stahlbaum, dreams of her favorite Christmas toy, the nutcracker, coming to life. During the ballet, the nutcracker has a duel with the evil Mouse King and defeats him.

"'The Nutcracker' is the most famous ballet. It's a holiday favorite," Robert Cerchio, the assistant director for the Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, said. "It will be put on by the Moscow Ballet, a top-level company, so expect near-perfect dancing and beautiful sets and costumes."

Cerchio said the Moscow Ballet tour "The Nutcracker" every year and they were lucky enough to have it come to the River Campus this year.

Tickets for "The Nutcracker" range between $30.50 to $70.50. According to Ellen Farrow, River Campus Box Office manager, there are still seats available, but they are going fast."Almost 85-percent of the tickets are sold out," Cerchio said.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the River Campus box office, located on 518 S. Fountain, Cape Girardeau, MO on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at RiverCampusEvents.com or over the phone at 573-651-2265.