Berkeley Heights Performer To Star In 'The Nutcracker'

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — Casey Morrison, 17, of Berkeley Heights, along with MaryBeth Rodgers, 18, and Shannon Touhey, 17, both of Cranford, will join renowned professional guest artists when they perform multiple soloist roles in this year’s full-length production of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble’s (NJDTE) beloved holiday classic “The Nutcracker.”

Morrison, the daughter of Susan and Paul Morrison of Berkeley Heights, is a junior at Union County Academy for Performing Arts. and Shannon, daughter of Raeann and Daniel Touhey of Cranford, and MaryBeth are both seniors at the vocational magent school.

Morrison joined NJDTE’s Ensemble Company in 2011, and will perform the soloist roles of Columbine and Arabian Coffee this season.

"NJDTE has expanded my love and knowledge of dance,” Morrison said. “I receive such amazing and extensive training in ballet and modern. I know what I have learned at NJDTE will be incredibly beneficial to me in college and my future career in dance,” she said.

Touhey, who has been a member of NJDTE’s Ensemble Company since 2009, will appear as Harlequin in this year’s production.

For her, dancing the role of Harlequin is a dream come true.

“I have aspired to dance this role since joining the company at age 10. I enjoy not only the choreography, but also the acting involved in performing the part of a mechanical doll,” Touhey said.

Rodgers joined NJDTE at age 8, and will perform the role of Arch Angel this season. After ten years and ten Nutcracker seasons with the Ensemble Company, she feels fully prepared for the next stage of her career.

"The work we do at NJDTE prepares us for the future by building great technical foundations and exploring dance with many different choreographers. The atmosphere at NJDTE is professional and supportive, which pushes us all to be the best version of ourselves,” Rodgers said.

Morrison, Rodgers and Touhey will be joined by celebrated dancers Peter Brandenhoff, Rosemary Sabovick-Bleich, Joseph Fritz, Morgan McEwen, Brian Gephart, Bradley Shelver and Lyvan Esteban Verdicia, from prestigious companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and New Jersey Ballet.

The show will consist of three performances at the Memorial Auditorium at Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 and 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for NJDTE’s 47th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” are $25 to $35, and are available online at http://njdte.eventbrite.com.

(Photo 1 by Anthony Johnson: Casey Morrison as Snowflake in NJDTE's The Nutcracker.

Photo 2 by Tony Turner: MaryBeth Rodgers.

Photo 3 by Tony Turner: Shannon Touhey)

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