Metropolitan School of the Arts’ To Present Virtual Nutcracker

Metropolitan School of the Arts is going forward with a COVID-19 style, Nutcracker ballet performed at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Temple in Alexandria, Va., to debut as a virtual, pre-recorded video to stream on Sat., Dec. 26 at 12 PM, 3 PM and 6 PM; and Sun., Dec. 27, at 11 AM, 2 PM and 5 PM on Metropolitan School of the Arts’ private YouTube channel (YouTube link will be emailed one hour before performance time). Tickets are per household with ticket prices ranging from $40 to $80, while early bird pricing is available before Dec. 15. Go to www.metropolitanarts.org for more information, and purchase tickets at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35491/production/1034231.

There are three different student casts performing each show. However each cast will be streamed twice, creating six total shows. Performances can only be streamed at that specific time, you cannot re-watch from one ticket purchase. To watch the same cast again, you can purchase a second ticket on Sunday and see the same show.

More than 90 Metropolitan School of the Arts students, masked and socially distanced at 10 feet apart, brought together the magic of the classic, holiday ballet at the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Va.

“We knew performing the Nutcracker this year was going to be a challenge, but we also wanted the show to go on,” said Jacqueline Doherty, artistic director of the Nutcracker and Metro Youth Ballet of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Va. “We’re so proud of the students’ commitment and passion to make this ballet come to life, despite the COVID restrictions---they were dedicated to making this show happen,” said Doherty.

As a non-profit organization, Metropolitan School of the Arts relies on the generous donations of sponsors and the community to sustain operations for its Academy and studio programming.

The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts is a college preparatory performing arts school for emerging young artists, grades 7 to 12, who are dedicated to a rigorous academic experience in a pre-professional performing arts conservatory environment. Their cross-curricular approach to arts training fills each young artist’s toolbox with the dance, music and acting skills necessary to be a triple threat in the arts world. Metropolitan School of the Arts approach to education is designed to develop independent, self-motivated and skilled learners. The school offers a post-high school graduate program as well, for those students who desire an extra year to prepare for admittance into a performing arts university.

ABOUT METROPOLITAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (MSA) Alexandria, Va.-based, Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA), a 501 (c) 3 organization, is the first Washington, D.C. area, private, secondary performing arts school, founded in 2013 by Melissa Dobbs. The MSA performing arts studios in Alexandria, Va. have taught dance, music and theater to more than 10,000 students since 2001. Noted for its world-class instructors, MSA offers high quality performing arts training in a ground breaking, holistic learning environment that cultivates creativity, builds community and empowers students. The organization was featured in Dance Teacher magazine, FOX 5 Morning News, WUSA9 Great Day Washington, ABC-7 Good Morning Washington, Northern Virginia Magazine, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post Weekend and Washington Families magazine. Many students from MSA studios go on to perform in prestigious arenas including Broadway, National Tours, The Julliard School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Washington Ballet, The American Academy of Ballet, Universal Ballet Academy, The Kirov Ballet, The Hartt School, Marymount University (New York), Ford’s Theater and Mark Morris Dance Company. MSA offers a performing arts academy, a performing arts studio, a youth tap ensemble, a youth ballet, a jazz company, and a theatre program, as well as adult fitness and dance. Call 703.339.0444 or visit www.metropolitanarts.org, Facebook or Twitter.