Carlisle, Pa. (August 11, 2017) – The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) is pleased to present its 2017/18 performance season transporting audiences to places of wonder.

Hansel and Gretel

The 2017/2018 season opens October 21&22 with breadcrumbs and a wicked witch. From brave and bold to creative and clever, the exciting adventures of Hansel and Gretel leave you fully satisfied in its delightful fairy-tale ending! Bluebirds, deer and gingerbread men fill this Alan Hineline adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale — perfect for introducing children and their families to dance and theatre. Sponsored, in part, by co-presenting sponsor Capital BlueCross.

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®: 25th CPYB Anniversary
Time is gently suspended as theatergoers immerse themselves in the magical moments of the American holiday tradition: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Impeccable choreography, elaborate stage elements, enhanced sophisticated lighting, and grand visual effects unleash the imaginations of audiences — now for 25 years. CPYB is the only organization in Central Pennsylvania to hold the prestigious license to perform Balanchine’s two-act version of The Nutcracker, and the only ballet school earning license.

CPYB begins its two-weekend run in the intimate Sunoco Theater at Whitaker Center, on December 9&10, and concludes with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Stuart Malina at the opulent Hershey Theatre, Hershey, on December 16&17. Sponsored, in part, by co-presenting sponsors Mowery and Don and Marjie Mowery. 

WORLD PREMIERE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sparks will fly when CPYB mounts Alan Hineline’s NEW adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on April 14&15, 2018. Shakespeare’s famously funny tale of fairies,    mismatched lovers, and a mischievous sprite, is sponsored, in part, by co-presenting sponsor Members 1st Federal Credit Union.

June Series
Ballet novices and loyal patrons alike will experience a youthful zest for movement June 20-23, 2018, in June Series. CPYB wraps up the 2017/18 season with the region’s long-standing mixed repertory production with five unique programs displaying new works by today’s notable choreographers, the classics, and audience favorites.

“These works transcend generations. These young artists send your spirits soaring – creating new worlds, turning movement into magic,” said Founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary. “Together Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet will touch the hearts of theatergoers with an abundance of adventure, artistry and joy!”

TICKETS: Ticket prices vary by production. Single tickets go on sale September 1. Call the Whitaker Center at 717.214.ARTS (2787), go online at whitakercenter.org, or visit in person the Whitaker Box Office at 222 North Market Street, Harrisburg. Hershey ‘The Nutcracker’ tickets can be purchased by calling Hershey Theatre at 717.534.3405, online at hersheytheatre.com or in person at the Hershey Box Office at 15 East Caracas, Hershey.

CPYB is supported, in part, by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Cultural Enrichment Fund. CPYB is Resident Ballet Company at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: We invite the media to attend upcoming rehearsals and speak with the performers and artistic staff about the performance. For more information, please contact Bonnie Schulte at 717.245.1191 or schulte@cpyb.org. Coverage opportunities of performances are also available and must be set up through Bonnie Schulte.

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About Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is a celebrated leader in the world of dance education. Embracing an attitude of lifelong learning more than 60 years ago, Founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary envisioned a school where children would have the opportunity to receive exceptional ballet training. Today CPYB is the nationally recognized school of classical ballet with an international reputation for training young men and women. The school’s renowned teaching methodology couples performance opportunities with innovative educational initiatives, an esteemed faculty, and a proven syllabus — all in an environment that promotes the acquisition of the life skills crucial to a child’s development.

Thousands of young people have passed through Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s acclaimed studios. CPYB alumni continually occupy top positions in the leading ballet companies from San Francisco and Miami to New York, London and beyond. Through the organization’s threefold mission – to inspire, educate and enrich – the legacy of Marcia Dale Weary and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet redefines the art form, preserves its history and shapes its future.