Springfield Ballet will mark its 50th anniversary season with productions of “The Nutcracker” and “The Sleeping Beauty,” giving Ozarks audiences opportunities to see more than a dozen performances between December and May.
The organization announced its 2026-27 season July 30, according to a community announcement. The season opens with the 41st annual production of “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed eight times at the Historic Landers Theatre from Dec. 17-21.
The holiday ballet follows Clara through a dream world featuring toy soldiers, mice, flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Springfield Ballet said in the announcement that the performances have historically sold out.
Patron tickets and season tickets are available now, and single-show
tickets for “The Nutcracker” go on sale Oct. 5.
Two productions planned for anniversary season
The season concludes in May with four performances of “The Sleeping Beauty,” an original adaptation created for the Historic Landers Theatre and Springfield audiences.
Each production involves more than 100 dancers and offers opportunities for children to perform alongside professional guest artists.
“Being a part of a Springfield Ballet production gives dancers the opportunity to learn all about the behind the scenes work of what brings a show to life besides their choreography,” Springfield Ballet Co-Artistic Director Maria Velàzquez said in the announcement. “From the lighting, set piece changes, costumes, stage makeup and props, they are immersed in how to work as a team to bring the ballet stories alive for audiences. We have cultivated a very special pre-professional production here in the Ozarks.”
Auditions scheduled for dancers across the Ozarks
Springfield Ballet is inviting dancers ages 5 and older to audition for the upcoming season. Participants must be 5 years old by Aug. 1.
Auditions for “The Nutcracker” are scheduled for Aug. 27 for dancers ages 11 and older who perform en pointe and Aug. 29 for dancers ages 5-10 and older dancers who are not en pointe.
Auditions for “The Sleeping Beauty” are scheduled for Jan. 21 and Jan. 23.
All auditions will take place at The Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway in Springfield.
Additional information about auditions is available at springfieldballet.org.
Ticket sales support community access
Patron tickets include priority seating for both productions, complimentary downtown parking and a tax-deductible donation. According to the announcement, proceeds help provide free access to Springfield Ballet performances for children from low-income households.
Tickets are available through the Historic Landers Theatre Box Office in person at 311 E. Walnut St., Springfield, by phone at 417-869-1334 or online at springfieldlittletheatre.org.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Ballet to celebrate 50 years with two classic productions
