COURTESY PHOTO
Several dancers from Saugus will perform in Melrose Youth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 2-4. They include, from left, Samantha Murray, Nicole Rourke, Jenna Rusconi, Gianna Filaretos and Jocelyn McCarrier.
By BILL BROTHERTON
Saugus dancers in ‘Nutcracker’
MELROSE — Twelve Saugus residents are preparing to perform in Melrose Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” which returns to Memorial Hall, 590 Main St., Dec. 2-4.
These young dancers, who range in age from 7 to 18, auditioned and were cast by Artistic Director Matthew Cox Parello and Assistant Director Travers King.
They are Samantha Murray, Nicole Rourke, Jenna Rusconi, Gianna Filaretos, Jocelyn McCarrier, Samantha Martin, Alyssa Milton, Lauren Payne, Ana Beatriz Silva, Maria Clara Silva, Lacey Warner and Molly Warner.
For details and ticket information, go to www.melroseyouthballet.org?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss or call (781) 665-4MYB.
Christmas Charcuterie Cabaret
LYNN — Arts After Hours is celebrating a great year and the launch of season 7 through song, food and drink (cash bar) Dec. 15, 7 p.m. at LynnArts, 25 Exchange St.
“Christmas Charcuterie Cabaret” will feature talent that is no stranger to AAH: James Tallach, Micah Greene, Corey and Sarah Jackson, Thomas Martin, Mario Cruz and more to be announced.
Tickets: $50 at artsafterhours.com or (781) 205-4010.
‘Nutcracker’ ballet
LYNN — The Greater Salem Ballet Company will present “The Nutcracker,” Saturday, Dec. 3, 1 and 5 p.m., at Lynn Auditorium.
More than 100 local adults and children make up the cast. The leading role of Clara is performed by Clara Szalewicz of Marblehead.
Performers include, from Marblehead: Jenny Minney, Snow Queen; Nicole Klemm, General; Lucia Beurer, Tree Angel; Carolyn Black, Peppermint; from Swampscott: Morgan McBurney, Arabian; Jillian Kirby, Trepak; Alex Reames, Peppermint; Hailey Bucklin, Gift Doll; Hannah Maercklein, Marzipan; Haley Carola, Dew Drop Fairy; from Lynn: Vasia Fotopoulos, Angel Princess; from Salem: Olivia Hauber, Chinese; Yasmine Gonzales, Mouse King; Jillian Angeramo, Spanish; from Danvers: Audrey Chmura, Fritz.
GSBC is a nonprofit organization based at A Performing Arts Academy in Salem. Its goal is to give dance students an opportunity to perform locally in professional-quality productions while learning in a warm, encouraging and nurturing environment.
Seanna Chmura and Susan Byrne bring more than 20 years of experience producing “The Nutcracker.” Guest choreographer is Lauren Ganther, who has a BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory and is in the José Mateo Ballet Theatre.
The Cavalier is Alan Alberto of the Festival Ballet of Providence; the Sugar Plum is Emily Loscocco, a freelance performer formerly with the Alaska Ballet Theater.
Tickets, $18-$30: 781-599-SHOW or at lynnauditorium.com. Discounted $10 tickets are available for seats in the upper balcony; purchase code is “student.”
Economist/poet visit ‘Loom’ing
GLOUCESTER — Economist and poet Kevin Gallagher will read from his new book, “Loom,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Gloucester Writers Center, 126 E. Main St.
The program is co-sponsored by Cape Ann Forum. “Loom” examines the historical connections between racism, labor rights and wealth in the old mills of Massachusetts, and makes them available for analysis through a poetic experience.
Gallagher is an economist, an associate professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, and co-director of the Global Economic Governance Initiative at Boston University.
For more information go to www.GloucesterWriters.org?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
‘Ella and Her Fellas’
MARBLEHEAD — The Follen Angels, international jazz and cabaret artists, celebrate the music of Ella Fitzgerald at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Marblehead Little Theater.
“Ella and Her Fellas” features some of the jazz vocalist’s most beloved songs, including “How High the Moon,” “Lady Be Good,” “A Tisket a Tasket,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “The Man I Love,” “I Got Rhythm,” “April in Paris” and many others.
The Follen Angels have recorded six CDs and have earned much praise for their performances. Band members are Hildy Grossman on vocals, Shinichi Otsu on piano, Kenneth W. Dantzig on drums, Rick Stone on sax/clarinet and Sven Larson on bass.
For information and tickets, go to http://follenangels.com/performances/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
Cape Ann Symphony
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — The Cape Ann Symphony’s annual Holiday Pops Concert kicks off the holiday season at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, at Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium, 36 Lincoln St.
A holiday tradition, the Cape Ann Symphony Pops concert features the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the direction of Rockport’s Wendy Betts performing with the orchestra under the musical direction of conductor Yoichi Udagawa.
Tickets: $40 for adults, $35 for senior citizens and $5 for youth age 18 and younger; (978) 281-0543 or www.capeannsymphony.org?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
Gretchen Peters at me&thee
MARBLEHEAD — Gretchen Peters, one of Nashville’s most respected artists, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the me&thee coffeehouse, 28 Mugford St. She will be accompanied by her husband/co-producer and pianist Barry Walsh.
Peters was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell and has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, the Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill.
Her 2015 album, “Blackbirds,” debuted at No. 1 on the UK Country chart and in the top 40 UK pop chart, and was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for “Blackbirds”, which Rolling Stone called “one of the most affecting murder ballads since Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ left a trail of corpses strewn across the American landscape”) at the UK Americana awards.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $23 at the door, $10 for students; www.meandthee.org?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss