ORLANDO, Fla. — Inspiring youth in Central Florida communities, “Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker” will once again be on the big stage at the Dr. Phillips Center.

The adaptation of "The Nutcracker" was written and produced by playwright Beverly Page, and features young Central Florida actors in vital roles throughout the production.

What You Need To Know

  • "Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker" is returning to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

  • The show gives young actors an opportunity to be part of a major theatrical production

  • In addition to the theatrical production, there is also an illustrated children's book detailing Clare's journey along with the Chocolate Nutcracker 

  • The students participating in the production started rehearsals shortly after auditions in August and have been working on the production ever since

The story chronicles Clare as she teams up on a dream journey with the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy around the world.

Page said she is grateful to help inspire youth who usually don’t have an opportunity experience major theatrical productions.

“We went through the Orange County Public Schools seeking young talent and we always said, ‘If you don’t have the talent, we will teach you,'" Page said. "We just want you to have the desire and the will to come to rehearsal and learn the choreography."

The students participating in the production started rehearsing shortly after auditions in August and have been working on the production ever since.

“Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker” will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.

More about the production:

"Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker" is an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s classical "Nutcracker Ballet". We invite you to take a journey with Clare, a young African-American girl, as she embarks on a magical Christmas journey in the retelling of E.T.A. Hoffman’s classical "Nutcracker Ballet". Set against a backdrop of 19th-century brownstones and modern high-rises in Harlem, N.Y., Clare’s journey begins with the family traditional holiday party. Following the family holiday party, Clare returns to the parlor to embrace her Chocolate Nutcracker gift she received from her Aunt Pearl. She falls asleep and her enchanting dream takes her on a magical journey around the world and to enchanting lands with the Chocolate Nutcracker, who is transformed into a handsome Chocolate Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The scenes are filled with the pageantry of dazzling costumes and exciting dance moves performed in a wide variety of dance genres reflecting Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, India, Spain and many other lands.