'The Nutcracker' takes the stage Thursday

FARMINGTON The curtain on the stage of the Centene Center will open at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday to a milestone performance.

This year marks the 20th presentation of The Nutcracker by the Young Peoples Performing Arts Theatre.

Since 1981, more than 750 local performers have graced the stage for the production. The show has an alternating yearly production schedule, with this years cast the largest to date.

YPPAT was founded in 1981 by Kimberly Gavin Anderson. She explained the organizations mission is to provide young artists expanded and enriching performing opportunities in a full length, classical production by bringing classics to the area.

Anderson is artistic director for the show, assisted by her daughter Maggie Haupt.

The production tells the E.T.A. Huffman story, "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice, set to the magical score of Peter Tchaikovsky.

"The Nutcracker" is the story of a young girl, Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King. After the Prince defeats him, Clara is whisked away to a winter wonderland and then transported to the Land of the Sweets.

The show runs each evening through Saturday, with a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $12.50 each and are on sale at the Farmington Civic Center.

Those who are involved with the production liken it to being a part of a large family and a number of those with children in the production have been involved from the very beginning.

Stacy Anderson remembers the first Nutcracker like it was yesterday.

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'The Nutcracker' takes the stage Thursday