Keep the Nutcracker at Oviedo on the Park

For the past seven years, the University Performing Arts Centre and the City of Oviedo have partnered together to put on an annual performance of the Nutcracker as part of the Twelve Days of Christmas event. The Nutcracker, a two-act ballet, is a time-honored holiday tradition worldwide and has become a staple of the Oviedo community, providing a family-friendly way to kick off the holiday season.

This year, we need your help to continue that tradition. Due to budget cuts by the mayor, the City of Oviedo is no longer able to partner closely with us on this event, and we are now being asked to rent out the Oviedo on the Park facility in order to hold the performance. The cost is upwards of a few thousand dollars.

We pride ourselves on the Nutcracker being a low-cost event for both attendees and performers. Everyone who works on the production is a volunteer, and we do not collect a profit – everything is invested back into the costuming and production of the show. Thus, we do not have the cash on hand to cover the cost of the rental, and we need your help. Donations will enable us to continue providing the Oviedo community with a free Nutcracker event, and ensure that the dancers who have been working so hard on the production this year are able to perform for their community.

The University Performing Arts Centre's Nutcracker includes about 60 dancers from ages 5-18, many of whom have been dancing in the show for years. They have been working on the 2022 performance since July. Being part of this production gives them training, performance experience, community service, and a way to share their talent with the community.

We are grateful for any amount that you are able to contribute. Thank you, from all of us at the University Performing Arts Centre!

Photos from our 2021 show courtesy of Jonathan Lalor.