Three performances of The Nutcracker Ballet will kick off the 2026 holiday season in Sterling next month, with more than 70 dancers and actors ranging from age 6 to adulthood filling out a two-act production staged by Woodlawn Arts Academy. The shows run Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m., all at Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School.
Tickets cost $15 each and are on sale now at centennialauditorium.org or at the door, according to aroundptown.com. A processing fee applies to any debit or credit card purchase. The performances are a fundraiser for Woodlawn Arts Academy, which organizers describe as inviting the community to the production as a way to launch the holiday season, according to Shaw Local.
A Cast Drawn From 14 Communities
The production's cast spans a wide swath of the Sauk Valley region, with performers coming from Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, Chadwick, Galt, Harmon, Lanark, Lyndon, Milledgeville, Morrison, Shannon, Tampico, Walnut and Wyanet, per the same account. Leading roles include Michaela Brown as Clara, Leo Uresti as the Nutcracker, Maddey Oyen as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Sophie Potthoff as the Snow Queen, Giuliana Messer as Drosselmeyer and Ronni Oyen as the Rat King.
Cast members have met every other week since August to refine their dances, building on groundwork laid over the summer, when Woodlawn held a week-long Nutcracker Dance Camp. Campers learned much of the choreography and took part in related activities during that camp, the report notes.
Fifth Time Staging The Classic Since 2016
This marks the fifth time Woodlawn Arts Academy has staged The Nutcracker Ballet, following earlier productions in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2024. The 2024 run was also scheduled for a Saturday in late November, with 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows at Centennial Auditorium, and tickets priced the same $15, according to Woodlawn Arts Academy. That earlier production also offered a $20 Character Experience ahead of the Saturday matinee, which included the show ticket.
Christy Zepezauer said planning and preparations are well underway for the upcoming production, and she encouraged everyone to attend and support the arts locally, aroundptown.com reported. Woodlawn Arts Academy is a nonprofit 501(c)3 educational organization, according to the organization's own website, and is an agency of the United Way of Whiteside and Lee Counties. The group also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
A Year-Round Arts Program Behind The Show
Beyond the holiday production, Woodlawn Arts Academy says it averages 3,900 registrations per year and presents 18 events annually showcasing student talent, per its about page. The organization offers year-round registration for its various programs, with program details and financial assistance information available at woodlawnartsacademy.com.
