Impressed with local production of The Nutcracker

This weekend I had the joy of attending The Wherehouse’s first-ever production of The Nutcracker, and I left genuinely moved by what our community accomplished.

Over the years, I’ve watched this ballet performed in major cities such as Charlotte, Atlanta, and Birmingham. Those productions were beautiful in their own right—but there is something profoundly different about experiencing The Nutcracker in your own hometown. Sitting in the audience recognizing the dancers, teachers, volunteers, and families who poured months of time, energy, and personal sacrifice into this show brought a depth of emotion I wasn’t expecting (I cried twice overwhelmed with beauty)
As someone who danced in MUW’s production for many years—including the honor of performing as Clara—I know the music intimately and understand how demanding this ballet is to stage. For The Wherehouse to build this production entirely from scratch is an extraordinary achievement. Every costume was exceptional, the performance was polished and full of heart, and more than once I found myself in tears at the beauty of it all.

What makes this even more meaningful is that The Wherehouse operates as a nonprofit organization. Their mission is to open the doors of performing arts to more people in our community, and they rely on the support of donors to continue expanding opportunities for local dancers and families. Community members who were moved by this performance—as I was—can help ensure this kind of artistic excellence continues to grow here at home.

Our community should be incredibly proud! This inaugural production wasn’t just a performance—it was a testament to what dedicated local artists and families can create together. My sincere congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this masterpiece to life, especially to Kristen and Aaron!!!

Amy Bogue
Columbus