Seven UCS students are eager to take the stage on December 20 in An Irish Nutcracker. The performance will swap out ballet with Irish dancing and classical music with Irish music but will otherwise follow the same classic storyline, complete with holiday charm. 

“Act I starts at Claire’s house, a cottage in Ireland, where Claire’s friends and family gather for an Irish dance party, with traditional group ceili dancing to Irish music,” said Hillary Snook, Associate Artistic Director for the performance. “Act II explores the world of Irish folklore in Tír na nÓg, the ‘Land of Eternal Youth,’ a mythical realm where fairies and mortals are said to live forever.”

Rehearsals for the winter performance began in early September and will continue every weekend up until show day.

“To prepare for this performance, we have been having rehearsals to figure out the choreography. Then, we rehearse it with music to really get it down,” said Hailey Jacobs, Bemis Junior High 7^th grader.

The Utica Community Schools students performing in An Irish Nutcracker are:

Hailey Jacobs, Bemis Junior High – 7^th grade
Emma Mullett, Morgan Elementary – 5^th grade
Meagan Mullett, Eisenhower High School – 10^th grade
Taylor Patterson, Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies, 12^th grade
Scarlett Vincent, Beacon Tree Elementary – 6^th grade
McKenzie Wagner, Eppler Junior High – 9^th grade
Kaylee Wallace, Utica High School – 12^th grade

“This has been an amazing experience,” said Snook. “Our amazing cast this year has put in so much work and I can’t wait to see them all perform on show day!”

An Irish Nutcracker will be performed in Port Huron at the McMorran Place on December 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by following this link. Those interested in volunteering for the performance and have some experience with hair, makeup, costuming or stage setup are invited to contact Hillary Snook.