Talent keeps classic 'Nutcracker' fresh
By Ana Paula Höfling for The Honolulu Advertiser

Ballet was meant to be performed to live music. What a treat it was to see Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker" performed with the Honolulu Symphony at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall Friday night.

The conductor, Stuart Chafetz, his eyes on the stage, made sure music and dance worked as one for the entire performance.

Choreographers Tom Pazik and Michael Vernon and director Pamela Taylor-Tongg created a lively first act — colorful, well-rehearsed and featuring the children, especially Marie and Fritz.

The role of Marie (this production's version of Clara) is skillfully played by Makena Miller, a young dancer who also proves to be a talented actor. Marie's brother, Fritz, is played by another talented dancer-actor: the charming and convincing Victoria Carpenter.

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In the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, John Berger profiles 16 year old Mark Tucker, who recently began studying at North Carolina School for the Arts and will be performing in Ballet Hawaii's Nutcracker this year:

http://starbulletin.com/2004/12/16/features/story1.html