MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 13, 2011) - The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts and Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) are pleased to announce that Loyce Houltons Nutcracker Fantasy will add an additional performance on Wednesday, December 28 at 6pm! Tickets are almost sold out for the other eight performances and it is recommended you reserve tickets soon.

MDT has also finalized the principal casting for the production and welcomes several distinguished guest artists! Former New York City Ballet principal Charles Askegard, prolific writer/performer Dane Stauffer, Le Ballets Jazz de Montreal's Alexander Hille and dancer/choreographer General MacArthur Hambrick are among those scheduled to appear.

Mr. Askegard, a native Minnesotan, received foundational ballet training at MDT under the direction of Loyce Houlton from the age of five to sixteen. This will be the first time Mr. Askegard has performed in the Nutcracker Fantasy since his departure in 1984. He will be partnering as the Prince/Cavalier with Loyce Houltons granddaughter, Raina Gilliland, in her premiere as the Sugar Plum Fairy. He will perform on December 24th, 26th and at 6pm on the 28th. Mr. Askegard retired from the New York City Ballet in October 2011 and has since founded Ballet Next with Michele Wiles, former principal dancer from American Ballet Theatre.

Dane Stauffer studied at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He has become one of the Twin Cities most prolific writer/performers with dozens of plays produced at the Jungle, Illusion and Cricket Theatres as well as other venues across the country. He received the prized spot on the BBC's "The Pic of the Fringe" for his performance at the Edinburgh Fringe. He will be guest performing in the roles of Judge Silberhaus and the cherished Madame Bonbonniere.

Alexander Hille, originally from Minnesota, graduated with a BFA from The Julliard School in 2011. He has performed repertoire by Merce Cunningham, Larry Keigwin, Ohad Naharin, Mark Morris, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Jose Limon, Aszure Barton, Austin McCormick, Stijn Celis, Benjamin Millipied, Bronislava Nijinska, Alexander Ekman and Eliot Feld. Mr. Hille will be guest appearing in the role of Cavalier to the Queen of Snow.

Director, choreographer and former MDT company dancer General MacArthur Hambrick will be appearing as Professor Ratheimer and in the Arabian Dance. A graduate of Texas Christian University with a BFA in Dance, he also studied at American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Mr. Hambrick was awarded a McKnight Fellowship in 1999 while dancing under the artistic direction of Lise Houlton at Minnesota Dance Theatre. He was also the recipient in 2001 of the Natalie Skelton Achievement Award and a Wyoming Arts Council Performing Arts Fellowship. His musical theatre credits include both the Broadway and National touring companies of Cats, Miss Saigon, Andrew Lloyd Webers Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line and more recently Martha Clarke's acclaimed Garden of Earthy Delights in New York City. He has appeared as guest vocalist along with Della Reese on a PBS special: With Ozzie and Ruby: Life Is. Mr. Hambrick served as director and choreographer of the Centennial Singers, a musical theatre touring group, from the University of Wyoming. General is also the founder and director of the Joyful Noise Choral Ensemble.

Loyce Houltons Nutcracker Fantasy runs for nine performances only, from Friday, December 23 through Saturday, December 31. Tickets are $36 and can be purchased in person at The Cowles Center box office Tuesday Friday 11:00 am 5:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday two hours prior to performances or by phone at 612.306.3600. Tickets can be purchased online anytime at www.thecowlescenter.org.

About Minnesota Dance Theatre

Minnesota Dance Theatre is a non-profit professional dance company and school that brings together classical ballet and contemporary techniques in an all-encompassing dance aesthetic. Founder Loyce Houlton, one of the first American women to gain national and international recognition as a choreographer, teacher and producer, founded the company in 1962. MDT celebrates a deep and personal connection to its past, it is presently flourishing with renewed creativity and energy springing from Lise Houltons artistic leadership. Under her direction, the company and school aspire to maintain the highest international artistic standards, and attract audiences, dancers, choreographers and students from all cultural and economic backgrounds to the art of dance.

About The Cowles Center

The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts is the Twin Cities' newest arts center and the flagship for dance in Minnesota. Centrally located in downtown Minneapolis, The Cowles Center includes the newly refurbished 500-seat Goodale Theater; the Hennepin Center for the Arts, home to 20 leading dance and performing arts organizations; the state-of-the-art Target Education Studio, housing The Cowles Centers distance learning program; and the new U.S. Bank Atrium. The Cowles Center fills the need for a place that is a catalyst for the creation, presentation, education, enjoyment and celebration of dance and the performing arts in the Twin Cities. www.thecowlescenter.org.

Loyce Houltons Nutcracker Fantasy

December 23, 7pm SOLD OUT

December 24, 12pm - SOLD OUT

December 26, 4pm Limited seats available December 27, 2pm - Limited seats available December 28, 2pm - Limited seats available December 28, 6pm NEW SHOW - Seats available December 29, 4pm Seats available December 30, 7pm Limited seats available December 31, 4pm - Seats available

Location: The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts

528 Hennepin Avenue South at 6th Street, Minneapolis

Tickets: The Cowles Center Box Office

612.206.3600

11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Tuesday Friday and Saturday & Sunday two hours prior to performances Online anytime at www.thecowlescenter.org Single tickets - $36 (group discounts available)

Contact: Andrea Tonsfeldt

612.206.3631

atonsfeldt@thecowlescenter.org