Meanwhile, back at the North Pole: 'Once Upon a Christmas Eve' tells that story

By the time the annual holiday parade winds through and lights up downtown Abilene, "The Nutcracker" has come and gone.

But a float from Patty Harper Dance Studio reminds spectators that a major stage production still is to come - "Once Upon a Christmas Eve."

For the 14th year, the original production will presented, again at the Abilene Convention Center. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday.

The production was not presented to the general public in 2020 because the facility was closed when all entertainment-related venues were shut down. The studio reopened when that was alowed.

However, Patty Harper owner Mary Milstead said, the show had to go on. She had dancers who had worked for years to land a key role, including the Crystal Princess, before they aged out. It was not fair to them to take that away, Milstead said.

But to the rescue came the Clyde High School principal, who offered use of Huff Performing Arts Center there.

"We packed up everything," she said. That meant rolling up the huge nonslip floor at the North First Street studio. "They had worked so hard. We were determined we were going to make it work, and parents were so happy."

She paused.

"So happy to get those kids out of the house," she said, laughing about having one class after another in the studio. "Even for an hour."

The other Christmas story

This is a story written, directed and choregraphed by Milstead. It's in two acts, the first set on Fifth Avenue in New York City and the second at the North Pole.

Milstead has a history with "The Nutcracker," having previously been at Abilene Ballet Theatre.

"'The Nutcracker' is the Christmas ballet," she said. "After 45 years of 'Nutcracker,' I wanted to do something in which more styles of dance could be involved.

"The juices started flowing. I had a little idea and it built and built and built. The first performance that we had is quite different from the performance that we have today. It's gotten bigger and bigger and bigger. We've had this discussion that I need to stop."

She had employed technology, including making it snow inside the Convention Center.

"Arabella and her mother are walking home on Fifth Avenue - they live in the tunnels of New York City - and it starts snowing," Milstead said. The first time, the snow was more like shaving cream dripping from a giant razor in the sky. "We had to readjust the knobs on the machines."

The productions involve about 150 dancers, she said. Key roles are double cast.

"From age 6 to beyond age 60," she said.

The older dancers likely took classes back in the day at the 56-year-old studio.

"They love it. We call them Tap Dancing Junkies," she said. "They meet on Wednesday night and do their class. They actually have a performance piece."

Saint Nicholas?

Nicholas Mesa is a guest male dancer. He lives in Yuma, Ariz., and has been in 12 of the previous shows.

He followed his older brother, Jared, to this show and into the role of Crystal Prince; Jared Mesa, today is assistant artistic director of Western Arkansas Ballet, first came to Abilene was a guest performer in "The Nutcracker."

When Milstead ventured onto her own show, Jared Mesa agreed to dance with her girls.

"And through him I met Nick," she said

"He could be dancing in 1,000 'Nutcrackers' but he puts this show first," Milstead said. "He always saves this weekend for me."

His primary role is that of the Crystal Prince. The Crystal Prince and Princess are in charge of the North Pole when Santa is out doing his thing. And Mrs. Claus is not there, either.

While Mesa is back year after year, his princesses change.

"This year, I was realizing these girls who are doing the lead roles, when I started dancing here, they were in the youngest roles," he said, referring to Snow Babies.

He enjoys the "excitement the dancers put into their rehearsals and what they are doing, it would draw anyone in," he said.

He noted the work that goes in year after year as the young girls aspire to dance a big-girl role.

"It gives them a goal, and builds a strong character," Mesa said.

Experiences for a lifetime

Rehearsals begin Oct. 1 and go pretty much nonstop, Milstead said.

"Their work ethic is absolutely insane," she said. This is their chance to do a pas de deux - a dance with a male. Milstead said there is a class for that in August to prepare them.

Recently, she covered the mirrors at the studio with wrapping paper so the dancers will stop watching themselves. The paper depicts sloths. Hundreds of sloths peering big-eyed at the dancers.

Milstead told the girls to pretend the sloths are the audience, and to dance for them.

"When the season starts, I absolutely love how excited these children are," she said. That includes dancing to classical Christmas music and the seeing which role has been earned.

"They know Mariah Carey but they don't know that classical music," she said. "When the cast list comes up, you can hear cheers. It pumps you up, no matter what you're feeling.

"It really gets you in the Christmas spirit."

Most of the girls will not dance after their final high school year, though Mesa noted it seems as if one each year carries forth, perhaps in theater.

If not, Milstead said, "We are building strong audiences for the next generation coming up,"

If You Go

What: "Once Upon a Christmas Eve," from Patty Harper Dance Studio

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday

Where; Abilene Convention Center, 1100 North Sixth St.

Tickets: $25 for adults and $10 for youths age 12 and younger. Go to pattyharperdance.com for information

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Meanwhile, at the North Pole: 'Once Upon a Christmas Eve' tells that story