Aubrey Whittington has mixed feelings about directing her Outer Limits gymnasts in her final production of “The Nutcracker.”
She said she’s sad to see the longtime tradition coming to an end but proud of her hard-working, talented gymnasts.
“I have such a talented group of girls to do it with this year,” said Whittington. “I said, ‘This is it, and if I am ever going to do it a final time, I’ve got the right girls to do it.' They are just wonderful.”
The performance will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Leflore County Civic Center. Tickets will be available at the door — $10 for adults and $5 for children. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Leflore County Humane Society.
“The main thing is the community. This is those girls’ gift to the community and for the animals,” said Whittington.
The performance will feature a mix of ballet and gymnastics.
“We don’t do a lot of ballet, but it is incorporated with gymnastics. They have to know classical ballet body positions for floor. They’re in it anyway, so we decided to do ‘The Nutcracker,’” said Whittington.
Whittington has coached gymnastics in Greenwood for more than 40 years. During that time, she has directed and choreographed about 15 “Nutcracker” performances. The previous production was about five years ago.
Whittington hand designs all of the props for the event, and she sews all of the costumes.
Forty-plus girls, averaging about 8 years old, have parts in the performance, and several have multiple roles. Whittington designs each costume, from the Sugar Plum Fairies to the Mouse King.
She said it takes years to prepare for “The Nutcracker.”
“It’s extremely time consuming,” Whittington said. “I don’t go to bed until 10 o’clock, and I wake up at 5, and I’m sewing.”
The children of Outer Limits have been practicing the choreography for the Christmastime production since August.
“These children are so proud of themselves. They are wonderful. You cannot image working with such talented children,” said Whittington.
While helping dress some of the Outer Limits gymnasts in costumes she just recently fitted before a Saturday morning rehearsal, Whittington said, “This is what is called the final curtain, lights out.”
“It will have some great moments. It’s just Greenwood’s little “Nutcracker” — nothing more, nothing less.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
