(EWING, NJ) -- After more than five years away from the venue, Roxey Ballet brings its beloved Nutcracker back to The College of New Jersey's Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater in Ewing — opening Thanksgiving weekend and running through early December, with performances by professional artists alongside dancers, actors, and community members from across Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset, Ocean, and Bucks Counties.
The return marks a milestone moment for the company. Roxey Ballet last performed at TCNJ more than five years ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a state-ordered shutdown of the venue — a closure compounded soon after by the destruction Hurricane Ida brought to the region. In the years since, the company rebuilt from the ground up, and returning to full-scale production at a venue of this caliber was, for a long stretch, more aspiration than plan.
“There were seasons where just finding the energy to keep going was the whole fight,” said Mark Roxey, Founder, Artistic Director, and Executive Director of Roxey Ballet, who choreographs this year’s production. “To bring our dancers, our families, and this community back onto the TCNJ stage for this season’s Nutcracker — it’s not just a comeback. It’s a statement that this company, and this community, are here to stay and our community partner in TCNJ is a big believer. What a win for our community!”
Clara and her friends lead audiences on an enchanting voyage to meet magical mice, giant rats, marching toy soldiers, swirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers, and the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy — with a visit from Santa and his jolly friends along the way. It is a fully professional production, mounted at the scale and polish of a major regional ballet company, and rooted in a cast built from the very neighborhoods that have supported Roxey Ballet for three decades.
Kendall Hall's state-of-the-art house, backstage, and technical capabilities give this year's Nutcracker room to grow — and Roxey Ballet is meeting the moment with its highest production values to date. Audiences can expect elaborate, hand-built sets, brilliant original costuming, and Mark Roxey's full-length choreography performed by a cast that blends Roxey Ballet's professional company artists with dancers, actors, and community members drawn from towns across Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset, Ocean, and Bucks Counties.
Performances open Thanksgiving weekend, November 28-29, and continue December 4, 5 and 6, 2026.
On Friday, December 4 at 10:00am, Roxey Ballet will present its Sensory-Friendly, relaxed performance of the Nutcracker — a modified version of the production designed for children and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities, with adjusted sound and lighting and a welcoming, judgment-free house. It's part of the company's long-standing commitment to making professional dance accessible to every child in the community, regardless of ability.
Families can also extend the celebration with the Nutcracker “Suites” and Tea Party, a festive afternoon of sweets, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate alongside characters from the ballet, featuring performances by Roxey's professional artists, photos and autographs, storytime with the Sugar Plum Fairy, and a Nutcracker-themed dance class for young guests.
The move to TCNJ reflects a broader strategy for the company's next chapter. Roxey Ballet intends to produce the majority of its mainstage performances at TCNJ going forward, using the venue's expanded seating and technical resources to reach new audiences throughout central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. At the same time, Roxey Ballet continues its treasured partnership with Villa Victoria, where it will present productions throughout the year — ensuring the company's intimate, community-rooted performances remain a fixture alongside its growing mainstage presence.
“This isn't about leaving anything behind,” Roxey added. “It's about giving this company — and this region — the stage its artists and its audiences deserve, while keeping Roxey Ballet exactly what it has always been: professional, community-built, and open to every family who wants to be part of it.”
Established in 1995 and based in Frenchtown, N.J., Roxey Ballet is a professional contemporary theater-ballet company under the artistic direction of Founder Mark Roxey. Now in its 31st season, the company is committed to igniting artistic and cultural excellence through professional performances, community residencies, and educational programs that bring dance to underserved populations, including students and artists with significant disabilities. Roxey Ballet is co-founder of Mill Ballet School in New Hope, Pa., and its programs are supported in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and other regional and national partners.
