5-Year-Old Doylestown Ballerina Cast In Major Nutcracker Production

DOYLESTOWN, PA —Doylestown ballet prodigy Georgia “Peach” Birenbaum has landed a role in this year’s professional production of “The Nutcracker” staged by the American Repertory Ballet of New Jersey.

At five-years-old, the kindergarten student from Doyle Elementary is the youngest ever cast in the 65-year history of the production by the ballet.

“It’s wild because this is what she has been working toward. It’s such a big adventure,” said her mother, Darby Birenbaum of Doylestown.

“The Peach” will be appearing in the role of the tiniest mouse when the production is staged at four venues throughout the state of New Jersey from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22.

“She loves being the mouse. She really gets into it. And she lights up on stage with her facial expressions and how she's moving,” relates her mom. “They bring the Mouse King out and he does a dance with his mouse groupies. It’s one of the favorite parts that the audience enjoys watching.

"The coolest thing is that she's up there with professional dancers from American Repertory. And they are amazing dancers," says the Peach's mom.

The show will be performed at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Two River Theater in Red Bank, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton and at the State Theater in New Brunswick. At the State Theater location they will be performing with a live orchestra and a live choir.

Georgia “Peach” Birenbaum pictured in front of Lincoln Center in New York. (Contributed)

The Nutcracker holds a special place in the hearts of both and longtime patrons of the American Repertory Ballet, having become a holiday tradition. Its endearing story, Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score, and iconic choreography create a memorable experience for the audience.

The holiday favorite tells the magical story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a journey, battling toy soldiers and larger-than-life mice, and traveling through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the Land of Sweets. Greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, Clara enjoys a suite of brilliant and joyful dances before opening her eyes to the familiar sights of her home, wondering if it was all a dream.

The celebrated production includes a roster of professional artists plus more than 100 children from the Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet.

“It’s such a magical experience," said the Peach's mom. "It’s a very captivating, well crafted and very engaging production. It really reaches out to the audience. They also have all the cool things for the kids, too. They have light up wands. They have stuffed animals. It’s a great memory and a fun, family bonding experience too.”

The Peach in her mouse costume. (Contributed)

The Peach, who dreams of one day becoming a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, made her Nutcracker debut last year at the age of four with the Roxey Ballet Company of New Jersey. She also played the role of a mouse in that production.

In addition to the Nutcracker and her school work, she takes lessons at the Princeton Ballet School and elevated classes in lyrical and contemporary ballet at Debra Sparks in Newtown. She also takes weekly classes at the School of American Ballet in New York City, which is a prerequisite for joining the New York City Ballet.

Since being cast in the APB Nutcracker, her mom says, “Georgia hasn't miss a beat. She practices every day. You can tell she loves it," says her mom. "She gets dressed up and she’s really into her music. She wants to be like the bigger girls. To her, ballet is her everything. It’s part of her. It's embedded in who she is. When you ask her why she does ballet, she’ll say, ‘It’s because it’s in my heart. It’s part of me.’

“Some people search their entire life for some kind of passion, for something that sparks something inside of them. For the Peach, she’s been dancing since she was 16 months old,” said her mom. "That spark, that passion was immediate."