The Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood is marking the 50th anniversary of its dance program with a new production of “Little Red Riding Hood,” running April 10–12 in the Senney Theater. The one-hour ballet features 93 dancers ranging in age from 7 to 60, with new staging, choreography, and music selections created for this production.

The production takes a lighter approach to the familiar story. The Wolf survives in this version and is welcomed into the community by the end — a deliberate choice by the production team. Associate Director of Dance Melissa Yarur, who serves as director and co-choreographer, said she reviewed approximately 100 children’s books before selecting the subject matter for this anniversary production.

The four principal roles are double-cast, giving performers the opportunity to develop across multiple parts. The production runs approximately one hour with no intermission and is designed for family audiences. Tickets are available through the Beck Center’s website and box office.

Source: National Today / Lakewood