(bright music) - Imagine Ballet Theater is presenting "The Nutcracker" this December at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden.

And here to tell us more about this charming production is artistic director Raymond Van Mason.

Hi Raymond.

Welcome.

So I love your history with this.

Tell us first about your first audition for "The Nutcracker."

- Well, my first audition for "The Nutcracker," I didn't make it into the show because I was not able to be rude to my little sister pretend wise.

And Bené Arnold was like, "No, can't have you."

And so I didn't make it the first year, but I made it the second year.

And then I spent 22 years of my life dancing in Ballet West's "Nutcracker."

17 of those years were as a professional dancer.

- Right, right.

And now you've, I mean, you started your own company how many years ago?

It's been a bit.

- It's been 22 years ago now, and we started our "Nutcracker" 18 years ago.

As we started into different shows with Kurt Bestor and stuff for "Secret Garden."

We decided that "Nutcracker" was the next step for Imagine Ballet Theater.

So we built our own "Nutcracker," and we've been building it over the years now for the past 18 years.

- Wonderful.

And I know you have dancers from age 6 to 63.

- Yes.

We have a quite an age range in the show.

We have dancers that come from down in Orem up to Cash Valley that perform in the show.

There's 180 costumes in the ballet.

- Wow.

So tell me what's unique.

I know you incorporate Ogden into your set.

- Yeah.

Sherry Ferrin is the artist that did the sets for our ballet, and she's, I met her first at Ballet West with her kids, actually, (chuckles) but anyway.

We decided we would paint into the set some historical homes.

- From Ogden?

So wonderful.

Well, I'm sure it's a great production, and thank you for being here, and thank you for starting the company.

Thanks.

- Thank you.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming production of "The Nutcracker" with Imagine Ballet Theater, it runs December 13th to 21st at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden.

Go to ogdenpet.com.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

(bright music)