History
Magic City Performing Arts was formed in the spring of 2021 after the founders and directors of Magic City Nutcracker saw a place in the dance community for a performing arts organization that serves dancers from all backgrounds, provides high-quality instruction, and creates performance opportunities for young and established artists alike. MCPA is passionate about giving back to the Birmingham community through dance and enriching the fabric of the local culture.
The Magic City Nutcracker, the premiere production of Magic City Performing Arts, was established in the winter of 2012 by Kelly Avery, Stephanie Frances, Angel White, and Leslie DuPont, who had a passion for dance, philanthropy, and local arts organizations. Their vision was to create a new version of the traditional nutcracker ballet, where local talent comprises the entire cast. The directors hope to inspire the next generation of artists to pursue their passions and encourage young dancers to support other local arts organizations.
For our 2020 production, during the challenging days of the pandemic, Magic City Nutcracker collaborated with My Arts Kids for its seventh annual production to produce a film adaptation. We are proud to have partnered with this worthwhile non-profit that was established in 2006 by one of our guest artists, Meghan Muncher Schlanger. Meghan is an accomplished dancer, artist, teacher, and philanthropist. In an effort to perpetuate the production during such uncertain times, we filmed scenes in outdoor spaces like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Filming allowed us to manage strict safety practices and give our dancers the opportunity to perform in the most challenging of times. The success of the film—with well over 20,000 views on multiple platforms and viewings at Pepper Place and Sidewalk Film Festival—introduced Magic City Performing Arts to a wider audience.
Magic City Performing Arts was formed in the spring of 2021 after the founders and directors of Magic City Nutcracker saw a place in the dance community for a performing arts organization that serves dancers from all backgrounds, provides high-quality instruction, and creates performance opportunities for young and established artists. As a nonprofit, volunteer organization, MCPA is passionate about growing performance opportunities for our local dance community - for dancers of all backgrounds - and providing outreach to share the art and joy of dance.
In 2022, we added a spring show - Ballet in the Park - performed in the heart of the Magic City at Railroad Park. Local professional dancers, the Magic City Performing Arts production company ensemble and children's community cast performed excerpts from classical ballets and original pieces for a free afternoon of dance, with well over 500 people in attendance.
In our 2022 - 2023 season, we produced our second Ballet in the Park production in April and were delighted to perform a story ballet - The Sleeping Beauty - in May 2022 at the Lyric Theatre. We performed 4 shows with a cast of over 100 from local professionals to young dancers from all across our community.
For our 2023 - 2024 season, we are delighted to celebrate our 10th anniversary of the Magic City Nutcracker, Ballet in the Park, and Don Quixote.
Mission
Magic City Performing Arts is committed to supporting and maintaining the highest quality of artistic vision as a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization using only local community talent and providing a beautiful holiday tradition, the Magic City Nutcracker, along with other performances and outreach events for the city of Birmingham.
