These aren’t your typical sugar plum fairies.

The Island Inspiration All-Stars are presenting their first colorful, zany holiday dance production.

“When ‘The Nutcracker’ meets ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ you get the ‘Roasted Nut,” said choreographer Anthony the Dancer. “I wanted to create something fresh.”

The production runs Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on the Orcas Center main stage. “Roasted Nut” is sponsored by the center, and tickets are $18 at www.orcascenter.org. The All-Stars perform three to four shows a year, and they always sell out.

The show opens with what Anthony calls an “epic” masquerade ball in the Clockwork Castle Doll House with music from “Phantom of the Opera.” The party begins when a stately nobleman comes to reset the clock for the season. As he does so, the mechanical handyman and his dolls suddenly spring to life sparking a joyous celebration among the castle inhabitants. Merriment abounds as Leigh the doll arrives, but time will be cut short if the clock cannot be fixed.

The dancers will be performing against an elaborate set built by islander Dane Steck. Costumes have been created by lead seamstress Christa Frazier.

“Expect to be blown away by everything that they see. The set is going to be the biggest ever created at Orcas Center,” said Anthony.

Anthony has been wanting to do a holiday show unlike any other. The production features his usual fusion of ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop. This year there are aerial performances on silks and 30 young dancers from Tiffany Loney’s youth classes.

The All-Stars are comprised of Hailey Averna, Gail Bulletset, Charles Dalton, Loney, Aristotle Luna, Stephanie Moss, Samantha Martin, Jessica Stahl, River Ocean, Annie Valentine and Sara Joy Palmer. Dancer Leigh Schanfein from New York and magician Matthew Laslo will be joining the cast.

“The goal is always to make the next show better than the last one,” said Anthony. “This is the best we’ve done.”

Mandi Johnson/Staff photo

Mandi Johnson/Staff photo