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‘Magic Toy Box’ dances into Sebastiani Theatre

Timing is everything, and in the opinion of Patricia O’Reilly, artistic director of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, Leigh Donlan’s timing could not have been more perfect.

  Recently returning to California after a professional ballet dancing and teaching career on the East Coast, Donlan submitted her resume to O’Reilly who was at that time considering how to grant the repeated requests for ballet classes for the adults of Sonoma. 

  Although having been most recently the children’s ballet mistress at the Washington Ballet School, Donlan easily stepped into this role as instructor to the older and wiser dancers of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory’s new adult ballet classes, offered on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

  When O’Reilly hired Donlan, she was in the midst of directing rehearsals for a full-length ballet, “The Magic Toy Shop,” which follows the antics of the delightful inhabitants of an enchanted shop as they come to life to save a pair of Can-Can dolls from a wretched fate: being split apart and sold to two very bratty girls. With one opening in O’Reilly’s cast yet to be filled, Donlan enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to play “Mother” to one of the central, bratty characters of the magical tale.

  “Sonoma is simply beautiful, and to be able to do what I truly love for a living here is a real blessing,” Donlan said.  

  The Magic Toy Shop takes the stage at the Sebastiani Theatre at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19; and Sunday, Nov. 20. 

  Tickets are $22 for adults and $17 for seniors and students with ID. 

  For more information, call 938-1424.

  The Sebastiani Theatre is located at 476 First St. E.