History of The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker remains a heartfelt holiday tradition. Despite an age when children are dazzled by computer games and electronic gadgets, this holiday classic is still enjoyed around the world. The delightful storyline and charming, imaginative music by Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky, presented with colorful costumes and creative choreography, make The Nutcracker the most popular ballet of all time. Frenchman Marius Petipa, chief ballet master at the Tsar’s Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg, created the ballet in 1892 with a story adapted from a tale by E.T.A. Hoffman. Lev Ivanov, Petipa’s assistant, produced the actual choreography. Today, only the Grand Pas de Deux for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier remain intact, allowing individual dance companies to create their own choreography.

The Story

The Stahlbaum Family prepares for their annual holiday celebration. Clara, the youngest of the children, admires her Mother and Grandmother’s reflections through an ornate mirror, dreaming of growing up to be beautiful and glamorous just as they are. Meanwhile, her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, an eccentric toymaker, gathers the many gifts he has made for the children and sets off to the party. Many guests are arriving, and the holiday merriment begins with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Everyone is dancing and having fun. Drosselmeyer arrives bringing presents for all the children, including Clara who is given a Nutcracker in the image of a soldier. Clara’s brother, the Mischievous Fritz, breaks the Nutcracker, but Herr Drosselmeyer magically mends it. He tells Clara of the enchanting dream the Nutcracker will bring to her. The party ends, and he departs along with the guests.

The kids are sent to bed, but Clara slips downstairs to check on her special Nutcracker doll. As she drifts off to sleep on the sofa, Clara dreams of mice scurrying away with the gifts. Herr Drosselmeyer appears and shows Clara a vision of her older self in the mirror. Drosselmeyer’s magic envelops the entire Stahlbaum house, as all objects begin to grow. The Nutcracker doll comes to life and leads the toy soldiers in a battle against the mice and Herr Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into a prince and magically, Clara becomes a version of her older self.

In Clara’s dream, she joins the Nutcracker Prince in the Land of Snow. During the snowstorm, Clara is separated from her Prince. The Snow Queen allows Clara to pass through the Land of Snow and soon finds her Prince. They happily set off together to the Kingdom of sweets. The Sugar Plum Fairy greets Clara, and the Royal Court comes to life to prepare a banquet of sweets in honor of Clara. Nearing the end of her dream, she is guided through a field of flowers where she waltzes with her prince one last time. Clara is then crowned by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara awakes from her dream on the couch to find her home has returned to normal. A mysterious crown is discovered and placed on Clara’s head.

cast

ACT one - Scene 1 - the party

Dr. Stahlbaum:
Al Gallo

Mrs. Stahlbaum:
Karen Fletcher

Grandfather:
Morrie Chamberlain, Sr. (In Spirit)

Grandmother:
Maria Juanita Pérez Fletcher

Young Clara:
Maika Parry (11/25 & 11/27) Noelle Ajamian (11/26)

Fritz:
Robby Canales

Governess:
Katie Tseng

House Maids:
Madeline Yarnall

Butlers:
Scott Fletcher, Michael Hart

Chef:
LJ Ortiz

Flora the Florist:
Ashlee McFearin

Herr Drosselmeyer:
Gregory Arp

The Parents:
Sebastiàn Campo, Christy Canales, Daniel Cobb, Jennifer Cobb, Richard Condon, Jared Fletcher, Katherine Pressler, Cynthia Hale-Rose

Clara’s Friends:
Victoria Cao, Chloe Kwon, Rylie Lennon, Hanna LaVenture Understudy, Maddilyn Gonzalez

Party Children:
Julianna Bones, Kenley Brown, Anastasia Damico, Nicholas Du**, Bentley Rose Evans, Benjamin Hannan, Ava Jafari, Julianna Kedora, Molly Kesterson, James Kesterson, Elie Kim, Natalia Leal, Jack Lewis, Cora LoCoco, Kayla Lowell, Claire Maynard, Joseph Rose, Aleena Saymeh, Josiah Standifer, Elena Yokoo, Noelle Ajamin (11/25 & 11/27), Maika Parry (11/26)

Ballerina Doll:
Ryan Kenny
Understudy, Claire Hood

Soldier Doll:
Keita Parry

Act One – Scene II – The Battle Scene

Rat King:
Luke Yee

The Nutcracker:
Toby Mattingly

Party Mice:
Emilie Boyer, Beau Butler, Abigail Cleveland, Veronica Colmenares, Audrey Hollaway, Faith Hughes, Evelyn Kardonsky, Avery Looney, Magnolia Lundy, Deepthi Mahalingam, Cora Porter, Magnolia Rheams, Ames Song, Ariana Tang, Caroline Taylor, Claire Tunnell, Aadhya Veeramachaneni, Rika Yoshida

Rats:
Joana Aleksandrova, Carter Dailey, Valentina Ecchevaria, Annabelle McMullen, Allie Medlin, Madison Murtaugh, Frances Wang, Rana Ma
Understudy, Eleanor Craig

Battle Mice:
Abigail Cleveland, Audrey Hollaway, Faith Hughes, Deepthi Mahalingam, Ames Song, Rika Yoshida

Cadets:
Sage Allina, Lily Bayo, Sophia Dailey, Gabrielle Jones, Madelyn Kaiser, Liv Kane, Victoria Leal, Harper Lennon, Alyssa Lowell, Lola Savoie, Arabella Sheehan, Rina Yoshida

Soldiers:
Morgan Bourree, Alexis Braucht, Maya Canales, Maddilyn Gonzalez, Karen Haruvy, Claire Hood, Catalina Mora, Hope Wilhite
Understudy, Arianna Teixeira

Act One – Scene III – The KINGDOM of Snow

Older Clara:
Chloe Lam (11/25 & 11/27)
Isabella Meier** (11/26)

The Nutcracker Prince:
Toby Mattingly

Snow Queen:
Mikayla Smith
Understudies, Anya Donaghy** & Ellie Ikeda

Snowflakes:
Natalie Cieleski (11/26) , Emily DeMotte, Anya Donaghy** (11/25 & 11/27), Ellie Ikeda, Esmé Kim**, Chloe Lam
(11/26), Ava Le (11/25 & 11/27), Rishika Loffreda, Graceanna Mackaron**, Nia McKnight, Isabella Meier** (11/25 & 11/27), SarahAnn Posey, Angelina Tan** (11/26), Lyla Titus, Anna Kelly Zielke*
Understudies: Clara Cravens, Ava Henry, Jaslene Lanza, Grace McIntyre, Maddie Meachum, Mckenna Sumrell, Francesca Tanaka

15 MINUTE INTERMISSION

Act Two – The Kingdom of Sweets

Sugar Plum Fairy:
Tiler Peck

Cavalier:
Tyler Angle

Cake Keeper:
Keita Parry

Pages:
Hannah Daniel, Caroline D’Souza, Presley Smith

Bakers:
Sage Allina, Gabrielle Jones, Molly Kesterson, Emma Koeda, Harper Lennon, Alyssa Lowell, Lola Savoie, Sophia Tang

Cherubs:
Natalia Leal, Kayla Lowell, Lily Rheams, Caroline Taylor, Claire Tunnell, Evelyn Wagley

Angel Cakes:
Anastasia Damico, Evelyn Kardonsky, Julianna Kedora, Cora Lococo, Kira Stone
Understudy, Faith Hughes

Flour Fairies:
Sophia Dailey, Ava Jafari, Victoria Leal, Arianna Teixeira, Gabrielle Varney, Rina Yoshida
Understudy, Noelle Ajamian & Maika Parry

Candy Canes:
Maya Canales, Vicky Cao, Claire Hood, Ryan Kenny, Chloe Kwon, Rylie Lennon
Understudy, Hope Wilhite

Starlight Mints:
Morgan Bourree, Alexis Braucht, Maddilyn Gonzalez, Hanna LaVenture, Catalina Mora, Madeline Yarnell
Understudy, Karen Haruvy

Chocolatiers:
Keita Parry with Anya Donaghy** (11/26 & 11/27), Rishika Loffreda (11/25 & 11/27), Graceanna Mackaron** (11/26), Maddie Meachum (11/25), Nia McKnight, Mikayla Smith
Understudy, Grace McIntyre

Marzipan
Lead Marzipan:
SarahAnn Posey (11/25), Ellie Ikeda (11/26), Emily DeMotte (11/27)

Marzipan Corps:
Natalie Cieleski (11/27), Emily DeMotte (11/26),
Ellie Ikeda (11/25 & 11/27), Esmé Kim**, Isabella Meier** (11/25), SarahAnn Posey (11/26), Lyla Titus

Royal Icing
Lead Royal Icing:
Graceanna Mackaron** (11/25), Rishika Loffreda (11/26), Isabella Meier** (11/27)

Royal Icing Corps:
Natalie Ceileski (11/25), Jaslene Lanza (11/25 & 11/26), Ava Le (11/26 & 11/27), Grace McIntyre (11/26 & 11/27), McKenna Sumrell (11/25 & 11/27), Francesca Tanaka, Ava Henry, Clara Cravens

DollyLollipop:
Morgan Ligon** (11/25 & 11/27) Angelina Tan** (11/26)

Ambrosia Hour:
Weaver Rhodes with Chloe Lam (11/25 & 11/27), Isabella Meier** (11/26)

Mother Ginger:
Jared Fletcher

Her Gingersnaps:
Kenley Brown, Julia Burt, Beau Butler, Avery Looney, Cora Porter, Kennedi Short, Jack Lewis, Josiah Standifer
Understudy, Elena Yokoo & Benjamin Hannan

Waltz of the Flowers

Dewdrop:
Anya Donaghy** (11/25), Chloe Lam (11/26), SarahAnn Posey (11/27)

Roses:
Ellie Ikeda, Rishika Loffreda, SarahAnn Posey (11/25 & 11/26), Mikayla Smith (11/25 & 11/27), Emily DeMotte (11/26), Lyla Titus (11/27)

Flowers:
Natalie Cieleski (11/27), Graceanna Mackaron**, Esmé Kim (11/25 & 11/26)**, McKenna Sumrell (11/26), Lyla Titus (11/25 & 11/26), Francesca Tanaka, Isabella Meier (11/27), Ava Le (11/25 & 11/26), Angelina Tan** (11/27), Emily DeMotte (11/25 & 11/27), Anna Kelly Zielke* (11/26), Isabella Meier** (11/25 & 27), Ava Henry, Grace McIntyre (11/25 & 11/26), Jaslene Lanza (11/27), Nia McKnight, Maddie Meachum
Understudy, Clara Cravens

Sugar Plum Fairy and The Cavalier Pas De Deux†

FINALE

Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier appearing courtesy of New York City Ballet Appearing courtesy of Southern Methodist University Dance Department*

Appearing courtesy of Elite Classical Coaching**

†The performance of The Nutcracker Pas de Deux, an excerpt from the Balanchine ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style ® and Balanchine Technique ® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

2021-2022 Chamberlain Ballet Board of Directors

Kathy Chamberlain, Founder and Executive Director Interim Chip Damico, President
Genevieve Wilson, Vice President
Billy Arnette, II, VP of Finance
Sabrina McKnight, Secretary

At Large Members: Christy Canales, Rebecca LaVenture, Janina Rowland, Christina Ryan, R. Craig Williams

Parisa Khobdeh, Director of Planning and Artistic Development

Missy Shofner, Director of Special Programs

ABOUT CHAMBERLAIN BALLET

Plano-based Chamberlain Ballet was established by Artistic Director Kathy Chamberlain in 1984 to nurture the talent of pre-professional ballet students. Chamberlain Ballet focuses on improving lives in the community through dance productions, advanced dance training, and educational outreach.

Chamberlain Ballet presents a full season of productions and engages leading international artists as guest dancers, choreographers, and master teachers. Chamberlain Ballet provides an excellent pre-professional experience for young dancers, who receive world-class training and performance opportunities as well as volunteer experience through the company’s educational outreach programs.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic year, Chamberlain Ballet initiated a new program, Chamberlain Creates, for its Senior Company Dancers. The program encourages student choreography, with professional dancers who serve as mentors to the DanceMakers. New works were developed during Chamberlain Ballet’s 2020-2021 season, then debuted
in a series of virtual documentaries on-line and on stage for the inaugural Chamberlain Creates 2021 spring production. The tremendous success of Chamberlain Creates led to its continuation beyond the 2020-2021 season and continues to date.

Chamberlain Ballet dancers have gone on to enjoy successful professional dance and artistic careers nationally and internationally. Our former dancers also lead amazing careers in medicine, business, finance, art history, dance education and many more professions.

Chamberlain Ballet is committed to presenting excellent ballet to enrich the North Texas community, enlighten with arts education, and encourage through outreach programs. Our goal is to continue to build on our 38 year legacy, providing dancers and the community Classical Foundations for Life®.

STAFF

Artistic

Founder & Artistic Director:Kathy Chamberlain

Choreographer: George Balanchine†, Catherine Turocy and Katie Martin in collaboration with Chamberlain Ballet Company

Rehearsal Directors: Richard Condon, Sarah Nell Gable, Melissa Reed, Billie Sumera and Luke Yee

†The performance of The Nutcracker Pas de Deux, an excerpt from the Balanchine ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style ® and Balanchine Technique ® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Production

Production Stage Manager & Lighting Designer: Eric Gray

Crew: Members of the technical production crew are provided by Stage Corps, LLC and Show Masters

Wardrobe Mistress: Heather Damico

Set and Prop Supervisors: Melissa James Capper and Tim Capper

Administration

Executive Director Interim: Kathy Chamberlain

Director of Special Programs: Missy Shofner

Director of Planning and Artistic Development: Parisa Khobdeh

Digital and Social Content Manager: Ryan Williams

Artworker and Communications Manager: Ryan Williams

Videographer and Photographer: Ryan Williams

Accountant: Lisa Barry Development Associate: Luke Yee

Relevé Instructor and Administrative Assistant: Jamila Lucas

Shining Stars Instructor: Sarah Nell Gable