Nutcracker Program 2024

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A Magical Tale in Mount Vernon Featuring dancers from Baltimore School for the Arts and TWIGS

Friday, December 6 at 6PM Saturday, December 7 at 2PM & 6PM Thursday, December 12 at 6PM Friday, December 13 at 6PM Saturday, December 14 at 2PM & 6PM Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography by Amy Hall Garner Production Design by Norah Worthington Lighting Design by Natasha Tylea Projection Design by Emilia Cieslak

PRESENTING SPONSORS

CAST

Featuring Dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts and TWIGS*

Act I, Scene I: Mount Vernon Place Act I, Scene II: Blake Family Holiday Party Grace

Phoenix Brown (12/6, 12/14 @2PM) Gwen Dalsimer (12/7 @2PM, 12/12, 12/14 @6PM) Amaris Holloway (12/7 @6PM, 12/13)

Alex Moira Capista (12/7 @2PM, 12/7 @6PM, 12/12, 12/13) Jo’Elle Cole (12/6, 12/14 @2PM, 12/14 @6PM )

Mother Emily Socolinsky

Father Rob Reid

Grandmother Maria Broom

Aunt Dee Patricia Hengen-Shields

Party Parents Amanda Alston, Lisa Berger, Michael Brabazon, Rachel Duffy, Stacy Handler, Christopher Hardy, Kaleb Jenson, Venesa Johnson-Day, Isabella Manalansan, Terrance Poole, Morenike Seaborn ’93, Jill Vasbinder Morrison ’94

Tio Pepe Vendor Devin Scott

Party Children* Anya Conway, Bridget Dugan, Yaminah Jefferson, Caroline Kesler, Trinity McFadden, Harley Simmons, Ibrahim Tajdar

Act I, Scene III: Midnight Magic and Battle Nutcracker Prince

Mac Brabazon (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13, 12/14 @2PM) Terrance Poole (12/7 @2PM, 12/12, 12/14 @6PM)

Rat King Jaylin Gardner (12/6, 12/12, 12/14 @2PM) Kash Scott (12/7 @2PM, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13, 12/14 @6PM)

Big Mice Nevaeh Artson, Parker Fair, Amu Hanks, Violet Skane (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13, 12/14 @6PM) Lakaiela Dolman, Khloe Dudley, Cayla Lee, Brissa Torres (12/7 @2PM, 12/12, 12/14 @2PM)

Lieutenants Lakaiela Dolman, Kayden Sorrell (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13) Nevaeh Artson, Kaleb Jenson (12/7 @2PM, 12/12, 12/14 @2PM) Kaleb Jenson, Kayden Sorrell (12/14 @6PM)

Little Mice* Agnes Anderson, Ariela Beach, Sydney Campbell, Jordyn Green, Sabine Rapp, C’Airrah Stanton, Peyton Wilson

Soldiers* Evelyn Armstrong, Tessa Bohlen, Aria Carr, Jack Delaney, Helen Lin, Piper Schellenbach, Faith Stamper, Lucy Wedekind

*Dancers of the TWIGS Program

Act I, Scene IV: Snow Scene Snow Princess/Prince

Valentina Flores-Briggs (12/7 @6PM, 12/14 @2PM) Gabrielle Gordon (12/6, 12/12, 12/14 @6PM) Edward Lee III (12/7 @2PM,12/13)

Snow Demis Savannah Dugan, Sayyida Ngqondo (12/6, 12/12, 12/14 @2PM) Jayden Roundtree, Kamryn Whittington (12/7 @6PM, 12/14 @6PM) Jyla Price, Sydney Tignor (12/7 @2PM, 12/13)

Snow Corps Kayla Booker, Kayla Castille, Valentina Flores-Briggs, Kendahl Foster, Zoe Franze, Chloe Freeman, Christopher Hardy, Katie Heether, Brielle Miller, Mackenzie Miller, Taylor Peterson, Briana Poston, Kal’el Presley, Rhyan Redmond, Chase Robinson, Summer Seay, Esmae Stillman

Act II, Scene I: Magical Mount Vernon Sunrise Mist

Moira Capista, Kaylen Clark, Amaris Holloway, Dhani Horvath, Egypt Patterson, Kayden Sorrell, Saniyah McNeill (12/6) Noel Absher, Jewel Clayton, Amu Hanks, Amaris Holloway, Grace McCray, Fatima Montes-Greenan, Maggie Zimmerman (12/ 7@2PM, 12/12) Kaylen Clark, Jo’Elle Cole, Dhani Horvath, Saniyah McNeill, Egypt Patterson, Kayden Sorrell, Maggie Zimmerman, (12/7 @6PM, 12/13) Noel Absher, Moira Capista, Jewel Clayton, Amu Hanks, Amaris Holloway, Fatima Montes-Greenan, Grace McCray, (12/14 @2PM) Kaylen Clark, Amaris Holloway, Dhani Horvath, Saniyah McNeill, Egypt Patterson, Kayden Sorrell, Maggie Zimmerman, (12/14 @6PM)

Emcee Moira Capista (12/7 @2PM, 12/7 @6PM, 12/12, 12/13) Jo’Elle Cole (12/6, 12/14 @2PM, 12/14 @6PM )

Fanfare Mikayla Baldwin, Cecilia Park, Briana Poston, Terrance Poole, Cannyn Shelton (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13) Kayla Booker, Kaylen Clark, Tynia Johnson, Summer Seay, Casey Sellers, (12/7 @2PM, 12/12) Mikayla Baldwin, Kaylen Clark, Terrance Poole, Summer Seay, Cannyn Shelton, (12/14 @2PM) Kayla Booker, Cecilia Park, Briana Poston, Casey Sellers, Tynia Johnson (12/14 @6PM)

Shimmer Niobe Paisley and Cece Rybczynski with Jenna Bates, Assata Ebron, Brielle Miller, Sayyida Ngqondo, (12/6, 12/12) London Connolly and Chase Robinson with Zoe Franze, Brielle Miller, Sayyida Ngqondo, Anina Powell(12/7 @2PM, 12/13) London Connolly and Cece Rybczynski with Jenna Bates, Assata Ebron, Brielle Miller, Sayyida Ngqondo (12/7 @6PM) London Connolly and Chase Robinson with Jenna Bates, Assata Ebron, Zoe Franze, Sayyida Ngqondo (12/14 @2PM) Niobe Paisley and Cece Rybczynski with Jenna Bates, Assata Ebron, Zoe Franze, Sayyida Ngqondo (12/14 @6PM)

Spirits Tynia Johnson, Aniya Mayo, Savannah McDaniel, Anina Powell, JaLissa Stevenson, Kash Scott, Ariyanna Wyatt, (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13,) Mikayla Baldwin, Aniya Mayo, Savannah McDaniel, Cecilia Park, JaLissa Stevenson, Kash Scott, Ariyanna Wyatt, (12/7 @2PM, 12/12) Tynia Johnson, Aniya Mayo, Savannah McDaniel, Cecilia Park, JaLissa Stevenson, Kash Scott, Ariyanna Wyatt (12/14 @2PM) Mikayla Baldwin, Aniya Mayo, Savannah McDaniel, Anina Powell, JaLissa Stevenson, Kash Scott, Ariyanna Wyatt, (12/14 @6PM)

Fireworks Tamiara Burns, Kayla Castille, Georgia Harris, Mackenzie Miller (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13) Mac Brabazon, Langston Fortier, Jaylin Gardner, Kal’el Presley (12/7 @2PM, 12/12) Langston Fortier, Jaylin Gardner, Georgia Harris, Kal’el Presley (12/14 @2PM) Mac Brabazon, Tamiara Burns, Kayla Castille, Mackenzie Miller (12/14 @6PM)

Naiads Eve Craven, Gwen Dalsimer, Zorah Jones, Khaleigh McLeod, Casey Sellers, Esmae Stillman (12/6) Tamiara Burns, Georgia Harris, London Love, Julia Marks, Cannyn Shelton, Orla Shiller-Starger (12/7 @2PM) Phoenix Brown, Eve Craven, Zorah Jones, Khaleigh McLeod, Casey Sellers, Orla Shiller-Starger (12/7 @6PM) Tamiara Burns, Georgia Harris, Khaleigh McLeod, London Love, Cannyn Shelton, Orla Shiller-Starger (12/12) Eve Craven, Gwen Dalsimer, Zorah Jones, Julia Marks, Casey Sellers, Esmae Stillman (12/13) Tamiara Burns, Gwen Dalsimer, Zorah Jones, Julia Marks, Casey Sellers,, Orla Shiller-Starger (12/14 @2PM) Phoenix Brown, Eve Craven, Georgia Harris, Zorah Jones, Julia Marks, Esmae Stillman (12/14 @6PM)

Candy Canes Kyla Abrams*, Gavin Archie*, Eden Gainey*, Yaminah Jefferson*, Nadia Green Noel*, Victory Green Noel*, Autumn Paige*, Anslee McKenzie Walters* with Khloe Dudley, Langston Fortier, Dhani Horvath, Cayla Lee, London Love, Egypt Patterson, Violet Skane (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/13, 12/14 @6PM) Khloe Dudley, Dhani Horvath, Zorah Jones, Cayla Lee, Egypt Patterson, Violet Skane, Esmae Stillman (12/7 @2PM, 12/12) Khloe Dudley, Dhani Horvath, Cayla Lee, London Love, Egypt Patterson, Violet Skane, Esmae Stillman (12/14 @2PM)

Waltz of the Flowers Red Rose

London Connolly (12/6, 12/12, 12/14 @6PM) Katie Heether (12/7 @6PM, 12/14 @2PM) Cece Rybczynski (12/7 @2PM, 12/13)

Anemones Zoe Franze, Samara Gosnell (12/6) Isabella Manalansan, Jyla Price (12/7 @2PM, 12/13) Zoe Franze, Chase Robinson (12/7 @6PM) Zoe Franze, Jyla Price (12/12) Samara Gosnell, Niobe Paisley (12/14 @2PM) Samara Gosnell, Isabella Manalansan (12/14 @6PM)

Hydrangeas Jenna Bates, Lisa Berger, Savannah Dugan, Assata Ebron, Kendahl Foster, Chloe Freeman, Gabrielle Gordon, Julia Marks, Savannah McDaniel, Khaleigh McLeod, Anina Powell, Rhyan Redmond, Sydney Tignor, Kamryn Whittington

Lemon Sticks* Campbell Brinkley, Zenobia Green, Elena Jeffries, Sabine Rapp, Chandler Revis, Harley Simmons, Carissa Walls

Sugar Plum Fairy Lisa Berger (12/13, 12/14 @6PM) Samara Gosnell (12/7 @2PM, 12/12) Isabella Manalansan (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/14 @2PM)

Cavalier Christopher Hardy (12/13, 12/14 @6PM) Edward Lee III (12/6, 12/7 @6PM, 12/14 @2PM) Jayden Roundtree (12/7 @6PM, 12/12)

Synopsis of The Nutcracker: A Magical Tale in Mount Vernon Act I: Mount Vernon Place Our story begins in the heart of Mt. Vernon where friends and family meet as they stroll through the streets during a holiday event on a frosty December in 2019.

Close friends and family meet at the Blake family home where they come together for their annual holiday party. Presents, dancing and laughter fill their home until suddenly the eccentric Aunt Dee arrives with wonderful presents for all of the children. The most special gift of all goes to Grace Blake. It is an unusual doll- a Nutcracker!

After the festivities come to a close, the guests go home for the night and the Blake family settle into their beds. An awakened Grace, longing to see her Nutcracker doll, sneaks into the darkened family room. Mice, scurrying to find food, stumble upon the Nutcracker. They taunt and chase Grace with it until Aunt Dee unexpectedly appears. She transforms the Nutcracker doll into a lifesized soldier doll. Outside the footsteps of the Blake family home, a battle begins between toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker and mice led by a Rat King.

Afraid for the Nutcracker’s life, Grace defeats the Rat King by striking him with her shoe. Aunt Dee revives the Nutcracker and transforms him into a real live prince! Aunt Dee and the Nutcracker Prince lead Grace through the falling snow. On their journey, they discover all the magic that surrounds her in her neighborhood.

Act II: Magical Mount Vernon As the sun rises and the mist fades, Grace and the Nutcracker Prince are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Their trusted Emcee guides Grace and the Nutcracker Prince through a dazzling display of culture, creativity, and cuisine in her own neighborhood.

They encounter the fabulous experience of Restaurante Tio Pepe and the Shimmer of musical notes floating through Mt. Vernon from the Peabody Conservatory and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The Egyptian Spirits from the Walters Art Gallery conjure stories from long ago, and exuberant Fireworks from the annual Monument Lighting dazzle the sky. The intriguing Naiad sculpture at Mt. Vernon Park lures them with beauty, and Candy Canes come to life with amusement and fun.

Dancing flowers from the Flower Mart twirl around sweet and tart Lemon Sticks, and the day is topped off with a delightful treat from the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

After seeing the wonders all around them, Aunt Dee safely accompanies Grace back home where all is quiet. Grace is forever changed knowing that magic lives all around her every day!

A Note from Choreographer Amy Hall Garner: Dearest Community Members, It is always a joy to return to Baltimore School for the Arts, and I am especially excited to celebrate our fourth year of presenting The Nutcracker: A Magical Tale in Mount Vernon! Since embarking on this project in 2019, I have had the privilege of witnessing the growth of our students and evolving the production to match their energy and enthusiasm.

I am deeply grateful for the ongoing care and support from everyone involved in this process.

Mounting a production of this magnitude requires a great deal of effort and collaboration, and I am especially thankful to the volunteers and dance families who have dedicated so much time and energy to make this holiday tradition possible.

I hope you enjoy the performances and wish you all a wonderful and joyful holiday season!

Sincerely, Amy Hall Garner

We wish to offer our sincerest gratitude to: BSA Dance faculty and staff members, especially Leah Allen, Samantha Christiansen, Ninel Cherveko and Da’Shown Rawl; Production Manager Julianne Franz, crew supervisors and mentors, and the Stage Design and Production students for working behind the scenes to make this production run smoothly; Norah Worthington for continuing to guide and support this endeavor as it comes into even greater focus; and Executive Director Rosiland Cauthen for supporting this production and believing in the magic we could create together for our school and our city.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and BSA Foundation donors who have ensured this program continues to thrive on stage at BSA; they make sure our dancers and SDP students have snacks and meals; run our concession stand; and keep the ticketing and check-in process moving smoothly.

A big thank you to our incredible guest performers, including Patricia Hengen-Shields and Maria Broom, and our alumni who have returned to the BSA ballroom stage to bring their own stories and generosity to our party scene.

And lastly, many thanks to the dancers for their collaborative work and joy. Your innovative energy and patience helped us take this production to yet another level!

OUR DANCE DEPARTMENT

Leah Allen, Dance Program Manager

Dawkins, Amanda Fair ‘00, Dmitri Malikov, LaTeisha Melvin ‘11, Justin MetcalfBurton, Ronderrick Mitchell, Da’Shown Rawl ‘14, Ashley Spears ‘99, Sofia Tsanova, Anton Wilson

BSA DANCE FACULTY Leah Allen, Iris Andersen Grizzell ’96, Jade Azure-McCarthy, Samantha Christiansen ’91, Ninel Cherevko, Sarah Cincotta-Yan ‘01, Sky Cosby ‘18, Sonia

Teporah Bilezikian, Lawrence Bowie, Andrew Hann, Sage Nielson, Rob Reid, Eduard Rotman, Mark Williams, Susan Wincek

OUR DANCE DEPARTMENT

Iris Andersen Grizzell ‘96, Dance Department Head

ACCOMPANISTS

OUR CHOREOGRAPHER is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, and a graduate of The Juilliard School. Her work receives international praise with commissions by New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Miami City Ballet, ABT Studio Co., Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Carolina Ballet, Collage Dance Collective and many more. Theatrical choreography credits include The Color Purple (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Dreamgirls (Paramount Theatre) and Choir Boy (Yale Repertory Theatre). In 2018, Amy Hall Garner was selected to participate in Alvin Ailey’s New Directions Choreography Lab supported by the Ford Foundation. In addition, Garner was one of the first recipients of the Joffrey Ballet’s Choreography of Color Award (now titled Winning Works). Recently, she created a new children’s ballet titled, Rita Finds Home for The Joffrey Ballet and reimagined Baltimore School for the Arts’ new production of The Nutcracker. Amy is an adjunct professor at New York University’s New Studio on Broadway at Tisch School of the Arts and is the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Choreographer-in-Residence at BalletX.

OUR PRODUCTION STAFF Production Designer: Norah Worthington

SCENIC

Production Manager: Julianne Franz Stage Manager: Simon Bye

Technical Directors: Natasha Tylea and James Weisheit

Assistant Stage Managers: Caelib Brooks and Will Williams

Props Mentor: Jennifer Stearns Crew Chief: Amelia Voos ‘14

Stage Management Mentor: Tess Davis ‘24

Fly: Ethan Rosenberg

COSTUMES

Stage Crew: Evan Applefeld, Ewan Lodge, and Ashley Williams

Resident Costume Designer: Norah Worthington

SOUND

Nutcracker Mask: Chuck Nesci

Sound Engineer: Andrew Gaylin

Wardrobe Supervisor: Neela Stillman

Sound Board Operator: Brigid Tonnessen

Wardrobe: Isabel Hauer

SPECIAL THANKS TO

LIGHTING

India Rome ‘07 for generously donating the Act 2 Drapery

Lighting Designer: Natasha Tylea Light Board Operator: Violet Hale Followspot Operators: Osei Bennu and Keaden Higgs Special Guest Electrician: Ella Bustamante PROJECTIONS Projection Designer: Emilia Cieslak

Baltimore Center Stage for loaning luggage for Aunt Dee Pat Galluzzo and the CCAT Team for always stepping up when needed, and for the imaging and printing work for our newly added set pieces To all of the generous donors who support BSA and TWIGS and help to make these programs possible for Baltimore City kids

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Baltimore School for the Arts Where the arts (and you) change kids’ lives

bsfa.org/give