Houston Ballet - Vol. 5-Issue 3

HoustonBallet

WELCOME

FIRST POSITION

A close look at the climactic grand pas de deux of The Nutcracker with Houston Ballet’s newest Principals ; discover the magic of Student Matinees; a break down of the Snow Queen’s icy threads; and Houston Methodist and Houston Ballet Academy talk pointe training

Welcome!

Dear Houston Ballet friends, Welcome back to the theater for another magical season of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker! This holiday performance continues to be an annual favorite at Houston Ballet, and I’m so glad you’ve decided to join us this year.

The Nutcracker has been a long-standing tradition for Houston Ballet, with Stanton Welch introducing his decadent version in 2016. From an elegant party to a lively battle, The Nutcracker tells a timeless story that has delighted audiences for decades. Whether you’re a Houston Ballet regular or a first-time attendee, this production will captivate you through a wide array of vibrant scenes and endearing characters.

Although The Nutcracker marks the final performances of 2022, our season is far from over. We continue in February with spectacular shows of Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet, the tragic tale of love and loss set to a rich score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.

As our season progresses, our Company is excited to bring you a series of dynamic mixed repertoire shows, highlighting the strength and versatility of our artists. Two highly anticipated world premieres wait in the wings. Celebrated choreographer Cathy Marston creates for our Company for the first time, debuting her interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ classic Summer and Smoke in March. Accompanying Marston’s

debut is Welch’s worldwide favorite, Clear, and the Balanchine classic Concerto Barocco, which is making its return following its first Houston Ballet performance in 1971.

Following Summer and Smoke, Tony Award-winner Justin Peck, whose choreography was featured in the 2022 Academy Award-nominated remake of West Side Story, returns to Houston for his second world premiere created on our talented artists. Alongside Peck’s new work is Welch’s Divergence and Aszure Barton’s Angular Momentum, a stunning piece with a nod to Houston’s prominence in the world of space exploration.

The 2022-23 season’s grand finale is none other than Welch’s spectacular Swan Lake, set to the masterful music of Tchaikovsky. Swan Lake has long been considered a staple for any company, and Welch’s lavish version of this popular ballet is not to be missed.

Without your long-standing support, this season and the ones to follow would not be possible. Our Company is honored to continue sharing the joy of ballet with you, and I can’t wait to see you in the theater next year.

Houston Ballet

Houston Ballet Board President

Demi Soloist Natalie Varnum. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

Welcome!

Dear Houston Ballet friends, On behalf of Houston Methodist, welcome to this performance of Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Houston Methodist is proud to once again serve as the Presenting Sponsor for this breathtaking production of a true holiday favorite by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch. This production is choreographed by Welch – one of the most internationally renowned ballet choreographers. The production features lavish sets and costumes by designer Tim Goodchild. Houston is an international city, and we’re fortunate to have a production of The Nutcracker of this caliber to prove it.

For more than 100 years, Houston Methodist has worked to provide high quality health care in a spiritual environment of caring to all patients. Our system includes eight hospitals in the Houston area – with our ninth under construction in Cypress. This year, Houston Methodist Hospital, our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center, was named to U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious Honor Roll and recognized as the No. 1 hospital in Texas for the 11th year in a row.

We are proud to be the official health care provider for Houston Ballet, and we understand the importance of the arts to the city of Houston and keeping our artists healthy. Through our Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM), Houston Methodist provides more than 2,000 amateur and professional artists with access to more than 100 elite physicians committed to treating the specific needs of performing artists so they can do what they do best – enrich the lives of Houston audiences.

Thank you for coming, and please enjoy the performance.

MARC L. BOOM, MD President & CEO Houston Methodist

Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

Romeo & Juliet Feb. 23-March

Generously underwritten by Melza and Ted Barr

It Takes Two

A look at The Nutcracker’s climactic grand pas de deux

By Nancy Wozny

THE MOST CHERISHED CULMINATION in classical ballet is the grand pas de deux. “It’s the final conclusion, what we are waiting for,” explains Chase O’Connell. “It’s also a feeling that we made it to the end,” adds Beckanne Sisk. As seasoned performers and Houston Ballet’s newest principals, real-life couple O’Connell and Sisk are well versed in all things pas de deux.

Meaning “step of two,” the pas de deux

form dates back to the 18th century, but the grand pas de deux form that today’s audiences are familiar with harks back to the 19th century and the great French choreographer Marius Petipa, who is considered the most influential of ballet masters and choreographers. While it’s also a dance for two performers like its pas de deux predecessor, the grand pas de deux is typically expanded into five parts: the entrée, the adagio, two

Principals Connor Walsh and Yuriko Kajiya. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

SPOTLIGHT p. 10 | ANATOMY OF A SCENE p. 11 | EN POINTE p. 12 | UPLIFT p. 13

variations, and the coda, and is an ideal vehicle to showcase the skills of the dancers.

The Nutcracker grand pas de deux is also a rite of passage for any dancer moving through the ranks of classical ballet. “It is often a dancer’s first pas de deux, but it is also very difficult,” says O’Connell. Even though The Nutcracker is the most performed ballet, Sisk also acknowledges the pressure. “So much is happening and then suddenly you and your partner are alone on stage and everyone’s eyes are on you,” she says. “It’s so quiet. I feel the nerves and the excitement every time.”

The way that Stanton Welch situates the pas de deux in his version of The Nutcracker is particularly impactful. A stickler for a cohesive narrative, Welch places Clara at the center of the dramatic arc. So, you might wonder how the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince fit into this scenario. The answer: Perfectly! In Welch’s clever ballet, it’s Clara’s mission to reunite the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince.

“In a lot of versions, the Sugar Plum

SPOTLIGHT

GRAND PAS DE DEUX 101

In Act II of The Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Nutcracker Prince come together for the peak of the show - a grand pas de deux. This dance for two performers is typically broken into five parts:

ENTRÉE

An entrance with great pageantry denoting the start of the dance suite; the Sugar Plum Fairy and Nutcracker Prince are flanked by Sugar Plum Attendants for their entrance.

ADAGIO

The adagio, meaning slowly, features elaborate partnering; the Sugar Plum Fairy’s elegantly slow and sustained movements are supported by the Nutcracker Prince’s effortless strength.

Cavalier only comes at the end, but in this version, he’s the Nutcracker Prince who is with Clara. She takes him to the Kingdom of Sweets,” O’Connell remarks on Welch’s framing of the production. “It’s not just the dance; it’s the story.” And sometimes it’s the details that make a pas de deux memorable. “One thing I really loved about this production is that Sugar Plum comes with attendants, so it feels like you aren’t alone. You can interact with people on stage,” explains O’Connell. Sisk adds,

2 VARIATIONS

Once the adagio is complete, each dancer performs a solo; first up, Nutcracker Prince with spectacular acrobatic leaps while the Sugar Plum Fairy spins to her iconic celesta tune.

CODA

The concluding dance of the grand pas de deux; containing elements from the previous sections, Nutcracker Prince kicks off the coda and is joined shortly by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“One of my favorite parts is getting to walk off with the girls. I love that.”

As partners both on and off the stage, Sisk and O’Connell cherish opportunities to dance together. “It’s so nice because we know each other so well, that I can tell when she’s a bit nervous or excited,” O’Connell says. “I can tell what’s going on before anything even happens.” Such an intuitive connection is sure to shine through as these two tell the story of Welch’s The Nutcracker through this timeless grand pas de deux.

An Afternoon Muse

The Nutcracker Student Matinees continue to inspire a lasting love of the arts for the new generation

By Jasmine Fuller Cane

FOR THREE BUSTLING AFTERNOONS

this December, students venture out of the classroom and into the theater only to be whisked away on Clara’s journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. An annual tradition, these special Student Matinee performances of The Nutcracker offer greater Houston-area scholars of all different ages and backgrounds the opportunity to connect with the performing arts.

With a magical growing Christmas tree, an epic battle, and the miracle of snow in Houston, the spectacle of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker never ceases to induce a collective wow! from young audiences. Its grandiose set paired with Welch’s easy to follow story and plethora of hidden surprises make The Nutcracker the perfect starter for students whetting their ballet appetite.

“I don’t care whether you’re a first-

timer or an old-timer,” says Marian Wilfert Beauchamp, an avid Student Matinee supporter alongside husband Gary since 2017. “I love The Nutcracker, and kids love it too, because it’s such a magical time.”

While Welch’s larger-than-life production hooks students, Houston Ballet’s elite dancers and musicians reel them in for an unforgettable experience. Topping it off is a special interactive intermission led by Lauren Anderson. The curtain remains raised for the brief switch of sets, uncovering The Nutcracker’s innerworkings.

Exposure to the arts is key to developing a love and appreciation, which supporter Gary Beauchamp can attest to. After moving to New York as an adult, the memory of hearing symphonic excerpts in elementary school sparked his interest to visit the symphony – and

the rest is history as the Beauchamps have been Houston Ballet subscribers for over 20 years.

“Even if they don’t develop a hobby or career, at least there’s an appreciation or awareness,” Gary says. “And when they’re an adult, then it might rekindle their interest too.”

Whether students connect with the the dancers’ artisty, incredible score, or fast-paced behind-the-scenes, Student Matinees are sure to leave their mark on the next generation.

Houston Ballet thanks Marian Wilfert Beauchamp and Gary V. Beauchamp, Chevron, H-E-B, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Shell, and The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation for their support of Student Matinees.

Star of the Snow

In

By Kate Wood

WHILE EVERY BALLET COMPANY PRESENTS a slightly different version of The Nutcracker, most every production closes Act I with a wintry snow scene. Stanton Welch’s elaborate retelling of this holiday favorite is no different; complete with dancing snowflakes and a court of frosty attendants, Welch’s snow scene boasts one of the most striking figures in the entire production: the regal and elegant Snow Queen.

Though she leaves most of the dancing to Clara and the snow flurries, the Snow Queen’s imposing presence ensures that she remains a central focus throughout the snow scene. Head of Costumes

Sandra Fox explains that the Queen’s costume helps her stand out in the sea of silvery white.

“In costuming, we always try to extend the dancer’s lines,” says Fox. “The Snow Queen wears a long collar that extends the lines of her neck, and then she has a crown on top of that. It makes the dancer appear taller than she is; she commands attention.”

In addition to her eye-catching costume, the Snow Queen makes her mark as a vital figure in the ballet’s storyline. As Clara, Drosselmeyer, and the Nutcracker Prince begin their quest to find the Sugar Plum Fairy,

they find themselves in an icy forest, which provides a magical segue into the Kingdom of the Sweets. The Snow Queen acts as their guide, pointing them in the right direction on their voyage.

“The snow scene is the first truly magical scene of the show. It transports you from reality to a whole other world, and the Queen is kind of the key to that world,” says Fox.

The snow scene may mark the end of Act I, but it also signifies the beginning of an otherworldly journey for both dancers and audience members. As Fox describes it: “Once the snow starts to fall, the magic really starts.”

STATELY SCEPTER

Standing at an impressive 7 feet and 2 inches tall, the Snow Queen’s elegant staff towers over every person on the stage. Its spiky silver top features acrylic pieces melded into icy spikes, which stand out sharply amongst the staff’s other embellishments: small ornaments, deconstructed horsehair, sequins, and glitter.

GLITTER GALORE

Using strips of neutralcolored wig lace and lots of double stick tape, the Snow Queen adheres a row of glittering silver gemstones to each cheekbone. “She uses plenty of glitter on her face and wears a sparkly lip; we want her face to reflect the stage lighting so she looks icy and shines onstage,” says Fox.

HEAVY IS THE HEAD

Weighing in at around 3 pounds, this dazzling crown is larger than your average headpiece. “The challenge is trying to balance the vision of the design with wearability,” says Fox. “This crown is heavy, but it’s also very well balanced, so it works.”

AN ICY ILLUSION

Made from layered silver netting with lots of embellishment designed to reflect light, the Snow Queen’s sparkling cape trails behind her throughout the scene. “The cape is transparent, yet you know something is there,” says Fox. “It’s part of her mystique; it’s like she’s dragging an icy path behind her.”

Principal Soo Youn Cho and Artists of Houston Ballet.

Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

a flurry of dancing snowflakes, the Snow Queen’s stately presence commands focus during The Nutcracker’s magical snow scene

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Take a closer look at the foot exercises budding ballerinas must master before they get their first pair of pointe shoes.

The Pointe Process

THE PENCIL TEST

A quick way to determine if the ankle has enough motion for pointe work, the pencil test involves laying a pencil flat along the bottom of the shin bone while the dancer points their foot. This test ensures the dancer has enough ankle plantar flexion.

DOMING

With their feet flat on the floor, the dancer must arch their foot without curling their toes, using solely the strength from the back of their foot. This exercise ensures the correct activation of the lumbrical muscles in the front of the foot.

Lower School Principal Beth Everitt and Houston Methodist’s Dr. Kevin Varner talk pointe preparedness and the importance of a young dancer’s physical strength

As the Lower School Principal, you supervise young dancers around the age they typically begin pointe work. Can you walk me through Houston Ballet Academy’s pointe process?

Beth: Starting in the Intermediate Level, we have a protocol for monthly formal pointe assessments. We observe students in class, and then send them an email with the results of their pointe assessment, kind of like a report card. If a dancer gets a ‘green’ result, they’re ready for pointe, if they get a ‘yellow’, there’s certain skills they need to improve on, and a ‘red’ indicates they aren’t ready for pointe just yet. What we’re looking for is progress; we want them to improve each month. The assessment takes the emotion and subjectivity out of it; it’s a tangible goal.

As a physician, what do you consider to be indicators that a dancer is strong enough to support themselves and ready to dance en pointe?

the only indicator of a young dancer being ready to start dancing en pointe.

If a ballet dancer is looking to build strength in anticipation of moving en pointe, which exercises or stretches would you recommend she perform?

Dr. Varner: Some useful exercises include doing a 4-way ankle stretch with a Theraband, heel raises with a ball, toe yoga, side plank with clamshell, single leg Romanian deadlift, glute bridges, lateral walks, and curtesy lunges. Dynamic stretching is preferred over static stretching. I cannot overstress the importance of a great athletic trainer or physical therapist that are skilled in dance medicine. I could not do what I do without the great communication I have with Carina Nasrallah and Leanne Wonesh at Houston Ballet.

SCISSORS & PIANO TOES

For the piano toe exercise, the dancer must move each toe individually, and for the scissor toe exercise, they must attempt to control the movement of just their big toe while the other four remain still. These two exercises improve the overall strength of the foot, sometimes referred to as the foot intrinsic muscles.

Dr. Varner: I rely heavily on the dancers’ ballet instructors and athletic trainers, especially the ones at Houston Ballet, given their years of experience. From a physician’s perspective, we evaluate strength in the lower extremity muscle groups; not just the ankle, but also the hips and core. The dancer needs to have enough ankle and foot motion to get the foot in the proper position for pointe work, but also to satisfy the aesthetic for ballet. In addition, the dancer needs to have adequate ankle stability, as well as a certain level of dance maturity; physical strength is not

In your opinion, what makes a dancer going en pointe such a significant moment in their ballet career?

Beth: Going en pointe is such a rite of passage. I think the day I got my pointe shoes, I slept in them! Pointe shoes are what real, professional ballerinas dance in; it’s like the first time they get to wear a platter tutu. The Academy students rehearse in the third-floor studios, and I always tell them when they’re en pointe, they’re three inches closer to being in the Company studios on the fifth floor! I think that inspires them and makes them feel like they’re one step closer to becoming a professional dancer.

Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

EN POINTE

The search for inspiration stops here!

When you support Houston Ballet, you open a world of possibility to the young dancers of The Nutcracker. Support us this holiday season, so we can build bigger, create bolder, and imagine greater!

Principal Karina González and First Soloist Christopher Coomer.

Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

The Nutcracker

Based on Stanton Welch’s holiday ballet SYNOPSIS BY D.L. GROOVER

This performance lasts approximately two hours.

There will be one intermission lasting twenty-five minutes.

Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Costume and Scenic Design by Tim Goodchild

Lighting Design by Lisa J. Pinkham

Projection Design by Wendall K. Harrington

Houston Ballet Orchestra conducted by Ermanno Florio, Simon Thew, and Richard Bado

World Premiere: November 25, 2016 by Houston Ballet in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas.

This year’s performances are dedicated to Patsy Chapman for her decades of service to Houston Ballet and the Nutcracker Market.

he night outside the Stahlbaum house on a German Christmas Eve, Blows and blusters, and cracks its cheeks. Yet, inside, warm within her room, Sweet Clara glows with make-believe.

Feisty Fritz with doggy Heinz bounds in to misbehave, But is stopped mid-prank by stern Housemaid, who controls with haughty wave.

“Put away those toys, and wash your hands. Prepare for the party below.” Beloved toys are whisked away, ears all cleaned, all ready to go.

Oldest Louise, fresh as the spring, the fairest girl of all, Fusses and primps for she firmly intends to be the only belle of the ball.

Mother and father have gifts to bestow: For lovely Louise, a corsage for romance, Pointe shoes for Clara who loves to dance, Tin trumpet for Fritz, that will blurt, and screech, and blow.

What do you think then happens next, no sooner than family leaves? The toy chest bursts open all by itself, and out tumble toys like sheaves!

For it’s Christmas tomorrow and toys must prepare For greedy small hands who don’t want to share. The toys will be prodded and dragged on the floor, Squished in love and then squished even more.

Downstairs, the Stahlbaum party guests delight in punch and feast on ox, While Clara dances a solo dance within her Magic Theater Box.

The window blows open in icy gust, but when Clara rushes to close it, Who should appear in burst of snow whose frigid swirls expose it?

Upon my snowflake, it’s Drosselmeyer! Europe’s mystery magic man, Here at the party to amaze and bewitch with his very own Magical Caravan.

His ghostly troupe relates the tale of Soldier Brave who loves Princess Fair. But mean old King, in love himself, turns Soldier to wood with oak-like hair.

But so in love, the princess grieves, whose tears enchantments wring. They fall upon the weaselly man and just like that – rat á la king.

But what’s the ending, Clara cries, for the wizard will not say. Instead he gives the children gifts, meant for another day.

To Louise, a crown; to Fritz, a sword; To Clara, a Nutcracker she adored.

The little toy is strong and brave, and Clara laughs with glee; But jealous Fritz is not amused and breaks it on his knee.

The conjurer knows just what to do and heals with surgical ease; He puts doll high, high on a shelve. Out of your reach, Fritz, if you please.

Sketches by Tim Goodchild

The party’s over, a great success, but Clara sneaks down when all’s asleep. What does she find at midnight’s strike? A bunch of rats, who gnaw in a heap.

Her toys search high, her toys search low, but the Nutcracker is out of sight. Clara knows just where he is, but is stumped on her high-climb flight.

Out of the clock, magician appears and puts Soldier under the tree. With mighty flourish he casts his spell, and wonders of magic explode to see.

Wow-filled eyes have never seen such marvels befall such evergreen. The tree grew and grew, and grew with a roar, then burst through the roof and grew some more.

The house did shake, roof flew apart; but still tree grew, no end to its start. It pierced the clouds and grazed the moon. Slow down, old tree, are you a balloon?!

The magic was strong, the magic worked well; not only did tree and toys grow pell-mell. For the spell had wakened ratty hearts, whose needle-sharp teeth did sprout like darts.

The rats grew fat, they grew like a sneeze, they eyed the toys like the toys were cheese. The rats fought the toys, their numbers depleted; rag dolls unstuffed, hobby horses unseated.

Against the rodents the Nutcracker stood, brave Clara by his side, Then Rat King entered the fray at last, on little rat feet in little rat stride. He stomped, he fumed, he threw a fit; an ill-mannered little boy. “How dare mere girl and toy of wood end my reign, squeaky realm destroy.”

He led from behind, so like a rat. Let others fight, all bullies do that.

But Clara would not stand for such tantrum on display. She snatched his crown, bopped him one, and sent him on his way.

Dispatched to his room without any dinner; minus his crown, no longer a winner. He fussed and whined, the short mousy bruiser, complained all the way, a very sore loser.

With Rat King defeated, eeww, what a smell; but strong little Clara had broken the spell. The wood of the doll changed into flesh, and there in all glory stood Brave Prince afresh.

The Prince was sad as he looked around for Princess Fair was not to be found. Let us find her, said Clara so bold. So off on their trek, so into the cold.

The wind did blow, the snow did blind, but they were determined, so never mind. Though toes were numb and fingers frozen, this was the path the trio had chosen.

But then to their rescue came a vision, a dazzle of white in icy precision. The Queen of Snow, in diamond-white glaze, snowflake-encrusted, icicles ablaze.

As Clara relates the battle’s uprise, the Queen’s heart melts at Rat King’s demise. She shows the way, inside the tree, to the Land of the Sweets where Princess will be.

Sweet, indeed, was what they discovered: angels, and insects, and men, candy-covered. Sugar is sweet, but, my, what a sight...the Princess as Sugar Plum, what a delight!

United at last with his love once thought lost, Prince and Plum are sweetly embossed. But wait, what’s that scratching, that gnawing where at? What is that smell? I smell a rat!

King Rat has returned, not defeated at all, still stinky and mean, and still three feet tall! He means to do menace, he means to do harm, but Clara forgives him, such is her charm.

In honor of kindness, the people rejoice, and celebrate loudly in sweet candy voice.

Ambassadors from far and wide, shower the three with gifts Yuletide. The Spanish click in and bring their own bull, with fiery flamenco in chocolate mouthful. Arabs with lion have coffee to serve, spicy and hot, an oasis hor d’oeuvre. With dragon and panda the Chinese parade, presenting their hosts with tea green as jade.

They may be big, and they may scare you, but Russians love sweets like teddy bears do. Their candy canes are sugar and lick-able, striped in red, their color political. Sleek as wolves, the Danes strut on. Their sweetmeats are almonds: Copenhagen chiffon. Sailors and bull dog from England appear, with sticky apples of toffee into mouths to smear. France leaps in on froggy strong tread, and Louie’s sweet bon bons will assure him his head.

Ensconced on the throne, with scepter and crown, Clara is Queen in bright-candy gown. The Prince and his Princess are married at last. Clara waltzes with flowers, her troubles long past.

But something’s not right, what’s that in the air? The sweets fade away, but do not despair. For where does she wake, and what does she spy? Family faces around her, it’s Christmas Day nigh.

Her Nutcracker doll held tight in her arms; Clara is fearless, no cause for alarm. She’s home once again, her voyage complete, with a family who loves herHer own Land of the Sweet.

Hidden Gems

Search high, search low there’s plenty to see in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker Use this guide to uncover concealed nuggets and keep your eyes peeled for even more.

1. REMINISCENT REPLICA

Clara excitedly entertains young Christmas party guests with a show of her own using her intricate dollhouse. Upon closer inspection, her beautiful backdrop is an exact replica of Act II’s set, from the clouds to the top of the tree.

2. FROM DOLLS TO DIPLOMATS

During the Stahlbaum’s Christmas Party, a generous Drosselmeyer gifts dolls collected from his worldly travels to an excited group of children. Watch for these dolls to reappear in the Kingdom of Sweets; this time, as life-size, dancing ambassadors.

Top: Students of Houston Ballet Academy. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

1. Principal Melody Mennite and Students of Houston Ballet Academy. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

2. Students of Houston Ballet Academy and Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

3. Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

4. Student of Houston Ballet Academy. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

5. Soloist Aoi Fujiwara and Fernando Martin-Gullans. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

3. A PUPPET PROLOGUE

The enchanted dolls of Drosselmeyer’s puppet show tell the tale of Sugar Plum, the Good Prince, and the Evil King. The story explains how the Nutcracker and Rat King came to be but ends on a cliffhanger, leaving Clara with a gift of the Nutcracker doll and a mission in her dreams.

6. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

7. Demi Soloist Elivelton Tomazi and Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

4. TRANSFORMING TIMEPIECE

As the party draws to a close and the Stahlbaum household settles in for a Christmas Eve slumber, keep an eye on the grandfather clock; it magically transforms several times throughout the evening’s enchanting activities.

5. A BRIEF SUMMARY

As a handy reminder of where Act I left off, the start of Act II recaps Clara, Drosselmeyer, and the Nutcracker Prince’s adventure thus far. You’ll remember the trio have traveled from the base of the Stahlbaum Christmas tree to the top where the Kingdom of Sweets resides.

6. A STATELY SEAT

Atop the enchanted Christmas Tree, at the entrance to the Kingdom of Sweets, sits the Sugar Plum Fairy’s elegant throne, adorned with a large, shimmering golden egg. When Clara first enters this sweet kingdom, look closely to notice the delicate depiction of the Sugar Plum Fairy inside the egg.

7. CLAW ENFORCEMENT

Complete with candy-cane staffs and white fluffy tails, these imposing feline sentinels remain at the Sugar Plum Fairy’s side, protecting her from the Rat King’s mischief. Throughout Act II, they can usually be spotted standing guard on either side of the her golden throne.

BALLET

First Soloist Tyler Donatelli with Artists of Houston Ballet.

Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

STANTON WELCH AM Choreographer

In July 2003, Australian Stanton Welch AM assumed leadership of Houston Ballet, America’s fifth-largest classical ballet company. Since he took the helm of the company, Mr. Welch has revitalized Houston Ballet, bringing in new dancers, commissioning new works, and attracting a top-flight artistic staff. Mr. Welch has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist, performing various principal roles. He has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Maurice Bejart. In 1995, Mr. Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet. For his contributions to the world of dance, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2015. For Houston Ballet, he has choreographed more than 20 works, including a new full-length narrative ballet Marie (2009), inspired by the life of the legendary Marie Antoinette, and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), and Sylvia (2019).

TIM GOODCHILD

Costume and Scenic Designer

Tim is an international award-winning designer who has designed for stage, television, film, opera and ballet. He has designed over 100 productions for London’s West End Theatre. He designed Laurence Olivier award winning productions for The Royal Shakespeare Company. Internationally, he has worked in Egypt, Canada, Vienna, Los Angeles Opera, Chicago Opera, The Marinsky Opera in St. Petersburg, Sydney Opera, Houston Opera, Houston Ballet, and

The Artists

Broadway. In 1988, he made theatre history designing the first Anglo-Soviet production of Swan Lake for Moscow’s Classical Ballet, seen in London, Japan, the United States, and Moscow. He also designed the ballet A Simple Man for BBC2, which won a BAFTA award, BBC2’s musical The Look of Love and costume designs for the film The Little Prince. Tim is opening a production of the musical based on the film “Elf” at London’s WEST END, The Dominion Theatre in 2022. Tim would like to dedicate his designs for this production to the late brilliant designer Desmond Heeley and Tim’s late beloved agent, David Watson.

LISA J. PINKHAM Lighting Designer

Lisa J. Pinkham has designed lighting for over 200 ballets, operas, and plays. Her lighting can be seen in the repertories of many national companies. She enjoys a successful relationship with Stanton Welch AM, and has designed the lighting for many of his ballets, including Maninyas, Taiko, Tu Tu, and Falling for San Francisco Ballet; Madame Butterfly for Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet; Clear for American Ballet Theatre; and Swan Lake, Play, Cinderella, Tapestry, Marie, The Rite of Spring, Sons de L’âme, Paquita, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Romeo and Juliet, Zodiac, Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Sylvia for Houston Ballet.

WENDALL K. HARRINGTON Projection Designer

Wendall Harrington designed the projections for Stanton Welch’s Sylvia (2019). She received the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and American Theatre Wing awards for The Who’s Tommy. Her Broadway credits include: All The Way, Grey Gardens, Putting It Together, The Capeman, Ragtime, Company, Driving Miss Daisy, The Will Rogers Follies, The Heidi Chronicles, My One and Only, and They’re Playing Our Song. Opera credits include: Werther, The Grapes of Wrath, Nixon In China, A View from the Bridge, Rusalka, The

Photographer, and The Magic Flute. Ballet credits include: Firebird, Anna Karenina, Seranata Ratmansky, The Fairy’s Kiss with Alexei Ratmansky; Othello (Lubovitch), Don Quixote with Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Mecanique (Varone), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Balanchine). She is the head of the projection design concentration at the Yale.

RICHARD BADO Guest Conductor

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Richard Bado made his professional conducting debut in 1989 leading Houston Grand Opera’s production of Show Boat at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. Since then, Mr. Bado has conducted at Teatro alla Scala, Opéra National de Paris, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, the Aspen Music Festival, Tulsa Opera, the Russian National Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, the Montreal Symphony, Wolf Trap Opera, and has conducted the Robert Wilson production of Virgil Thomson’s Four Saints in Three Acts at the Edinburgh Festival. An accomplished pianist, Mr. Bado has appeared regularly with Renée Fleming in recital. He has also played for Cecilia Bartoli, Frederica von Stade, Susan Graham, Denyce Graves, Marcello Giordani, Ramon Vargas, Samuel Ramey, Jamie Barton, Ryan McKinney, Nicole Heaston, Jack Swanson, and Michael Spyres. Mr. Bado holds music degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he received the 2000 Alumni Achievement Award, and West Virginia University. Mr. Bado is the Director of Artistic Planning and Chorus Director for the Houston Grand Opera, where he received the Silver Rose Award in 2013. He has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. For 12 years, he was the Director of the Opera Studies Program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He has worked at the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, the Bolshoi Opera Young Artist Program, Opera Australia, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Utah Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera.

Houston Ballet Orchestra

Conducted by Ermanno Florio, Simon Thew and Richard Bado

FIRST VIOLIN

Denise Tarrant*, Concertmaster Rachel Shepard, Assistant Concertmaster Rasa Kalesnykaite*

Linda Sanders* Carrie Kauk* Sylvia Ver Meulen* Mary Reed* Oleg Sulyga* Anabel Detrick* Chavdar Parashkevov*

SECOND VIOLIN

Natalie Gaynor, Principal Trung Trinh*, Assistant Principal Elizabeth Frederick* Karen Hall Wilkson* Chloe Kim Miriam Belyatsky Feld* Melissa Williams Erica Robinson*

VIOLA

Rene Salazar*, Principal Lorento Golofeev*, Assistant Principal Dawson White Elizabeth Charles Golofeev* Conor McAvinue Erika Lawson

CELLO

Barrett Sills*, Principal Erika Johnson, Assistant Principal Max Dyer* Wendy Smith-Butler* Dave Zeger* Steven Wiggs*

BASS

Curry Duffey*, Principal David Connor, Assistant Principal Greg Garcia* Carla Clark*

FLUTE

Monica Barker, Principal Rebecca Powell Garfield Colleen Matheu Johnson*

PICCOLO Colleen Matheu Johnson*

OBOE

Elizabeth Priestly Siffert*, Principal Spring Hill* Mayu Isom

ENGLISH HORN Spring Hill*

CLARINET

Eric Chi, Acting Principal Sean Krissman

BASS CLARINET Molly Mayfield

BASSOON

Amanda Swain, Principal Micah Doherty

HORN

James Wilson*, Principal Jamie Leff Sarah Cranston* Kevin McIntyre

TRUMPET

Tetsuya Lawson, Principal Theresa Hanebury* Daniel Egan

TROMBONE

Thomas Hultén*, Principal Michael Warny*

BASS TROMBONE

Richard Reeves

TUBA

Mark Barton*, Principal TIMPANI

Alison Chang, Principal

PERCUSSION

Christina Carroll*, Principal Karen Slotter* Robert McCullagh

HARP

Laurie Meister, Principal

PIANO/CELESTA

Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon* William Marsden

*Houston Ballet Orchestra members who have more than 10 years of service

Acknowledgements

The

Houston Ballet Orchestra members are represented by Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local 65-699, A.F. of M.

Stage

Wardrobe

Houston

Touring

Houston Ballet Academy

HOUSTON BALLET II AND PROFESSIONAL

Giovanna Abbate Garcia, Julia Alvarez Porras, Emry Amoky, Christian Arroyo, Hayden Babin, Nikita Baryshnikov, Iris Bech, Ashlyn Beggs, Sebastian Bondar, Quinton Brooks, Kieryn Brophy, Yu Chia Chang, Michael Dadlez, Shaiya Donohue, Rylan Doty, Nathaniel Geis, Eli Go, Remie Goins, Nicolas Gongora, Lauren Gordon, Sara Guo, Alexandria Heath, Enya Hoxha, Millicent Huang, Hart Isaacoff, Ashton Kennedy, Isabella Kessler, Willow Kristich, Jaein Lee, Keaton Linzau, Isabella Long, Jordan Long, Delfina Mamone, Justine Marcov, Kotone Matsuzaki, Olivia McBain, Amelia McGravey, Zachary Mench, Cora Metzfield, Isabella Morales, Ashley Nguyen, Layla Porter, Alyssa Pratt, Alejandro Prieto, Macy Richter, Elliott Rogers, Brett Rule, Natalia Scheinson, Renee Shubov, Samuel Stampleman, Kanon Tanaka, Lexi Utz, Mackenzie Wandel, Owen Watson, Allison Whitley, Derek Wippel, William Wisneskey, Benjamin Workman, Garrett Yut

PRE-PROFESSIONAL

Sofia Agudelo Tovar, Arya Almonte, Lara Alp, Natalia Alvarez Malo, McKenna Armwood, Colin Aycox, Ariana Barrientos, Natalia Barrientos, Katelyn Beaulieu, Carmen Berumen, Mallory Blumenschein, Sydney Blumenschein, Alexis Bonilla, Garrett Booher, Gwyneth Booher, Maisie Brenckmann, Isla Brock, Nia Brown, Lucrecia Cabrera Quintana, Elizabeth Camp, Andres Cancino, Esteban Cancino, Tylia Cannings, Cyrus Carlos, Camila Chandler, Edith Chang, Evelyn Chang, Harper Chavis, Stefanie Chen, Shentel Collette, Madeleine Cresap, Franciska Crkvenjakov, Daria Dabideen, Brooklyn Davis, Miranda Davis, Olivia de la Garza, Talia de la Garza, Andrew DeLaGarza, Sophia Edwards, Lucy Erickson, Lucia Espinoza, Grecia Esponda, Jordan Evangelista, Zoe Evans, Nadia Fabre, Sicily Farris, Dagny Finn, Jimena Flores, Kinley Foley, Abby Frankel, Zahra Frost, Lily Fuori, Maggie Fuori, Dara Pilar Gallardo Boyler, Nara Maria Belen Gallardo Boyler, Astrid Galperin, Sadie Garner, Alessia Giordano, Amy Gomez, Alejandro Gonzalez, Elliana Gospin, Katherine Graybeal, Josephine Greer, Lilly Gropp, Emery Guerrero, Megan Guillen, Josephine Guzman, Elle Haining, Victoria Hart, Mayuka Hauschildt, Elisabeth Henry, Lindynn Henson, Judith Hidalgo, Ellen Hilliard, Concepcion Hinojosa, Avery Ho, Charlotte Holland, Astrid Hsu, Phoebe Hutchison, Sara Huvaz, Celina Hwang, Shirley Hwang, Sadie Jackson, Danya Jeroudi, Lina Jeroudi, Ella Johnston, Edith Jones, Abigail Joseph, Adrienne Kan, Alejandra Kanady, Eleanor Kane, Raiya Khan, Julia Kitai, Viktoriia Kovyreva, Annabelle Law, Elizabeth Lee, Clara Lehman, Chelsea Liao, Daniel Liu, Qingru Liu, Eleanor Loayza, Maria Loudermilk, Alyssa Luck, Juliana Maicher, Edward Mannington, Grace Mao, Isabella Mao, Uziel Maradiaga, Galilea Marquez, Carolina Martinez, Quinn Martinez, Ava Mast, Beatrix Matthews, Kathryn Mejia, Melody Mendez, Constanza Mendoza, Megan Merricks, Camryn Moore, Victoria Mosher, Emma Motes, Lucy Nguyen, Luke Nguyen, Jillissa Niu, Stella Obvintseva, Mary Margaret O’Connor, Karla Ortiz, Ava Oubre, Katherine Oubre, Jazmine Panameno, Aileen Paredes, Nikka Pavlou, Rosalyn Perez, Alannys Perez Flores, Elizabeth Peterson, Ayli Pinon, Claire Poirier, Paulette Ramirez, Yona Reeves, Caroline Regan, Adelyn Rice, Kristian Richards, Heidi Rodriguez, Eleanor Romeo, Lyla Santos, Elizabeth Schneider, Zoey Scott, Alyssa Shannon, Daphne Siappas, Siena Singer, Rossie Skea, Alexandra Snyder, Shianna Snyder, Jackson Sohl, Hannah Starnes, Nora Steele, Tiana Stevens, Clara Straub, Lorelai Sun, Veronica Szulc, Sophie Tancreti, Josephine Teaff, Elizabeth Underwood, Isabella Ventura, Elise Vitek, Anna Wang, Fiona Wang, Alexa Westman, Mia Westman, Jamison Whitley, Leighton Wolens, Frances Wycliff, Ariana Yeggoni, Katherine York, Audrey Yuen, Elyse Yuen, Sage Yüksek, Serena Yüksek, Maricruz Zamarripa, Vivian Zamora, Kate Zdeblick, Audrey Zhang

GUEST

Chandler Braselton, Tatum Farmer, Andrew Ford, Carina Garza, Sophia Garza, Kenadi Hughes, Lucia Laya Barroso, Jayden Merriam

Artistic Staff Profiles

STANTON WELCH AM The Harris Masterson III Artistic Director

In July 2003, Australian Stanton Welch AM assumed leadership of Houston Ballet, America’s fifth-largest classical ballet company. Since he took the helm of the Company, Mr. Welch has revitalized Houston Ballet, bringing in new dancers, commissioning new works, and attracting a top-flight artistic staff. Mr. Welch has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist, performing various principal roles. He has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Maurice Bejart. In 1995, Mr. Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet. For his contributions to the world of dance, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2015. For Houston Ballet, he has choreographed more than 20 works, including a full-length narrative ballet Marie (2009), inspired by the life of the legendary Marie Antoinette, and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), and Sylvia (2019).

ERMANNO FLORIO Music Director and Principal Conductor

Ermanno Florio has impressed both audiences and critics in the major centers of Europe, North America, and Asia. The extremely versatile Mr. Florio has well distinguished himself in genres of symphonic, operatic, and balletic repertoire. Mr. Florio maintains an active conducting schedule that has included extensive engagements with the world’s major ballet companies. In 1985, Mr. Florio was appointed Principal Conductor and Music Administrator of The National Ballet of Canada by Erik Bruhn and since 1992 has held the position of Music Director of Houston Ballet. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Florio held the position of Music Director of American Ballet Theatre. In March 2004, Mr. Florio was appointed Music Director of Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam and currently continues his relationship with the company as Principal Guest Conductor. Mr. Florio’s extensive discography includes DVD releases of critically acclaimed performances of The Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Onegin, Cinderella, The Merry Widow, Alice, The Nutcracker, La Ronde, and Le Corsaire with ABT, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts. Mr. Florio’s DVD recording of Don Quichotte with L’Orchestre de L’Opera National de Paris also won the Cannes Classical Music Award for Best DVD in the category of Concert and

Ballet Recordings. Mr. Florio’s music arrangements include scores for Patrice Bart’s Tchaikovsky, Das Flammende Hertz, and Gustaf III; Stanton Welch’s Marie and La Bayadère; and Asami Maki’s La Dame aux Camelias

SIMON THEW Associate Conductor IAN CASADY Ballet Master

Australian Conductor Simon Thew was a regular guest conductor with The Australian Ballet between 2013 and 2016, conducting performances in most of the company’s seasons during that time. In 2017 he accepted an invitation to become The Australian Ballet’s assistant conductor, a position he held until mid 2022. He has also worked as a guest conductor for English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet. Mr. Thew was The Australian Ballet’s Conducting Fellow in 2011 and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. The Churchill Fellowship enabled him to undertake further professional development opportunities with ballet companies, opera houses and orchestras in London, Birmingham, Vienna, Berlin, and New York across 2012. In 2007, Mr. Thew was awarded the Dame Joan Sutherland/ Richard Bonynge Travel Scholarship, which enabled further study in Europe, culminating in his position as musical intern at the Bayreuth Festival in 2008. Mr. Thew was an assistant conductor with Opera Australia from 2007-2010. In 2010, he held the Hephzibah Tintner Fellowship, which gave him performance and mentoring opportunities with The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and the Sydney Symphony. Mr. Thew undertook studies in Sydney, Vienna, Berlin, and Barcelona with mentors including Sebastian Weigle, Nicolette Fraillon AM, Harry Spence Lyth, Richard Bonynge AC CBE, and John Hopkins AM OBE. Mr. Thew also has an active concert and recording conducting career and is committed to the education of young conductors and instrumentalists. Mr. Thew joins Houston Ballet as Associate Conductor in August 2022 for the 2022-23 season. Ian Casady was born in Fairfax, California, and received his dance training there from David Roxander, Jody White, and Georgia Ortega. In 1998, Mr. Casady studied at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy before joining the Company as a member of the Corps de Ballet. He was promoted to Soloist in 2002, to First Soloist in 2006, and to Principal in 2007. Over the course of his career, Mr. Casady has danced a wide range of roles in works by some of the most celebrated choreographers, both past and present. Mr. Casady has been fortunate enough to have danced on some of the most historic and famous stages around the world including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center in New York, the Bolshoi in Moscow, the Champs Elysee in Paris, the Sydney Opera House, Sadler’s Wells in London, and theaters in Hong Kong, Spain, Germany, and Canada. Mr. Casady was a finalist at the 2002 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

Upon his retirement after a 22-year professional career onstage, he joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet as ballet master in 2020.

AMY FOTE Ballet Master

Amy Fote began dancing at the age of four in her hometown of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, under the direction of Jean Wolfmeyer. She continued her studies on scholarship at the National Academy of Arts, Interlochen Arts Academy, and at the Harid Conservatory, where she graduated with honors. Ms. Fote then accepted a position with the Milwaukee Ballet and rose through the ranks to become a principal dancer. During her 14 years with the company, she regularly performed at the Chautauqua Institution in New York and was subsequently invited to dance the title role in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. In 2005, she joined Houston Ballet, where she danced for eight seasons. In 2003, she was featured in a PBS documentary entitled Dancing Anna Karenina, focusing on her portrayal of one of the great heroines of Russian literature. She was also featured on PBS, performing Alonzo King’s Map, in a moving 9/11 performance. Following retirement, Ms. Fote accepted the position of Ballet Master with Ballet San Antonio. Upon returning to Houston, she began teaching for Houston Ballet II and Houston Ballet before joining the artistic staff in 2018.

STEVEN WOODGATE Ballet Master

Australian Steven Woodgate graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 1985. He performed with The Australian Ballet, progressing through the ranks to senior artist in 1996. In 2000, he was awarded The Churchill Fellowship, which enabled him to observe many ballet masters from around the world and study their various teaching methods. Mr. Woodgate joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet in January 2004. Mr. Woodgate has taught both student and professional classes around the world. Mr. Woodgate reproduced Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly for the Singapore Dance Theater, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet West Utah, and The Australian Ballet. In 2009, Mr. Woodgate staged Clear for Angel Corella’s company in Spain and in 2011 re-staged Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow for Texas Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Teatro Colon Argentina and Houston Ballet. Woodgate also represented Australia in the Moscow Ballet Competition in 1989. Woodgate danced principal roles in Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee, Van Praggh’s Coppélia, Bejart’s Le Concours and Gaite Parisienne, works by Tudor and Balanchine, Welch, and many other choreographers.

Company Profiles

Principals

Birthplace Laguna Beach, California Birthplace Incheon, South Korea Birthplace Coral Springs, Florida Birthplace Caracas, Venezuela Birthplace Aichi, Japan

Dance Training Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky Classical Ballet Academy, mentored and coached by David Allan

Joined the Company as Principal 2022

Dance Training Hye Young Kim Ballet School, Sun Hwa Arts School, Canada National Ballet School, John Cranko Schule Ballet School

Dance Training Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet Nova of South Florida

Dance Training Gustavo Franklin Ballet School, Caracas, Venezuela

Dance Training Shanghai Dance School, National Ballet School of Canada

Joined the Company 2012 Joined the Company 2004 Joined the Company 2010 Joined the Company 2014

Promoted to Principal 2018 Promoted to Principal 2017

Promoted to Principal 2013 Promoted to Principal 2014

Birthplace Santa Cruz, California Birthplace Fredericksburg, Virginia Birthplace Longview, Texas Birthplace Fairfax, Virginia Birthplace Shizuoka, Japan

Dance Training Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy

Dance Training Kirov Academy of Ballet, Royal Ballet School

Joined the Company 2001 Joined the Company as Principal 2022

Promoted to Principal 2008

Dance Training Longview Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance

Joined the Company as Principal 2022

Dance Training Kirov Academy of Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Houston Ballet Academy

Dance Training Hiraki Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy

Joined the Company 2004 Joined the Company 2008

Promoted to Principal 2007 Promoted to Principal 2016

denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy

Skylar Campbell Soo Youn Cho Jessica Collado*

Karina González

Yuriko Kajiya

Melody Mennite* Chase O’Connell Beckanne Sisk Connor Walsh* Charles-Louis Yoshiyama*

The Robert F. Parker Principal Dancer

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Principal Dancer

The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Principal Dancer

The Melza M. Barr Principal Dancer

The Fondren Foundation Principal Dancer

The Anita B. Stude Principal Dancer

Birthplace Birkenhead, England Birthplace Huntington Beach, California

Dance Training Houston Ballet Academy, Wallasey School of Ballet

First Soloists

Dance Training Southland Ballet Academy, Houston Ballet Academy

Birthplace Havana, Cuba Birthplace St. Petersburg, Florida Birthplace Dover, New Hampshire

Dance Training National Ballet School of Cuba

Dance Training Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts

Dance Training Houston Ballet Academy, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Portsmouth School of Ballet

Joined the Company 2004 Joined the Company 2014 Joined the Company 2015 Joined the Company 2006 Joined the Company 2011

Promoted to First Soloist 2018 Promoted to First Soloist 2022 Promoted to First Soloist 2019 Promoted to First Soloist 2018 Promoted to First Soloist 2021

Soloists

Birthplace Richmond, Virginia Birthplace Osaka, Japan Birthplace Saitama, Japan Birthplace Columbus, Ohio

Birthplace Cleveland, Ohio Birthplace Warner Robins, Georgia Birthplace Tuscon, Arizona Birthplace Orange County, California

Jacquelyn Long* Mackenzie Richter* Aaron Daniel Sharratt*

Alyssa Springer*

Chandler Dalton* Aoi Fujiwara* Ryo Kato Bridget Kuhns* * denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy

Christopher Coomer*

Tyler Donatelli* Mónica Gómez

Allison Miller* Harper Watters* The Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist

Demi Soloists

Birthplace Saitama, Japan Birthplace Saitama, Japan Birthplace Oslo, Norway

Corps de Ballet

Birthplace

Birthplace

* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy

Birthplace Ann Arbor, Michigan Birthplace Havana, Cuba

Simone Acri Yumiko Fukuda Syvert Lorenz Garcia* Kellen Hornbuckle* Estheysis Menendez Birthplace Brooklyn, New York Birthplace João Pessoa, PB, Brazil Birthplace Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Birthplace Ashford, Alabama Birthplace Seoul, Republic of Korea

Naazir Muhammad* Luzemberg Santana Elivelton Tomazi Natalie Varnum* Chae Eun Yang

Maracanaú, CE, Brazil Birthplace Havana, Cuba Birthplace Santiago, Dominican Republic

Birthplace New Orleans, Louisiana Birthplace Jacksonville, Florida

Henrique Barbosa* Gretel Batista Magnoly Batista* Jindallae Bernard* Neal Burks*

Shenandoah, Iowa Birthplace Houston, Texas Birthplace Los Angeles, California Birthplace Jundiai, SP, Brazil Birthplace Suwon, Republic of Korea

Jaci Doty* Emma Forrester* Eli Gruska

Rafaela Henrique* Danbi Kim*

Birthplace

Birthplace

Birthplace

Birthplace Atlanta, Georgia Birthplace West Palm Beach, Florida

Birthplace Hunan, China Birthplace Osaka, Japan Birthplace Ibaraki, Japan Birthplace Houston, Texas

Apprentices

Birthplace Indianapolis, Indiana Birthplace Dallas, Texas Birthplace Harford, Maryland Birthplace Ľubotín, Slovakia

Birthplace San Antonio, Texas Birthplace Sydney, Australia

Birthplace Phoenix, Arizona

* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy

Amelia Meissner* Alexandra Walton* Ryan Williams*

Samuel Rodriguez Madison Russo* Song Teng* Yu Wakizuka Matthew West* Jack Wolff*

Marin County, California

Chicago, Illinois

Denver, Colorado Birthplace London, England Birthplace Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Zoe Lucich Riley McMurray* Jackson Miles* Saul Newport* Jaclyn Oakley

Eric Best* Kali Kleiman Griffin Koehl* Augustin Lehner*

Thank you, Allison!

After 16 phenomenal years with Houston Ballet, Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist Allison Miller retires from the Company following the 2022 performances of The Nutcracker. Miller’s clean technique and innate musicality shined brightly in stripped down neoclassical works dependent on precision. Topped with a bright smile, Miller lit up the stage in a plethora of works from George Balanchine, Mark Morris and more.

“Allison’s a very musical dancer, very bubbly, effervescent. She has kind of this champagne feeling to her,” Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM says. “When she’s onstage, she’s always someone that you watch. She always brings joy and a smile to audiences and her performances.”

First Soloist Allison Miller and Artists of Houston Ballet in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

First Soloist Allison Miller and Artists of Houston Ballet in Ben Stevenson’s The Sleeping Beauty Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.

First Soloist Allison Miller and Chun Wai Chan in William Forsythe’s In the middle, somewhat elevated Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

First Soloist Allison Miller in Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

First Soloist Allison Miller in George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina Choreography by George Balanchine. © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

ARTISTIC

†Stanton Welch AM*

Artistic Director

Ian Casady*

Ballet Master

Amy Fote*

Ballet Master

Steven Woodgate* Ballet Master

Julia Ridenhour

Artistic Planning Coordinator

Irene Flores

Artistic Administrative Associate

ADMINISTRATION

†James Nelson* Executive Director

†Kelli Gilson* General Manager

Aileen Roberts Company Manager

Laurel Rowe Executive Assistant and Board Relations Manager

FINANCE

†Kristi Roberts

Chief Financial Officer

†Rachel Koenig

Director of Human Resources

Thelma Hearren

Controller

Denise Guevara

Senior Accountant

Kenneth Knight II Payroll Coordinator

Diamantina Peña*

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Cheryl Zane* Special Advisor

Yeriel Zaragoza

Human Resources Coordinator

Garth Luther

Associate Director, Facilities Alma Amaya, Patricia Barnes, Natalie Hernandez Receptionists

TECHNOLOGY

†MJ Bavaret* Director of IT

Alejandro Rivas

Associate Director of Networking

Joshua Jemio

Help Desk Manager

Erik Orbe

Help Desk Associate I

Gevais Jefferson

IT Project Associate

NUTCRACKER MARKET

†Patsy Chapman*

CEO

Jennifer Estrada

Associate Director, Nutcracker Market

Rebecca Kelly

Associate Director, Communications, Nutcracker Market

Susan Lehmann

Nutcracker Market Associate

Houston Ballet Staff

Sofia Del Villar

Nutcracker Market Coordinator

DEVELOPMENT

†Angie Lane

Chief Development Officer

Erika Jordan

Director of Individual Giving

Stephanie Faulk

Assistant Director, Individual Giving

Lucy Graham

Assistant Director, Donor Relations Madeline Patton

Donor Relations Manager

Colleen Hargraves

Annual Fund Manager

Jackie Forrester

Individual Giving Coordinator

Alexandra Yates

Senior Director, Special Events

Allison Gray

Assistant Director, Special Events

Baylee Zeringue Special Events Coordinator

Lindsey Hurst*

Director of Institutional Giving

Joey Gaona Assistant Director, Institutional Giving

Sydney Cooke Institutional Giving Coordinator

Jasmine Fuller Cane

Assistant Director, Development Communications and Publications

Kate Wood Development Communications Coordinator

Ana Gonzalez*

Assistant Director, Tessitura Operations

Victoria Deleon Development Process Coordinator

Haley Calvert Development Manager and Guild Liason

Alex Martinez Development Coordinator

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

†Angela Lee*

Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Tory Lieberman Associate Director of Marketing

Jared Murphy Graphic Designer

Lynn Chung* Marketing Coordinator

Emily Averitt-Cleveland

Education Marketing & PR Coordinator

Leslie Goodrum

Retail Merchandise & Display Coordinator

Anne Wheeler

Archivist Project Manager

David Rivera

Associate Director of Audio & Video Services

Nicole Bacon Foreman, Aaron Thomas

Audio Visual Assistants

Lauren Gayden*

Associate Director of Ticketing Services

Christina Martinez, Carlyn Scott*

Box Office Managers

Brittany Restrepo

Ticketing Services Manager

Rachel Walrath

Ticketing Services Coordinator Mike Miles

Audience Services Coordinator

Nicole Levy

Box Office Shift Lead

Verity Butler, Trysta Capers, Jordan Daniel, Hannah Kimble, Soledad Lara, Eloisa Perez, Diamond Rector, Ronnie Turner, Mary Wemple

Wortham Theater Center Box Office Customer Service Representatives

PRODUCTION

†Michelle de los Reyes*

Head of Production †Sandra Fox Head of Costumes †Lisa J. Pinkham

Resident Lighting Designer Grey Starbird Technical Director

Jonathan Moore Stage Manager Eli Walker

Assistant Stage Manager

Ashley Christian Production Operations Manager

Morgan Brochu Production Coordinator

Barry Thomas*

Master Electrician Dustin Dowell

Property Master

Paul Gibson

Assistant Electrician/ Light Board Operator

Jason Mathis Assistant Electrician Gregory Stewart Head Carpenter

Lafayette Andrews Assistant Carpenter Alexa Carlson Costume Shop Manager

Crystal Breihan

Wardrobe Coordinator

Drieux Dismukes, Quinn Dismukes, Megan Essenmacher, David Heckman, Allison Keough, Freddy Reymundo Wardrobe Supervisors

Meghann Mason Wig and Makeup Supervisor

Grace Bunt, Susie DeBlieck, Ashly Martinez, Katie McKinney, Lia Natasha, Dylan Sulak, Darcie Teasley, Misty Reed, William Ross Wig and Makeup Technicians

Kendall Sarro Wardrobe Admin Assistant

Glinda Andersen, Allison Duke, Samira Craig, Michael Farris, Alfredo Gonzalez, Monica Guerra, Beau Hamilton, Ashley Jones, Serge Ovechko, Sarah Rogers, Lisa Sacaris, Don Skelton, Chandler Summerlin Costume Technicians

Sarah DeLeon Laundry Technician

MUSIC

†Ermanno Florio*

Music Director and Principal Conductor

Simon Thew

Associate Conductor

Richard Reeves*

Orchestra Manager/Music Administrator

Theresa Hanebury*

Music Librarian/Pianists’ Manager & Technical Director Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon* Principal Pianist/Music

Coordinator

William Patterson Academy Pianist Manager

Tyrone Boyle, Jennifer Edmondson, Grecia Lavenderos,* Kuanyi Lu, Benjamin Kaplan, April Zhi Li-Thompson, William Patterson, William Marsden* Pianists

Krume Andreeveski, Benjamin Chavez, Marshall Davies, Krystel Grauvogl, Tomoe Hayashi,* NingChih Hsu, Nara Jeffus, Elizabeth Mendez, Alex Navarro, Pelayo Parlade, Adeline Saylor, Michele Vesceri

Part-Time Pianists

James Edwards, Terrence Karn, William Suddreath Academy Part-Time Percussionists

ACADEMY

†Jennifer Sommers* Academy Director Claudio Muñoz*

HBII Ballet Master

Cheryne Busch*

Upper School Principal Beth Everitt*

Lower School Principal & Children’s Ballet Master

Orlando Molina Boys’ Coordinator

Susan Bryant*, Kelly Myernick Kubin*

Academy Principal Instructors

Katie Wesche

Associate Director of Academy Administration

Yahudi Castañeda

Academy Associate Director of Artistic Operations

Carla Cortez

Academy Registrar Dustin Shaw

Academy Programs Manager

Bryana Bordelon Manager, Student Life

Shelby Connolly

Academy Artistic Operations Coordinator

Tempest McLendon Academy Administrative Coordinator

Akihiro Kawasaki

Head Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach

Lauren Anderson*

Associate Director, Education and Community Engagement

Alexandra Garza

Coordinator, Education & Community Engagement

Jamie L. Cegelski

Associate, Education & Community Engagement

Carol Anglin, Brittany Bass, Gabrielle Becerra, Jacquelyne Boe, Durell Comedy, Dwayne Cook, Nell Cunningham, Victoria De Bethencourt, Dawn Dippel, Jeanne Doornbos, Rupert Edwards, Heidi Erickson, Carla Flores Keniston, LaRodney

Freeman, Valerie Handy, Spencer Hering, Paige Kutschall, Gabrielle Luna, Ellen Mallon, Lindsey McGill, Elizabeth McMillan, Mallory Mehaffey, Paola Murga Parada, Lucinda Rohrer, Kamryn Spell

Part-Time Academy Instructors & Teaching Artists

Arin Alston, Kaitlynn Berrones, Lara Hannaford, Jamela Johns, Katherine Wicks, Anna Gould, Jocelyn Sierra, Jesse Serpas, Destiny Miller

Part-Time Academy Class Monitors

Pam Blangy, Jacquelyne Boe, Monica Bondi, Brittany Deveau, Danielle Farzanegan, Keith Gacrama, Michelle Gregovic, Nadia Khan, Patricia King, Mallory Littell, Katrina Olson, Lisa Petrozzi, Michelle Phillips, Hilary Schaff, Jennifer Trimmer Wellness Team

Kelsey Fyffe

Academy Counselor Judy Spong

Academy ESL Teacher Emily Hahn

Academy Nutritionist Maria McCain

Resident Dorm Supervisor

Amy Pearl

Resident Advisor

Andrew Faulk, Nathanial Nakadate*, Peter Nguyen Academic Advisors

HOUSTON

METHODIST STAFF

Carina M. Nasrallah, MS, LAT, ATC, CISSN

Head Athletic Trainer Leanne Wonesh Academy Athletic Trainer

*Houston Ballet staff who have more than 10 years of service †Senior leadership

2022-2023 Board of Trustees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS

Mrs. Leigh M. Smith*, Chairman Mrs. Kristy J. Bradshaw, President Mr. Jesse H. Jones II*, Vice President – Development Mrs. Russell C. Joseph, Secretary

Mrs. Elizabeth Leykum, Vice President – Education & Community Engagement Mrs. Kelley S. Lubanko, Vice President – Trustee Development Mr. Daniel M. McClure, Vice President – Investment Mrs. Amy Pincu, Treasurer, Vice President – Finance Mrs. Elizabeth R. Zdeblick, Vice President – Academy

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Mrs. F. T. Barr – Ms. Ann C. Bean – Mr. James Cowan – Ms. Gillian Hobson – Chad Libertus – Ms. Leticia Loya Mr. James J. Parr – Mrs. Carroll Robertson Ray – Ms. S. Shawn Stephens*– Stephanie Tsuru – Mrs. Phoebe Tudor* Mrs. Christine M. Underwood – Ms. Hallie Vanderhider – Mr. Marcus A. Watts – Mrs. Lynn Wyatt

TRUSTEES

Mr. W. Cameron Alguire

Dr. Julia D. Andrieni

Mrs. Diane Bazelides

Mr. Gary V. Beauchamp

Mrs. Gina Bhatia

Mrs. Susan Binney

Mrs. Leslie Blanton

Ms. Lindsey Brown Mrs. Lenni Burke

Ms. Kim Cagle

Mr. Erich Canseco Mrs. Anne S. Chao Mr. Mike Chou

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mrs. Rosanette S. Cullen

Ms. Sasha Davis

Mr. Bastiaan de Zeeuw Mrs. Pamela D. Earthman

Sharon F. Erskine

Mrs. Martha Finger Mrs. Allison L. Flikerski

Richard W. Flowers

Hon. Charles C. Foster

Mrs. Kate Fowler

Mrs. Jo Furr Mr. Mitchell George Mrs. Mignon Gill

Sandra S. Godfrey

Mrs. Ann Graham Mrs. Donald M. Graubart Mr. Jeremy Griggs Mr. Joseph A. Hafner, Jr. Mr. Herschel Hamner Dr. Joshua D. Harris Mrs. Nancy Ferguson Haywood Mr. Michael Heckman Mrs. Winell Herron Mr. James M. Jordan* Ms. Melissa Juneau

Natasha Khan

Elizabeth Mata Kroger Ms. Melanie Lawson Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee Mr. Mark Loveland Mr. Joseph A. Matula Mrs. Jean E. May Mrs. J. Luke McConn III Mrs. Kris McGee Richard K. McGee* Mrs. Martha Rocks McMurrey Mr. Shane A. Miller Mrs. Michael Mithoff Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nancy Powell Moore Ms. Desrye Morgan Ms. Beth Muecke

Mrs. Patti Murphy Dr. Duyen Huynh Nguyen

Tammy Tran Nguyen Mrs. Cabrina Owsley Mr. Robert F. Parker* Mrs. Elisa S. Pye Mr. Ron Rand

Macey Reasoner

Laura M. Robertson Mrs. Akemi Saitoh Ms. Samira A. Salman

Mrs. Louisa Stude Sarofim* (L) Mrs. James Shaffer Ms. Sunday Shepherd Dannika E. Simpson

Mrs. Alicia Smith Mrs. Heidi Smith Dr. Liliana Soltero Mr. Karl S. Stern* Mr. Nicholas L. Swyka* Mrs. Allison Thacker Becca Cason Thrash Mrs. Erika Toussaint Mrs. Ileana Treviño Mrs. Amber Westman

Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams (L) Mrs. Rini Ziegler

NATASHA KHAN Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P.

Corporate Spotlight

Special thanks to our generous corporate sponsors that help make Houston Ballet’s 2022 performances of The Nutcracker possible.

HONG OGLE President, Bank of America Houston

On behalf of Baker Botts, welcome to Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. We are proud to be a sponsor of these performances. Baker Botts is an international law firm whose lawyers practice throughout a network of offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients’ industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Throughout our history, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. We have been an integral part of the Houston business and arts community since we opened our doors more than 180 years ago. Baker Botts is committed to giving back to the communities in which we serve, and supporting the arts is an important part of that tradition.

We are excited to support Houston Ballet and appreciate your attendance. Enjoy the show!

Culture is at the heart of the City of Houston, and the arts are its lifeblood. At Bank of America, we believe in the power of the arts and celebrate how they have shaped our community. Houston Ballet is a shining example of how the arts provide a respite from our busy day-to-day lives, tell breathtaking stories and help promote cultural understanding. As a leader in helping the arts flourish across the globe, we support Houston Ballet and their work to educate and empower people of all ages. During this holiday season, we hope you enjoy the magic of The Nutcracker

For more than 115 years, our commitment and involvement in the community has been an important part of the way we do business. We are proud to support Houston Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives such as the Student Matinee performances of The Nutcracker. It is said teaching is a calling, and we could not agree more. That is why we proudly support the outstanding educators who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the lives of our children. From the classroom to the community, we proudly answer the call by giving back over $10 million annually to Texas educational initiatives. It is our way of saying thank you for allowing us to be your neighbor. We call it H-E-B’s Spirit of Giving. In this spirit, we have contributed over five percent of pretax earnings to public and charitable programs since the 1930s.

JIM COWAN

Houston Ballet Trustee & Associate General Counsel Global Litigation – Americas, Shell Oil Company

Shell is proud to sponsor Houston Ballet and help bring premier arts and cultural activities to Houston. Our commitment to sustainability means providing more and cleaner energy solutions while powering lives and respecting nature in the regions where we live and work. Over the last 50 years, Shell has contributed more than one billion dollars to support the welfare of our communities in Houston and across the U.S. through environmental, educational, cultural and diversity and inclusiveness initiatives.

WINELL HERRON Houston Ballet Trustee & Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity & Environmental Affairs, H-E-B

Production Underwriters

Houston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the extraordinary commitment of all those who provided generous production underwriting support of The Nutcracker

$500,000 OR MORE

Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

$250,000-$499,999

A Friend of Houston Ballet

Beauchamp Foundation

The Cullen Foundation

The Elkins Foundation

The Fondren Foundation Texas Commission on the Arts

$100,000-$249,999

ConocoPhillips

Allison and Troy Thacker

Ms. Ann G. Trammell Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

$25,000-$99,999

The Brown Foundation, Inc. H-E-B

Houston Ballet Guild

S. Shawn Stephens and James M. Jordan

Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh

Étoile

Étoile honors the visionary leaders who make extraordinary annual commitments of $100,000 or more to Houston Ballet and whose generosity substantially underwrites Houston Ballet’s world-class performances, renowned dance training, and extensive community programs.

Melza and Ted Barr

Gary V. Beauchamp and Marian Wilfert Beauchamp

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

ConocoPhillips

The Cullen Foundation

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation

The Events Company

Houston Ballet Guild

Houston Methodist Mr. Jesse H. Jones II

Deborah and Edward Koehler KPRC

Leticia Loya Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh

Allison and Troy Thacker

Ann Trammell

Stephanie and Frank Tsuru Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

Hallie Vanderhider

Margaret Alkek Williams

The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

Annual Support

Houston Ballet is grateful to our generous individual supporters who ensure we remain a world-class ballet company, bringing high-caliber, exhilarating performances and educational programming to audiences of all ages.

Directors Circle

$50,000-$99,999

Friend of Houston Ballet Myra Brown Anne and Albert Chao Mrs. Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Mr. Victor Costa Lori Gallagher and Curtis Huff Mr. and Mrs. Reginald R. Smith Mr. Mike S. Stude Lynn Wyatt

Artists Circle

$25,000-$49,999

Friends of Houston Ballet

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bradshaw Mignon and Stephen Gill Dr. Michael Hawkins and Dr. Liliana Soltero

Dr. Julia Andrieni and Dr. Robert Phillips Jack Bell

Dr. and Mrs. Devinder Bhatia Sasha Davis and Joseph Matulevich Bastiaan and Nathalie de Zeeuw Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Hafner, Jr. Claudia and David Hatcher

Stephen and Kelley Lubanko Kris and Richard McGee Marvin and Martha McMurrey Cabrina and Steven Owsley

Presidents Circle

$15,000-$24,999

Mrs. Nancy Ferguson Haywood

Mr. and Mrs. Russell C. Joseph D. M. Marcinek

Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. May, Jr. Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nancy Powell Moore James Nelson and Richard Lapin Mr. Dee S. Osborne

Impresario

$10,000-$14,999

Kent and Shara Schaffer

S. Shawn Stephens and James M. Jordan Mr. and Mrs. David M. Underwood, Jr. Bonnie Weekley

Elisa and Cris Pye Carroll and Hugh Ray Macey and Harry Reasoner Ms. Elizabeth Schwarze Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas L. Swyka J. Michael and Ileana Treviño Mary and Greg Whalley

Friends of Houston Ballet

Christopher Barr and Patricia Shanley

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bazelides Ms. Ann Bean Dr. Patrick Benge Gary and Susan Binney

Mr. and Mrs. Jack S. Blanton, Jr. Lenni and Bill Burke Carol Butler

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mrs. Rosanette S. Cullen Marsha and Sam Dodson

Bruce and Pamela Earthman Sharon F. Erskine

Twana and Kelly Faykus

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Finger

The Friedkin Group/Marc and Brenda Watts Mr. and Mrs. James E. Furr

Mitchell B. George and Stanley Curtis, Jr. Sandy and Lee Godfrey

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Graham Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Graubart Hope Huber

Ms. Melissa Holman Juneau

Donna Kaplan and Richard Lydecker Elizabeth and Bill Kroger Ms. Melanie Lawson and Mr. John F. Guess, Jr. Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee and Mr. Eugene E. Lee Evelyn Leightman

Elizabeth and Charlie Leykum Mr. and Mrs. Mark Loveland Marilyn G. Lummis

Joseph and Jenifer Matula Judy and Dan McClure

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mithoff Ms. Beth Muecke

Mrs. Patti A. Murphy

Drs. Duyen and Marc Nguyen

Tammy and Wayne Nguyen

Sara and James Parr Mrs. Lila Rauch Mike Rydin

Ms. Samira A. Salman Helen and Jim Shaffer

Dannika E. Simpson

Heidi and Marcus Smith

Erika and John Toussaint

Jessica Trincanello and Jeremy Griggs Mrs. Kelli Weinzierl Dow and Meredith Zabolio

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Zdeblick Syma and Walter Zerkow Rini and Edward Ziegler

VIRTUOSO

$7,500-$9,999

Friend of Houston Ballet

Anne Morgan Barrett

Zachary and Karen Bell

C. Robert Bunch and Lilia D. Khakimova

Sylvie and Gary Crum

Marcia and Tom Faschingbauer

Marion and Gary Glober

Mr. Samuel F. Gorman

Mr. and Mrs. Brian B. Hughes

Dr. Raymond and Leora Kahn

Susan and Michael Klaveness

Ms. Tracy N. LeRoy

Eugene F. Loveland

Ginni and Richard Mithoff

Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Plaeger II

Dr. David W. Reininger and Laura Lee Jones

Susan and Ed Septimus

Mr. Timothy Wampler

AMBASSADOR

$4,000-$7,499

Friends of Houston Ballet

Mr. and Mrs.† W. Kendall Adam

Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins

Mr. Cameron Alguire & Mrs. Ashley Hughey

Nancy C. Allen

Leslie Alston and Michael Zenker

Maida and Paul Asofsky

Dr. Saul and Ursula Balagura

Muffet Blake

Nancy Boruta

Anne Orton Boss

Ms. Michaela Botha

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Bourne

Mr. and Mrs. David A. Bristol, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brookner

Lindsey Brown

Judy Gray Brunk

Reagan and Claudia Burch

Kim Cagle and Tim Mullin

Jess and Patricia Carnes

Beth and Michael Chambers Nada Chandler

Donna Collins

Mr. Robert and Dr. Carol Collins

C.C. Conner, Jr. and David Groover

Ramon Creixell

Rochelle Cyprus

David and Lynne Devine

Mr. and Mrs. Cody Dick

Sandra Didlake

Ms. Jane DiPaolo

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Doneker

Mrs. Carol Drawe

Burl and Jenny Wang Drews

Rebecca and Brian Duncan

Danielle Ellis

C.C. and Duke Ensell

The Honorable Catherine and Mr. James Evans

Mary Ann and Larry Faulkner

Vicki Faulkner

Sidney Faust

Marla and Stewart Feldman

Perry and Cinda Forrester

Marion and Caroline Freeman

Joe and Laura Freudenberger

Prince and Princess Piotr and Maria-Anna Galitzine

Cynthia and Ty Geiger

Dr. Eugenia George

Dr. and Mrs. George S. Glass

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Grossman

William and Jane Guest

Linda Lloyd Hart

Susan and Michael Hawes

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hibbert

Gillian Hobson

Gary Hollingsworth and Ken Hyde

Lonnie Hoogeboom and Betsy Strauch

Mrs. James E. Hooks

Sandra and Richard Jackson

Katie Jurgielewicz

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kaufman Mrs. Neale W. Kempner

John Atterbury Kendall

Dr. Dale G. Konicek and Susan Konicek Ms. Ann Koster

Mrs. Warren W. Kreft Jake and Jennifer Kushner Angie Lane and Nick Eoff Dr. Claire Langston

Susan Lapin

Stephanie Larsen and Bryn Kristen Larsen

Chad Libertus

Ms. Judy Liu

Stephen and Chris Lukin Mrs. Jordan Macha and Mr. Kent Hemphill Dr. and Mrs. Michael Mann

Melanie and Jerry Martin Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Matiuk

Tom Mays

Dorothy B. McCaine

Bill, Julie, and Jason McClung

Warren and Yana McFatter

Mimi Reed McGehee

Vickie Milazzo and Thomas Ziemba Mr. and Mrs. Jordan H. Mintz

David and Mary Montague Brad and Lauren Morgan Mr. and Mrs. James M. Nicklos Mr. Michael and Mrs. Catherine Oestmann

Martha Farish Oti

Robert and Mireille Patman Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Alexander Pincu Mr. Vsevolod Popov Ms. Lori Fultz Priess

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Pritchard III Joan and Lou Pucher

Isla and T.R. Reckling Fay and George A. Rizzo

Sharon Roark

Joseph Henry Rose Ms. Jaleh Sallee

Bob Scott and Susan Bickley

Sarah and Tom Scott Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Simmons Michael B. Smith

James Stafford and Deborah Keyser Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stibolt

Summit Dental Center-Dr. Essa A. Kawaja Dr. Jeffrey Sweterlitsch Dr. Jeff and Erin Thompson

Paul and Sherry Vaughan

Stanton Welch AM

Mrs. Sara E. White

Susan Whitfield

Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski

Loretta and Lawrence Williams Helen B. Wils and Leonard A. Goldstein Gaddis and Susan Wittjen Mr. John L. Zipprich II

YOUNG AMBASSADORS

$2,000

Friend of Houston Ballet Renee Anderson

Nicholas Baran

Katherine Brooker and Thomas Stenack Sara Carbo, River Oaks Dance Victoria Gutierrez Lindsey Hurst Ms. Mariya Idenova Karen Kwok Shane A. Miller

David Moyer II R. Trevor Myers Melissa L. Nance P.E. Elizabeth Price

Melissa Reihle Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ritchie Kristiann Rushton Dr. Addy Satija

Lauren Walstad Hardy

Alexandra Yates

BRAVO

$2,000-$3,999

Friends of Houston Ballet Dr. and Mrs. George J. Abdo Mrs. Elaine Adams Norah G. Adams Lauren and Mark Bahorich Anthony and Gina Bahr Michelle and Lorne Bain Mr. and Mrs. Paul Balmert Drs. Robert and Nancy Benjamin Stephen and Linda Bickel Tessa Bodnar Pauline Bolton Ingrid Osborn Bond

In Remembrance of Howard King Bostock Ms. Barbara Brooks

Mr. and Mrs. R. Lawrence Brown III Dr. and Mrs. Raul Caffesse Drs. Steven Craig and Janet Kohlhase Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Denham

Cynthia A. Diller Mrs. Jenny Elkins Betsy M. Figueroa Mrs. Elaine Finger Ms. Leslie Gassner Lisa Gray Dave and Bodil Guenther Mr. and Mrs. Ross K. Hill Sippi and Ajay Khurana Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Paul and Nancy LeGros Nicole and Julius Leitner Mr. and Mrs. Peter MacGregor Monica McNeill Ms. Desrye Morgan Patti Mullendore Paula and Geoff Newton Paul and Arvella Oliver Captain Kim and Rosie Parker Grace Phillips and Eugene Nosal Jim and Kaylon Phillips Ann and Lou Raden Mr. and Mrs. Eric Reed Mr. Shannon Sasser and Mrs. Leslie Elkins Sasser Jewel Sims and Thomas Springer Barbara and Louis Sklar Mr. Sam L. Stolbun and Dr. Alana R. Spiwak Allison and Tom Stovall Dr. Wadi N. Suki and Dr. Adaani E. Frost Susan Lee Taylor

Drs. Peter and Pamela Triolo

Lynda Underwood Ann Wales

Kristine and Stephen Wallace Dr Joan and Mike Weltzien Betsy Winn Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wright

ENCORE

$1,000-$1,999

Friends of Houston Ballet Ms. Cecilia Aguilar Jonni and Skip Almoney Kenneth Anderson and Jean-Marie Simon Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O. Aronson Ann and Jonathan Ayre Laura and Tom Bacon

Laura and Tom Bacon

Kristina Baizan Devereux Mrs. Greta Bandy

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Banks Monica and Scott Barker

Stephen Barnes, MD, JD and Amy Barnes

Deborah Bautch

Victor and Anna Mae Beghini Fund

Elise Bentch

Ed A. and Valerie Blair Mona Bostwick

Corporations, Foundations, and Public Agencies

Houston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the support of the following corporations, foundations, and public agencies.

$750,000 OR MORE

The Brown Foundation, Inc. Houston Methodist

$500,000-$749,999

City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

$250,000-$499,999

The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation

$100,000-$249,999

Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation, Inc.

Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation ConocoPhillips

The Cullen Foundation

The Freebird Foundation Houston Ballet Guild KPRC

The Shubert Foundation, Inc. Texas Commission on the Arts

$50,000-$99,999 Bank of America Beauchamp Foundation Chevron

City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc. H-E-B

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo The Humphreys Foundation KPMG

The Powell Foundation Shell Oil Company

Vivian L. Smith Foundation Wells Fargo

$25,000-$49,999

Baker Botts LLP

De Beers Jewellers

William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation

King & Spalding LLP

M. D. Anderson Foundation Norton Rose Fulbright Rand Group

The Sarofim Foundation

Sidley Austin LLP

Texas Children’s Hospital –Pavilion for Women Truist Bank Van Cleef & Arpels Vinson & Elkins LLP

$10,000-$24,999

BHP Bora

The Friedkin Group

George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation

William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation

Jerome Robbins Foundation KNOWAutism Foundation

Robert & Pearl Knox Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee KRBE

John P. McGovern Foundation Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) Nan and Company Properties Scurlock Foundation

Sterling-Turner Foundation Sumitomo Corporation of Americas Truluck’s

The Vaughn Foundation Willow Hill Soap Company

$2,500-$9,999

The Gordon A. Cain Foundation

DICK’S Sporting Goods

The Joan and Marvin Kaplan Foundation Strake Foundation

The Sartain and Tamez Family Trust Fund

Dr. Fred J. Buckwold

Cecilia and David Campbell

Marilyn Caplovitz

Stephanie and Ted Carpenter

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cato

Drs. David A. Cech and Mary R. Schwartz Dr. Rupi Chatha

Angela Chen

Drs. Melissa and Stephen Chen Neel and Adrienne Choksi

Janette Choy

Lynn Churay Steve and Lynne Clark Mr. Wayne Clark

Brenda J. and Richard Clem Judy and Art Coen

Mike and Linda Condit Alice and Michael Conlon In Memory of Becky Crow Ms. Gay Currie

Mr. and Mrs. John deGroot Cindy and Al DeMoya

Drs. Rafael Diaz and Yanett Anaya Jeanne Doornbos and Michael Maher EagleLight Consulting

The Escalona Family

Suzi Feickert

Mr. Robert Feldman Charles and Sharlynn Fenn Mrs. Madeleine Ferris

Myrna Fisch Ms. Stella Fitzgibbons Mike and Lindsay Fiuzat Ermanno and Franca Florio Mary Lou Flynn-Dupart Mr. and Mrs. Harris Forbes

Curtis Ford

Lois Frankel† Christopher and Ann Frautschi Paula Friedlander

Robert and Jayne Garner Ms. Lucy Gebhart

Stephan Gelinsky Anne Marit Ghazi

Jason and Monik Giordano Char Gollogly Russell Handy

Karen R. and Franklin J. Harberg, Jr. Ms. Jacquelyn Harrison Rosario Spinoso-Harter Nancy L. Harwell

Diana and Russell Hawkins Cynthia Herzog and Rocky High Mr. Robert Heyl

Mr. and Mrs. John Higgins Ms. Kathryn de Sousa Mr. Scott P. Howard

Ms. Barbara J. Hughey Mr. James Hunter

Caroline and Bruce Hurley Mr. Francisco J. Izaguirre Debra W. Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Jarski

Jill and Dunham Jewett

Sarah Johnson

Ms. Emily Kao

Molly Ann Kaplan

Ara Karian

Ms. Jody Kelley

Ann and Tom Kelsey

Doug and Karen Kenaley

Stephen and Patricia King

Jennifer Lambert

Brenda Landry

Parry and Sydney Lauzon

Alex and Victoria Lazar Mr. Jaime Ledergerber

Joseph Levitan and Nicolo Messana George and Helen Littell Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp Linnar Looris

Mr. Robert Lorio

David and Susan Loveland

Marvin Lummis

Dr. Brian Malechuk and Mr. Kevin Melgaard

Mr. Thomas Manners

Renee Margolin

Shelly Mark

Dr. Mary F. McAleer

Mr. and Mrs. James McCartney V April and Wells McGee

Ms. Patricia McMahon

Bill and Judy McNamee

Katie and Kurt Meissner

Christianne Melanson and Durwin Sharp

Colonel Michael Mergens and Mrs. Mergens

Julie Miles

Mrs. Eileen Moore

Terrylin G. Neale

Mrs. Kim T. Nguyen

Mrs. Peg Palisin and Mr. Gary C. Gardner

Mrs. Jo Papadakis

Carolyn W. Payne

Richard A. and Thelma A. Percoco

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Ray

Wanda A. Reynolds

Ms. Diana Riggle

Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Rigo

Elena Lexina and Brian Rishikof

Maura and Walter Ritchie

Ana Rodriguez

Gregory and Dina Rozenfeld

Brenda and Mansel Rubenstein

DonNell Rushing

Robert and Michele Ryan

Dan and Brenda Sauls

Mr. and Mrs. Russell D. Sellen

Juan Serrato M.D.

Audrey and Sofie Sims

Tricia and Mark Singer

Mrs. Randal Smith

Mr. William Snypes and Mrs. Suzanne Suter

Mrs. Christine Sofka

Ms. Judy Spinella

Christen and Amy Springs

Carol Todd Stamatedes

James and Ginger Stark Marty and Bob Stein Kay and Bert Tabor

Amir Taghi

Dr. Deborah A. Thomas

Marty Thomas

Mrs. Jean A. Unger

Dr. and Mrs. Giles Leslie Vick

Dean Walker

Suzanne Walstad

Dr. and Mrs. J. Anthony Walter III

Barbara and Howard Weiner

Mr. Gary Whitney

Barbara Rassmann Wilhite

Mary Anne Wilkinson and Bill Samelson

Janice B. Willett

Jim and Nancy Winget

The Wolens Family

Mrs. Cyvia Wolff

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Wright

Lori and Scott Wulfe

Cheryl Lynn Zane

† In Memoriam

These generous donations were received before October 12, 2022.

For more information about supporting Houston Ballet through annual membership, please contact Stephanie Faulk, Assistant Director of Individual Giving, at sfaulk@houstonballet.org or 713.874.5447.

In-Kind Donors

A special thank you to the following businesses and individuals for their in-kind support.

$100,000 OR MORE Audacy

KHMX Mix 96.5, KILT FM 100.3 The Bull, KKHH The Spot 95.7, KLOL Mega 101 and KILT AM Sports 610 PaperCity Magazine

The Events Company

$50,000-$99,999

Cox Media Group KKBQ FM, 93Q Country, KTHT FM Country Legends 97.1 and KGKL FM 107.5 The Eagle H-E-B KHOU TV KPMG LLP KPRC TV KRBE FM NRG Park Wells Fargo $25,000-$49,999

iHeart Radio KODA FM Sunny 99.1, KTRH AM 740 News Radio, KTBZ FM 94.5 The Buzz Kirksey Gregg Productions, LLC Deborah and Edward Koehler KSBJ FM Saks Fifth Avenue The Sarofim Foundation Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

$10,000-$24,999

Laurel D’Antoni Macy’s Nan and Company Properties Saks Fifth Avenue SilverStone Events Swoon Magazine Ticketmaster Tiffany & Co. Willow Hill Soap Company

$5,000-$9,999

512 New Media Bora Kristy and Chris Bradshaw

Freddy Cruz Creative Works Houston Astros Houston Public Media Key Magazine KGS Studios

Kid’s Directory

Jackson and Company

La Grgilia

Lavandula Design

Samsville Gallery

Seff Family

Shepard Exposition Services

Leigh and Reggie Smith

Spread Oaks Ranch

Stafford Enterprises

Valobra Master Jewelers Hallie Vanderhider

Lynn Wyatt

$2,500-$4,999

Alaska Fur Gallery Bergner & Johnson

Bludorn/Chef Aaron Bludorn

Chef Chris Shepherd

City Kitchen Catering

Fluff Bake Bar/Chef Rebecca Masson

Jimmy Choo Kata Robata/ Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi

LH Media Design

Longhorn Charter Bus

Ostia

Steak 48

Tito’s Handmade Vodka Tootsies

$1,000-$2,499

51Fifteen Cuisine and Cocktails

Al’s Handmade Boots Ashkan Image Berg Hospitality Group

Buz Marvins Photography

Diamonds Direct

Elizabeth Anthony

Fulshear/ Katy Chamber of Commerce Relocation Guide

Gittings

Jeremy Griggs and Jessica Trincanello

Dr. Peter and Dr. Pamela Trinolo

Katherine Jetter

Le Jardinier

Matthew Campbell Laurenza

Megan Murray Photography

Neiman Marcus

Roger Vivier

Sealy News/ Katy News, Granite Media Partners

The Post Oak Hotel

Tom James of Houston Wilson Parish Photography

Houston Ballet Endowment

Endowed funds assist Houston Ballet in attracting talented artists.

The Harris Masterson III Artistic Director – Stanton Welch AM

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Principal Dancer – Yuriko Kajiya

The Melza M. Barr Principal Dancer – Melody Mennite

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Principal Dancer – Jessica Collado

The Fondren Foundation Principal Dancer – Connor Walsh

The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer – Karina González

The Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist – Allison Miller

The Anita B. Stude Principal Dancer – Charles-Louis Yoshiyama

The Robert F. Parker Principal Dancer – Soo Youn Cho

The Carolyn Lee and Frederick Adrian Lee Production Fund supports the creation of new productions and the restoration of existing works.

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation endows the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance, Houston Ballet’s annual gala performance.

The Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship Fund underwrites training for traditionally underrepresented Academy students annually.

The Joe Anne Berwick Endowed Merit Scholarship supports students of dance.

The Ira and Myra Brown Young Dancer Scholarship Fund underwrites training for Academy dancers annually.

The Fayez Sarofim & Co. Touring Fund supports Houston Ballet’s domestic and international tours.

The C. C. Conner Scholarship Fund, The Roy M. Huffington Scholarship Fund, The Billie Bath Perlman Scholarship Fund, and The Winifred Wallace Scholarship Fund each underwrite training for one HBII dancer annually.

The Margaret Wiess Elkins Young Artist Fund, The Ben Stevenson Scholarship Fund and The Anita Borges Stude Scholarship Fund each underwrite training for one Academy dancer annually.

The AIG American General/AIG VALIC Education and Community Engagement Programs Fund helps Houston Ballet reach a broad population of all ages and economic levels.

With deep gratitude, we salute the following donors for their contributions to the Endowment.

$5,000,000 OR MORE

The Brown Foundation, Inc. Estate of Frederic Adrian Lee Margaret Alkek Williams/The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

$3,000,000-$4,999,999

Estate of George W. Ernst, Jr. The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

$1,000,000-$2,999,999

Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation, Inc.

The Cullen Foundation

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Houston Endowment, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III†

$500,000-$999,999

Ira† and Myra Brown Estate of Joe Anne Berwick National Endowment for the Arts Mr. Fayez Sarofim

$100,000-$499,999

Friends of Houston Ballet AIG American General/AIG VALIC Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Arnold, Jr. Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation Estate of Audrey Jones Beck Estate of Suzanne S. Braden Mrs. Laurie Champion

The Cockrell Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Coneway Charles Engelhard Foundation Mr. James A. Elkins, Jr.†

The Elkins Foundation

The Fondren Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Gillingham† Hearst Foundations

Mr. William J. Hill† Barbara F. and Gerald D. Hines†

Hobby Family Foundation Houston Ballet Guild

Deborah and Edward Koehler

Mr. and Mrs. Meredith J. Long Mary Ralph Lowe

Estate of William McAnear

Mr. and Mrs. George P. Mitchell†

Mitchell Energy & Development Corp.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy S. O’Connor

Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Parker

Mr. Henry Salvatori Scurlock Foundation Tarrant Hancock Trust Estate of Dorothy B. Thomas

Stanton

In the Wings

to

Houston

Join

Welch’s Romeo and Juliet returns

the Wortham Theater stage for the first time since the ballet’s debut in 2015. Set to Prokofiev’s breathtaking score, Stanton Welch’s production weaves the poignant tale of the star-crossed lovers exquisitely. The production pays tribute to the Italian Renaissance with lavish sets and costumes by acclaimed Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. Welch’s Romeo and Juliet is a brilliantly imagined interpretation of the world’s most famous love story, matching its classic themes with fresh choreography. The Bard himself would surely approve.

BALLET

Ballet will present Romeo and Juliet February 23 - March 5, 2023 at the Wortham Theater Center. For tickets, please visit houstonballet.org or call the box office at 713.227.2787.

us for the Romeo and Juliet Dance Talks on February 14, 2023 at 7:15 PM at the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance to learn more about the production from our panel of artists.

Principals Connor Walsh and Karina González.

Photo by Amitava Sarkar.