Notes from the Artistic Director
This timeless storybook ballet has long captured hearts with its magic, humor, and message of hope. From the charming mice to the outrageous stepsisters, each character brings something special to the stage—and it’s been a joy to explore and bring them to life with our talented cast.
We open in Cinderella’s home, where she is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. While they prepare for a royal ball hosted by a prince in search of a bride, Cinderella is left behind—until the arrival of her Fairy Godmother changes everything. With a little magic (and a lot of heart), she is transformed and whisked away to the ball, but warned to leave before midnight, when the spell will break.
At the palace, true love blooms—but as the clock strikes twelve, Cinderella disappears, leaving only a glass slipper behind. The next day, the Prince begins his search, determined to find the mysterious girl who stole his heart.
This production is especially meaningful to our company. We began working on Cinderella just before the pandemic put everything on pause. Now, several years later, the stars have aligned: the right dancers, the right timing, and the perfect energy to complete the circle and finally share this beautiful story with you.
Thank you for joining us on this magical journey. We hope Cinderella delights you as much as it has inspired us. Enjoy the show!
— Matthew Gasper, Artistic Director & Choreographer
Artistic Director & Choreographer
Matthew Gasper
Rehearsal Assistant
Nell Cunningham
Costume Designer
Suzanne Spiese
Lighting Designer ................... Brian Lynch
Sound Operator ...................... Adam Roder
Backstage Crew ................... Fargo Theatre
Costume Manager ............Bryanna Gehrtz
Wardrobe Lead ................... Koral Salisbury
Costume Crew ................... Suzanne Spiese
............................................... Amanda Fechtner ....................................................Bryanna Gehrtz
Carol Nelson
..................................................... Koral Salsibury
Props Assistant ....................... Evelyn Gabel
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Cast List
Cinderella Mary Beth Porter
...................................................... (Understudy: Amelia Oster)
Hortinsia (Stepmother) Shawn Viseth
(Understudy: Izzy Kalash)
Clementine (Step Sister) ......... Anja Nelson
(Understudy: Taryn Phengdouangdeth)
Edwina (Step Sister) ............ MaryJo Nelson
(Understudy: Anna Dietz)
fairy Godmother / Beggar .... Jayla Hoffer
(Understudy: Margaux Butenhoff)
Tailor ............................................... Lauren Frye
Dance Instructor Taryn Phengdouangdeth
Violin Player ................................ Aiden Sears
Prince................................................ James Kirch
Master of Ceremonies ...... Jeremiah Russell
Duke...................................................... Alex Kirch
Squire........................................... Edgardo Perez
Cobbler .......................................... Evelyn Gabel
Court Attendees ..............Huntington Aikens
Rene Beaird, Margaux Butenhoff, Lauren Frye
Clara Harm, Ashley Heuer, Avery Holkup
Amanda Kadrmas, Izzy Kalash, Anna LaFond
Clara Meline, Makenna Olson, Amelia Oster Taryn Phengdouangdeth, Talulah Sully
Ladies Feet Huntington Aikens
Margaux Butenhoff, Lauren Frye, Ashley Heuer
Izzy Kalash, Anna LaFond, Clara Meline
Makenna Olson, Amelia Oster, Talulah Sully
Horses .......................................... Kennedy Haskins
Emma Hunt
Clock Dwarves
Cherry Dwarf ....................................... Julia Day
Snozer Dwarf Mia Vincent
Chatter Dwarf .................................... Lydia Zuel
Grizzle Dwarf Elin Kelly
Whizzy Dwarf .......................... Reagan Veselka
Tinker Dwarf Anna Dietz
Blinky Dwarf........................... Markie Fechtner
Bashful Dwarf Gemma Hammer
Merry Dwarf ........................ Chelsea Coleman
Nibble Dwarf Ireland Mahlke
Scribbler Dwarf ....................... Safira Williams
Hefty Dwarf Hayden Draeger
Cast Continued
Forest & Fairies
Spring Fairy
Amelia Oster
................................................ (Understudy: Makenna Olson)
Spring Sprites
Agnes Dusek
................................................................... Grace Pickett
........................................................
Claire Ruiz-Alcorta
Elora Saari
Elise Vincent
....................................................................
Dragonfly
....................................................................
Mice
....................................................................
Frogs .............................................
.........................
Cassie Xu
Summer Fairy ...................... Huntington Aikens (Understudy: Talulah Sully)
Summer Sprites .............................
Sadie Bohner
Thea Gess
Claire Knutson-Andrud
...............................................
...................................................................
Lillian Murch
Ruby Mei Porter
Rodenbiker
Autumn Fairy ..................................... Izzy Kalash
..................................................... (Understudy: Anna LaFond)
Autumn Sprites ............................... Marley Getz
Clara Hiller
.......................................................................
Althea Johnson
Arabella Kuznia
..............................................................
Ellenore Schmaltz
.........................................................
.............................................................. Louisa Waverek
Winter Fairy
Margaux Butenhoff
...................................................... (Understudy: Talulah Sully)
Winter Sprites
..................................................................
...........................................................
Lauren Frye
Clara Meline
Betsy Krusen
Nora Satrom
Addilynn Krieger
Ambrialynn Krieger, Siya Lu Porter
... Grace Ruiz-Alcorta,Chaplynn Salgado-Nelson
Adelaide Schlenker, Kendall Spilman
.................................................................. Natalie Sticca
Lilly Dame
Madelyn Fritz
Caroline Leonard
Lilah Necastro
Lucia Parmer
...................................................................
Brooklyn Pladson
Northwestern Bank congratulates the cast of FMBallet’s Cinderella on an outstanding production!
FMBallet Company
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
Apprentice
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
Apprentice
Soloist
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
MaryJo Nelson
Margaux Butenhoff
Ashley Heuer
Amelia Oster
Mary Beth Porter
Anja Nelson
Jayla Hoffer
Markie Fechtner
Shawn Viseth
Huntington Aikens
Izzy Kalash
Anna LaFond
Aiden Sears
Kylie Adams
Lauren Frye
Clara Meline
Sponsorship by Tom & Ruth Bettenhausen
25/26 Season Volunteer Committee
Company & 2nd Company
Auditions: July 30, 2025
Fall Production
Performances: October 2025
The Classic Nutcracker
Auditions: September 7, 2025
Performances: December 18-21, 2025
NDSU Festival Concert Hall
Spring Production
Auditions: January 11, 2026
Performances: April 2026
Summer Dance Intensive
July 13 - 31, 2026
(1, 2, or 3 week option)
NEW to our 2025-2026 Season!!
We are looking for motivated individuals who have a love for dance and the FMBallet to join our Volunteer Committee. This low commitment committee will assist with production needs such as in-studio box office hours, volunteer set-up, collecting program ads, and more! If you are interested, please follow the QR Code below and fill out the short survey.
Trainee
Talulah Sully
Elin Kelly
Julia Day
Mia Vincent
Anna Dietz
Lydia Zuel
Kennedy Haskins Trainee
Makenna Olson
Donations
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported and donated to the FMBallet. Your generous contributions play a vital role in sustaining our day-to-day operations and enable us to continue offering professional dance opportunities in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community. Your support also allows us to bring captivating and inspiring performances to our audiences. We couldn’t do what we do without you—thank you for being an essential part of the FMBallet family!
Adams, David & Kim
Adams, Catherine
Adams, Elwood
Aikens / Alexington, Christyal, Huntington, Alexander
Alm, Brad & Midge
Alm, Emily
Alverson, Camille
Ambers, Noelle & Curt
Andersen, Isabella
Andersen Kirch, Liz
Andrus, Alyssia
Bagne Ellingson, Craig A & Shawn
Belknap, Patricia
Bahl, Lexi
Barnes, Sherrie
Baron, Sue
Baumgardner, Cynthia*
Becker Garberg, Pari
Belknap, Patricia & Burton
Bennett, Tiffany
Berland, Wendy
Berns, Shar
Bettenhausen, Ruth & Tom
Biddle, William
Biller, Cheryl
Binfet, Kelly
Bjerke, Greg & Nancy
Blommel, Mae
Boe Enrud, Pebbles
Bohnenblust, Elizabeth
Bovy, Diana
Bown, Diane
Boyd, Linda
Brakke Johnson, Kara
Brantner, Lanny
Breikjern, Eloise
Breslin, Janine
Browne-Ecker, Monika*
Burggraff, Allison & Eric
Burns, Pamela & Michael
Buss, Kara
Butenhoff, Brady & Sonja
Butenhoff, Margaux
Capistran, Jane Linde
Carney, Tara
Carvalho, Cesar & Cris
Chapman, David & Julie
Charleston, Troy
Christie, Catlyn
Christman, Jaci
Christman, Linda
Cermak, AJ
Collins, Travis
Comeau, Paula
Condell, Yvonne
Connor, Gloria Cooper, Joyela
Cruff, Dawn
Cruff, Timothy & Carol
Cuypers, Travis
Dahl, Mariko
Dahlberg, Carol Ann
Dahmen, Sara & Matt
Davis, Jenny
Deal Dahle, Dawn
Del Val, Dayna
DeLaPointe, Patrick
Diers, Teresa
Dietz, Kara
Dittemore, Megan
Dorsey, Stephen & Michelle
Dusek, Steve
Eidem, Genevieve
Ekstrom, Mandie
Enz, Jennifer
Evensen, Matt
Ewen, Chelsey
Fechtner, Amanda
Fischer, Michelle
Ford Dunker, Noah Foss, Lana Friend, Helen Fritz, Janae
Froemke, Carmel
Frye, Jessica
Gaboury, Catherine
Gadaire, Margaret
Gaddie, Christopher Gasper, Lacey
Gasper, Matthew
Gess, Matthew & Taylor
Gibson, Eric Gjovig, Kayla
Gleave, Damon Goebel, Rachel
Goldmark Commercial Real Estate
Granger, Katie
Gunderson, Dawn
Gust, Michael & Jayne
Haala, Cody
Hall, Clifford & Charlene Hallaway
Hamilton, David
Hammer, Kimberly & Matt
Hammer, Gemma Harrington Hill, Angela Haskins, Nicola Hassel, Kaia Hastings, Kyla Hastings, Mary Heerman, Kari & Max Hendrickson, Mariah Heuring, Katie Hill, Sheyene
Hiller, Elizabeth Hiller, Tim
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Hoesel, Penelope Hoffer, Paul Hoge, Mikala Hoglund, Stan Hopperstad, Lisa Houglum, Karin Huebner, Tracey Huffman, Jeremy Ide, Kristin Igo, Chad Igo, Gil & Rosi Isom, Carla Iverson, Sara J Christopher Hieb, DDS, PC Jacobson Reisenauer, Amy Johansen, Katie Johnson, Antoinette Johnson, AJ Johnson, Cassidy Johnson, Jessie Johnson, Tim & Amy Johnson, Sigurd Johnsrud, Erica Jonason, Maureen Jorgenson, Scarlett Kalash, Lori Katka, Bethany Kaufman, Paula Keintz, Jennifer Keller, Anne Kelsh, Kathleen Kelso, Jean Kenfield, Mikal Kennelly, Stephen King, Sarah Kirsch, Cy Kirch, Mike Kittelson, Amanda Klabo, Terry
Knutson, Karla
Knutson, Lyndsey & Kyle
Knutson, Steve
Koenig, Lori
Koeppe, Erin
Koesterman, Carolyn
Kolesar, Jennifer
Kooyer, Kurt & Maria
Krauth, Samuel
Krusen, Bailey
Kunkel, Melissa
Kyllo, Jodi
LaFond, Johannah
LaHaise, Susan & Todd
Laney’s Inc.
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Lancaster, Kathy & Kelly
Langlois, Tricia
Larew, Don
Larson, Allison
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Lee, Brandy & Duginski, Joel
Leeaphon, Dan & Laura
Leiphon Shirley
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Leonard, Michael
Leslie, Norman & Josée
Leslie, Mateo
Levihn, Kathryn
Lewis, Colleen
Lewis, Judy
Lonzi, John
Lundberg, Theresa
Lutgen, Catharine
Lynch, Brian & Clare
Mace, Becky
Magdalena, Rachel
Magel, Rhonda
Magelky, Aliceyn
Mahoney, Timothy
Mahowald, Shelly
Maliscke, Gabriel
Marburger, Mikael
Marcil, Bill & Cris
Martin, Rachel
Martus, Samantha
Masciarelli, Leslie
McGregor, Katie
McKay, Michelle
McManus, Sara
McMullen-Wendt, Katy & James
McMullen, Marcia
Meinhover, Katie
Melroe, Doug
Meline, James & Heidi
Menne, Lisa
Merhiy, Eric
Mineer, Patrick
Mjelde, Robert
Molbert, Kate
Morse, Tyler
Mozley, Melissa
Murch, Bethany & Doug
Myers, Megan
Myhre, Sonja
Myrold, Ryan
Necastro, Lisa & Brian
Neely, Benton
Nelson, Stephanie Nelson, Wayne D Neshem, Mikael
Network for Good
Norgren-Spicer, Christine
Norgren, Phil & Phyllis Norton, Alesha
O’Day, Jessica & John
Olimb, Carole
Ollenburger, Allie Olson, Ardell & Audrey
Olson, Judith
Olson, Michael
Olson, Teresa
Oster, Amy
Painter, Dan & Judy
Pankow, Adam
Parmer, Elizabeta
Petersen, Kate
Peterson, Julie
Petry, Natasha
Pladson, James
Plagemann, Robert
Platt, Carrie Anne
Plattner, Alycia
Donations Continued
Pickett, Anthony
Piens, Marshall
Porter, Anna
Poyner, Gwendoline
Prahm, Alicia
Prasifka, Patti
Pratt, Melissa
Rabideaux, April
Raleigh, Kern
Rastedt, Paulette & William
Retzer, Ken & Marcia
Richardson, Beth Richardson, Muriel & Joe
Rinehardt, Nathalie
Robinson, Brittney
Roder, Adam
Rowell, Alison
Roy, Angie
Rueb, Kim
Salisbury, Keela
Salisbury, Koral
Salmon, Danielle & Spencer
Sarabakhsh, Sina
Satrom, Jessica Schmaltz, Ellenore Schuster, Nick & Marci
Scott, Stacy
Shawn, Amelia Shawn, Jessica Simmons, Ramie Skaalrud, Hanna
Skalsky, Carole Skrove, Mary
Snider, Christina & Bryon
Speidel, Naomi
Spellman, Judith Spicer, Mark Spicer, Sasha Spiering, Kerri
Stalheim, Edward Sticca, Kathryn
Story, Kenneth
Stroh, Steffan
Stystelien, Linda
Swanson, James Swanson, Michelle Syverson, Rachel
Tehven, Christy
Teschendorf, Samantha
Theibert, Suzanne
Thiel, Sandra
Thorstad, Mona
Tinguely, Stephen & Mae
Tuttle, Mary
Tyre, Sarah
Ulrickson, Cheryl
Unrue, Donna
Vandal, Greg
Varland, Rooth
Veil-Ehnert, Jillian
Veselka, Cody & Nicole
Vinje, Robyn
Viseth, Jody
Vogel, Miriam
Walery, Michael Wallace, Alison
Walz, Adam Wangen, Jerilyn Warne, Maylynn
Waverek, Kristen
Weaver, Anita
Weidner, Shelley
Wells, Sarah
Wesland, Christine
Weisbeck, Teah
Wethern, Ariel
Wethern, John & Amelia
Wilkey, Jill Williams, Fred Williams, Jr., Kenneth Williams, Vida Wintersteen, Carolyn & David
Wold, Terrie Jo Wolf, Emily Woodbury, Lauren
Woodbury, Mo
Woodruff, Dana
Yahnke, Mali
Yahnke, Pat
Yanish, Kathleen Yborra, Melissa Young, Melissa
Zinter, Doug Zuel, Melissa
Thank You
We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible volunteers whose time, talent, and dedication make productions like Cinderella possible. Your behind-the-scenes support and passion for the arts help bring our vision to life. Thank you as well to everyone who has supported this production—your generosity and encouragement uplift our company and help us continue sharing the magic of dance with our community.
Costume Volunteers
Alyssa Andrus
Jerica Coleman
Janae Fritz
Evelyn Gabel
Michael Gehrtz
Hannah Gerke
Taylor Gess
Heidi Meline
Lisa & Brian Necastro
Carol Nelson
Teresa Olson
Alycia Plattner
Mary Beth Porter
Koral Salisbury
Logan Schmaltz
Kylie Adams
Christyal Alexington
Elizabeth Andersen
Alyssa Andrus
Ella Bossert
Brady & Sonja Butenhoff
Cris Calil
Jerica Coleman
Nell Cunningham
Jenny Day
Kara Dietz
Fargo Public Library
Amanda & Derrick Fechtner
FMBallet Company
Folkways
Colby Foss
In-Kind Donations
Fechtner, Amanda
Gasper’s School of Dance
McGregor, Matt
The Barre Dance Boutique
Janae Fritz
Kathryn Gasper
Matt & Lacey Gasper
Bryanna Gehrtz
Taylor Gess
Elizabeth Hiller
Jen Hoffer
Lori Kalash
Maggie Kelly KLVY
Karla Knutson
Melissa Kunkle
John Lamb
James & Heidi Meline
Bethany Murch
Lisa & Brian Necastro
Nikki Nilson
North Dakota Today
Vet Tix
Teresa Olson
Elizabeta Parmer
John & Missy Porter
Prairie Public Radio
Nancy & Raul Ruiz
Jessica Satrom
Suzanne Spiese
Alexandra Spilman
Kathryn Sticca
The Arts Partnership
The Barre Dance Boutique
The Fargo Theatre
The Forum
Nicole & Cody Veselka
Vida Williams
We are proud to partner with VET TIX again this season to offer tickets to our United States Veterans and First Responders. Thank you for your service to our country. www.vettix.org
Learn more or donate at fmballet.org
