Notes from the Artistic Director
As a child, The Wizard of Oz was a source of both wonder and fear for me—the tornado, the flying monkeys, the Wicked Witch. Yet, within the story’s adventure, there are many important lessons. One that stands out is that no matter how difficult things become, there’s truly no place like home. I vividly remember watching The Wizard of Oz on TV; the vibrant colors, captivating action, and unforgettable singing and dancing drew me in completely. I even dressed up as the Tin Man for Halloween one year, wanting to be part of that magical world.
When I first embarked on this ballet over a decade ago, I found that the challenges felt similar to Dorothy’s journey. I needed to discover my own “yellow brick road”— in this case, finding the right music to bring the story to life. The music had to capture the spirit of each character and scene while evoking the charm of MGM’s classic film and L. Frank Baum’s beloved novel. The search for the perfect pieces came with its own obstacles, much like Dorothy’s adventure.
The music of Bruno Coulais, Hans Zimmer, Francis Poulenc, and Francesco Lettera has guided me, just as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion helped Dorothy find her way home. I am grateful to the dancers, whose inspiration and dedication have enriched this journey down the yellow brick road.
Thank you for joining us on this adventure.
—
Matthew Gasper, Artistic Director & Choreographer
Artistic Director & Choreographer
Costume Designer
Suzanne Spiese
Costume Assistant Lighting Designer
Carol Nelson Brian Lynch
Costume Assistant
Backstage Crew Matthew Gasper
Koral Salisbury
Lighting Assistant Emcee
Shelby Putz
Patrick Kasper
Sound & Tech
Adam Roder
FUNDING
Costume Assistant Box Office
Lacey Gasper
Amanda Fechtner
Prop Manager
Evelyn Gabel
Fargo Theatre Staff
Funding for the FMBallet and our productions has been partially provided by The Arts Partnership and North Dakota Arts Council.
No photography or video recording is allowed during our production. All dance pieces and choreography are a form of creative expression that is protectable under federal copyright law. Usage of phones or devices are also a distraction to those around you. Sit back, relax and enjoy our live performance.
Cast List
Dorothy .......................... Kylie Adams
Toto .................................. Safira Williams
Uncle Henry .................. James Kirch (U/S: Aiden Sears)
Auntie Em ...................... Ashley Heuer
Professor Marvel ......... Shawn Viseth (U/S: Alex Kirch)
Ms. Gulch ....................... Margaux Butenhoff
Farm Hand ..................... Mary Beth Porter
Farm Hand ..................... MaryJo Nelson
Tornado Dancers
Huntington Aikens
Lauren Frye
Anna LaFond
Anna Dietz
Jayla Hoffer
Markie Fechtner
Izzy Kalash
Clara Meline Anja Nelson
Makenna Olson Amelia Oster Aiden Sears
Talulah Sully
Glinda ............................... Avery Fechtner
Reese Veselka Lydia Zuel
Mayor of Munchkinland .... Louisa Waverek (U/S: Nora Satrom)
Lollipop Guild
Munchkins
Chelsea Coleman Julia Day
Kherington Pearson Reagan Veselka
Maxwell Bartholomay-Berreth
Gemma Hammer Clara Hiller
Braxton Burket
Caroline Leonard
Gemma Jacobson Beckett McGregor Lillian Murch
Lilah Necastro Grace Pickett
Brooklyn Pladson
Yaya Porter Abigail Price Sydney Prochow
Lyra Rodenbiker Grace Ruiz
Claire Ruiz
Dahlia Sabbagh Chaplynn Salgado Nelson
Nora Satrom Carolina Snider Mira Stensgard
Elise Vincent
Scarecrow ....................... Mary Beth Porter
Crow .................................. Clara Meline (U/S: Markie Fechtner)
Angry Trees
Katie Carlson Evelyn Gabel
Kennedy Haskins Emma Hunt
Makenna Olson Talulah Sully
Marley Getz
Elin Kelly
Imogen Syverson
Tin Man ............................
James Kirch (U/S: Aiden Sears)
Lion ...................................
Poppy Flowers
MaryJo Nelson (U/S: Clara Meline)
Huntington Aikens
Jayla Hoffer
Amelia Oster
Wizard of Oz
Cast List
Margaux Butenhoff Ashley Heuer
Izzy Kalash
(U/S: Lauren Frye, Makenna Olson, Talulah Sully)
Shawn Viseth (U/S: Alex Kirch)
Wicked Witch of the West .............. Anja Nelson (U/S: Margaux Butenhoff)
Lead Monkeys ............... Anna Dietz
Winged Monkeys
Emerald City
Anna LaFond
Markie Fechtner Clara Meline
Hayden Draeger Evan Krauth
Ruby Porter
Liliana Walz Seviour
Lydia Zuel
Huntington Aikens
Paula Comeau
Lauren Frye
Ashley Heuer
Izzy Kalash
Anna LaFond
Talulah Sully
Reese Veselka
Izzy Maring
Mia Vincent
Emery Wolf Cassie Xu
Margaux Butenhoff
Terri Diers
Evelyn Gabel
Jayla Hoffer
Elin Kelly
Katie Carlson
Jen Enz
Kennedy Haskins
Emma Hunt
Alex Kirch
Makenna Olson Aiden Sears
Scenes
Act 1
Scene 1 ........................ Kansas
Scene 2 ........................ Tornado
Scene 3 ........................ Munchkinland
Scene 4 ........................ Scarecrow
Scene 5 ........................ Tinman
Scene 6 ........................ Lion
Scene 7 ........................ Poppy Flowers
Scene 8 ........................ Lead Monkeys
Scene 9 ........................ Emerald City
Intermission | Costume Contest
At Intermission, we invite ALL patrons who are dressed up to join us on stage for a costume contest!
Prizes sponsored by: The Barre Dance Boutique, Gasper’s School of Dance, and FMBallet.
Act 2
Scene 1 ............................. Emerald City (Meet the Wizard)
Scene 2 ............................. The Wicked Witches Lair
Scene 3 ............................. Emerald City Goodbyes
Scene 4 ............................. Return Home
Thank You
Thank you to our volunteers and supporters, without you our productions cannot happen without your time and dedication. We apologize if your name was left off the list. We really do appreciate your time and dedication to our company. A big thank you from us to you.
If you want to get involved with the FMBallet, email us at info@fmballet.org.
Alexington, Chris
Beckermann, Julia
Butenhoff, Sonja
Calil, Cris
Carlson, Stephanie
Day, Jennifer
Dietz, Kara & Chris
Fargo Public Library
Fargo Theatre
Fechtner, Amanda
Folkways
Gasper, Kathryn
Gasper, Matt & Lacey
Jeffries, Brandy
Kasper, Patrick
Krauth, Jerry
Kunkle, Melissa KVLY
Meline, James & Heidi
Necastro, Lisa & Brian
Nelson, Carol & Anja
North Dakota Today Show
Plattner, Alycia
Porter, John & Missy
Porter, Mary Beth
Prairie Public Radio
Rodenbiker, Christina
Salisbury, Koral
Spiese, Suzanne
Stensgard, Karen
The Arts Partnership
The Barre Dance
Boutique
Veselka, Nikki & Cody
Williams, Vida
Wolf, Emily
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
Belknap, Patricia
Bahl, Lexi
Barnes, Sherrie
Baumgardner, Cynthia*
Becker Garberg, Pari
Belknap, Patricia & Burton Bennett, Tiffany
Berland, Wendy
Berns, Shar
Bettenhausen, Ruth C. 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*
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
Eidem, Genevieve
Ekstrom, Mandie Ellingson, Craig
Enz, Jennifer
Evensen, Matt
Ewen, Chelsey Fechtner, Amanda Fischer, Michelle Ford Dunker, Noah
Foss, Lana Friend, Helen Froemke, Carmel
Gaboury, Catherine
Gadaire, Margaret Gaddie, Christopher Gasper, Lacey
Gasper, Matthew
Gibson, Eric Gjovig, Kayla
Goebel, Rachel
Granger, Katie Gunderson, Dawn Gust, Michael & Jayne Haala, Cody
Hall, Clifford & Charlene Hallaway Hamilton, David Hammer, Kimberly Harrington Hill, Angela Haskins, Nicola Hassel, Kaia Hastings, Kyla Hastings, Mary Heerman, Kari & Max Heuring, Katie Hill, Sheyene
Hiller, Tim Hjermstad, Tara Hoesel, Penelope Hoge, Mikala Hoglund, Stan 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, Timothy Johnson, Sigurd Johnsrud, Erica Jonason, Maureen Jorgenson, Scarlett Kalash, Lori Kaufman, Paula Keller, Anne Kelsh, Kathleen Kelso, Jean Kenfield, Mikal Kennelly, Stephen King, Sarah Kirsch, Cy Kirch, Mike
Klabo, Terry
Knutson, Lyndsey & Kyle
Knutson, Steve
Koenig, Lori
Koeppe, Erin
Koesterman, Carolyn
Kooyer, Kurt & Maria
Krauth, Samuel
Kunkel, Melissa
Kyllo, Jodi
LaHaise, Susan & Todd
Laney’s Inc.
Lamb, John
Lancaster, Kathy & Kelly
Langlois, Tricia
Larew, Don
Lausch, Cheryl & Michael
Leake, Kyle
Lee, Brandy & Duginski, Joel
Leeaphon, Dan & Laura
Leiphon Shirley
Leonard, Kristin
Leonard, Michael
Leslie, Norman & Josée
Leslie, Mateo
Levihn, Kathryn
Lewis, Colleen
Lewis, Judy
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
Martus, Samantha
Masciarelli, Leslie
McManus, Sara
McMullen-Wendt, Katy & James
McMullen, Marcia
Melroe, Doug
Meline, James & Heidi
Menne, Lisa
Merhiy, Eric
Mineer, Patrick
Mjelde, Robert
Molbert, Kate
Morse, Tyler
Mozley, Melissa
Murch, Bethany
Myers, Megan
Myhre, Sonja
Myrold, Ryan
Necastro, Lisa
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
Painter, Dan & Judy
Pankow, Adam
Petersen, Kate
Peterson, Julie
Petry, Natasha
Plagemann, Robert
Platt, Carrie Anne
Plattner, Alycia
Donations Continued
Porter, Anna
Poyner, Gwendoline
Rabideaux, April
Raleigh, Kern
Rastedt, Paulette & William
Richardson, Beth
Richardson, Muriel & Joe
Rinehardt, Nathalie
Roder, Adam
Roy, Angie
Rueb, Kim
Salisbury, Keela
Salisbury, Koral
Salmon, Danielle
Sarabakhsh, Sina
Schmaltz, Ellenore
Schuster, Nick & Marci
Scott, Stacy
Shawn, Amelia
Shawn, Jessica
Skaalrud, Hanna
Skalsky, Carole
Skrove, Mary
Snider, Christina Speidel, Naomi Spicer, Mark Spicer, Sasha Spiering, Kerri Stalheim, Edward Story, Kenneth
Stystelien, Linda Swanson, James Swanson, Michelle Syverson, Rachel
Teschendorf, Samantha
Theibert, Suzanne Thiel, Sandra
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
Wallace, Alison
Walz, Adam
Warne, Maylynn
Waverek, Kristen
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 Wolf, Emily
Woodbury, Lauren
Woodbury, Mo
Woodruff, Dana Yahnke, Mali
Yahnke, Pat
Yanish, Kathleen
Yborra, Melissa
Young, Melissa
Zinter, Doug
Zuel, Melissa
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Fechtner, Amanda
Gasper’s School of Dance
The Barre Dance Boutique
FMBallet Company
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet Apprentice
Corps de Ballet
Corps de Ballet
Apprentice
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
Trainee
Second Company
Second Company
Second Company
Second Company Corps de Ballet
Second Company
Talulah Sully
Elin Kelly
Julia Day
Mia Vincent
Anna Dietz
Lydia Zuel
Kennedy Haskins Trainee
Makenna Olson
Northwestern Bank congratulates the cast of FMBallet’s Wizard of Oz on an outstanding production!
24/25 Season
The Classic Nutcracker
December 20 & 21 at 7:00pm
December 21 & 22 at 2:00pm
Tickets
Early Access: Oct 21, 2024
General Public: Oct 28, 2024
Cinderella
Auditions: January, 19, 2025
Performances:
April 12, 2025 at 2pm & 7pm
April 13, 2025 at 2pm
Summer Dance Intensive
The FMBallet Summer Dance Intensive offers exceptional training for intermediate to pre-professional dancers, featuring master instructors from across the country and regionally. Dancers will engage in a comprehensive program with 7.5 hours of daily training, Monday through Thursday, and half-days on Fridays. The intensive covers Ballet, Pointe/Pre-Pointe, Contemporary, Tap, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Technique, Character, and more. Whether you join for one week or all three, this intensive provides a fantastic opportunity for growth and development right here in the FM Area. The 3-Weeks ends with a public performance.
Auditions: March 1, 2025
Video auditions due: May 1, 2025
Intensive Dates
July 14 - August 1, 2025 (1, 2, or 3 week option)
Support the FMBallet
Supporting the FMBallet is essential for enriching the arts in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo region. As the area’s regional ballet company, FMBallet offers invaluable performance opportunities for dancers ages 6 through adult, while also providing pre-professional and professional dancers the chance to be part of a company that stages three major productions each season. Donations help make these experiences accessible by covering program fees, supporting exceptional staff, and enabling participation in ballet festivals for classes and performances. Your support ensures that FMBallet can continue to present beautiful ballet and dance productions for the entire community to enjoy.
Support us today at FMBALLET.ORG/SUPPORT-US
