Fox Valley Ballet presents The Fox Valley Nutcracker 2022

HOST STUDIO

The Fox Valley NUTCRACKER

Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Ashlie Andersen ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Bridget ChristiAnson CHOREOGRAPHERS

PARTY SCENE

THE BATTLE

Ashlie Andersen / Bridget ChristiAnson

Ashlie Andersen / Bridget ChristiAnson

SNOW PAS DE DEUX JuliAnnA slAger

SNOW SCENE

Ashlie Andersen LAND OF THE SWEETS

Ashlie Andersen / Julie CArson / Bridget ChristiAnson / sherry MorAy /JuliAnnA slAger —

SYNOPSIS —

ACT I

Party Scene – It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum’s home in America in the 1850’s. Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and children, Clara and Fritz, greet guests as they come bearing gifts. The mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer (Clara’s Uncle) is the last to arrive with magical tricks for all. Dr. Drosselmeyer presents Clara with a special gift, a Nutcracker, but Fritz takes it from Clara and accidentally breaks it. After comforting Clara and bandaging the Nutcracker, it is time for the guests to depart and the Stahlbaum family goes to bed.

The Battle – At midnight, Clara returns to the parlor to retrieve her Nutcracker from under the tree. She falls asleep on the couch, but is awakened to find mice scurrying about the parlor. Dr. Drosselmeyer returns to scare the mice away and transforms Clara’s Nutcracker toy into a life-size Nutcracker Doll. Soon, the parlor disappears and Dr. Drosselmeyer uses his magic to make the Christmas tree grow before Clara’s eyes. An army of toy soldiers comes to life to battle the mice and their leader, the Mouse King. Clara and Dr. Drosselmeyer arrive just in time to save the Nutcracker Doll from the mouse King, and with Clara’s kiss, the doll is transformed into a Nutcracker Prince who has a striking resemblance to Dr. Drosselmeyer’s nephew.

Land Of The Snow – Dr. Drosselmeyer takes Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the Land of the Snow and they continue their enchanted journey to the Kingdom of Sweets.

ACT II

Land of the Sweets – Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and Dr. Drosselmeyer are welcomed to the Kingdom of Sweets by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The subjects of this enchanted kingdom bring gifts to Clara and dance in her honor. But before long it is time for Clara’s dream to come to an end. She returns home where her parents tuck her in to bed. — THE END —

ACT I - SCENE I

MR. & MRS. STAHLBAUM’S PARLOR

CLARA STAHLBAUM stellA henley NEPHEW/PRINCE ............................................................... Artie Welsh

DR. DROSSELMEYER gAry Wendel MRS. STAHLBAUM Julie donAhue

MR. STAHLBAUM ............................................................. Kyle donAhue FRITZ STAHLBAUM Austin retzer GRANDFATHER steve ChristiAnson GRANDMOTHER MAry nieKAMp MAID CAitlin vodniK

CLARA’S COUSINS: Connor Andersen, Cooper Andersen, JACK BudenieKs, linColn donAhue, oliver shArp, CArson speedy, Chloe Alster, KAylA BAhenA, elliot FryKMAn, islA MCCutCheon, Kennedy Munro, isABel Wilding, essley WilliAMs UnderstUdies: hAyden dethloFF, sKylAr gerlACh

CLARA’S FRIENDS: elsie Fortosis, ChArlotte green, giAnnA JesK, ellA KrAMer, hAnnAh trAn, AnAliese Wendel

PARTY CHILDREN: peyton deMpsey, dAisy FAgot, Finn donAhue, river donAhue, KendAll Mills, Finn retzer, eMMett WilliAMs

ADULT PARTY GUESTS: Kent BArnes, lisA BArnes, Juris BudenieKs, sArAh BudenieKs, lAurA deMpsey, Christine retzer, ClArK retzer

PARTY GUEST: sAvAnnAh BudenieKs, lulu donAhue, ChArlotte retzer

MECHANICAL DOLLS

HARLEQUIN: ChristiAn WilliAMs*

COLUMBINE: Julie FAith SOLDIER DOLL: MAdeline hoWArd

ACT I - SCENE II

A MAGICAL BATTLEGROUND

NUTCRACKER: Artie Welsh* MOUSE KING: ChristiAn WilliAMs

LEADERS OF THE MICE: JACK BudenieKs, eMily KAlinoWsKi, soFiA lindgren, ChArlotte retzer, shAnnon thoMAs, sAvAnnAh Winter

BABY MICE: penelope BArr, MilA Cordes, eden dethloFF, eliAnnA dirCK,giA MArConi, AstA MAnos, Adeline MAtouseK, MAdden neuKirCh, penny nezriCK, siennA roCKett, ClArA speedy, JACKson vAshenKo, hAnnAh Wilding, KAte Witt

CAVALRY: nAtAlie BArnes, zoe FlesCh, CArinne ForpAneK, ChArlotte green, MAdeline hoWArd, giAnnA JesK, ellA KrAMer, MAriel pArrA, giAnnA oxler, AnnA sMith, nAtAlie speCtor, AlexAndrA WArtA-Collins

TOY SOLDIERS: Chloe Alster, teddie BudenieKs, Adelyn Cordes, hArper deMpsey, hAyden dethloFF, elliot FryKAMAn, ellenorA horne, lexi nezriCK, viviAn orMond, BeAtriCe thoMAs, vivienne vAshenKo, Alison WeBer, essley WilliAMs, giA White

ACT I - SCENE III LAND OF THE SNOW

SNOW PAS DE DEUX: JAMes WAinWright* & lezlie grAy*

SNOW CORP DE BALLET: nAtAlie BArnes, JuliA FAith, zoe FlesCh, CArinne ForpAneK,MAdeline hoWArd, AyAKo MiyAuChi, nAtAlie speCtor, AlexAndrA WArtA-Collins UnderstUdy: ellA KrAMer

SNOWFLAKES: sophie Andersen, KAylA BAhenA, elsie Fortosis, ChArlotte green, siMone lindgren, eMily KAlinoWsKi, islA MCCutCheon, giAnnA russo, hAnnAh trAn, AnAliese Wendel UnderstUdies: hAyden dethloFF, Kennedy Munro

INTERMISSION

THE LAND OF THE SWEETS

LEAD ANGELS: eMily KAlinoWsKi, soFiA lindgren, AnnA sMith

ANGELS: Chloe Alster, sophie Andersen, hArper deMpsey, lulu donAhue, ellenorA horne, viviAn orMond, giAnnA russo, shAnnon thoMAs, vivienne vAshenKo, essley WilliAMs, sAvAnnAh Winter, AlinA yi

GIFT BEARERS:

SPANISH: giA MArConi & siennA roCKett

ARABIAN: Adelyn Cordes

CHINESE: Connor Andersen & penny nezriCK

RUSSIAN: peyton deMpsey & Finn retzer

MARZIPAN: dAisy FAgot

MOTHER GINGER: ClArA speedy

FLOWERS: penelope BArr, AstA MAnos, KendAll Mills

SPANISH

SPANISH LEAD: sophiA reJKoWsKi

SPANISH CORPS: AnnA BArWiCK, isABel hoChnAdel (CoMpliMents oF the ACAdeMy oF dAnCe Arts)

ARABIAN

ARABIAN LEADS: MirAndA Cordes* & tAylor MAurChie-BAnKs*

ARABIAN CORPS: CArinne ForpAneK, giAnnA oxler, nAtAlie speCtor, AlexAndrA WArtA-Collins UnderstUdy: MAriel pArrA

CHINESE

CHINESE LEAD: ABigAil Kresno

CHINESE CHILDREN: hAyden dethloFF, sKylAr gerlACh, siMone lindgren, islA MCCutCheon, lAyne peyton, hAnnAh trAn

RUSSIAN

RUSSIAN LEADS: JAMes WAinWright* & KAtrinA ClArK*

RUSSIAN PEASANTS: elsie Fortosis, soFiA lindgren, MAriel pArrA, AnAliese Wendel MARZIPAN

JuliA FAith, zoe FlesCh, MAdeline hoWArd, AlexAndrA WArtA-Collins MOTHER GINGER & HER POLICHINELLES MOTHER GINGER: Kent BArnes

POLICHINELLES: KAylA BAhenA, hAyden dethloFF, sKylAr gerlACh, Kennedy Munro, lexi nezriCK, lAyne peyton, roseMAry rAsMussen, Alison WeBer, giA White, AlinA yi

WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS LEAD FLOWER: lezlie grAy* DEW DROPS: JuliA FAith, MAdeline hoWArd

FLOWER CORPS DE BALLET: zoe FlesCh, elsie Fortosis, CArinne ForpAneK, giAnnA JesK, ellA KrAMer, MAriel pArrA, giAnnA oxler, AnnA sMith, nAtAlie speCtor, AlexAndrA WArtA-Collins

GRAND PAS DE DEUX

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY: isABelle urBen*

CAVELIER: Aldrin vendt*

FINAL WALTZ

* Indicates Guest Artist

“Thank you to the artistic team, production crew, staff, backstage volunteers and the entire cast who helped make this year’s performance a magical experience! I am so proud of everyone and this show and what it has become for the community and beyond.”

— Ashlie Andersen, Artistic Director

PATRON LEVEL SPONSORS OMNI PAVEMENT GROUP, INC MASON, FAITH & HOSCHEIT, D.D.S. LTD.

HEADSHOTS

Ashlie Andersen (Artistic Director)

Bridget Christianson (Assitant Director)

Katrina Clarke (Russian Lead)

Miranda Cordes (Arabian Lead)

Kyle Donahue (Mr. Stahlbaum)

Julia Faith (Dew Drop)

Zoe Flesch

Lezlie Gray (Snow Queen & Lead Flower)

Madeline Howard

Julie Donahue (Mrs. Stahlbaum)

Stella Henley (Clara)

Abigail Kresno (Chinese Lead)

Taylor Mauchie-Banks (Arabian Lead)

Sophia Rejkowski (Spanish Lead)

Aldrin Vendt (Cavelier)

James Wainwright (Snow King & Russian Lead)

Artie Welsh (Nutcracker & Prince)

Gary Wendel (Dr. Drosselmeyer)

Isabelle Urban (Sugar Plum Fairy)

Ashlie Andersen (Artistic Director)

Ashlie Andersen, a Chicago native, received her early dance training from the Academy of Movement and Mu sic in Oak Park under the tutelage of Stephanie Clemens and Valeri Dolgallo. Ashlie graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in dance performance and a Contract Major for management in the arts. In addition to performing, she has taught around the Chicagoland area for nearly 15 years and her choreography has been seen on ABC Channel 7, Dance Chicago, MOMENTA, at Freespace Dance Showcase, the Fox Valley Dance Festival and other local Chicagoland events. Ashlie has been the choreographer for productions of West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Drowsy Chaperone, and Fiddler on the Roof. Ashlie was the owner and Artistic Director of State Street Dance Studio where she directed many full-length ballets and productions. She has had the plea sure to train, coach and choreograph solos for dancers who have competed and placed regionally in the Youth America Grand Prix. Mrs. Andersen was the Director of Ballet at A Step Above Dance Academy and on faculty at Dancequest in Plainfield as well as serving as the school’s Dance Director until fall of 2021. Mrs. Andersen started Fox Valley Ballet, a non-profit, to bring the joy and artistry of professional dance to the Fox Valley region and looks forward to providing scholarships in dance to stu dents training vigorously and who are in need financially. The Fox Valley Nutcracker was named “Top 10 Must-See Nutcracker Performances in Illinois” by Pointe Magazine in 2018. She loves being able to bring back a group of wonderful young artists and new faces each year for our production. Ashlie lives in Aurora with her husband, 8-year-old twin boys and 1 year old daughter and is thrilled to continue the Fox Valley Nutcracker tradition for the community!

Bridget Christianson (Assistant Director, Choreographer) Bridget has been teaching in the Fox Valley and surround ing area for over 30 years. She really enjoys teaching and works to inspire the next generation of dancers. She studied ballet and contemporary dance at the Minnesota Dance Theater and School where she was involved in the children’s company. While completing her degree in child psychology she was a member of the University of Minnesota Dance Line, and later was one of the original Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Bridget also performed with the Minnesota Opera and has trained at various dance conventions and seminars including CNADM and the Midwest Cecchetti Council. Ms Bridget lives in Batavia, IL with her husband Steve. They have four grown children, one granddaughter and another premiering in April, 2023.

Julie Carson (Choreographer)

Julie began her training in Peoria, Illinois where she became a member of Peoria Civic Ballet. At the age of 16, she was invited to attend Chicago City Ballet School on full scholarship under the direction of world-renowned prima ballerina Maria Tallchief. Julie also trained inten sively with Miss Tallchief’s sister, Marjorie. She attended Northern Illinois University and went on to dance profes sionally in Chicago. Throughout her career, Julie trained at the Ruth Page School of Dance with legendary Ballet teacher Larry Long. Julie’s career highlights include performing in Chicago’s annual production of Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker for 12 years. She performed with the Chicago City Ballet and was a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet. Julie has been teaching in the Chicago area for 37 years.

Sherry Morray (Choreographer)

Ms. Moray is the Founder/Artistic Director of the Acad emy of Dance Arts in Warrenville, IL. Sherry Moray had an international career dancing for the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany. Her career continued as Principal Ballerina for the Chicago City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, as well as a guest artist with various ballet companies throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Moray is proud to also be the Artistic Director of the National Award-winning Academy Dance Alliance Competing & Performance Company, creating exciting, innovative, choreography for the Alliance dancers of all ages, and passing on to her students the love for Ballet and excellence in technique for all the dance arts.

Julianna Slager (Choreographer) Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager is originally from Spring Arbor, Michigan. Slager began her dance training with Mrs. Lori Ladwig and went on to study under notable teachers from the New York City Ballet, the Vaganova Academy and Puerto Rican National Ballet. Slager enjoyed dancing under Barbara Smith at Greater Lansing Ballet during her training, and also under Kathy Thibodeaux and Sol Maisonet at Ballet Magnificat. Upon moving to Chicago, Slager had the opportunity to work as a freelance artist, teacher and choreographer in the Greater Chicago area. Slager was instrumental in the co-founding of Ballet 5:8 in 2012. Slager is known for her unique ability to engage audiences in discussions of life and faith through her choreography. She has created over 40 works in her past nine years at Ballet 5:8. Over the past decade Slager has enjoyed training and mentoring the next generation of aspiring artists in the School of Ballet’s Pre-Professional and Conservatory programs, and in the Ballet 5:8 Trainee Program. Her students have been awarded contracts, scholarships and placement with dance companies, colleges and training schools across the country.

Katrina Clarke (Russian Lead)

Katrina was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She danced at Misty’s Dance Unlimited in Onalaska, Wiscon sin from age 5 to 18. Katrina began her pre-professional training under the late Kennet Oberly, Larissa Oberly, and Amanda Schams. She performed with Ballet La Crosse, dancing in ballets including Marushka, Heidi, excerpts from Konservatoriet, Cinderella (Fairy Godmother), Coppe lia, and The Little Mermaid (Princess). Katrina spent her summers attending programs at Ballet Magnificat!, The Nutmeg Conservatory, Ballet 5:8, Kansas City Ballet, and Bruce Wood Dance. Katrina began attending Belhaven University in the Fall of 2017 as a Dance Major. At Belhav en, she performed in Waltz of the Hours, Swan Lake, Fres coes excerpt from The Little Humpbacked Horse as well new, original works. Additionally, Katrina choreographed her own works that were performed in the Emerging Choreographers Concerts and the Senior Dance Concert. Katrina was active in leadership and academics being the Treasurer for the DOXA Dance Club at Belhaven and receiving the Bezalel Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit in 2019 and the Daniel Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in 2021. Katrina graduated in the Spring of 2021, summa cum laude with a B.F.A. in Dance and a Minor in Business Administration. Katrina joined Störling Dance Theatre for their 2021/2022 season as an apprentice, performing in the New Dance Partners Concert (Womb, Wit, and Wisdom by Carolyn Dorfman), Child of Hope (Mona Störling-Enna), Underground (Mona Störling-Enna and Tobin James), and Book of Kells (Mona Störling-Enna). She joined Ballet 5:8’s Second Company in 2022.

Miranda Cordes (Arabian Lead)

Miranda Cordes is the Owner and Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Academy and the Executive Director of Dimensions Youth Ballet located in DeKalb, IL. She has professional dance experience as a member of several dance companies throughout the Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI areas including Elements Contemporary Ballet, Chicago, IL, Joel Hall II, Chicago, IL, Pastiche Dance Ensemble, Milwaukee, WI, Lavender Cabaret, Chicago, IL, and Beth Fowler Dance Company, Genoa, IL. She trained with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City at age 16 and continued her training in Chicago at Ballet Chicago and the Joel Hall Dance Center, later receiving a scholarship to study Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. She is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor, an ABT certified teacher in levels Pre-primary through 3 and a member of the Chica go National Association of Dance Masters. Mrs. Cordes currently lives in DeKalb with her husband and their three children. She continues to train and perform as a dancer, while also teaching and inspiring others through her leadership at Dimensions Dance Academy. She is thrilled to be returning once again to perform with the Fox Valley Ballet’s Nutcracker. This year is extra special because she gets to share the stage with her two daughters Adelyn and Mila!

Julie Donahue (Mrs. Stahlbaum)

Julie is back on stage after taking a hiatus to have her 4 precious children. She is thrilled to play opposite her husband and also have all of her kids performing with her in this show! Julie has over 10 years professional performing experience spanning theaters across the U.S. and on international waters. Favorite theatre credits in clude All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Gypsy (Gypsy), Hairspray (Amber), Phantom (Christine), Grease (Marty) and Lead Vocalist aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Julie has dance training with the Rockford Dance Company, Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center (NYC) as well tap training with Broadway veterans Billye Kubiak and Brian J. Marcum. While in Los Angeles and New York City, she worked in television and film including multiple independent films, Law and Order, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia & Iron Man 2. Julie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Rockford College.

Kyle Donahue (Drosselmeyer)

Kyle has performed around the world on regional theatre, theme park and cruise ship stages. He has danced professionally with the Without Shoes Modern Dance Company, studied dance in NYC at Alvin Ailey and the Broadway Dance Center, and has choreographed for educational and professional theaters. Favorite directing and choreography credits include Pippin, Grease, 42nd Street, Legally Blonde, Oklahoma!, and CATS. Perfor mance credits include Broadway Dinner Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, The Barn Theatre, Cedar Point Theme Park, and a lead vocalist aboard a Regent Seven Seas world cruise. In the Chicagoland area, Kyle has been seen on stage at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook and New American Theatre, and has directed/choreographed at Fox Valley Repertory, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Rockford University, and College of Dupage. Kyle holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Rockford College. He is excited to be performing for the first time as a family with his beautiful wife Julie and four children: Lulu, Lincoln, Finn and River.

Christian English (Harlequin, Mouse King)

Christian started dancing at age 13 with Doxa Dance Ministry, in Amarillo, TX. He performed lead roles in many shows such as “Joseph” and “Out of Egypt.” English joined Ballet 5:8’s Studio Company for the 2022/23 season and was promoted to trainee in September 2022. Later this season he will also be performing as Uncle Abrams in Ballet 5:8’s Beyond the Nutcracker and is excited for many more opportunities in the future.

Julia Faith (Columbine, Snow Corp, Marzipan, Dew Drop)

Julia is a 15 year old student at St. Charles North High School. She has been dancing since I was 4 and has grown to love the art of ballet. She was accepted at The Royal Ballet of London for the 2022 Spring Intensive and has spent two summers at Miami City Ballet. Julia loves being on stage and is excited to perform in the Fox Valley Nutcracker this weekend!

Lezlie Gray (Snow Queen, Lead Flower)

Lezlie was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She began her formal training with Delaware Dance Company (DDC) under Sunshine Webster-Latshaw and Sherry Hiott. She performed in many productions throughout the years with DDC where she had the opportunity to dance soloist and principal roles. During her high school years, she at tended Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Intensive, local dance festivals, Regional Dance America and YAGP semi-finals in Philadelphia and Boston. After graduating from high school in 2018, she moved to Jackson, Mississippi to dance with Ballet Magnificat as a Trainee. In 2019, Lezlie joined Ballet 5:8’s Professional Company and continues to dance with them as a Company Artist performing in Chicago, the Midwest, and across the Nation. She most recently had the opportunity to perform a principal role in Julianna Rubio Slager’s world premiere of Reckless. She is excited to join Fox Valley Ballet’s Nutcracker for her second year in the roles of Snow Queen and Lead Flower. Stella Henley (Clara)

Stella is a 13-year old Geneva eighth grader who is ful filling her dream of being cast as Clara in the production of The Nutcracker! Her love of dance began at the age of 3 when she performed in her very first show of The Nutcracker as a baby flower. Stella currently trains at A Step Above Dance Academy and is a member of their competitive dance company. She is trained in all styles of dance but her favorites are ballet and contemporary. This will be Stella’s sixth year performing in the Fox Valley Nut cracker. You may recognize her from her previous roles as a Party Child, Clara’s Cousin, Toy Soldier, Snowflake, Chinese Child, and a Mother Ginger Polichinelle. Stella is thrilled to take the stage once again with this production and honored to play the role of Clara!

Madeline Howard (Soldier Doll, Cavalry, Snow Corp, Marzipan, Dew Drop)

I am so excited to be performing in the fox valley nut cracker for the ninth year in a row and to be able to have a lead role! I am sixteen years old and have been doing this nutcracker with Miss Bridget and Miss Ashlie for so long that I have had almost every part now, and am so ex cited to be challenged with a new one. I’ve been training in various styles of ballet for about eleven yearshaving started my training at State Street Dance Studio, con tinuing at Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts and currently train at Elise Flagg Dance Academy. I am also on the Batavia highschool varsity dance team. I’ve trained in various styles of dance other than ballet such as jazz, modern, hip hop and lyrical as well. I want to thank the entire cast but mostly Miss Ashlie for always pushing me to be my best and I’m so grateful to have had her as a teacher and director for all these years now!

Abigail Kresno (Chinese Lead)

Abigail is a senior dance major at Northern Illinois Universi ty. She has received the Talent Scholarship granted by NIU for the Past three years. She has been classically Trained In ballet and Modern by Rich Grund, Judy Chitwood, and Marc Macaranas. She has had the opportunity to Perform as Lucile Grahn in Pas De Quatre, and was in Mode or Motor choreographed by Marc Macaranas, his first piece of

work at NIU. Ms. Kresno is currently the Vice President of Northern Dance Theatre. She is also directing her second show this semester.

Taylor Maurchie-Banks (Arabian Lead) is from Rockford, Illinois. He has trained with Rockford Dance Compa ny, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, HybridMotion & recently graduated from the Lines Ballet Training Program. He just finished his second season as a movement artist with Waterstreet Dance Milwaukee and decided to return to Northern Illinois University to finish his Bachelor’s degree.

Sophia Ann Rejkowski (Spanish Lead)

Sophia is a 14 year old dancer and currently trains at The Academy of Dance Arts. She specializes in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Contemporary. She has competed in many area dance regional competitions and on national stages. She had the privilege of participating in the NYCDA Outstanding Dancer Experience at Nationals in Arizona this past summer. Sophia placed as Outstanding Dancer Runner Up 2021 and 2022 at NYCDA and Top 25 at YAGP 2022. Sophia hopes to turn her love of dance into a career, after tackling high school, of course. She is delight ed to make her theater debut in The Fox Valley Nutcracker!

Austin Retzer (Fritz)

Austin is thrilled to be performing the role of “Fritz” and sharing the stage with his whole family in this season’s production of “The Nutcracker”. Austin is nine years old and studies ballet as well as theater. In addition to dance he has performed with the St. Charles Youth Marquee Theatre summer programs in “High School Musical”, “Jungle Book” and “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory”.

Isabelle Urben (Sugar Plum Fairy)

Isabelle Urben is originally from Geneva, Illinois-west of Chicago. She began her training at State Street Dance in her home town and Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago. She furthered her training with Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet. Isabelle spent two years in the second company of Milwaukee Ballet, direct ed by Rolando Yanes, where she was featured in original works by Tania Vergara Pérez and Garrett Glassman. She was also featured in Michael Pink’s Candide, performed in the world premiere of Michael Pink’s Beauty and the Beast, as well as in La Sylphide, set by Dinna Bjorn. Isabelle danced with Ballet Arkansas for four years. While dancing with Ballet Arkansas she was featured in Ma cong’s Calling and Performed Yellow Girl in Gerald Arpino’s Confetti. Isabelle performed in the world pre miere of Michael Fothergill’s Dracula. She also performed the role of Sugar plum in the Nutcracker and Kitri in Don Quixote Act 3 Suite.

Isabelle is currently dancing with Canyon Concert Ballet with Artistic Director Michael Pappalardo.

Aldrin Vendt (Cavelier)

Mr. Vendt started dancing at age 10 in Tyler, Texas. After 2 years he moved to Dallas, Texas where he studied at Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of Lisa Slagle. Upon graduation, he attended Texas Christian University’s School for Classical and Contemporary Dance under the direction of Elizabeth Gillaspy with a full tuition scholarship. Mr. Vendt joined Oklahoma City Ballet for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. Here he performed several works choreographed by Robert Mills including Russian and lead Chinese in The Nutcracker and Czardas in Swan Lake. Vendt joined Ballet Arkansas for the 2019/20 season and performed roles such as Sugar Plum Prince in their annual Nutcracker as well as Prince and stepsister in Cinderella.

James Wainwright (Snow King, Russian Lead)

Born in Chicago, Illinois, James Wainwright grew up in New Lenox, Illinois. Having grown up around his mother’s dance studio, dance has always been a part of Wain wright’s life. He started his professional training at the School of Ballet 5:8 under the tutelage of former Ballet 5:8 Ballet Mistress Lauren Ader-Cumpston, Trainee and Studio Company Director Brette Benedict, and Artistic Di rector Julianna Rubio Slager. In 2016, Wainwright trained at The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory Summer Intensive, learning from Tim Melady, Eleanor D’Antuono, and Kirk Peterson. After graduating high school, he joined Ballet

5:8’s Trainee Program, during which time Wainwright was given the opportunity to tour and perform with the profes sional company including Julianna Slager’s Four Seasons of The Soul and Strangers and Angels. Wainwright has performed lead roles in Slager’s All God’s Children, 4501, Golden Sessions, and the world premiere of Reckless. He joined the company as a Senior Apprentice and was promoted to Company Artist during the 2020/2021 season.

Artie Welsh (Nephew, Nutcracker, Prince)

Artie has always adored singing, acting and dancing. Throughout his earlier years, he went into musical theater pieces such as A Christmas Carol, Seussical, and The Little Mermaid. But as time went on, he later decided dance was his passion. Since the beginning, Artie has been training in styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern.

Gary Wendel (Dr. Drosselmeyer)

Gary is delighted to return for his fifth season with the Fox Valley Nutcracker. When not dancing with the Fox Valley Ballet, he can often be found singing on stage with the Fox Valley Park District. Recent credits include Joseph Pulitzer in Newsies; Agatha Trunchbull in Matilda, the Musical; and Lord Farquaad in Shrek, the Musical. Gary would like to thank his lovely wife Liz for her infinite patience while he continues to pursue theater as a hobby.

ABOUT FOX VALLEY BALLET

Fox Valley Ballet is a 501(c3) non-profit organization that’s mission is to bring the joy and artistry of dance to the Fox Valley region through pre-professional ballet training and performances. FVB supports the training and artistic excellence of pre-professional dancers through education, performance, and community outreach in an encouraging and inspirational environment. Fox Valley Ballet offers scholarships to help aide in the training of students and further their dancing, whether it be for summer programs or ongoing classes with local studios.

FOX VALLEY BALLET SCHOLARSHIP

The Fox Valley Ballet Scholarship is available for students within the Fox Valley region who show talent in the field of dance but are financially prohibited from participating in dance programs or furthering their dance training. The scholarship provides partial financial support towards class tuition at their current dance training facility, summer intensives, or special dance workshops.

Applications available January 15, 2023

More information: foxvalleyballet.org/scholarship/