Presents
GARDE ARTS CENTER
Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 11:00a.m & 4:30 p.m.
Choreography by: Gloria Govrin, Krystin Dixon Music by: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Costume Design by: Luke Hegel-Cantarella, Nancy Ross, Cynthia Gravelin, Rebecca Wells Costume Coordinator: Emily Benzi Set Design: Fufan Zhang Scenery and Scenic effects built and painted by Yale School of Drama, New Haven, CT Production Manager: Alison Andersen Lighting Design by: Stephen Petrilli
Featuring Guest Performers: Unity Phelan, New York City Ballet Indiana Woodward, New York City Ballet Jovani Furlan, New York City Ballet
Synopsis Act I The story begins in New London, Conn. in the year 1850. The family of a sea captain John P. “Bony” Rice and his wife are preparing to celebrate Christmas with a party in their home. As the curtain rises, Uncle Drosselmeyer is on his way to the gathering. He carries a special present for his niece Clara: a magical wooden Nutcracker, fashioned in the likeness of a sailor. As the party guests arrive, the festivities begin. After the youngest children say goodnight and go off to bed, the adults dance and make merry. The older children receive their gifts. The mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives late, bringing a bag of magic tricks and two life-size Dolls. He presents them to Clara with his final gift: the Nutcracker. Fritz, her brother, is so jealous that he steals the Nutcracker, trying to break it. Her uncle makes a quick repair and saves the day.
As the party ends, Clara says goodnight to all and goes off to bed. At midnight, she comes downstairs to be with her beloved Nutcracker, falling asleep on the settee. Uncle Drosselmeyer appears with an army of little mice. When the lights flicker, Clara awakes to find a band of Pirate Rats chasing her. As if in a dream, the Christmas tree grows. Led by the Nutcracker, the toy sailors and the baby mice battle the Pirate Rats and their leader, the Queen of the Rats. Clara throws her slipper at the evil Queen, allowing the Nutcracker to defeat her and win the battle. Transported to the Kingdom of Snow, Clara
takes a magical journey to meet the Snow Queen. The act concludes with the Waltz of the Snowflakes in the Arctic.
Act II Lighthouses from around the world guide Clara and the Nutcracker to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Dancers from exotic countries entertain them in this mystical seaport. She meets Hot Chocolate from Spain, Tea Sweets from China, Candy Canes from Russia, Coffee from Arabia, Marzipan from Germany, Ginger from France, and a Dew Drop from the Kingdom of Flowers. Each performs a dance for her. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier perform the grandest dance of all, a pas de deux. The night is almost over, and Clara must say goodbye and return to the real world. As the dream-like visions fade from view, her journey becomes a beautiful memory.
Cast of Characters Act I Party Scene, Transition, Battle Scene and Snow Pas de Deux Choreography by: Gloria Govrin, Krystin Dixon Waltz of the Snowflakes Choreography by: Krystin Dixon
Overture Drosselmeyer Marc Spielberger Clara Naomi Wright Clara’s Mother Sophie Archer Maids Ava Lindenmayer, Peninah Rosenthal Fritz Lauren DeCastro Mothers Morgan Browning, Katrina Casteel, Karyna Fowler, Natalie Pickett
Puppets Margot Gervais, Sylvia Geronimo, Gabriella Monte (Willow Griffis– unable to perform) Doll Vanessa Linden Sailor Doll Catie McWilliams Rats Emma Barnard, Chloe McIlhenney, Ava Meitlitzer, Sara Minnick, Sophie Monte, Gabrielle Nita Ivy, Anna Stefanski, Crosbi Pettit Little Mice Riley Campbell, Twila Gervais, Mira Jairam, Magdalena Jantzen, Leila Netravali, Juliette Nickell, Libby Vitari Queen of the Rats Cameron Brown Nutcracker Olivia Turtoro
Boat Sailors Julia Aguire, Susanne Becker, Party Girls Miriam Jamieson, Maren Meyers, Grace Holecz, Gabrielle Nita Ivy, Alyssa Luck, Cecilia Nichols, Phoebe Tan Kaylee Parnell Boat Sailor with Flags Party Boys Emmett Campbell Jane Barnard, Emmett Campbell, Emma Coscia, Julie Watrous Sailors Sylvia Geronimo, Margot Gervais, Clara’s Little Sister Sophie Gualtieri, Rima Jairam, Bethany Jing, Julia Tierney Caroline LeGare, Elise LeGare, Gabriella Monte, Ryann Monetsanto, Clara’s Father Shannon O’Neil, Isa Page, Vee Sherman Jeremy Cox (Willow Griffis—unable to perform) Fathers Joey Almonte, Andy Corchado, Eddie Krauss
Snow Queen Cameron Brown
Snowflakes Sophie Archer, Emma Barnard, Katrina Casteel, Karyna Fowler, Sarah Minnick, Molly Page, Crobsi Pettit, Natalie Pickett, Peninah Rosenthal, Lena Krishnaswami
Intermission Act II Choreography by: Gloria Govrin, Krystin Dixon
Overture In Order of Appearance
Candy Cane Lead Olivia Turtoro Candy Cane Corps Emma Barnard, Lena Krishnaswami, Ava Meislitzer, Sarah Minnick, Sophia Monte, Molly Page Mere Gigogne Joey Almonte Mere Gigogne Helpers Emma Coscia, Maren Meyers Polichinelles Lauren DeCastro, Alyssa Luck, Grace Holecz, Kaylee Parnell
Angels of the Sea Stella Belanger, Sylvia Geronimo, Sophie Gualtieri, Winter Hampton-Dowson, Ryann Montesanto, Gia Martin, June Norton, Isla Page
Waltz of the Flowers
Sugar Plum Fairy Unity Phelan
(Sat 7pm/Sun 11am)
Spanish Katrina Casteel, Karyna Fowler, Natalie Pickett
Dew Drop Fairy Indiana Woodward
Demi Soloists
Karyna Fowler & Morgan Browning (Sat 1:30 pm/ Sun 4:30 pm)
Cameron Brown, Natalie Pickett Flowers (Sat 7pm/Sun 11am)
Chinese Lead Cameron Brown (Sat 7pm/Sun 11am) Catie McWilliams (Sat 1:30 pm/ Sun 4:30 pm) Arabian Lead Sophie Archer (Sat 7pm/Sun 11am) Morgan Browning (Sat 1:30 pm/ Sun 4:30 pm) Marzipan Lead Vanessa Linden Marzipan Corps Chloe McIlhenney, Crosbi Pettit, Peninah Rosenthal, Anna Stefanski
Sophie Archer, Cameron Brown, Vanessa Linden, Natalie Pickett, Peninah Rosenthal, Olivia Turtoro (Sat 1:30 pm/ Sun 4:30 pm)
Morgan Browning, Katrina Casteel, Karyna Fowler, Sarah Minnick, Crosbi Pettit, Catie McWilliams Grand Pas de Deux Sugar Plum Fairy Unity Phelan Her Cavalier Jovani Furlan Finale Entire Cast
Biographies Lise Reardon is founder and executive director of the Eastern Connecticut Ballet. She taught classical ballet in southeastern Connecticut for 21 years before devoting her full time efforts to school development. Twenty seven years ago, Ms. Reardon established Eastern Connecticut Ballet as the region’s only non-profit training school for young dancers. Before this, she ran the Riveredge School of Ballet and Ballet de Jeunesse in Niantic for 11 years. Under Ms. Reardon’s direction, Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s school has grown from 60 to over 300 students, expanded its programs to offer modern, jazz, character, Pilates and other forms of dance, and established a place in the community as a premiere arts resource.
Bonne Fee in Harlequinade were so stamped with her identity, that the entrances and exits on the scores were marked with her name rather than that of the role. Mr. Balanchine also established her in high-profile roles and ballets such as Stars and Stripes, Western Symphony, Apollo, Agon, Dewdrop in Nutcracker, and many others.
Gloria Govrin (choreography) A product of the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet, Gloria Govrin was the vanguard of the tall-is-terrific look of modern ballet. Gloria's strength, stature, and stamina made her a star soloist for many years. In fact, George Balanchine often choreographed roles specifically for her because of her stage presence and unique abilities. Roles such as Hippolyta in A Midsummer's Night Dream, Coffee in Nutcracker, the Princess in Firebird, and La
Krystin Dixon (choreography) is originally from Baltimore, Maryland where she started her dance training at the age of three. She later trained and graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts. She has also trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Washington Ballet and Boston Ballet. Krystin has had the pleasure of dancing many lead and soloist roles while in school; however found through college she had a deep passion to teach. Krystin graduated Magna Cum
Upon retirement, Gloria opened her own school and company in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1986, Robert Weiss asked her to come to the Pennsylvania Ballet to teach and from there, she became principal teacher at the Rock School, the official school of the Pennsylvania Ballet. At the school, Gloria choreographed showcases, conducted audition tours, created and presented lecture demonstrations, taught company classes and Ms. Reardon majored in dance at assisted in staging Balanchine repertoire. In the Juilliard School of Music and holds a 1999, she was invited by Helgi Tomasson to bachelor of arts, cum laude, in elementary education from the University of North Caro- be the Associate Director of the San Francislina. She performed with the Ruth Page Ballet co Ballet School. During her 8 years there, she trained many students who went on to Company, the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet professional careers with San Francisco BalCompany, and the St. Louis Ballet. let, as well as many other companies worldIn Chicago, she trained with Ruth wide. Page, Larry Long and American Ballet TheaOver the years, Gloria Govrin has been an ter principals Ruth Ann Koesun and John Kriza. In New York, she studied with Antony invaluable mainstay to the Ballet World. People still refer to her strength and personTudor, Alfredo Corvino, Sallie Wilson, Miality as a dancer on stage, but she has yet to chael Uthoff, and modern dance greats Jose Limon, Betty Jones, and Kazuko Hirabayashi. find a greater passion in this art than teaching. Ms. Govrin is considered one of the leadMs. Reardon is a 2018 Honoree in ing masters of the Balanchine Technique and the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, recshe brings her years of experience into every ognized for her work in service to our comclass she teaches. Along with her illustrious munities, in Connecticut and beyond. She career, Ms. Govrin is most proud of her also serves on the Advisory Board of the Con- daughter, Olivia, a graduate of Berklee Colnecticut Dance Alliance and is a member of lege of Music, who currently teaches music the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coali- for the Boston Public Schools. tion.
Laude from the University of Hartford, The Hartt School with a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy. A former ECB teacher, she taught a wide range of classes, from pre-ballet through the advanced levels, as well as directing many aspects of the Nutcracker production. Krystin’s new and most fulfilling role is Mommy to her children, Juliana and Benjamin. Julie Wright (Grant Wirter, PR and Production Coordinator) is native to northeastern Ohio where she received her initial dance training and performance experience with Northeast Ohio Dance under Brenda and Christopher Stygar. She graduated Cum Laude from DeSales University with a B.A. in dance where she had the opportunity to continue her training in ballet and modern techniques. Upon graduation, she had the pleasure of dancing professionally in the Philadelphia area and performed the work of many accomplished choreographers including Trinette Singleton, Sarah Carlson, and Lisa Wasserman. Ms. Wright has been fortunate to have supplemented her dance training with intensive programs at schools such as Paul Taylor, The Joffrey Ballet School, and Ballet Met. She has helped to coordinate many story ballets, and has taught ballet and creative movement to students in various areas of the country since 2006. Julie possesses a love for kinesiology and dance somatics and continues to work diligently to share her passion for movement with dancers of all abilities. Since joining Eastern Connecticut Ballet, Ms. Wright serves as the Assistant to the Executive Director, as well as teaches ballet to young children. She enjoys working closely with Damara Bennett, Director of Children’s Programming, to ensure curriculum consistency. Laura Barnard (faculty & teacher) started her dance studies at age 14. Before that, she was an international level competitor in Rhythmical Gymnastics. Mrs. Barnard has her classical ballet teaching degree from the Fontys Dance Academy in the Netherlands and specializes in the Vaganova Style. She also has a modern dance performing degree from the Rotterdam Dance Academy, special-
ized in the Cunningham and Limon Technique. She completed a scholarship program at the Merce Cunningham Studios in NYC. Mrs. Barnard professionally performed with several companies in Europe and NYC. One of them being Introdans with which she traveled internationally to places like Morocco, France, Croatia and Indonesia. She was honored to perform pieces from Hans van Manen, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, David Parson, Mia Michaels and Merce Cunningham to name a few. Mrs. Barnard has taught classical ballet and character throughout her dancing career to ages 3 to 80 in the Netherlands and NYC. Fufan Zhang (set design) is a set designer and visual artist from China. Fufan was a resident scenic designer at National Sawdust for 2017 season and a Donald M. Oenslager fellowship Award in Design recipient. She received her MFA from Yale School of Drama, where her credits include The Arsonist, Where All the Good Rabbits go (Thrown Stone Theater Company), Winterreise Festival (National Sawdust), Seven Guitars (Yale Repertory Theater ), The Oresteia, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Amy and the Orphans (Yale School of Drama), Mies Julie, Phaedra's Love (Yale Summer Cabaret), Salt Pepper Ketchup (Yale Cabaret). Other credits included production design for Yamakawa, a series of photographs by Youjia Qu; The Terrorists (Best Foreign Short Film Award, Seoul International Youth Film Festival), Show Time (Best Film, 48 Hour Film Project, Beijing) and Yashan (Excellent Play in Students’ Drama Festival of Gold Hedgehog, Beijing). Fufan has a BFA in stage, film, and television design from The Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Stephen Petrilli (stage manager, lighting designer) has been with Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s Nutcracker since 2006. He has also designed for LostWax Multimedia Dance, Anikai Dance Theater, Zoe Dance, Anna Myer and Dancers, Urbanity Dance, Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Noche Flamenca, Kun Yang Lin/Dancers, Shapiro & Smith Dance, Ailey II, Nathan Trice/Rituals and The Kevin Wynn
Collection. Theatre credits include work for The Pearl Theatre Company, National AsianAmerican Theatre Company, and The Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Stephen also spent five years touring as the Lighting/Sound Supervisor for Pilobolus. He has a sixteen year old son, Liam. stephen-petrilli-lighting.com Alison Andersen (production manager) predominately serves as a stage manager and a production manager. A selection of stage management credits includes: a residency with Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland, work experience with ONCE on Broadway, Fluency in Four with Dana Tai Soon Burgess (Kennedy Center), Artemisia: Light and Shadow (The Flea Theater), Spring Awakening (Horowitz Performing Arts Center) among many others. A couple production management credits include: Eugene Onegin (Yale Opera), Aroundtown (at RIC with David Dorfman Dance) and a season at The Summer Theater of New Canaan. Upcoming work includes: The Nutcracker with Connecticut Ballet (Palace Theater), Florencia en el Amazonas with Yale Opera (Shubert Theater) and Le Marechal Ferrant with Opera Layfette (Kennedy Center and Museo del Barrio). Currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Connecticut College and their Production Manager. Education: MFA Stage Management from Columbia University and BA Theatre Arts from Goucher College.
Indiana Woodward (Dew Drop Fairy)Indiana Woodward was born in Paris, France and began her dance training at the age of ten at the Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet in Venice, California. Ms. Woodward began studying at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, during the 2010 summer course and enrolled as a full-time student that fall. In August 2012, she became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in December 2012. Ms. Woodward was promoted to Principal in October 2021.
Jovani Furlan (Cavalier) Jovani is a soloist with New York City Ballet. Born in Joinville, Brazil, Mr. Furlan started dancing at the age of 11 at The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil. In 2010 he participated in the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and was offered a full scholarship to attend the Miami City Ballet School by Edward Villella. Mr. Furlan began his training at the MCB School in 2011 and joined Miami City Ballet in 2012. He was promoted to soloist in 2015 and was named an MCB principal dancer in 2017. At MCB, his repertory of featured roles included George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Ballet Imperial, Episodes, Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Serenade, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Square Dance, Swan Lake, Symphony in Three Movements, Theme and VariaUnity Phelan (Sugar Plum Fairy) was born tions, and La Valse; Jerome Robbins’ Dances in Princeton, New Jersey and began her at a Gathering, West Side Story Suite, and The dance training at the age of five at the Prince- Concert; as well as works by Richard Alston, ton Ballet School, where her teachers includ- John Cranko, Peter Martins, Justin Peck, ed Douglas Martin, Maria Youskevitch, and Alexei Ratmansky, Liam Scarlett, Paul Taylor, Mary Barton. During Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon. the summers of 2008 and 2009, Ms. Phelan Mr. Furlan joined NYCB as a soloist in August attended the summer sessions at the School 2019. of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full-time student in fall of 2009. She became an apprentice with NYCB in December 2012 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in November 2013. n February 2017, Ms. Phelan was promoted to the rank of soloist, and in October 2021, she was promoted to principal dancer.
Scenery and Scenic Effects Built by the Yale School of Scenic Design in 2018
Dashiell Menard- Technical Director Kevin Belcher - Assistant Technical Director Alex Worthington - Assistant Technical Director Jon Reed- Production Manager, Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre Neil Mulligan- Technical Director, Yale Repertory Theatre Lily Twining - Interim Technical Director, Yale Repertory Theatre Matt Welander - Technical Director, Yale School of Drama Ru-Jun Wang- Scenic Charge, Yale Repertory Theatre Lia Akkerhuis- Scenic Artist, Yale Repertory Theatre Nate Jasunas- Scenic Artist, Yale Repertory Theatre Amelia Pizzoferrato- Scenic Artist Eric Sparks - Scene Shop Foreman, Yale Repertory Theatre Sharon Reinhart - Master Scene Shop Carpenter, Yale Repertory Theatre Libby Stone - Master Scene Shop Carpenter, Yale Repertory Theatre Matt Gaffney - Master Scene Shop Carpenter, Yale Repertory Theatre Will Neuman - Scenic Carpenter Noel Nichols - Scenic Carpenter Jon West - Scenic Carpenter LT Gourzong - Scenic Carpenter Dani Mader - Scenic Carpenter Jen McClure - Properties Master, Yale Repertory Theatre Billy Ordynowicz - Properties Runner, Yale Repertory Theatre Kirk Keen - Lighting Consultant
Production Staff Choreographers –Gloria Govrin, Krystin Dixon Stage Manager & Lighting Designer – Stephen Petrilli Production Manager – Alison Andersen Production Coordinator– Julie Wright, Melissa Corbett Sound – Edwin Ivey Head Electrician– Rob Staub Flyman- Ed Ferraro Followspot Operators- Jackie Rivera , Lori Chirchigno, Rob Straub Stage Crew Leader—Melissa Corbett Stage Crew & Props– Tara Campbell, Peter Fitton, Anne Graebe, Angie Hausberger, Nelcie Laurent, Wendi Pettit, Jonathan Norton, Diana Spranklin Rehearsals– Gloria Govrin, Krystin Dixon, Laura Barnard, Jeremy Cox, Marc Spielberger Costume Coordinator—Emily Benzi Costume Assistant– Kazuko Sagawa Costume Design – Luke Hegel-Cantarella, Nancy Ross, Kathleen Gephart, Cynthia Gravlin Rebecca Wells Costume Construction – Nancy Ross, Cynthia Gravelin, Kazuko Sagawa, Rebecca Wells Masks by – Larry Hunt, University of Connecticut Prop Construction – Flock Theater, Fred Thompson, Nancy Ross, Lisa Cantey, Tom Brown, Lori McClain, L.Louise Brown, Jill Flanigan, Christine Perry, Michele Beaudet-Miller, Teresa Ley, Mike Bransfield, Shelley Arenson Puppet Theater, Gifts and Prop Painters- Bret & Ellen Hammen Program Cover and Ad Design – Georgiana Goodwin Advertising and Public Relations –Julie Wright, Jenna Berloni Program Ad Sales – Krystin Dixon, Jenna Berloni Backstage & Volunteer Coordinator – Laura Barnard, Jenna Berloni Load In /Load Out– Emily Benzi, Jenna Berloni, Phil Carlson, Jason Dixon, Krystin Dixon, Trevor Dixon, Anne Graebe, Michele Kirk, Sriram Krishnaswami, Noah Krishnaswami, Jennifer Lindenmayer, Oliver Lindenmayer, Melinda Luck, Caolina Maharbiz, Josh MacNiven, Chris McWilliams, Charles Montesanto, Wendi Pettit, Alexandra Rosenthal, Jailan Swain, Adam Thomas, Nick Turtoro, Joe Wright, Julie Wright, Ling Xiao Volunteers/Chaperones– Michelle Archer, Kimberly Brown, Erin Corbett, Martine Coscia, Liz DeCastro, Bigi Ebbin, Ashley Fitton, Catherine Gervais, Jen Holecz, Larae Fowler, Dawn King, Natalie Linden, Jennifer Lindenmayer, Melinda Luck, Belinda McIlhenney, Jackie Meislitzer, Melissa Monte, Laura Nichols, Jill Norton, Laura Stefanski, Carrie Whitney-Pickett Ballet Boutique – Larae Fowler, Dawn King, Alexandra Rosenthal, Kazuko Sagawa, Laura Stefanski Sign In/Out Station– Larae Fowler, Michele Kirk, Melissa Turtoro Video Taping – Scott Dube – BizFlix.NET Photographer –Thomas Giroir Photography Apologies to those volunteers not included before this was sent.
Eastern Connecticut Ballet Board of Directors Lise Reardon, President/Treasurer Colleen Shay, Ph D, Vice-President Atty. Kelly Reardon, Secretary Kevin Buchanan Dave Gellar Brett Hammen Ellen Hammen Joyce Wallace The School of the Eastern Connecticut Ballet Lise Reardon- Founder & Executive Director Gloria Govrin- Artistic Director Krystin Dixon– Associate Executive Director Julie Wright- Grant Writer, Public Relations & Production Coordinator Laura Barnard- Faculty, Administrative Asst. Jenna Berloni– Project Coordinator Bo Parish- Faculty Marc Spielberger - Faculty Jeremy Cox - Faculty Christine Finch– Faculty Alison Charbonnier - Faculty Chloe Carlson– Faculty Olivia Turtoro– Faculty Emily Benzi- Office Staff, Costume Coordinator Deb Sheehan- Finance Administrator Affiliated Services Blum, Shapiro & Company, P.C., Accountants Reardon Law Firm, P.C., Legal Counsel Scholarships The Sarah Morse ECB Dance Scholarship Fund Eastern Connecticut Ballet Scholarship Fund
The Eastern Connecticut Ballet is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and offers equal employment and educational opportunities in accordance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age or sexual orientation.
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