2022 Nutcracker Program

A KANSAS BALLET

FOR OUR IN-PERSON AUDIENCE

• In accordance with Kansas State Fire Marshal regulations, we request that you take a moment to identify the two emergency exits closest to you.

• In case of an emergency, pay close attention to the announcer for important safety information.

• As a courtesy to our other guests and performers, please refrain from talking and texting during the performance. Patrons who create disturbances will be asked to leave the theatre.

• All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during performances.

• The use of photographic, video, or any other recording equipment is strictly prohibited.

Supporting the arts means supporting the people who create them.

The Trust Company of Kansas is committed to the communities where we live, work, and support the arts. We belive in helping our clients acheive their financial goals, so that they, too, may continue supporting amazing organizations, such as The Lawrence Art Center.

DIRECTOR’S LETTER

On behalf of the entire The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet production, I warmly welcome you to the Lawrence Arts Center. It means a tremendous amount to us that you are present in the sharing of this winter tradition. This year, we’re filled with gratitude to have the opportunity to host such a valued dance-music production in our community after being unable to perform in 2020. This year, we return once again with the full cast of 119 performers, 14 musicians and many others behind the scenes thrilled to charm and entertain you.

In the spirit of this community production, we would like to recognize that this show has a long-standing legacy in our community and has evolved over several generations. Since the premier of A Kansas Ballet, tens of thousands have experienced this tradition. We would like to honor those who have played a role on stage or in developing many years’ worth of Nutcracker experiences by humbly saying, Thank you!

To our audience and our community, may your hearts be filled with joy this season. Cheers, Hanan C. Misko

Artistic Director of The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet

SCHOOL OF DANCE STAFF

School of Dance Director– Hanan Misko School of Dance Coordinators – Claire Buss

Artistic Director of Lawrence Ballet Theatre – Cynthia Crews

LBT COMPANY MEMBERS

Main

Company

Rhubarb Brubacher, Isla Gnojek, Gracia Greenhoot, Henry Horan, Zoë Kaul, Zana Kennedy, Finn Lotton-Barker, Belzimere Maletsky, Phoebe Morris, Maria Mosconi, Linnaea Radley, Jahnava Sibilla, Celeste Stinson, Grace Xie

Apprentice

Company

Photina Adrian, Odelia Colvin, Nathan Kramer, Annalise Lantz, Kellar Musser, Madi Pierson, Mary Swartzlander, Sydney Tiemann, Genevieve Williams

SYNOPSIS

Act I Our story begins over 150 years ago in Lawrence, KS on Christmas Eve. It’s 1864, the fourth consecutive year of the American Civil War. Preparing for a holiday party hosted by the Stahlbaums, an inventor named Drosselmeyer is in his workshop crafting presents for his grandchildren. One, a wooden Nutcracker, resembles Drosselmeyer’s nephew, Kurt, who is a soldier with the 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs. Meanwhile, the Stahlbaums have finished preparing for their party just moments before the arrival of the first guest. Drosselmeyer arrives mysteriously late to the party and immediately presents the dolls to the children, explaining to Clara that if she takes care of the Nutcracker, the Nutcracker will, in turn, protect her. Fritz, seeing his sister receive more presents, grows jealous and breaks her Nutcracker. Agitated but not disheartened, Drosselmeyer repairs the Nutcracker and quietly leaves it by the tree before departing from the party.

After the party ends and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum have gone to bed, Clara returns to the living room in search of her Nutcracker soldier. She finds him under the tree and joyfully dances with him until she becomes tired and falls asleep. She enters a strange dream in which Fritz commands the Mouse Queen and her mice to seize Clara. Drosselmeyer intervenes by summoning the Nutcracker to fight on Clara’s behalf along with a supplementary army of toy soldiers. The Mouse Queen is defeated, and Fritz sees that his destructive ways only brought harm and vio lence. He repents to Clara who forgives him. Upon victory, both the Nutcracker and Clara are transformed and venture across the land of Kansas.

Act II The story continues with Clara and the Nutcracker being greeted by various freed Kansan creatures and spirits, who are rejoicing in Clara and the Nutcracker’s victory over the Mouse Queen. The matriarch of the land, the Hummingbird, coordinates an elaborate ball in celebration of their courageous efforts. After witnessing all the wonders of Kansas, Clara and the Nutcracker reunite for a final dance but are interrupted by Drosselmeyer who tells Clara that, like all things, this must too end. Clara wakes up where she last fell asleep, but the Nutcracker is no longer with her. She senses that something has changed for the better.

ACT 1 | CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Drosselmeyer’s Workshop

DROSSELMEYER Jerel Hilding POST CARRIER Grace Xie

Downtown Lawrence

LAWRENCIANS Kory Kaul Morgan Swartzlander Stahlbaums’ House

YOUNGER CLARA Genevieve Williams Ruth Yang (understudy)

FRITZ Crosby Beyer James Whittaker (understudy)

MR. STAHLBAUM Jason Van Nice

MRS. STAHLBAUM Nikki Stewart

PARTY ADULTS Jill Brungardt Meighan Davisson Patricia Judd Korey Kaul Sheena Shearburn Amanda Sponholtz Scott Sponholtz Morgan Swartzlander Lauren Taylor Beth Whittaker Cullen Krishna

PARTY CHILDREN Georgia All Madelyn Gaynor Ruby Jiang Sarah Judd Caroline Larsen Eli Misko Gabriela Sanches Madisyn Torres Luna Tucker Foster Vigne Silas Warrior James Whittaker

PARTY TEENS Odelia Colvin Vitória Da Silva Alice Lang Annalise Lantz Madi Pierson

MECHANICAL DOLLS Zoë Kaul Kellar Musser

SOLDIER DOLL Henry Horan

Battle Between Mice and Toys

ATTENDANTS TO THE QUEEN Camyla Bermudez Nathan Kramer Belzimere Maletsky

MICE

Evelyn Folsom Lilah Francis Kinsey Gustafson Olive Henry Stella McCall Peter Misko Lemon Obrakta

NUTCRACKER PRINCE Tristian Griffin Finn Lotton-Barker (understudy)

TOY CAPTAINS Madison Brown Sarah Hanson Marcella MacGonagle

TOY SOLDIERS Delaney Basore Mary Cole McCarty Lamb Meyer Lamb Sofia Rendon Hailey Renz

MEDICS Einin McCullum Evie McFarland

MOUSE QUEEN Grace Xie OLDER CLARA Elizabeth Lollar Snow Wonderland

SNOW QUEEN Gracia Greenhoot

Linnaea Radley (understudy) SNOW KING Henry Horan SNOW Rhubarb Brubacher Isla Gnojek Zoë Kaul Zana Kennedy Phoebe Morris Maria Mosconi Jahnava Sibilla Celeste Stinson

SNOW FLURRIES Meral Alhashimi Tatum Collins Elise DeVader Elise Koranda Celia O’Connor Larkin Oertel Daphne Shearburn Scotland Tiemann

-15 MINUTE INTERMISSION-

ACT 2 | CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

The Kansas Prairie

HUMMINGBIRD Linnaea Radley Celeste Stinson (understudy) SPROUTING SUNFLOWERS

Elsie Battaglia-Bergstrom Hazel Brackbill Katie Moyle

Lilah Paul Eleni Reece Sabina Scott Audrey Shull Sarah Song

Grassland Invaders

Strawberry Fields LEAD STRAWBERRIES

Isla Gnojek Nathan Kramer Maria Mosconi STRAWBERRIES Bridget Collins Mae Havener

Kiera Maletsky Olive Smith Alana Stewart Mary Swartzlander Elise Vigne Nichole Weis

Schoolyard Shenanigans

BIRDS

Rhubarb Brubacher Henry Horan Zana Kennedy GRASSHOPPERS Lilly Armstrong Millie Beckley Alice Gnojek Storey Gunter Luca Koehn Rosella Kramer Samantha Larsen Leah McWilliams Peter Misko Lulu Parr Eleanor Paul Petra Sowinski

Dangerous Beauties

SNAKES Phoebe Morris Jahnava Sibilla

The Browns

BEAR Finn Lotton-Barker

JOHN BROWN Cullen Krishna DAUGHTERS OF JOHN BROWN Alice Lang Marcella MacGonagle

Cavalry in Pursuit

OFFICER Celeste Stinson TROOPERS Photina Adrian Mattea Rasmussen Sydney Tiemann Ruth Yang

SCHOOL CHILDREN Lauren Anderson Kaleigh Barr Kaleesi Denham Kyrion Denham Roslyn Elles Sophia Stratemeier Rylie Tiemann Anabelle Underwood MOTHER GINGER Megan Greene Waltz of the Flowers

HUMMINGBIRD Linnaea Radley Celeste Stinson (understudy) DEW DROPS Gracia Greenhoot Jahnava Sibilla Grace Xie

FLOWERS Rhubarb Brubacher Odelia Colvin

Isla Gnojek

Zoë Kaul Zana Kennedy Annalise Lantz Belzimere Maletsky Phoebe Morris Maria Mosconi Kellar Musser Madi Pierson Celeste Stinson Alice Lang (understudy)

ORCHESTRA

Conductor

Raffaele Cipriano

Bassoon Mackie Thomas

Clarinet Welsey Rhodes

Double Bass Krista Kopper

Flute/Piccolo Gwyneth Sigmon

Harp Erin Wood

Harp Rob Banks

Mandola David Ludwick

Mandolin Beth Dearinger

Mandolin Mike Stewart

Percussion Luke Helker

Viola Courtney Mulford

Violin 1 Katina Bilberry

Violin 2 Avery Parkhurst

PRODUCTION STAFF

Artistic Director, Choreographer - Hanan Misko

Associate Artistic Director, Choreographer - Cynthia Crews

Costume Designer & Wardrobe/Lead - Hanah Glimpse

Costume Designer & Construction - Susan Rendall

Dance Assistants - Donna Jo Harkrider, Hope DeYoung-Daniels, Audrey Senger, Liat Roth, Megan Greene, Allison McNellis, Cassidy Dunn

Hair & Makeup Specialist - Rebekah Abrams

House Projection Designer, Lighting Design - Jason Badgett

Orchestra Manager, Conductor - Raffaele Cipriano

Photography - Ann Dean

Production Coordinator - Claire Buss

Prop Master - Lexey Jost

Running Crew - Gordon Marvin, Lexey Jost

Set Builders - Lexey Jost, Samaria Fleig, Aidan Holland, Ben Knight, Devi Arkeketa, Ezra Martinez-Haskins, Gordon Marvin, Sophie Bracker-Sturm, Tevin Mershon

Stage Manager - Samaria Fleig

Student Tech Staff - Alia Leon, Ben Tiemann, Cylas Divine-DeVictor, Fletcher Mack, Laurel Hunsinger, Quinn Nissen

Live Streaming Engineer - Ian Weaver

House Manager - Jasper Mumford, Jennifer Osborn

DIRECTORS & PROFESSIONAL CAST

Hanan Misko (Artistic Director, Choreographer) studied at the Kansas City Ballet School and received his BFA from The Juilliard School under the directorship of Lawrence Rhodes. Hanan has danced with various companies including Storling Dance Theater, Mark Morris Dance Group, the Metropolitan Opera (Faust, Don Giovanni, Orfeo ed Euridice, and Nixon in China), Jessica Lang Dance, and as a company member with Ballet Hispanico, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Nimbus Dance Works in New York City. Hanan has served as artistic director for the Fine Arts Summer Academy’s Dance Ensemble in Nashville, TN for the past six years. He has taught at the Kansas City Ballet School, the Wharton Music Center, The Culture House, in New Jersey public schools’ after-school programs, and in The Juilliard School’s C.L.I.M.B. program. He has served as the School of Dance Director at the Lawrence Arts Center since 2013.

Cynthia Crews (Artistic Director of the Lawrence Ballet Theatre, Choreographer) started her dance training in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin, acclaimed Ballet Russe stars and co-founders of Tulsa Ballet Theatre. In high school, she performed solo roles with Tulsa Civic Ballet, including being Tulsa’s very first Clara in The Nutcracker. Cynthia continued her dance education in New York City as a full scholarship student for Joffrey Ballet and Harkness Ballet. She then returned to Oklahoma and received a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from The University of Oklahoma. Cynthia performed as a principal with Tulsa Ballet Theatre for nine years. Cynthia has performed in and choreographed many community and professional musical productions. Her teaching career started at The School of Tampa Ballet and continued at the Post School of Ballet (Southwest Virginia Ballet Company) and Jasinski Academy, the official school for Tulsa Ballet. Cynthia joined the Lawrence Arts Center in 2004, teaching primarily ballet and pointe. She is the founder and artistic director of the Lawrence Ballet Theatre. Raffaele Cipriano (Orchestra Conductor) is an Italian conductor, vocal coach, composer, and computer scientist. He studied at the Conservatories of Padua and Venice with interna tional mentors, focusing on orchestral conducting, collaborative piano, opera repertoire, and composition. In 2015 he moved to Kansas to pursue a doctorate in orchestral conducting at KU, under the supervision of Maestro David Neely. He graduated in 2018 with honors, gaining overwhelming feedback from his continuous artistic collaborations in the area (Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence Opera Theater, Landlocked Opera, and community orchestras). For the 2018-2019 season, Cipriano was the assistant/cover conductor of Maestro De Renzi at Sarasota Opera, and since 2020 he has been the assistant conductor for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he was the music director for the opera Romeo and Juliet with Lawrence Opera Theater and the orchestra conductor for the musical A Chorus Line in Topeka. He is based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where he conducts two community orchestras (Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City and Overland Park Orchestra) and serves as music director at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee. At the Lawrence Arts Center, he has worked as a pianist for ballet classes and the conductor for the productions of Peter and the Wolf and The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet.

Samaria Fleig (Stage Manager, Technical Director) After five years in California working with Coast Kids Theatre, New Vision Theatre Group, and the Star Theatre Co., Samaria made her way back to the Sunflower State and graduated from Emporia State University with her

BFA. She has found her home here in Lawrence and at the Lawrence Arts Center. Working with young artists and technicians teaches her something new every day. She is so very thankful for the amazing people she gets to work with every day and her incredibly inspiring family.

Tristian Griffin (Guest Artist/Dancer) A native of Kansas City, Tristian Griffin graduated from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Ballet and a minor in English. Following graduation, Griffin danced for Garth Fagan Dance Company for three years. More recently, he performed with the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Springboard Danse Montreal and Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. Dancing works by William Forsythe, Ronald K. Brown, Ohad Naharin, Gary Abbott, Gregory Dawson, Christian Von Howard, Frank Chaves and Christian Denice. He was selected for the Charlotte Street Foundation’s studio residency program and Friends of Alvin Ailey. As a choreographer, Tristian has been commissioned by the University of Kansas, Island Moving Company, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Regina Klenjoski Dance Company and Malashock Dance Company. Tristian started his own dance company, Tristian Griffin Dance Company, in 2019. TGDC has appeared at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Charlotte Street Foundation, KC Fringe Festival, International Dance Festival, Newport Dance Festival and Dance St. Louis. Over the past year, he taught full-time at the University of Kansas as a Visiting Professor of Practice. Jerel Hilding (Guest Artist/Dancer) Jerel Hilding was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet for 15 years, performing in works by many of the most influential choreographers of the last 100 years, including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, Frederic Ashton, John Cranko, Kurt Jooss, Leonide Massine and Gerald Arpino. Jerel began his dance training in New Orleans while earning a BA in musicology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans). He recently retired in 2020 from the University of Kansas, where he was a professor of dance teaching all levels of ballet, pointe, pas de deux, music for dancers and choreographing for the University Dance Company. He has appeared as a guest artist in various Arts Center productions and also has accompanied ballet classes at the University of Kansas, the Lawrence Arts Center and the Lawrence Dance Intensive.

Elizabeth Lollar (Guest Artist/Dancer) began her formal training in 2007 with the Southold Dance Theatre in South Bend, IN and shortly after began studying with Bonnie Boilini Baxter. She worked with Ms. Baxter for five years and then moved to Lawrence, KS in 2011 where she trained at the Lawrence Arts Center for nine years. She was a member of the Lawrence Ballet Theatre pre-professional company under Cynthia Crews for six years. While part of the company, she had the opportunity to participate in productions of classical bal lets including Giselle, Raymonda, Firebird, Le Corsaire, and The Nutcracker. She also worked with many guest artists including Paula Weber, Kristopher Estes-Brown, and Melissa Hale Coyle. She attended the Regional Dance America Festival six times as a company member and was awarded two full-ride scholarships from the organization, one to the National Choreog raphy Intensive and one to the Colorado Conservatory of Dance Summer Intensive. She is currently attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Dance. At UMKC, she has enjoyed performing work by choreographers Tom Gold, Tempe Ostergren, DeeAnna Hiett, Kameron Saunders, Michael Blake, and Ray Mercer. As an alumna of the Arts Center, Elizabeth is thrilled to be performing The Nutcracker again and loves being back with the Arts Center family.

Cullen Krishna (Guest Artist/Dancer) was born in Bellevue, Nebraska and eventually moved to Ashburn, Virginia where he began training under Troy Brown of the Loudoun Ballet Company. After performing in their Coppelia and Nutcracker productions, he moved back to Bellevue and furthered his education under Sasha and Bret York. Cullen is currently a student at KU pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts while under the direction of Ashley Brittingham, where he is also a performer in the University Dance Company. He is thrilled for the opportunity to perform with the Lawrence Arts Center for their season’s Nutcracker

Hanah Glimpse (Costume Designer & Wardrobe/Lead) graduated with her BFA in Theatre Design with Minors in Visual Arts and Art History, as well as a Certificate in Global Awareness from the University of Kansas in Spring 2021. Her previous experience includes assistant costume designer for KU Opera’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and their University Dance Company. She has previously worked at the Lawrence Art Center as the costumer for Music Man, Threads, and Fancy Nancy. She was also the costume teacher for this past Summer Youth Theater 2022 program, where she also costumed Madagascar Jr. and Stinky Cheese Man. This is her first production with the Lawrence Art Center’s Nutcracker.

Jason Badgett (Lighting Designer) is a video and theatre professional currently residing in Houston, Texas. Jason studied Film and Media at the University of Kansas. He has worked on multiple feature films, television series and documentaries. In 2010, Jason joined the Lawrence Arts Center technical staff. As a theatre technician, he has served as a lighting designer, sound engineer, projectionist, and stage manager for theatrical productions and events. Jason recently relocated to Houston to do video production full-time, but is excited to be returning to Lawrence to design the lighting for this year’s Nutcracker!

SPECIAL THANKS

Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation

Thomas D. Galloway Family City of Lawrence Lawrence Arts Center Staff

To our parent volunteers

Your behind-the-scenes time, hard work and, most importantly, your passion for this production are the essential ingredients to making the magic of stagecraft come to life. Thank you so much!

To our School of Dance sponsors

Bates Co.

Sabatini Architects Dance Shoppe, Inc. Mainline Printing Insomnia Cookies Scotch Cleaners

CAST PHOTOS & PORTRAITS

PHOTOGRAPHY

View and order photos at anndean.zenfolio.com

BY ANN DEAN

LAWRENCE DANCE INTENSIVE 2023

Scholarship Auditions

Dancers aged 10-21 years by Jun. 5, 2023, dancing at an intermediate/advanced level with at least two years of prior dance experience. There is no cost to apply for a scholarship. Partial merit scholarships will be awarded to those enrolled in both Senior Intensive sessions only. Learn more at lawrenceartscenter.org.

In-Person Auditions

APRIL 21, 7 PM

Sunday, March 26 | 1-2:30 pm | 10th & Mass Studios

Online registration is required by Thursday, March 23

APRIL 22, 7 PM

Video Auditions

Sunday, March 26 | Video Audition Submission Deadline

LAWRENCE

La Fille mal gardée THE DOT&

A DOUBLE DANCE FEATURE EXPERIENCE!

The Dot & La Fille mal gardée

The Dot (Spring Modern Production)

DIRECTED BY TRISTIAN GRIFFIN

Saturday, Jan. 14 | Time TBA

Calling dancers ages seven to 18. Register to audition by Jan. 5 at lawrenceartscenter.org.

This is an audition for lead roles only. Those enrolled in Contemporary I-IV and Modern I-II classes have the option to perform with their class.

La Fille mal gardée (Spring Ballet Production)

DIRECTED BY PAIGE COMPARATO

Saturday, Jan. 7 | 10 am-2 pm

Calling dancers ages seven to 18. Register to audition by Jan. 5 at lawrenceartscenter.org.