The Nutcracker Children's Program 2021 | The Hanover Theatre

Children's Edition Program

Sponsored by

Production made possible by producing partner Mary C. DeFeudis

Based on the story by E.T.A Hoffmann Music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky Artistic Director • Jennifer Agbay Choreographers • Jennifer Agbay, Jamie Brown, Mark Harootian, Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka, Jolanta Valeikaite Associate Choreographer • Charlotte McNutt Conductor • Eric Culver Set Design • Christine Peters* Lighting Design • Paul Miller* Sound Design • Nick Joyce Production Stage Manager • Kim Pheymannicie Assistant Stage Manager • Mark Underkofler Company Manager • Stacy Weisberg Production Assistant • Julie Bergeron Master Electrician / LX Board Operator • Brenda Shepard Props • Tiffany Poplawski and parent volunteers of The Nutcracker production Wardrobe Mistress • Beth Laperle Costumes • Nancy Smith, Bernadette Genatossio, Julie McGowan, Beth Laperle and Freda Bromberg Scenery • John Creech Design & Production, Scenic Art Studios, Inc., Keegansmission Creative Inc. and Prop & Paint Creative Studios

Producer • Meghan Montaner *Member of United Scenic Artists

Theatre Etiquette

• Please wear your mask at all times.

• Be sure to use the restroom before the show! You don’t want to miss any of the action.

• Turn your cell phones off.

• Keep your feet off the back of the seats.

• Photography is never allowed!

• It is standard etiquette to applaud at the end of the show.

Not only are you applauding for the performers, but also the hard work that everyone has put in behind the scenes!

•

Above all, the theatre is truly a special place. Unlike movies or TV shows, what you see onstage is happening right before your eyes. The performers are giving their all, so it’s important that you give them your full attention.

Cover photo and cast of The Nutcracker photos ®Mike Nyman.

The Cast of The Nutcracker PROLOGUE CAST Chestnut Girl: Tammi Novia Townspeople: Ted Achtem, Elizabeth Buonomo, Noel Rose DeRosa, Sydney Duby, Jaxson Farrington, Charlotte Fredette, Linnea Guinan, Kalin Iagallo, Emma Jalbert, Kaitlyn Kiefer, Aelic Lynch, Allie Mae Macrelli, Veronica Maher, Sierra Racine, Sarah Underkofler, Erin Reid-Eriksen, Casey Reid, Lilian Vaillancourt

ACT I

PARTY SCENE Clara Silberhaus: Morgan Soulé Fritz Silberhaus: Andy Lane Herr Drosselmeyer: Mark Harootian Frau Silberhaus: Ana Luisa Thompson- Konopka Herr Silberhaus: Matthew Polsky Maids & Butler: Audrey Achtem, Gabriella Cellucci, Evan Underkofler Kissy Doll: Madison Rizzo Soldier Doll: Cast 1: Aiden Powers, Cast 2: Talia Smith Party Parents: Ted Achtem, Garine Avakian, James Courtney, Benjamin Dolan, Meghan Gates, Linnea Guinan, Matthew Mange, Charlotte McNutt, Patrick Monahan, Gillian Murphy, Erin Reid-Eriksen, Aaron Seider Party Girls: Lexi Bancroft, Adrianna Cook, Elise Drake, Charlotte Fredette, Denali Herbert, Kalin Iagallo, Emma Jalbert, Kaitlyn Kiefer, Cara Klatt, Aelic Lynch, Veronica Maher, Olivia Merrick, Fayelinn Poplawski, Sierra Racine, Lilian Vaillancourt Party Boys: Alexandra Bruce, Jaxson Farrington, Anny Jahaj, Kaiden Quinn, Noah Serr

BATTLE SCENE The Nutcracker Prince: Jackson Bradford Mary Mouse*: Nina Browning Mice: Lily Braman, Violet Haskins, Briley Gardell, Ella Kennedy, Lyla Mange, Elena Perez, Alyssa Shotsberger, Lily Souda, Claire Reid-Eriksen Rats: Brooke Farrington, Dayana Gonzalez, Miriam Greenslit, Avah Ortiz, Elena Polsky Lead Soldier: Calle Merchant Soldiers: Cast 1: Elle Angarita, Zoey Crandall, Kassidy Gibree, Sara Hennigan, Olivia Kac, Phoebe Lawendowski, Ellie Monahan, Erin Sullivan, Lia Tselios, Emmaly Waugh Cast 2: Helena Adkins, Ellie Allard, Jillian Bukoski, Zoey Crandall, Ariana Garcia, Natalia Gillaspie, Emma Harvey, Sadie Matczak, Alba Martinez, Mikel Roth Rat King: Teddy Grillo Mini Rat Queen Doll: Anya Hoemann Mini Nutcracker Doll: Kaitlyn Chu * Role named in honor of benefactor, Mary C. DeFeudis, who helped make The Nutcracker scenic design possible.

LAND OF SNOW Snow Queen: Silken Kelly Snow King: Austin Eyler Lead Reindeer: Violet Palko Reindeer: Anna Branco, Avery Deorsey, Penelope Dolan, Anya Hoemann, Emma-Gabrielle Isidore, Lila Pelletier, Emily Pulsifer, Lailah Seider, Violet Thomas, Cora Vensel Snow Corps de Ballet: Grace Armour, Maia Beaudry, Gabriella Cellucci, Shannon Courtney, Noel Rose DeRosa, Sydney Duby, Madison Rizzo, Talia Smith

Intermission (20 minutes) ACT II

ANGELS Angel Principal: Gabriella Cellucci Demi Angels: Calle Merchant, Sierra Racine Angels: Audrey Achtem, Lindsey Berthiaume, Brooke Farrington, Kassidy Gibree, Natalia Gillaspie, Dayana Gonzalez, Emma Jalbert, Abbi Lane, Arianna Lemerise, Naila Manasseh, Avah Ortiz, Elena Polsky Small Angels: Lexi Bancroft, Caitlyn Clarke, Zoe D’Elia, Kira Howe, Corinne Mayo, Mikel Roth LAND OF SWEETS Spanish Principals: Maia Beaudry and Teddy Grillo Arabian Princess: Shannon Courtney Arabian Attendants: Elizabeth Buonomo, Allie Mae Macrelli, Casey Reid, Katherine Totman Chinese Principal: Cast 1: Fayelinn Poplawski, Cast 2: Noel Rose DeRosa Chinese Corps de Ballet: Cast 1: Kaitlyn Kiefer and Calle Merchant Cast 2: Sierra Racine and Sarah Underkofler

Russian Principals: Sydney Duby and Aiden Powers Shepherdess: Grace Armour White Sheep: Lillian Head, Zoe Lavigne, Taelyn Saldana, Sophia Shliapa Black Sheep: Claire Angarita Mother Ginger: Mark Harootian Polichinelles: Isla Brady, Kaitlyn Chu, Leah Ciak, Ainsley Colorio, Sadie Davidson, Abigail Freeman, Ella Hurley, Claire Reid-Eriksen WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS Dew Drop Fairy: Rachele Perla Corps de Ballet: Grace Armour, Maia Beaudry, Shannon Courtney, Sydney Duby, Veronica Maher, Madison Rizzo, Talia Smith, Sarah Underkofler GRAND PAS DE DEUX Sugarplum Fairy: Nayara Lopes Cavalier: Arian Molina

The Story of ACT I Prologue - On a snowy Christmas Eve, Drosselmeyer puts the finishing touches on a magical Nutcracker. It’s his gift for the Silberhaus family, who have invited him to join their holiday festivities. Customers pass by his shop and Drosselmeyer displays his toys and clocks. Later that evening, outside of the Silberhaus’ house, the street bustles with preparations for the holidays. Drosselmeyer arrives with his beautifully wrapped gift.

Christmas Eve Party Scene - In the Silberhaus’ sitting room, the family prepares for their party. Clara, Fritz, and their parents greet their guests as they arrive. The children jump with glee at the sight of the beautiful Christmas tree. As they play with new Christmas toys, Herr Silberhaus invites the guests to dance. Drosselmeyer, known as “Uncle Drosselmeyer” to the Silberhaus children, makes a grand entrance and entertains the families with magic. The children are delighted by an acrobatic soldier doll and a beautiful, life-sized ballerina. Drosselmeyer then opens his gift and presents the nutcracker to Clara. Captivated, she dances with the magical doll. Fritz is envious.

He mischievously pulls the Nutcracker from his sister’s hands, breaking it. Drosselmeyer carefully bandages the doll and returns it to Clara, who plays with it gently. As the hour grows late, guests drift home and the Silberhaus family heads upstairs to bed.

The Battle Scene - Too excited to sleep, Clara returns to the darkened sitting room in search of her Nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes midnight, she falls asleep on the sofa with her treasured Nutcracker in her arms. As Clara dreams, she relives memories of the evening. Deep within her dream, Uncle Drosselmeyer appears and mends the Nutcracker doll.

As Clara wakens into her dream, her house begins to expand around her.

Drosselmeyer makes the Christmas tree grow wondrously large over now tiny Clara.

The Nutcracker Giant mice appear, frightening her. The Nutcracker doll comes to life to defend Clara. He summons an army of toy soldiers and a fierce battle ensues. The ferocious Rat King challenges the Nutcracker to a duel.

Clara’s quick thinking helps the Nutcracker defeat the Rat King. Magically, Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into a dashing Prince. The Prince thanks Clara for saving him, and together they embark on an enchanting journey through the Land of Snow.

Land of Snow - As snow falls, snowflakes begin to dance. The Snow Queen and King send Clara and the Prince off to their next adventure in a beautiful sleigh.

ACT II The Land of Sweets - Before Clara and the Prince enter the Land of Sweets, they encounter angels that guide them along on their journey.

The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes Clara and the Prince to the Land of Sweets and asks them to tell her about the adventure that brought them to her world. The Prince recounts his battle with the Rat Queen and describes Clara’s bravery. The Sugar Plum Fairy commands a festival of dancing to honor her guests. The celebration beings with a lively Spanish dancer and continues with the entrance of the Arabian Princess and her attendants. Chinese dancers perform a fast dance before Russian dancers leap and twirl across the stage. A Shepherdess appears to dance with her little sheep before Mother Ginger arrives with her Polchinelles. The Dew Drop Fairy and her flowers perform a beautiful waltz before the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier end the celebration with their grand pas de deux. Once the celebration ends, the Sugar Plum Fairy waves goodbye to Clara and The Prince as Clara drifts off to sleep.

Christmas Morning - Clara awakens, still smiling from her joyous dream.

It is Christmas morning, and the Nutcracker is safe in her arms.

Characters You can usually tell who a character is by looking at the costume they are wearing. Read below to find out what each of the characters will be dressed in and see if you can spot them all!

Clara is the young girl who is the heroine of the story. She receives the Nutcracker doll at her parent’s annual holiday party, which begins the adventure. She wears a pretty cream colored dress and a nightgown.

Fritz is Clara’s mischievous younger brother. He breaks the Nutcracker doll.

He wears a velvet suit with ruffles around the neck.

Herr Drosselmeyer is Clara’s godfather, a toy maker, and also a mysterious, fun loving magician. His holiday gift to Clara is the Nutcracker doll. He wears dark colors, a long cape and an eye patch.

Herr and Frau Silberhaus are Clara and Fritz’s parents and hosts of the holiday party where Clara receives the Nutcracker doll. They wear fancy party clothes like their adult guests.

The Nutcracker is the Nutcracker Doll and handsome man who is brought to life by Drosselmeyer. He leads the toy soldiers in battle with the Rat Queen. He looks similar to the doll that Clara receives from Drosselmeyer.

The Rat King is an evil, scary creature that along with his rats and mice, battles the Nutcracker and toy soldiers. He is large and wears a crown and cape.

The Snow Queen & King are the protectors of the enchanted Kingdom of Snow that Clara passes through on her way to the Land of Sweets. They dress in white and dance a beautiful Pas de Deux (dance for two people).

The Sugarplum Fairy & Cavalier are the guardians of the enchanted Land of Sweets. They welcome Clara with an international celebration of many dances. They dress in classical ballet costumes: a tutu for the Sugar Plum Fairy and a tunic for her Cavalier. They dance a beautiful Pas de Deux at the end of Clara’s visit.

Other characters that Clara meets along the way include Mother Ginger, dancing flowers, and many dancers from faraway lands such as Spain, Arabia, China and Russia.

Intermission Activity This year, our show features a brand new scenic design. A scenic design includes all of the backdrops, set pieces and props that you see onstage.

One of the most exciting new additions is the I-Spy curtain that you’ll see before the show begins, during intermission and when the show ends.

Can you find all of the hidden images in the curtain? Look closely!

Nutcracker

Star

C

Ornament

-

Harp

�

Cheese

Eye Patch

Doll Windup Key

Ballet Slippers Trumpet

Tiara Sugar Plum Fairy Wand

gJJ

��!; ;<;

�

Angel Wings

Soldier's Hat

Clara's Bow

Snowflake

Gift

Fan

Mouse

Ballet Basics While it may look like everything the dancers are doing on stage is easy for them, it actually takes lots of practice to be a ballet dancer! Ballet is a very special type of dance that began as early as the year 1500. In ballet, there are 5 basic feet positions that every dancer learns when they are just starting out.

Check them out below!

Common Ballet Terms

Many of the terms used in ballet are French words. Check out some of them below and impress your friends and family with this fancy vocabulary!

Ballerina - a female dancer in a ballet company.

Choreographer - a person who composes or invents ballets or dances.

Choreography - describes the steps, combinations, and patterns of a ballet or dance.

Pointe Shoes - the satin ballet shoes used by dancers when dancing on their pointes (toes). Pointe shoes are reinforced with a box constructed of numerous layers of strong glue in between layers of material. Pointe shoes are not made of cement or wood.

Tutu - the short classical ballet skirt made of many layers of net.

A romantic tutu is a long net skirt

reaching below the calf.

Pas de deux - a dance for two.

Barre - a horizontal bar (usually made of wood) along a studio wall for class exercises. Every ballet class begins with barre exercises.

Arabesque (ah rah besk) - a position on one leg with the other leg raised behind the body and extended in a straight line.

Plié (plee ay) - means bent, bending of the knee or knees.

Turn-out - The dancer turns his or her feet and legs out from the hip joints to a 90-degree position.

Pirouette (peer o wet) - a rotation or spin - a complete turn of the body on one foot, on pointe or demi-pointe (half-pointe).

After the show . . .

We hope you enjoyed this performance of The Nutcracker!

To remember this wonderful experience, use these spaces to describe your memories of your favorite moments, costumes, characters and dances.

My Favorite Moments

My Favorite Costumes

My Favorite Characters

My Favorite Dances

This program belongs to : ______________________________________ I saw The Nutcracker on: _______________________________________ I saw the show with: __________________________________________

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