THE NUTCRACKER Presented by Frisch’s Big Boy
Dividends… the freedom to
Silence the Uncertainty. For more than 30 years, our mission has been to grow income through dividends, protect hard-earned wealth, and help clients achieve their most important goals.
513.287.6100 | 800.341.1810 www.bahl-gaynor.com
INDIVIDUALS | INSTITUTIONS | FINANCIAL ADVISORS
TA B L E O F CO N T E N T S Cincinnati Ballet
5 8 9 10 11
LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP
13 16 19 23 25 26 31
CINCINNATI BALLET LEADERSHIP
32 37 39 41
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
SEASON SPONSORS NEW NUTCRACKER SPONSORS PRODUCTION SPONSORS
THE NUTCRACKER PRESENTED BY FRISCH’S SYNOPSIS CREATIVE TEAM BIOS ARTISTIC LISTING PRINCIPAL DANCERS BIOS COMPANY ROSTER CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BOARD OF TRUSTEES CINCINNATI BALLET STAFF DONOR HONOR ROLL
COVER PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY, FEATURING DANIEL BALDWIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM, FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI AND CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR
3
AD NAME (CM) Virtual Visits for a Healthy You Health has taken on a new importance these days. But at Mercy Health, yours has always been our top priority. And we’re as committed as we’ve always been to providing you with high-quality, personalized care—whether safely in our clean facilities or virtually from the comfort of your own home. Visit mercy.com/primarycare to connect with a primary care provider today.
PRIMARY CARE FOR THE UNIVERSE OF YOU
LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP Cincinnati Ballet
W
DEAR DEVOTED LOVER OF THE ARTS:
hat an immense joy it is to share Nutcracker with you this year. While we may not be together in person this year, we know you are watching this production in the safety of your own homes. The audience is the life blood of our dancers. It is the reason we pursue this art, to share the beauty of what we create with all of you. It is deeply personal for these artists and especially poignant, during the holiday season, when you make The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s an important part of your family’s annual tradition. While we miss seeing your faces, we are delighted to continue this tradition despite the pandemic with The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s. Nothing brings us together more than traditions, and, for many Cincinnati families, that includes Clara, her Nutcracker Prince, and their magical journey to the Land of Sweets. Many of you may remember your first time experiencing The Nutcracker as a child. It is a moment you cherish and want to recreate with your children and grandchildren. How could we have a year without The Nutcracker? When the pandemic forced us to reevaluate the 2020–2021 Season, we knew this tradition meant so much to so many and could provide a dose of much-needed normalcy in a topsy-turvy world of cancellations and limitations. So here we are. Together virtually! It was a true team effort to reimagine our massive production and create a version that complies with all safety and health protocols, while still creating the unmistakable magic of The Nutcracker. And that magic will come to life because of you—our beloved community of loyal arts lovers. We are so grateful, in this uncertain time, to share this simple joy with you. Be well and happy holidays! Yours in hope and community,
VICTORIA MORGAN The Sue & Bill Friedlander Artistic Director
5
AT THE OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY WE BELIEVE THE POWER OF DANCE CAN SHAPE YOUNG LIVES Our goal is to deliver the joy of dance to the center of each student’s personal development as a foundation for their future success. Our programs thoughtfully transport students from creative movement to pre-professional ballet training and allow them to unleash potential that proves impactful and powerful in all aspects of their lives. If you’re ready to discover what dance can do for you and your family, there’s a home for you here. Come join us!
FOR THE YOUNG DANCER
CHILDREN’S DIVISION
Creativity, Confidence and Capacity Through Dance Ages: 2 -7
Placement based on age No dance experience necessary!
FOR THE ASPIRING DANCER
MAIN DIVISION Where Futures Take Flight
Ages: 8 and up Placement based on experience Eight levels to fit every student
FOR THE APPRENTICE DANCER
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION Investing In Career Potential
Placement by Invitation Only Performance focused training alongside Main & Second Company
FOR THE ADULT DANCER
ADULT DANCE & FITNESS DIVISION Ages: 18 and up Flexible class offerings for both the experienced and novice dancer Available on a drop-in basis, pre-registration not required
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE? READY TO ENROLL? HERE’S WHERE TO START Talk to us: 513.562.1111 Email us: cbacademy@cballet.org Explore our website: cballet.org/academy Visit us: 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH
LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP Cincinnati Ballet
A
DEAR FRIEND OF CINCINNATI BALLET
s we prepare to close out 2020, my thoughts are filled with gratitude for you—our loyal patrons. Our patrons are our mission and we are so thankful to be sharing with you The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s. It is a holiday tradition for so many in the region and it gives us great joy to provide some normalcy in this year of uncertainty. For every one of us, this year has been filled with challenges none of us could have ever anticipated. For the arts, it has been especially difficult as social distancing protocols have limited live performances. Many ballet companies across the country made the truly heart-wrenching decision to cancel their Nutcracker productions this year. The health and safety of our dancers, patrons, and employees are always our top priority. In the early days of the pandemic, our organization began planning possible scenarios for the 2020–2021 Season, knowing that at any moment, we would need to make changes. Our goal was to present productions live for our audiences this unusual season. We were honored to stage in-person performances for Ballet in the Park and Cincinnati Made in the fall. When COVID-19 surged in mid-November, we decided to shift The Nutcracker to a free, digital version. It was simply the right thing to do. To make The Nutcracker at Home happen has truly been a team effort by every member of the Cincinnati Ballet family—from the dancers who gracefully adjusted to rehearsing and performing in masks, to our artistic and production staff for creating this magical experience, to the rest of our staff, who worked so diligently and creatively to transition to a digital production. I am so grateful for all their hard work. It has been truly amazing. So, sit back, relax, and join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical trip to the Land of Sweets. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Music Hall next year. Sincerely,
SCOTT ALTMAN President & CEO
7
2020–2021 SEASON SPONSORS Cincinnati Ballet 2020–2021 SEASON PRESENTERS
MARGARET & MICHAEL VALENTINE
OFFICIAL SPORTS MEDICINE PROVIDER
SEASON LIVE MUSIC SPONSOR
ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT
EST. 1947
8
SUSTAINABILITY SPONSOR
THE NEW NUTCRACKER SPONSORS OVERTURE
SHEAKLEY SHOW CURTAIN
ACT I
FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS BLANCHE’S KITCHEN
Cincinnati Ballet
(World Premiere, December 2011)
CHEF Jean-Robert de Cavel
SUE & BILL FRIENDLANDER PARTY SCENE
Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank Trustee Growing Tree CLARA Mr. & Mrs. Larry McGruder MAGICAL DROSSELMEYER The Klosterman Family HOST & HOSTESS Thomas & Mary Ellen Cody GRANDMOTHER Dr. & Mrs. Henry J. Heimlich AUNTIE ANNIE Ronna & Dr. James Willis PARTY SCENE CHILDREN Mr. & Mrs. Michael Valentine DANCING DOLL Carol & Robert Olson DANCING TEDDY BEAR Theodore L. Schwartz & Minnette Hoffheimer
THE LOUISE TAFT SEMPLE FOUNDATION BATTLE SCENE MOUSE KING Bruce Halpryn & Chas W. Riebe
GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE SNOW SCENE Doris M. & Charles Levinson Fund Flying Balloon
ACT II
PNC BANK LAND OF SWEETS The Kroger Co. Foundation Center Cake
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY TenderLand Foundation CUPCAKES The Brown Family SPANISH DANCERS Gary & Linda Greenberg MIRLIPOOS Moe & Jack Rouse MOTHER HEN & CHICKS Rosemary & Mark Schlachter
J AMES J. & JOAN A. GARDNER FAMILY FOUNDATION WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS SCENE BUMBLEBEES Northlich MEDIA SPONSOR Gannett Foundation PROP CONSTRUCTION The Thomas J. Emery Memorial LIGHTING Procter & Gamble MAESTRO Corbett Foundation
- Additional Sponsorship Partners The Sutphin Family Foundation Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Frost Brown Todd LLC Jack J. Smith, Jr. Charitable Trust, PNC Bank N.A. and James S. Wachs, Co-Trustees Christopher & Karen Bowman Nigel Vinecombe
9
PRODUCTION SPONSORS Cincinnati Ballet
PRESENTING SPONSOR
EST. 1947 PRODUCTION SPONSOR
MUSIC SPONSOR
SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER
10
THE NUTCRACKER PRESENTED BY FRISCH’S
CHOREOGRAPHY Victoria Morgan SCENIC DESIGN John Ezell COSTUME DESIGN Carrie Robbins
Cincinnati Ballet
MUSIC Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky*
LIGHTING DESIGN Benjamin Gantose MICE HIP-HOP CHOREOGRAPHY Derrek Burbridge ASSOCIATE SCENIC DESIGN Gene Emerson Friedman WIGS & MAKEUP James Geier of J. Geier Designs LTD MAGIC CONSULTATION Sean Owens, with Wood Herron & Evans LLP
MUSIC PERFORMED BY The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR Carmon DeLeone
*Reduced Orchestration by David Itkin with permission of © 2018 DCI Music
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM, FEATURING SIRUI LIU AND EDWARD GONZALEZ KAY
11
AT CINCINNATI BALLET, WE BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF DANCE IN MEANINGFUL AND PERSONAL WAYS. Our community programs are signatures of our commitment to removing barriers and providing access to the magic of dance performance and education to individuals throughout the greater Cincinnati region.
CincyDance! is a tuition-free program serving thousands of second and third grade students each year through creative movement residencies, ballet classes and scholarship opportunities. Select participants receive lifetime scholarships to the Otto M. Budig Academy each year.
In partnership with Cincinnati Children’s
Ballet Moves is designed to foster a love of dance and creative expression for individuals with specific needs through therapeutic dance classes.
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES From the stage of Music Hall to local schools and community centers, Cincinnati Ballet makes the magic of live performance available to our community through Community Night Performances, Sensory-Friendly Performances and our In-Step program. Photography: Hiromi Platt and Angie Lipscomb
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE? Contact us: 513.562.1124 or education@cballet.org
Explore our website: cballet.org
C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P THE SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Cincinnati Ballet has experienced tremendous growth and success under the leadership of Victoria Morgan, now in her 24th season. In 2008, Morgan took on the role of executive leader, serving as both the Artistic Director and CEO. Under her leadership, after years of growing deficits, the company stabilized its finances, built a $13 million endowment fund (today at $14.5 million), created an operating reserve, presented several million-dollar capital projects, and expanded the Otto M. Budig Academy and Community Engagement programming. In 2017, with the arrival of Scott Altman, Victoria became a full-time Artistic Director, giving her the opportunity to focus exclusively on artistic excellence. During her tenure at Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan choreographed numerous one-act and full-length ballets, including world premieres of King Arthur’s
Camelot, the new Nutcracker and her revised choreography for Cinderella. Morgan was instrumental in fundraising efforts to secure support for Cincinnati Ballet’s iconic nine-studio brand new facility, scheduled to open in June 2021. With Cincinnati Ballet’s administrative and artistic team, Morgan responded to COVID-19 in a creative and science-based way, enabling Cincinnati Ballet to safely present one of the nation’s first ballet performances—with an audience! It took place outdoors at the Procter & Gamble Pavilion in September 2020. Prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan was resident choreographer for the San Francisco Opera and a Principal Dancer for San Francisco Ballet and Ballet West. She served on numerous boards including Dance USA, Dance Magazine, the NEA evaluation panel, and was a judge for several International Ballet Competitions. Morgan graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.F.A. from University of Utah and was honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in 2009.
Cincinnati Ballet
VICTORIA MORGAN
SCOTT ALTMAN
PRESIDENT + CEO
Scott Altman joined Cincinnati Ballet as President & CEO in September 2016. Under his visionary leadership, Cincinnati Ballet has reached many noteworthy milestones, including its first $10 million operating budget, a dynamic new logo and brand identity, record-breaking ticket sales, the new Family Series, and expanded community and education programs. To accommodate this incredible growth, Altman launched a capital campaign to construct a new, larger, state-of-the-art ballet center. The $31 million dollar project is nearing complete funding and the Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance is on track to open in summer 2021 in Walnut Hills. During his tenure, Altman has been honored for two consecutive years by Cincinnati Magazine in its Cincinnati 300— a compilation of the city’s top 300 executives, and currently serves on the Board of DanceUSA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY
as Executive Managers Council Chair as well as Trustee on the Board of Ohio Citizens for the Arts. Altman brings with him nearly three decades of experience in nonprofit administration and performing arts. Prior to his roles in administration, Altman enjoyed a 20-year career as a professional opera singer and performed 40 opera roles internationally. He has held leadership positions at Arizona Opera and Opera New Jersey, and just prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet he was Executive Director of Ballet West. During his tenure, Ballet West experienced phenomenal expansion, including growth in ticket sales, a vastly expanded touring schedule, robust growth in donor development, and the construction of a new building. He is an alumnus of the Manhattan School of Music and the State University College at Purchase. Altman attended Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, was a Utah Business 2016 CEO of the Year Honoree and is a three-time recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Citation of Excellence Award.
13
C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P Cincinnati Ballet
CARMON DELEONE MUSIC DIRECTOR
Carmon DeLeone, Music Director of Cincinnati Ballet for over 50 years and Conductor Laureate of The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and The Middletown Symphony, has served as Conductor and Host of the Family Concert Series at New York’s Carnegie Hall and has conducted orchestras in Germany, England, Luxembourg, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Under his leadership, The Illinois Philharmonic was twice named “Illinois Orchestra of the Year.” He has composed many original scores for the ballet. His best-known work, Peter Pan, is frequently performed nationally and overseas. As Assistant, and later Resident Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, DeLeone served on
its staff with Music Directors Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Walter Susskind, and Erich Kunzel. He was also selected by Maestro Erich Leinsdorf to participate in an intensive master conducting seminar at Lincoln Center. He possesses a wide range of musical interests and is experienced in both the classics and jazz, whether leading his own “Studio Big Band” from the drum set or playing the French horn in both idioms. Maestro DeLeone made his New York conducting debut with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center, and his Carnegie Hall debut with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. DeLeone is a recipient of the Post-Corbett Award and most recently was awarded the esteemed MacDowell Medal by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society. His very popular weekly radio show, Sunday Morning Music Hall, can be heard on WDJO-FM 99.5 & 107.9 and AM 1480.
SUZETTE BOYER WEBB
DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY
Suzette Boyer Webb joined Cincinnati Ballet in 1979. As a Principal Dancer, under the direction of David McClain, Frederic Franklin, and Ivan Nagy, she danced classical and contemporary roles in works by choreographers Frederic Franklin, Ivan Nagy, George Balanchine, Ruth Page, Peter Anastos, John Butler, Sir Kenneth McMillian, Ben Stevenson, James Truitte, Lester Horton, and Vincente Nebrada. Upon her retirement from Cincinnati Ballet, Webb served on the Dance Division faculty at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. There, she was awarded The Outstanding Adjunct
Teacher of the Year award. As the Director of Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company – CB2 and Young Performers Ballet Master, Webb has been instrumental in providing technical and artistic learning opportunities to the CB2 and Academy dancers in various Cincinnati Ballet productions, including the highly successful Cincinnati Ballet Family Series. Webb has choreographed numerous works for the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company. She has staged many ballets, including children’s roles for Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, in Cincinnati; Anchorage, Alaska; at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.; and at the at the Detroit Opera House. Webb has worked nationally as guest teacher, adjudicator and panelist.
CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR BALLET MASTER
Cervilio Miguel Amador trained with the Vo c a t i o n a l B a l l e t School in Camagüey, Cuba and National Ballet School of Cuba. He danced with the National Bal-
14
let of Cuba as a corps de ballet dancer and corifeo (demi-soloist) before joining Cincinnati Ballet in 2004 as a Soloist. He was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2005 and Principal Dancer in 2006 and has danced numerous lead roles in full-length ballets throughout his extensive career at Cincinnati Ballet, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, King
C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P on Cincinnati’s Music Hall as part of the renowned light show and has been invited three times to dance at the Titas Command Performance Gala in Dallas, Texas, among several of the top ballet dancers in the world. He is currently a Ballet Master of Cincinnati Ballet and Co-Artistic Director/Founder of Moving Arts Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Ballet
Arthur in King Arthur’s Camelot, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter in Peter Pan. He has also had several new works created on him by esteemed contemporary choreographers such as Adam Hougland, Jennifer Archibald, Ma Cong, and Victoria Morgan. In 2014, Amador was invited to perform at Lumenocity on a balcony suspended
DALE SHIELDS BALLET MASTER
Dale Shields trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Butler University before joining Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, where she rose to principal dancer under artistic director George Verdak. Shields performed principal roles in productions including Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppélia, Night Shadow, The Moor’s Pavane, and many original works. She
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY
served as Principal Ballet Mistress for Ballet Internationale, assisting with the original choreography of full-length ballets by artistic director Eldar Aliev and worked alongside Irina Kolpakova in staging many well-known classics. Accepting Artistic Director John McFall’s invitation to join Atlanta Ballet as Ballet Mistress gave her the opportunity to assist in mounting numerous full-length productions. She assisted on works by inspiring national and international choreographers including Alexander Ekman, Helen Pickett, Twyla Tharp, Liam Scarlett, Alexei Ratmansky, David Bentley, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Amy Seiwert, among others.
15
SYNOPSIS SCENE I • THE PARTY The Stahlbaum living room is bright and festive with the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable. The family is having a marvelous time dancing, laughing, and opening gifts when suddenly, Uncle Drosselmeyer bursts into the room. He is a mysterious doll maker who can surprise everyone with his acts of magic. He brings one doll to life, and it is so beautiful that Clara bravely asks if she could have it for Christmas. Drosselmeyer says “no,” but to comfort Clara, he reveals the most colorful Nutcracker and places him in her hands. She joyfully dances around the room showing off her splendid gift. Fritz is jealous and, in his frustration, grabs it from Clara, and breaks it. Uncle Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue and mends the Nutcracker. The festivities continue into the night, highlighted with a stately dance. As the evening comes to an end, Drosselmeyer is the last to bid the family farewell. Just before heading up to bed, Herr Stahlbaum brings out one last gift. He fastens an elegant necklace around his wife’s neck. There is one last embrace before the parlor grows quiet as they exit in a loving embrace. SCENE II • THE BATTLE Clara stealthily sneaks into the quiet and dark parlor with her beloved Nutcracker and falls asleep on the sofa. With the clock’s chimes striking midnight, Clara wakes abruptly to discover a band of mischievous mice who are bigger than she is! Uncle Drosselmeyer appears out of the darkness, scares the mice away and, with a wave of his arms, transforms the Nutcracker into a life-size Nutcracker Soldier. He then commands the tree to grow. A terrible battle ensues between the mice and the soldiers. The Nutcracker challenges the Mouse King to a duel. It is a fierce fight but, with Clara’s help, the brave Nutcracker wounds his foe. As the mice scamper away and the parlor grows quiet, Clara watches as Uncle Drosselmeyer magically transforms her Nutcracker into a handsome Prince. He takes her hand and they soon find themselves in a magical snow forest where they meet the noble Snow Queen and King. Together they dance into a beautiful snowstorm. As the storm subsides, a beautiful horse drawn sleigh enters to take Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to the Land of Sweets. SCENE III • THE LAND OF SWEETS Clara and her Nutcracker Prince are welcomed to the Land of the Sweets by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cotton Candy Cavalier. Clara and her Prince tell their story of the fierce battle with the Mouse King as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier cheer their victory. To celebrate they each present a welcome dance. Soon, the entire kingdom is introduced and each character honors them with a special dance; Mirlipoos, Spanish, and Russian begin the celebration. SCENE IV • THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES As the celebration continues, The Land of Sweets transforms into a lovely garden of four very special flowers with flowing petals. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cotton Candy Cavalier do a grand dance as a special treat for Clara. Following the performance, Clara is transported home as all the characters join together for a rousing finale. When Clara opens her eyes, she finds herself at home in the parlor with her beloved Nutcracker watching over her, always.
16
PHOTOGRAPHY BY (TOP) JENNIFER DENHAM, (BOTTOM) PETER MUELLER FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI & CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR
HISTORY OF THE NUTCRACKER
T
HE STORY IS AN ADAPTATION OF THE NUTCRACKER and the Mouse King by E.T. A Hoffman, published in 1819. When Marius Petipa commissioned Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky to compose the score for his new ballet, Petipa used a revised version of the story by Alexandre Dumas. This is The Nutcracker that is known by children and families all over the world. The very first Nutcracker, choreographed by Marius Petipa, was performed at the Marinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. The United States premiere was on December 24, 1944, by the San Francisco Ballet at the War Memorial Opera House, with choreography by Willam Christensen, the founder of San Francisco Ballet. Cincinnati Ballet premiered its first version of The Nutcracker in December 1974 at Music Hall, sponsored by Frisch’s. Over more than 40 years, Cincinnati Ballet has performed six diverse versions of this beloved holiday production, with choreography by Roman Jasinski, Moscelyne Larkin & Frederic Franklin, Ben Stevenson, Peter Anastos, and Val Canaparoli. Victoria Morgan’s “New Nutcracker” premiered on December 15, 2011, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, with all new sets, costumes, dazzling special effects, and fresh choreography.
r pa
ty with u
s
2021 EVENTS CALENDAR MARCH APRIL JULY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
BEST RESTAURANTS SPRING SAVOR CINCINNATI SUMMER FOOD FEST SLICE NIGHT DOWNTOWN LIVING TOUR
NOVEMBER
FALL SAVOR CINCINNATI
DECEMBER
BEST OF THE CITY
CINCINNATIMAGAZINE.COM/OUREVENTS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM FEATURING ARCADIAN BROAD
17
A PROUD SPONSOR OF CINCINNATI MUSICAL ARTS
NUTCRACKER BIOGRAPHIES
VICTORIA MORGAN
CHOREOGRAPHER
See page 15.
Cincinnati Ballet
CREATIVE TEAM
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY COMPOSER
Peter Ilyich T chaikovsky, born May 7, 1840, in Votkinsk, Russia, was the most popular Russian composer of all time. His music has always had great appeal for the general public in virtue of its tuneful, open-hearted melodies, impressive harmonies, and colorful orchestration. His works include 7 symphonies, 11 operas, 3 ballets, 3 piano concertos, a violin concerto, 4 cantatas, 20 choral works, 3 string quartets, 100-plus songs and piano pieces, and much more. The Nutcracker was the last of his three ballet scores, and was first performed in December of 1892, just a year before his death on November 6, 1893, in St. Petersburg. Tchaikovsky began composing the music in February 1891 and continued it later that year while on an American tour for the opening of Carnegie Hall. While in Paris on his way home, he discovered a new instrument: the celesta,
a bell-toned keyboard that was perfectly suited to the sound he needed for his “Sugar Plum Fairy.” Selections from The Nutcracker were first performed as an orchestral Suite in March of 1892. The ballet proper debuted in December that year. It was presented at St. Petersburg’s Marinsky Theatre on a double bill with Tchaikovsky’s one-act opera, Iolanta. T chaikovsky was disappointed with the initial reception for The Nutcracker and preferred his previous score for Sleeping Beauty. This could have been because the choreographer, Petipa, had fallen ill, and the choreography was completed by his less-inspired assistant. Additionally, the scenery and costumes were panned as tasteless, and the performance of the ballerina who danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy was widely criticized. Tchaikovsky did not live to see the piece succeed, but despite the failure of its initial performance, we all now know that The Nutcracker has become the most frequently performed of all ballets and has served as an introduction to classical music for many young people all over the world.
CARRIE ROBBINS
COSTUME DESIGNER
Carrie Robbins’s costume design credits include more than 30 Broadway shows, among them Grease, Agnes of God, Yentl, Octette Bridgeclub, Sweet Bird of Youth, Frankenstein, Happy End, Boys of Winter, Cyrano, and White Christmas. Her awards and nominations include two Tony Award nominations, five Drama Desk Awards, Maharam, USITT/Prague International, L.A. Dramalogue, Henry Hughes, F.I.T-Surface Design, and Audelco. Robbins’s regional work includes M. Butterfly and On the Verge for the Arena Stage in D.C., American in Paris for the Alley Theatre in Houston, as well as The Tempest and Flea in Her Ear for the Mark Taper Forum. Her opera design includes Death in Venice for Glimmerglass, Samson et Delila for San Francisco Opera and Houston Grand, Opera Company of Boston, and Hamburg Staatsoper. In New
York City, Robbins has designed many productions for Lincoln Center Repertory Theatre, Chelsea Theatre/BAM, Acting Company/ Julliard, and NY Shakespeare Festival. Her film and television credits include In the Spirit, Saturday Night Live, and PBS Arts in America. Known for her drawing ability, Robbins’s work was featured in the TimeLife Series Collectibles. She recently released the book The Designs of Carrie Robbins. In 2008– 2009 Robbins was co-curator of a groundbreaking exhibit, Curtain Call: Celebrating a Century of Women Designing for Live Performance at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Robbins was a master teacher of costume design at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts for many years, producing a stream of award-winning young costume designers across the country.
19
Trailblazers: Fountain Lewis & Mamie Smith Fountain Lewis, venerable barber and active community leader contributed $20 to the construction of Music Hall in 1877 (a $500 gift today). Mamie Smith, “Queen of the Blues,” born in 1891 just a few blocks from Music Hall, returned to its stage to sing her seminal hit “Crazy Blues” — recorded a century ago.
Read more about the lives of these unsung African American contributors to the cultural life of our city in Music Hall at FriendsofMusicHall.org/blog/
OUR GIFT TO YOU! Visit our website for a link to watch at home.
World renowned organist Mark Herman pulls out all the holiday stops with seasonal music.
NUTCRACKER BIOGRAPHIES
John Ezell is an internationally recognized scenic designer, having designed for such prestigious institutions as the Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Cullberg Ballet, the Swedish Riksteater, and the Royal Theatre Olympics in Istanbul. His credits also include designs for Broadway, the New York Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theatre, the York Theatre, and the Roundabout. He was artistic associate of the Tony Award–winning Crossroads Theatre and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as well as the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., Olde Globe in San Diego, Asolo Theatre, Lyric Opera, Blackstone Theatre, Second City in Chicago, the historic Market Theatre in Johannesburg, and the Hong Kong Repertory, among many others. He was a designer and art
director for CBS, PBS-TV, and Swedish State Television, and a consultant to the design collection at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale. His drawings have been exhibited in galleries internationally. His work has received the award for Experimental Television Art in Milan, two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards for Excellence in Prime Time Drama, and 12 Critic’s Circle Awards for best professional sets. Ezell was recognized for contributions to the American Theatre on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Yale Drama School. He is the recipient of Washington University in St. Louis’s 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award, and a fellow of the American College Theater Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Cincinnati Ballet
JOHN EZELL
SCENIC DESIGNER
BENJAMIN GANTOSE LIGHTING DESIGNER
Benjamin Gantose has designed lighting, sets, and projections for works spanning ballet and modern dance, scripted and devised theatre, musical theatre, opera, theme parks, and immersive installations.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM
He is a Resident Designer at both Cleveland Public Theatre and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Gantose’s work has been seen recently at Cleveland Playhouse, Ballet Hawaii, Beck Center For The Arts, Cleveland Musical Theater, Verb Ballets, Inlet Dance Theatre, Louisville Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cain Park, and Lakeland Civic Theatre.
21
BE EMPOWERED BE CONNECTED • BE INSPIRED BE ENERGIZED • BE BOLD Cincinnati Ballet’s Étoile brings together women throughout Cincinnati to connect, network, celebrate, and support each other through exclusive events and interactions with today’s outstanding female choreographers, dancers, designers, and community leaders.
ÉTOILE AFFILIATES Deborah Brant Heather Britt Renee Combs Kristin Fishbaugh Arielle M. Goldberg Kathryn Harsh*
Becky Hogya Daphne Jurgensen* Betsy LaMacchia Karen F. Maier Jill McGruder Mindy McLaughlin
Jenny Mottier Valerie Newell Kathy O’Brien Maribeth S. Rahe Diane M. Rumpke* Rosemary Schlachter
Renee Schuler Susan Tew Therese Tobler Michelle Ziegler
É TOILE ASSOCIATES Lisa Damico Kelly M. Dehan
Linda Greenberg Renee Nierman Kreeger
Kris Attema Lauren Beckert Breanne Romeo Bovara Sarah Brown Tanya Cornejo Judy Dalambakis* Jennifer Damiano Meagen Springer Deck Connie Dow Sarah Frank Fogarty
Melinda Gardner Jodi Geiser Joselyn Hall Camille Healy Minette Hoffheimer Theresa Hooker Tonya Hurst Marcy Kanter Susan Krott Andrea Costa Laden
Martha Ragland Lisa Sampson*
Tamara Weik, ASID
ÉTOILE MEMBERS Deborah Livingston* Lynn Langmeyer Laura R. Lucas Marilyn Porcino Julia Poston Tracey Puthoff Yvonne Reissig Carole Rigaud Keke Sansalone Susan Shelton
INTERESTED IN JOINING ÉTOILE?
Contact Sarah Templeton Wilson at stwilson@cballet.org *A Special Thank You to Our Étoile Committee Members Announcing our 2020-2021 Sponsored Choreographer Heather Britt!
2020 - 2021 ÉTOILE SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR
Maizyalet Velázquez • Photography: Aaron M. Conway
Jen Stein Katrina Trimble* Faith C. Whittaker,
Partner with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Ronna Willis Laura Woods
C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T
ARTISTIC STAFF Carmon DeLeone
Suzette Boyer Webb
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Cincinnati Ballet
Victoria Morgan
THE SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY
Cervilio Miguel Amador
Dale Shields
BALLET MASTER
BALLET MASTER
THE COMPANY PRINCIPALS Melissa Gelfin De-Poli
Sirui Liu
FIRST SOLOISTS Edward Gonzalez Kay
Minori Sakita
Maizyalet Velรกzquez
SOLOISTS David Morse
Marcus Romeo
Joshua Stayton
CORPS DE BALLET Daniel Baldwin Arcadian Broad Taylor Carrasco Jacqueline Damico Amador Luca De-Poli
Abbey Gonzalez Kay Matthew Griffin Samantha Griffin Christina LaForgia Morse
Michael Mengden Samantha Riester Bella Ureta Daniel Wagner
NEW DANCERS Blair Bagley
Gabrielle Collins
Jace Pauly
APPRENTICES Alyssa Manguiat
Nikita Boris
SECOND COMPANY: CB2 Nicolas Bierwagen Erin Blair Megan Carnuche Kara Covaleski
Jackson Fort Thompson McNeilly Jhaelin McQuay Isabelle Morgan
Taylor Nichols Daniel Panameno Aubree Recker Anthony Rhee-Reynoso
23
OPENING SUMMER 2021
CINCINNATI BALLET
MARGARET AND MICHAEL VALENTINE CENTER FOR DANCE
Cincinnati Ballet is tremendously thankful to Margaret and Michael Valentine for their lead gift towards our new center for dance. The Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance will dramatically expand Cincinnati Ballet’s mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement programs. The size of the new ballet center will be dramatically larger, providing ample space for the Company, as well as the Otto M. Budig Academy and enhanced specialized programming.
For those who have already made a gift, we extend our since thanks for your generosity. If you’d like to make a gift, please contact our Vice President of Philanthropy, Sara Pomeroy at 513-562-1112 or spomeroy@cballet.org. All gifts $25,000 or more will be permanently recognized in a prominent location in the new facility. Learn more about our campaign at https://move.cballet.org/.
P R I N C I PA L D A N C E R B I O S PRINCIPAL DANCER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | JOINED CINCINNATI BALLET IN 2014
Melissa Gelfin De-Poli began her ballet training with Lisa Collins Vidnovic at Metropolitan Ballet Academy and continued with Barbara Sandonato and Andrea Long-Naidu at Barbara Sandonato School of Ballet. She joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in 2009, under the direction of Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens, and was awarded a National Training Scholarship with ABT. Prior to dancing with Cincinnati Ballet, Gelfin De-Poli danced for Orlando Ballet II and Orlando Ballet Company from 2011 to 2014 and was a finalist in the 2014 Jackson International Ballet Competition. Gelfin De-Poli joined Cincinnati Ballet as a New Dancer for the 2014–2015 Season and was promoted to Corps De Ballet in February of 2015. She was promoted to Senior Soloist in 2017 and Principal Dancer in 2018. As a dancer with Cincinnati Ballet, Gelfin De-Poli’s repertoire includes classical and contemporary works by Septime Webre, Yuri Possikov, Victoria Morgan, Val Caniparoli, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Nicolo Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Adam Hougland, and Ma Cong. She has danced Principal roles in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in Wonderland) and The Wizard of Oz, Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, King Arthur’s Camelot, and Romeo and Juliet, Kirk Peterson’s Coppélia and Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade, Devon Carney’s The Sleeping Beauty and originated roles in Penny Saunders Nannerl, Myles Thatcher’s Anamoly, Andrea Schermoly’s Swivet and several works by Jennifer Archibald. Gelfin De-Poli most recently debuted her world premier Clockwise in Cincinnati Ballet’s 2019 The Kaplan New Works Series and choreographed and performed a solo work in the inaugural 2018 Female Choreographic Initiative Festival hosted by Houston Ballet. During the summer months, Gelfin De-Poli performs and tours with Moving Arts Company.
Cincinnati Ballet
MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI
SIRUI LIU
PRINCIPAL DANCER | SHANGHAI, CHINA | JOINED CINCINNATI BALLET IN 2011
Sirui Liu trained at Shanghai Dance School affiliated to Shanghai Theater Academy from 2000 to 2007 and went on to the Shanghai Dance College of Shanghai Theater Academy for four years. The desire to expand her dance horizons upon graduation led Liu to Cincinnati Ballet, for which she left her school and family in China. Liu won a gold medal competing in senior group of ballet of the Ninth Taolibei National Dance Competition in China in 2009 and the gold medal of senior group of Beijing International Ballet Invitational in China in 2010. Liu was invited to perform in Night of Ballet Gala in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia in June 2016. Sirui competed in 2014’s USA International Ballet Competition, progressing to the third and final round. Liu was named one of the Top 25 Dancers to Watch in 2017 by Dance Magazine. She has danced several Pas de Deux including Black Swan, Don Quixote, Esmeralda, Diana and Acteon, Le Corsaire, Paquita, and Coppelia. She has also performed principal roles such as Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Waltz girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Tall girl in Balanchine’s Rubies, The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Pas couple in Minus 16, amongst other ballets. Liu has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Yuri Possokhov, Kirk Peterson, Trey Mcintyre, Alejandro Cerrudo, Ohad Naharin, Annabelle Lope Ochoa, Nicolo Fonte, Garrett Smith, Justin Peck, Septime Webre, Jennifer Archibald, Ma Cong, Travis Wall, and more. Liu is the co-owner of Improvedance and Active Royale. She was named a Cincinnati Ballet Soloist for the in 2015 and promoted to Principal Dancer in 2017. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER MUELLER
25
C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet
PRINCIPALS
MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI
SIRUI LIU
CHINA | 2011
PENNSYLVANIA | 2014
FIRST SOLOISTS
EDWARD GONZALEZ KAY CUBA | 2017
MINORI SAKITA MARYLAND | 2019
MAIZYALET VELÁZQUEZ PUERTO RICO | 2007
SOLOISTS
DAVID MORSE
NORTH CAROLINA | 2016
26
MARCUS ROMEO PENNSYLVANIA | 2017
JOSHUA STAYTON OHIO | 2019
C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet
CORPS DE BALLET
DANIEL BALDWIN
ARCADIAN BROAD
TAYLOR CARRASCO
JACQUELINE DAMICO AMADOR
LUCA DE-POLI
ABBEY GONZALEZ KAY
MATTHEW GRIFFIN
SAMANTHA GRIFFIN
CHRISTINA LAFORGIA MORSE
SOUTH CAROLINA | 2017
FLORIDA | 2019
NEW MEXICO | 2015
FLORIDA | 2014
PENNSYLVANIA | 2008
FLORIDA | 2017
NORTH CAROLINA | 2015
MICHAEL MENGDEN TEXAS | 2016
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY
FLORIDA | 2017
SOUTH CAROLINA | 2014
SAMANTHA RIESTER INDIANA | 2015
27
C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet
CORPS DE BALLET
BELLA URETA
DANIEL WAGNER
WASHINGTON | 2017
CALIFORNIA | 2020
NEW DANCERS
BLAIR BAGLEY MICHIGAN | 2020
GABRIELLE COLLINS CONNECTICUT | 2020
JACE PAULY
WASHINGTON | 2020
28
C O M PA N Y R O S T E R Cincinnati Ballet
APPRENTICES
ALYSSA MANGUIAT
NIKITA BORIS
OHIO | 2020
NEW JERSEY | 2020
CB2
NICOLAS BIERWAGEN
JACKSON FORT
TAYLOR NICHOLS
ERIN BLAIR
THOMPSON MCNEILLY
DANIEL PANAMENO
MEGAN CARNUCHE
JHAELIN MCQUAY
AUBREE RECKER
KARA COVALESKI
ISABELLE MORGAN
ANTHONY RHEE-REYNOSO
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION
SARAH BERGLUND
ETHAN HILEMAN
SIOBHAN NICKELL
ADALHI CORN
EDWARD KIDD
JORDAN NOBLETT
MATHIEU DEHOORNE
JACY KLEIN
SCOTT REED
MICHAEL DUNCAN
NATALIE MARSHALL
ANNA ROESLER
HAILEY FLANAGAN
RAMSAY MILLER
ISA SALAS
KAYLA FRENCH
EMILIE MULLANEY
LARISA TUTTLE
JULIA GUNDZIK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY
29
KEEPING STUDENTS CONNECTED ON CAMPUS AND ONLINE.
WE’VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK. Few schools are better equipped to connect students both academically and personally, whether learning at school or at home. From 18 months to 18 years of age, we are uniquely designed to help cultivate a passion for learning and independent thinking that prepares children to become exemplary citizens, confident leaders, and the best versions of themselves. To learn more, call us at (513) 979-0220.
APPLY NOW FOR ADMISSION AND TUITION AID CONSIDERATION AT COUNTRYDAY.NET
C I N C I N N AT I S YM P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A Matthias Pintscher CSO CREATIVE PARTNER
FIRST VIOLINS
Paul Frankenfeld
CONCERTMASTER ANNA SINTON TAFT CHAIR
Julian Wilkison
ACTING ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER, TOM & DEE STEGMAN CHAIR
Rebecca Barnes Christopher Fischer Stephen Fryxell
Stefani Matsuo Charles Morey
Philip Marten
FIRST ASSISTANT CONCERTMASTER, JAMES M. EWELL CHAIR
Eric Bates
SECOND ASSISTANT CONCERTMASTER, SERGE SHABABIAN CHAIR
Kathryn Woolley
NICHOLAS TSIMARAS–PETER G. COURLAS CHAIR
Anna Reider
DIANNE & J. DAVID ROSENBERG CHAIR
Mauricio Aguiar Minyoung Baik James Braid
MARC BOHLKE CHAIR GIVEN BY KATRIN & MANFRED BOHLKE
Michelle Edgar Dugan Rebecca Kruger Fryxell Gerald Itzkoff JEAN TEN HAVE CHAIR
Lois Reid Johnson
ANNE G. & ROBERT W. DORSEY CHAIR
Sylvia Mitchell
JO ANN & PAUL WARD CHAIR
Luo-Jia Wu
SECOND VIOLINS
Gabriel Pegis
PRINCIPAL, AL LEVINSON CHAIR
Yang Liu
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, HAROLD B. & BETTY JUSTICE CHAIR
Scott Mozlin
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HENRY MEYER CHAIR
Kun Dong Cheryl Benedict Drake Crittenden Ash Evin Blomberg Rachel Charbel
IDA RINGLING NORTH CHAIR
Elizabeth Furuta Chika Kinderman Hyesun Park Paul Patterson
CHARLES GAUSMANN CHAIR
Stacey Woolley
BRENDA & RALPH TAYLOR CHAIR
VIOLAS
Christian Colberg
PRINCIPAL, LOUISE D. & LOUIS NIPPERT CHAIR
François López-Ferrer ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR, CSO ASHLEY AND BARBARA FORD CHAIR
OBOES
TROMBONES
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, GRACE M. ALLEN CHAIR
Dwight Parry
Cristian Ganicenco
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Lon Bussell
Joseph Rodriguez Assistant Principal
MELINDA & IRWIN SIMON CHAIR
Caterina Longhi Denisse Rodriguez-Rivera Joanne Wojtowicz
PRINCIPAL, JOSEPHINE I. & DAVID J. JOSEPH, JR. CHAIR ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL
ENGLISH HORN
PRINCIPAL, DOROTHY & JOHN HERMANIES CHAIR
BASS TROMBONE
Christopher Philpotts
Peter Norton
CLARINETS
Christopher Olka
PRINCIPAL, ALBERTA & DR. MAURICE MARSH CHAIR
TUBA
CELLOS
Christopher Pell
PRINCIPAL, ASHLEY & BARBARA FORD CHAIR
PRINCIPAL, IRENE & JOHN J. EMERY CHAIR
Ixi Chen
Patrick Schleker
Ilya Finkelshteyn Daniel Culnan
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, ONA HIXSON DATER CHAIR
Norman Johns
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, KARL & ROBERTA SCHLACHTER FAMILY CHAIR
PRINCIPAL, EMMA MARGARET & IRVING D. GOLDMAN CHAIR VICKY & RICK REYNOLDS CHAIR IN HONOR OF WILLIAM A. FRIEDLANDER
Joseph Morris
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL AND EB CLARINET, ROBERT E. & FAY BOEH CHAIR
TIMPANI
PRINCIPAL, MATTHEW & PEG WOODSIDE CHAIR
Richard Jensen
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, MORLEEN & JACK ROUSE CHAIR
PERCUSSION
BASS CLARINET
David Fishlock
MARVIN KOLODZIK CHAIR
Ronald Aufmann
LAURA KIMBLE MCLELLAN CHAIR
BASSOONS
Michael Culligan
Matthew Lad
Susan Marshall-Petersen Hiro Matsuo Theodore Nelson Alan Rafferty
RUTH F. ROSEVEAR CHAIR
Charles Snavely
PETER G. COURLAS–NICHOLAS TSIMARAS CHAIR
Christopher Sales
PRINCIPAL, EMALEE SCHAVEL CHAIR
Hugh Michie Martin Garcia
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL
Jennifer Monroe
PRINCIPAL, MARY ALICE HEEKIN BURKE CHAIR
Elizabeth Freimuth
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL
Molly Norcross
James Lambert
Matthew Zory, Jr.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TRISH & RICK BRYAN CHAIR
PRINCIPAL, MARY M. & CHARLES F. YEISER CHAIR ACTING ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SWEENEY FAMILY CHAIR IN MEMORY OF DONALD C. SWEENEY
Wayne Anderson Boris Astafiev Ronald Bozicevich Rick Vizachero
Lisa Conway
HARP
Duane Dugger
PRINCIPAL, CYNTHIA & FRANK STEWART CHAIR
Charles Bell
Gillian Benet Sella
FLUTES
Randolph Bowman
PRINCIPAL, CHARLES FREDERIC GOSS CHAIR
Haley Bangs
JANE & DAVID ELLIS CHAIR
PICCOLO
Joan Voorhees
PATRICIA GROSS LINNEMANN CHAIR
PRINCIPAL, SUSAN S. & WILLIAM A. FRIEDLANDER CHAIR ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL
Richard Jensen
MORLEEN & JACK ROUSE CHAIR
KEYBOARDS
Michael Chertock James P. Thornton Chair
CONTRABASSOON CSO/CCM DIVERSITY FELLOWS Magdiell Antequera FRENCH HORNS
BASSES
Owen Lee
Cincinnati Ballet
Louis Langrée
CSO MUSIC DIRECTOR LOUISE DIETERLE NIPPERT & LOUIS NIPPERT CHAIR
SUSANNE & PHILIP O. GEIER, JR. CHAIR
Chirinos, violin Jordan Curry, violin Maalik Glover, violin Cristian Diaz, viola Javier Otalora, viola Edna Pierce, viola Max Oppeltz-Carroz, cello Denielle Wilson, cello Amy Nickler, bass
LIBRARIANS
PRINCIPAL, RAWSON CHAIR
Mary Judge Principal Lois Klein Jolson Chair Christina Eaton Associate Principal Elizabeth Dunning Assistant Librarian
OTTO M. BUDIG FAMILY FOUNDATION CHAIR
STAGE MANAGERS
MARY & JOSEPH S. STERN, JR. CHAIR
TRUMPETS
Robert Sullivan Steven Pride
Christopher Kiradjieff Douglas Lindsay
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, JACKIE & ROY SWEENEY FAMILY CHAIR
Ralph LaRocco, Jr. Brian P. Schott Todd Dignan-Cummins Phillip T. Sheridan
31
Cincinnati Ballet
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Reimagining The Nutcracker during a pandemic BY NICOLE DOLL
32
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Cincinnati Ballet
F
OR MANY OF US, THE HOLIDAY SEASON
would be incomplete without The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s, perhaps the most beloved ballet of them all. The Nutcracker is pure magic, escapism at its finest. From an opulent party to falling snow to colorful candies come to life, it delights us all at the most joyous time of the year. It is the definition of tradition, but during 2020, we’ve all learned there are no guarantees on traditions. Would Cincinnati Ballet be able to create a Nutcracker this year? And what would it look like? To produce our spectacular Nutcracker during a typical year requires a monumental effort by dozens of dancers and employees, massive set pieces, crateloads of props, more than a hundred children, with thousands of people in attendance. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the “normal” way of producing performances would have to change. “For decades, generations of Cincinnati families have shared The Nutcracker,” says Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director. “We felt it would be a huge disservice to our loyal, arts-loving community to not have a version of what is such an important part of the holiday experience for so many. It’s all going be there. It’s going to unfold the same way. It’s a little slimmer, a little tighter, but you still get to experience The Nutcracker.” Cincinnati Ballet had hoped to continue in-person performances with limited audience capacity at Music Hall, but when COVID-19 cases surged in November, the production quickly shifted to a contingency plan. The show would go on as a free,
digital performance—The Nutcracker at Home presented by Frisch’s. With strict limitations on the number of dancers on stage, Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic and production teams reimagined The Nutcracker with the pandemic in mind. The length of the performance was reduced to eliminate an intermission and preserve social distancing. “Creating a one-hour version required so many changes,” Morgan explains. “We are still performing the familiar scenes audiences love and look forward to every year, but they are different. For example, the Battle Scene between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King is performed, but there won’t be the large number of mice and soldiers on stage. There will be all kinds of wonderful moments that are reminiscent of what you see in our normal Nutcracker production.” Morgan first choreographed her colorful, whimsical version of The Nutcracker in 2011. It runs about one hour and 45 minutes and is a visual and acoustic feast, with live music performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. To create this special performance also meant composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s recognizable score would need to be shortened and recorded. That task was assigned to Carmon DeLeone, Cincinnati Ballet’s Music Director, who’s been conducting orchestras for Nutcracker performances since Cincinnati Ballet’s first staging in 1974. “I always get a kind of smile on my face and a breath of fresh air when we come to the Snow Scene at the end of Act I,” DeLeone says. “I remember that first performance in 1974, how
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER MUELLER (LEFT), CINCINNATI BALLET (ABOVE), MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI AND ARCADIAN BROAD
33
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Cincinnati Ballet
lovely it was then and still is. It is such beautiful music; that moment of music and choreography is so pretty.” While he knows the ballet so well he can conduct it without sheet music, DeLeone says adapting the venerable score was a huge responsibility. “It was difficult to cut. The music is so familiar, any cuts you make might be recognized by the listener,” he says. “If we had to make cuts in the ballet Giselle, for example, the public is not as familiar with the music, so the cuts would not be noticeable. But with The Nutcracker, I was mindful of not upsetting the audience too much with the cuts that were proposed.” While music cuts are often made to ballets due to time constraints—for example, the original The Sleeping Beauty would be about four hours if scenes weren’t trimmed—The Nutcracker’s music itself created a challenge for DeLeone. “Some music could not be cut,” he ex-
plains. “Tchaikovsky was a composer who liked to change key frequently, so if you cut from one place to another place suddenly, if the key has changed, that cut would be shocking musically. There are restrictions on what you can cut and very often that comes from the music itself, which doesn’t allow easy chopping.” “Carmon has done a wonderful job of editing the music so it will have an ebb and flow to it even though it will be shorter,” Morgan says. DeLeone conducted 35 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra musicians and recorded the new score at Music Hall in mid-November. If not for the pandemic, when The Nutcracker begins, the stage in Springer Auditorium would be a flurry of activity like most holiday parties, with couples chatting, children fighting over toys, and everyone dancing and enjoying being together. The artistic team knew there would be unique challenges in
crafting memorable culinary events and delivering healthful family meals directly to your door
859.291.9355 34
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER MUELLER, SAMANTHA GRIFFIN
www.store.eatwellonline.com
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Cincinnati Ballet
creating that energy with a handful of dancers who quarters of the orchestra pit, members of the Cinwould also be masked and socially distanced. “Ev- cinnati Symphony Orchestra recorded portions ery dancer on stage will be wearing a mask as it is of the score. The pit will be covered, and dancan indoor space,” Morgan further explains. Due ers will perform on the apron, the section of the to health and safety protocols, Main Company stage that projects into the theater, in front of the dancers are divided into two separate groups for proscenium arch. Morgan hopes her enthusiasm all classes, rehearsals, and performances, including for reimagining the beloved ballet is matched by The Nutcracker. “Act I is performed by half of the the audience’s enthusiasm for the finished product company. Twelve dancers during these unprecedentwill be on the stage,” she ed times. “This has been says. “The other half of the an emotional challenge for “This has been an company is in Act II, and our ballet family. The stuunfortunately, there are no dios are usually filled with emotional challenge for children in this version.” dancers. Almost every balour ballet family.” For the first time, no young let has a big corps de ballet performers will appear scene, like the Snow Scene in Cincinnati Ballet’s The in Nutcracker with dancNutcracker. “The decision was made for their safe- ers moving together in unison,” she says. “Not ty,” Morgan says. “We didn’t want to do anything only is it a logistical challenge to choreograph to jeopardize children’s health. I will miss them so with distancing in mind, but it is challenging to much, their energy, their freshness. They are a treat not be together in the way we are accustomed to to have on stage.” creating together. We are keeping the integrity of Another change viewers will notice: Dancers The Nutcracker within the limits of our current will be performing on a different part of the stage. circumstances. It has not been easy, but I am happy Because musicians cannot perform in the close with what we’ve created.”
Great American Insurance Group is proud to sponsor
The Nutcracker’s Snow Queen For the 2020 holiday season
301 E. 4th St., Cincinnati OH 45202 GAIG.com
35
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Joel Stone
T. Quinn
VICE CHAIR/TREASURER
CHAIR
Amy Bixel Debbie Brant Christopher Brown Fran Carlisle Smokey Clay David Cook Judy Dalambakis Jennifer Damiano
Jerry Ewers Kristin Fishbaugh Sarah Frank Fogarty Paul Frodge Jodi Geiser Linda Greenberg Bruce Halpryn Ken Heldman
Keke Sansalone SECRETARY
Cynthia E. Henderson Lydia Jacobs-Horton Daphne Jurgensen Andrea Costa Laden Peter Laffoon Mark McAndrew Megan McCarthy-Wolf Katy Moeggenberg
Cincinnati Ballet
2020–2021 TRUSTEES
Emerson Moser Alex Muñoz Alexandra Ollinger, CFP Jim Papakirk Marty Ragland Jennifer Stein Faith Whittaker Jennifer Knight Zelkind
SUSTAINING TRUSTEES Michael Bailes Bernie Calogne Sheila Claire Cohen Joseph Dehner Connie Bergstein Dow Sandra A. Eisele, MD, MBA Joselyn Hall Kathryn Harsh
Dr. Edmond Hooker Beth Levy Leon Loewenstein Madelynn Matlock Larry McGruder Skip Merten Cathy Nwankwo Marilyn Osborn
Julie Richardson Kitty Strauss Rosenthal Morleen Rouse Diane Rumpke Tom Schiff Beth Snyder Christina Sprecher Brett Stover
Mary Talbott Heather Theders Pamela F. Thompson, CFA Serena Tsuang Kelly Vanasse M. Catherine Vernon Gary West Barbara Weyand
TRUSTEES EMERITUS Kelly Brown Laura Brunner Trish Bryan Otto M. Budig, Jr. Nancy Clagett William Cordes
Lynn Good Shelly Sherman Greene Lorrence Kellar Charles MacDonnell Richardson McKinney Tom Neyer
Carol Duane Olson Paul Ose Melody Sawyer Richardson Michael Rozow James Sammarco
Kathleen Selker Rhonda Sheakley Russell Shelton Julie Shifman Linda Smith Ronna Willis
HONORARY TRUSTEES Craig F. Maier
Rhoda Mayerson
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Otto M. Budig, Jr.
Lorrence Kellar
Pamela F. Thompson, CFA
Dianne Dunkelman
Scott Altman Michael Bailes Deborah Brant
Kelly Brown Joe Carolin* James A. Miller
Robert A. Pitcairn, Jr. Jack Rouse Rhonda Sheakley
Russell Shelton Joel Stone
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
TREASURER
SECRETARY
*Ex Officio
37
The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation is a proud season partner of Cincinnati Ballet
C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T S TA F F Victoria Morgan
PRESIDENT + CEO
ADMINISTRATION + FINANCE Joe Carolin
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE + CFO
Missie Santomo
VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION + OPERATIONS
Tiffany Whitcomb
VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Tom Parrish
DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Mary French
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES
Rachel Hinger
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Stacey Rich, CPA
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Tyler Parker
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT + CEO
Ramsey Houston
DEVELOPMENT Sara Pomeroy
VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY
Sarah Templeton Wilson ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Courtney Hatter
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Rhonda Lewis
NEW FACES OF FUNDRAISING INTERN
MARKETING + PATRON ENGAGEMENT Tom McLaughlin
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING + PATRON ENGAGEMENT
Nicole Doll
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS + PUBLIC RELATIONS
Dan Wood
VIDEOGRAPHER
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE ARTISTIC TEAM
Katie Daly
Dena D’Andrea
Lauren Moore
COMPANY MANAGER
Gene Waldron SECURITY
ARTISTIC Carmon DeLeone MUSIC DIRECTOR
Suzette Boyer Webb
DIRECTOR OF SECOND COMPANY
Cervilio Miguel Amador BALLET MASTER
Dale Shields
BALLET MASTER
Michael Chertock
REHEARSAL PIANIST / ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
Youngwon French
PIANIST COORDINATOR
Angelika Bonyhati-Kovacs James Hart Phillip Roberts PIANISTS
Ingrid Fridenmaker
PARENT COORDINATOR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER PATRON ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Louanna Wyatt
PATRON ENGAGEMENT SUPERVISOR
Jess Broering Candice Handy Sam Johnson Christina Meadows MandaLynn Moore Gwendolyn Sims Pam Taylor
PATRON ENGAGEMENT OFFICERS
OTTO M. BUDIG ACADEMY + EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Ginger Johnson
VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY + EDUCATION
Sarah Hairston Berkley
THE SUE AND BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Carolyn Guido Clifford
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Zack Grubbs
ACADEMY PRINCIPAL
Dawn Kelly
James Geier
WIG MASTER AND MAKEUP ARTIST
Scott Berkley
MASTER CARPENTER
Michael Meuché
MASTER ELECTRICIAN
ASSISTANT ACADEMY PRINCIPAL
Danny Schultz
Maura Korn
Jonathan Chevalier
STUDENT SERVICES MANAGER
Kara Louis
YOUTH PROGRAMS MANAGER
Elizabeth Metz
ACADEMY REGISTRAR
Donna Anderle Rosa Compostella Isabele Elefson Kerry Enders Donna Grisez Julia Gundzik Jessica Harris Sasha Hart Julius Jenkins Karen Kurelis Alyssa Manguiat Lizzy Moeller Christina LaForgia Morse David Morse Jennifer Rutherford Amy Seiwert Shauna Steele Kyle Stevenson Claire Wyatt ACADEMY + EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS
PRODUCTION Kyle Lemoi
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Cincinnati Ballet
Scott Altman
PROPERTY MASTER ASSISTANT CARPENTER
Derek Lee
ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN
Jasmine Cosma
NKU STAGE MANAGEMENT INTERN
ATHLETIC TRAINERS Kelly Jo Rodrigo Carolyn Meder
COURTESY OF MERCY HEALTH ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE
Ivy Bayer
PUBLISHER
Amanda Boyd Walters
DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Brittany Dexter
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Stephanie Youngquist
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR P.O. Box 14487 Cincinnati, OH 45250 Phone (513) 421-4300 Subscriptions (800) 846-4333 CincinnatiMagazine.com
Melinda Dobson
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Carissa Gandenberger STAGE MANAGER
Noelle Wedig
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR
Laura Hofmann
FIRST WARDROBE ASSISTANT
Jackie Andrews
SECOND WARDROBE ASSISTANT
ACADEMY DIRECTOR
39
SATURDAYS 6:30PM ON CET SUNDAYS 8:30PM ON CET ARTS Join Barbara Kellar as she showcases performing artists and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati community.
www.CETconnect.org
Emmy Award Winner Regional - Interview/Discussion Program
DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet
FOUNDERS CIRCLE Larry A. & Rhonda Sheakley
Margaret & Michael Valentine
DIRECTORS CIRCLE Trish & Rick Bryan Lois & Philip Cohen
Loretta Motz Cook & David Cook Sue & Bill Friedlander
Lynn & Brian Good Debby & Jim Mason
Dianne & J. David Rosenberg* Dianne Dunkelman & Peter Schwartz
ARTISTIC CIRCLE Peter Laffoon & John Fowler
Martha & Nick Ragland
Keke & Tony Sansalone
CHOREOGRAPHER’S CIRCLE Donald Beck & Dr. Lawrence Eynon Sarah Frank Fogarty & Timothy Fogarty
Linda & Gary Greenberg Cynthia E. Henderson Lynn & Daniel Langmeyer
Jodi M. Geiser Maria & Jim Papakirk Moe & Jack Rouse
Mary Ryland John Webb & Suzette Boyer Webb
PRINCIPAL Anonymous Amy & Michael Bailes Amy Bixel Sue & Ben Blaney Mary Ann & John Boorn Deborah & Jody Brant Sarah & Christopher Brown Kelly & Tim Brown and Family Fran & Wayne Carlisle Paula & Marc Comisar Jennifer & Bob Conklin Cindy & Bob Conway
Judy & Chris Dalambakis Jennifer & M. Vito Damiano Noel Julnes-Dehner & Joe Dehner Connie & Buzz Dow Nancy Finke Kristin & Chris Fishbaugh Arna & Bobby Fisher Paul & Michelle Frodge Carole Giuliani Lauren Hannan Shafer Mrs. Robert Hasl
Kenneth Heldman & Felicia Zakem Anne R. Ilyinsky Daphne & Jason Jurgensen Barbara & Larry Kellar Levinson Estate Anne & Craig F. Maier Madelynn & Raymond Matlock Emerson & Mitzie Moser Barbara K. Myers Alexa and Jack Oliver Alexandra H. & Cole Ollinger
Halle & T. Quinn Tom Schiff Marilyn J. Scripps Susan & Russell Shelton Julie & Steven Shifman Lisa & Joel Stone Susan & John Tew Gary & DeeDee West Faith C. Whittaker, Partner with Dinsmore & Shoh Megan McCarthy & Steve Wolf
SOLOIST Anonymous in Memory of Blanche Frisch Maier Elizabeth Barber, in honor of Travis Maier Elaine & David Billmire Lanthan & Louise Camblin
Daniel Cifuentes Cindy Crilley Ms. Susan Domonkos Arielle M. Goldberg Suzanne & Frank Hall Anne Heldman Theresa & Eddie Hooker
Karen & William McKim Sara & Alex Muñoz Kathy O’Brien Carol & Bob Olson Joseph A. & Susan E. Pichler*
Reick-Mitrisin Family/ Murrplastik Systems Dr. Michael & Mrs. Debbie Snyder John U. Tan Barbara Weyand Christine & John Willig
*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
41
Treat Yourself To Another Great Performance: Cincinnati Ballet
Jeff Ruby Gift Cards
20% OFF
D e c em be r 1 4 t h - 2 5 t h Buy Today At JeffRuby.com!
42
PERFECT FOR DELIVERY, TAKE OUT, MEAL KITS, AND DINE-IN!
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Anonymous Kate & Bill Baumann Marianna Bettman Ruth Bley Bob & Jane Bohinski Jacklyn Bryson Amy Heisel & Joe Carolin Cynthia Chua Nancy R. Clagett Dr. Smokey Clay & Mr. Chris Southard Renee Combs Lisa & Richard Damico Lewis & Marjorie Daniel Foundation Maureen & John Doellman
Martha Mehl Dornette Pamela & Robert Edmiston Anne Vertuca & Lou George Kathryn & Keith Harsh Nami and Manabu Hashimoto Margaret & Edmund Hess Becky Hogya Debra & Michael Ilyinsky Kathleen & Doug Jenkins Carole & Brad Kindem* In Honor of Michael Mackzum by Jace Stadler & Anthony Mackzum
David Martin Larry & Jill McGruder John & Lorna Mulhauser Susan Murray Karen O’Brien Tom and Margaret Osterman Foundation* Kim Pollock & Wendy Turner Maribeth & Martin Rahe Diane & William J. Rumpke, Jr. Rosemary Schlachter Mr. Neil Hoover & Mr. Shawn Scott Justin & Lisa Shafer
Dee Shaffer Valerie L. Newell & Timothy Smith Dee & Tom Stegman Therese Tobler Daniel Truxillo Barbara Turner Christopher & Nancy Virgulak Tamara Weik Judy & Joe Williams Ronna & Dr. James B. Willis Dr. Karen Zaugg, Ph.D. Michelle Ziegler
Cincinnati Ballet
CORPS
ARABESQUE Lisa and Scott Altman Mr. Robert Amott & Ms. Janice Flanagan Tim & Mary Anne Anderson Dr. Sarah Corathers & Mr. James Anthony William Aronstein Bernard & Pamela Barbash Family Foundation Eileen W. Barrett Lauren Beckert Chris Bergman & Stacey Devlin Tanu M. Bhati Laura & James Blair Edwin Brott Chris & Jessica Cicchinelli Ken Cohen Kristin & David Coppage Dr. Robin Cotton & Cynthia Fitton Dr. Robert & Dr. Beverly Croskery Kelly M. Dehan Cynthia & Stephen DeHoff Shirley Duff
Michele Finch Barbara & Ashley Ford Lori & Sean George Andrea Georgopoulos-Straus Ralph P. Ginocchio Mr. Clifford Goosmann & Ms. Andrea Wilson Barbara & Dr. Jack Hahn Catherine Hamilton Maureen Heekin Rob & Genita Heidenreich Jennifer Herzog Tracy & Nicholas Hodge Katherine Oliver Jarnigo Heidi Jark & Steven Kenat Rick & Kristina Klein Meg & Chris Kohnen Joanie & Lou Lauch Rick & Christine Lefever Drs. Lynn & Lizbie Lin Frances & Craig Lindner Becky & Thomas Long The Sophia C. McAllister Fund of Vanguard Charitable Mr. & Mrs. Scott Muhlhauser
John Pape Penny & Stephen Pomeranz Sid & Sara Pomeroy Marilyn & Paul Porcino Ellen Rieveschl Lisa Sampson Robert & Pam Sibcy Linda Siekmann Susan & David Smith Carol Talbot
Nydia C. Tranter Mike Veith John & Tiffany Whitcomb Jo Ann Wieghaus Charlie Wright & Lora Zinoviev Glen Wright* Christine Yeaggy Jeff & Tonya Yetter
*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM FEATURING MELISSA GELFIN DE-POLI & CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR
43
DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet
TENDU Anonymous (2) Lois & Ken Allen Elizabeth & Mark Anderson Kris Attema Cheryl & David Bernstein Dorothy Blatt Gifford Blaylock & Anne Reed William Borek & Evelyn Joseph Breanne R. Bovara Stephanie & Michael Brough Otto M. Budig Joan & Ken Campbell Cincinnati Financial Corp. Sheila Cohen Susan Cranley Aaron & Bobbi Crary Julie Crozier Dr. Michael Curran & Dr. Manisha Patel Kelly & Brian Daley Kate Costlow & John D’Amore Mark & Louis Dauner Meagen Springer Deck & Bob Deck Diana’s Dancewear June Endicott Tom & Debbie Flanagan Mary & Christopher French
Mary & James R. Gardner Melinda Gardner William J. Gracie & Daniel Fairbanks Bill & Christy Griesser James Gronefeld Joselyn & Michael Hall Ham & Ellie Hamilton Hansen Family Charitable Fund Valerie & Dr. Martin Haskell Ms. Camille Healy Ms. Minette Hoffheimer Jane Hopson Susan & Kristopher Hull Gordan Hullar & Doris Holzheimer Tonya Hurst Beth Hutchison Sarah & Steven Jent Steven & Esther Johnson Gayle & Donald Jones Moya M. Jones Linda & James Jurgensen Amy & David Kahn in Memory of Peggy Kahn Marcy & Mark Kanter Tanya Cornejo & Aaron Kellenberger Katherine D. Kinsworthy Katie & Cameron Kitchin
Susan Krott Carol L. Kruse Susan & Richard Lauf Anne Lawrence Kyle Lemoi Deborah Livingston Phil & Laura Lucas Jodi Magee Karen F. Maier Louise & Steven Mason Tom & Nicole Massey Sean & Linda McCrary Janet McDaniel Karen McLaughlin Raymond McNeil & Kathleen Compton Jeff & Lori Miller Michael Miller Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach Steven I. Monder Jackie & Jeff Montgomery Thomas Obermaier Benjamin & Katherine Ohlander Alice Palmer Bronwyn Park Barbara & Jeff Persons Julia W. & Daniel Poston Tracey Puthoff Irene & Daniel Randolph Family Yvonne Reissig Brian Rhame Carole Rigaud
Rachel & Luke Robinson Kitty & Dick Rosenthal Kathy & Josh Sands Janet Sarran Barbara Seiver Sonia & Ranjit Sharma Ari Shifman Chip & Susan Skidmore Laura Hopson & Jeff Smith Elizabeth A. Snyder Paul H. Spitz Christina M. Sprecher Erin Starkey Shane Starkey Elena Stein Jen & John Stein Mary Stein Gregory & Kristine Sturgeon Jennifer Thompson Delayne & Ben Thornburg Katrina Trimble Kelly & Guy Vanasse Sara M. & Michelle Vance Waddell Roger & Jennie Wade Ron & Ginger Warner Wynn & Jerry White Carol & William Woods John Yacher Vladimir & Aziza Yun Jennifer Knight Zelkind Marcy & Bob Ziek
THIRD POSITION Anonymous (2) Sage & Darren Accardo Sarah Alkire Lisa Allgood Carlos Alonzo & Leticia Ortega Julia Anixt & Scott Hassell Kristen & Chris Banocy Henrietta Barlag Roseanne Barone-Wirth Justin Benoit & Stefanie Woolridge Benoit John & Helene Bentley
Brian & Katherine Benton Neil Bortz Robert & Pamela Bosley Phyllis Bossin & Robert Strauss Barabara Brewer James Brown & Judith Masset-Brown Chris Campagna & Jodi Wyett Onassis A. Caneris MD Ruth Neuenschwander & Ernest Cavin Allison Chandler Marvin Collins Thomas Cook
Karl Dahlquist Tiffany & Michael Domet M. Patricia & T. Patrick Donnelly Barbara Doviak Anne & Hugh Driscoll Craig & Melissa Dugan Greta Elenbaas Kari & David Ellis Kay Ellis Susan & Patrick Farrell Risa & Stephen Feagins Henry & Jaclyn Frondorf Judith & Samuel Gilardi
Jill A. Grisco Donna Grisez Molly L. Grogan Guy Guckenberger Diane R. Jezierski & Jennifer Hadtrath Krystyna Orlowsk Brian Harte Carol Joy Haupt Larry & Maggie Herms Pamela Heydt Kathleen E. Hileman Bridget & Brian Hoffman Martha & John Holland Nancy Horwitz Geoff and Betsy Keenan
Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
44
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Daniel & Katherine Kiley Mary Ann & Jeff Knoop Heather & Pete Kopf Michael & Renee Kreeger Tammy & Joe Kremer Catherine Linnemann Anne Lovell Dr. James L. Mahon Mr. Edward Maj Larry & Katy McHenry Leslie Mcintosh Diane Meyer Leota Meyers David & Julie Miller Nancy Mitchell Jerry & Susan Moore Emily & Steven Morgan Mark Morse & Lisa Murtha Mary Lou Motl
Larry & Leslie Newman M. Clare Oestreicher Kris Orsborn The Judy & Thomas Oxman Charitable Fund Chris & Rachael Palermo Jill & Bill Palmore Barbara Wagner & William Partin Nancy Phelan Lorie Phillips Mary Magner & Joseph Preston Pamela Reilly Edward & Barbara Rider Nannette E. Bernales & Peter R. Rightmire Cynthia Robertson RUGiving2?* Karen Robinson Burton Roehr
Robert Russ & Annette Walker-Russ Santagata Family Carol & Thomas Schaber Julie & Charles Scheper Jody Schissler, In Honor of Annabelle Adams Lorraine & Jerry Schlagheck Anne Sesler Stu & Stephanie Shroyer John & Ruth Sikorski Inger & Arthur Slavin Philip Smith Linda & Nicholas Spadaccini Eric & Jennifer Spieser Chan & Laura Stevens Melanie & John Stuckenschneider Brandon & Sara Swinehart
Dominique & Sarah Tardivon Amy & Bill Thaman Gretlyn Z. Thomas Barbara Timmins Marcia & Robert Togneri James & Katie Turner Gene & Marla Waldron Jonathan & Lauren Wall Diane Schoeffler-Warren & Larry Warren Chad & Betsy Warwick William Watterson & Melissa Richmond Andrew Wise & Elizabeth Barone Wise Dr. & Mrs. Robert Wubbolding Jennifer Young Lisa & Lockwood Zaring Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Zierolf
Cincinnati Ballet
THIRD POSITION
*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
definitive guide The The definitive guide to living wellwell in in to living Greater Cincinnati Greater Cincinnati The city’sThe most respected and award-winning city’s most respected and award-winning magazine,magazine, highlighting the region’s highlighting themost region’s most interesting people, cultural arts,food, arts, interesting people,issues, culturalfood, issues, fashion, and history. fashion, and history.
@CINCINNATIMAGAZINE @CINCINNATIMAGAZINE CINCINNATIMAGAZINE.COM CINCINNATIMAGAZINE.COM SUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBE TODAY TODAY
45
#CincyArtsResilient With audience and performance limitations still ongoing, your gift to the arts matters more than ever. It ensures that music, art, theater, dance and festivals keep our region vibrant for years to come.
GIVE TODAY.
artswave.org/give
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Anonymous Elisa Abes & Amber Feldman Christopher A. Ahlquist Sally Alexander Nathan & Megan Alley Omar Almakki Jane S. Anderson Paul Anderson Brenda Anthony Peter & Christie Armstrong Dr. Paule Asch Gary & Constance Ault John Back Alyce Bailey-Thomas Ms. Jamie Baker-Prewitt James Baldwin Richard & Donna Barasch Lisa Bardill Amy Barhorst Bettye Beaumont Gregory Bell Jennifer Gardner & Hank Bendel Jeremy & Mary Beth Berberich Anne Maddox & John Berninger Pam Biederman Annette & John Bloomstrom Steve Bogner Sandra & Aaron Boothby Russel Branan Sara Breiel Jon & Katy Brennan Meredith Briski Todd & Joy Brock Darrell & Sandra Brooke Ms. Charlotte Brooks Neal Brower Marian & Albert Brown Pamela Brown Ryan Brown & Elizabeth Stockton Anapao Dass & Tommy Brown Chris Bunnell Angela Lorts & Tim Burroughs Karen Busche John Butz Debbie Campbell
Stephanie Campbell Matthew & Amy Carley Joya Caryl Alex Catalan Tom & Mary Catalanotto Bobbie & Manuel Ceja Gulen & Burak Cevik Anne Charles Jennifer & Mark Chast Betsy & Will Chickering Jane Clarke Judy Conrad Shawn A. Coons Jay Hampton & Sarah Corlett Judith Cornett Chris & Ann Corrado Chris & Sara Cox Susan & Donald Crain Emily Craun Mary Croog Jodelle S. Crosset Candace Crouse James & Linda Crozier Annette & Jean-Robert de Cavel Angela Dealy Lois Deitschel David & Susan Deye Karen Deye & Heather Black Rita DiBello Lisa & Liam Dolan Emilie & David Dressler* Rachelle & Brandon Druffel Janet & Joe Dubinski Gina & Jonathan Duncan Catherine Dunlay Robert Eberhardt & Nikki Smith-Eberhardt Rebecca & Andrew Elrod Tricia Eltonhead Dusan Encinger & Patricia Rolon Sara & Tomas Espina Amy Eyers Jason Faulkner & Theresa Tran Meredith & John Ficks Margaret Fiora
Danny & Shelley Fischer Jane L. DiMillo & Matt Flaherty Jassonlyn Dass & Denerius Foster Judith B. Francis Laurel Frank Nan Franks Anne & James Frecka Jamie Rogers & William French Kenneth Frey Joe M. Fugazzi Mark Gandenberger Sandra Gans Mandy La Guardia & Eli Garcia Greg & Jessica Gates Kathryn Gibbons Mr. Jerry Gilden Paulette Gillig Nancy Gilman Susan Glas Michael & Lynn Groh Cui Cui & Jing Guo Ron & Annie Hamilton Joseph Hampel Donna Harris Mike Hazenfield & Christine Heubi Chris Heckman & Kristen Myers Herbert Hedgecock Chris & Suzanne Hendriksen Florette Hoffheimer Irene A. Hofmann Amy Magnus & Jeremy Holtgrave Craig A. Honkomp Sarah Callahan & Zachery Horton Stephen Hrebenach Ashley & Steve Hruby Mindi Huber Christopher Hughes Susan Jackson Cheryl Johnson Meg Johnson Randy & Jan Johnson Daniel Jones Patricia Joseph Tony & Rose Kappesser
Michael & Danya Karram Ellen & Eric Keller Scott & Frances Keller Ms. Carol Kerr Leslie D. Ketchum Gary & Eileen Kilday Jay Kincaid & Helen Black Dennis King Kathryn Kipp Annette & Chuck Klein Kimberlee Kleshock Mary & John Kmet Elizabeth & Philip Knollman John Koehler Austen Koehn Anna Gudmundsdottir & Kristinn Kristinsson Robert Kristman Judy Kroeger Christina Martich & Joe Krumm Mary & John Kuempel Victoria A. Kuhlman Elizabeth & Ken Kuresman Leonard Laforgia Cara LaMond Rebecca & Chris Laney Kathy Larson Janet Schultz & Russell Lascelles Lauren & Marc le Roux Susan Lennert Terri Lynn Lessnau Teresa Leugers Linda B. Liebau Maya Shahani & Brandon Lindsay Todd & Angela Lipscomb Linnea Lose Daniel & Jennifer Luegering Gina L. Maccarone Jennifer & Michael Maegly Sharon & Mark Mammel Carolyn Mapes Morita Marmo Katy & Randall Martinez Kurt Matthys James May Kyle & Katie McCarthy
Cincinnati Ballet
SECOND POSITION
*Funds held at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
47
DONOR HONOR ROLL Cincinnati Ballet
SECOND POSITION Laura Lanier & William McClung Alison Norris & Dodie McDow Molly & Kevin McKean Kristin Mckee Justine Meyer Megan Meyer E. Huxley & Ariel Miller Mary Miller Terry Miller Susan A. Minton William & Mary Moran John H. Morgan David Morris Mark & Susan Moskowitz Regine Moulton Mark Murnan Mary Murray Patricia Murray Michael Nauman & Eline Bauwens Jeremy Neff & Karla Ruth Elizabeth Niese Hiroko Nishiyama
Dana L. Kuhnline & Matt Noerpel Edward L. Nolan Cora Ogle Mary Ohlinger-Pray Jennifer Owens Amanda & David Pallada Michael & Stacey Palmer Nilesh Patel & Avani Modi Kit & James Petricone T. Stephen & Lynn Phillips Jennifer Poore Drs. Michael Privitera & Marcia Kaplan Charles Quinn & Cristina Tarango Theresa Reeder Christina & John Refford William & Mary Reinert Denise Renner Morgan & Mindi Rich Laura Riley Stavra & Helmut Roehrig
Stephen Rogers Maryanne Rohan David & Priya Rolfes Ms. Margaret Rolfes Amanda Romanello Louise & Gary Roselle Bettina Hason Ross Barbara & Victor Roth Amy Ruschulte Mary Rust Penelope & Robert Rybinski Doug and Kathi Sacha Catharine B. Saelinger Naomi E. Hollander & Andrew Sakiewicz Michele Sandler Michelle Santangelo Rene Saran & Rochisha Narayan Martha & Lee Schimberg Jerry Schneider Keven E. Shell & Sandra L. Wittman-Shell Emily & Kyle Shuemake Eli Shupe Jr. & Toby Ruben Barry Siegel Jacqueline Mack & Dr. Edward Silberstein Mrs. Barbara B. Simon Jane Simon Cameron & Mary Catherine Simoneau Stephen & Melissa Skavlem John C. Slawter Jay & Joanne Smale Eleanor Small Adrienne A. Smith Janet & Gary Sogar Peggy Somoza Diane M. Spitznagel Kayla Springer Arun Sreeranganathan & Sreeja Parameswaran Cherry & Robert Staab James Stapleton & Elizabeth Shaughnessy Heather Steckel
Susan & Joseph Stevens Mark & Karen Stewart Karen Stewart Valerie & Howard Stone Marianne Schwab & George Stricker Sheila & Ramzi Takieddine Krystal Smith & Lee Taylor Lindsay Taylor Sari Thoman James L. Thompson Pamela F. Thompson Massiel & Tim Tope Tom & Torey Torre Renee Townley Mark & Serena Tsuang William Tucker Anne & Andrew Tung M. Uhl Denise Vajen Michele Lehmkuhl & Brian Venable Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Ventura Joan Verchot Anna Wall Helen & Jason Webb Jamie Welshhans Debbie & Dick Westheimer Caroline Sanchez & John White Thomas & Carol Wick Beverly Williams Susan & Justin Williams Grace Williams Brian Willwerth & Dorothea Langsam Estate of Gene M. Wilson Robert & Judy Wilson Deborah & Joseph Winterhalter Carole Winters Michael Wozniak & Ellen Reinstatler Mary Wyett Meagan Yee Thomas & Helen Yocum Zou’s Family
Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
48
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER DENHAM FEATURING MINORI SAKITA
DONOR HONOR ROLL
Tamara Arays Christy Backley Pascha Barnwell Annie & James Bolf Dawn & Douglas Bruestle Angelia & Gary Butterbaugh Cristina & Francesco Carone Maria Carver Kevin Cole Kim Corney Regina Daily Meggan & Carlos De Jesus Carl Denneson Charlotte Fedders Kathy Fidishun Alicia & Aaron Friedman Stephanie & Tom Fulton Amy & Brian Gath Barbara & Michael Gehrig
Nan Genther Ken Germain Greg Gibson Evangelina C. Giron Scott Goodfellow Allison & Wade Gowen Megan Haber Erma M. Hagan Natalie Hayslett Anthony McIntire & Robert C. Hodges Anne & Matthew Horne Kristen Houston Kathleen & Theodore Hunter Carley Riley & Dave Hutten Kirby & Grant Ingram Kenneth Jordan Harriet L. Kaufman Jody Yetzer & Alexander Kayne Elysse Kidder Cheryl M. Klink
Jacqueline Kopser Susan G. Kulick Darcy Lei Janet & Irwin Light William Magato Carl Marquette Vicky Mary Lauren & Adam McClain Karen & Chuck Miller Mary O’Connor Marybeth O’Connor Linda A. Olinger Beth A. Palm Waltke Paulding Linda Petrosky Faith Pittinger Nicholas Puncer Kevin Reynolds Mary Rich Gabriella Scacchetti Cindy Scovanner Kira Knight & Brian Selander George Sherrill
Lise Sigward Karen Sim Aaron Smith Dana & Charles Stevenson Merrie Stillpass Edmund Strauss Hannah & Mark Taphorn David A. Tekamp Juliana & William Tobler Annelly Torres Amber L. Turner Dianne Von Handorf Kelly & Todd Voskuhl Ann Wainscott Christy & Lawrence Walter Marilyn & Mark Wendling Elaine Williams Janie Winburn Krystal Ying Michelle & Nick Ziegler Jeff & Lisa Zupp
Cincinnati Ballet
FIRST POSITION
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Jacqueline Baker Melanie & Michael Bruno Phyllis Callahan Robert Corgan Louise DeGraaf
Elisabeth Dewitt Ruby Khoury Patti Lang Betsy Leigh Ashley Mathis Margie McWhorter
Marian Paola Darlene Reifenberger Brenda & Robert Rolf Bob Roth Talitha Schulte Brenda & Brian Templeton
Bryan Tomasetti Michael W. Webb Amy Whitling Sarah Workman Ellen Zipperstein
Thank you to our CB Heros who donated the cost of their tickets and/or tuition from last season or made special contributions to support Cincinnati Ballet at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you to the donors whose gifts we received by October 7, 2020. The above donor pages represent the information available at the time of print. If you find that you are listed incorrectly or we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize and want to include you. Please contact our Development Coordinator, Courtney Hatter, at chatter@cballet.org or (513) 562-1117.
49
Imaginative. Whimsical. Timeless.
Sheakley proudly supports the Cincinnati Ballet. We are the human Human Resources company. We are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our clients and encouraging creative expression in our community.
800.877.2053 | sheakley.com
2020-2021 Season Sponsor
BUSINESS CIRCLE Cincinnati Ballet
$100,000 +
EST. 1947 $25,000–$49,999
$10,000–$24,999
$5,000–$9,999
$1,500–$4,999 Funky’s Catering Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors
Huntington Bank Murrplastik Systems Inc
Taft Stettinius and Hollister LLP
Yellow Canary Floral and Event Design
$500–$1,499 Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey
Cincinnati Financial Corp.
Copper Creek Homes
Diana’s Dancewear
51
F O U N DAT I O N , G OV E R N M E N T, & INSTITUTIONAL DONORS Cincinnati Ballet
$100,000+
$50,000–$99,999
The Kaplan Foundation Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees
$15,000–$49,999 The Linnemann Family Foundation
Daniel & Susan Pfau Foundation Schwab Charitable Fund
Peter T. Joseph Foundation
Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
$5,000–$14,999 Crosset Family Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation
Joni Herschede Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Mueller Family Foundation
$500–$4,999 The Andrew Jergens Foundation
Charles Scott Riley III Foundation
The Warrington Foundation
ARTSWAVE PARTNERS Cincinnati Ballet acknowledges the following Partner Companies, Foundations, and their employees who generously participate in the Annual ArtsWave Community Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Your support helps make our community vibrant and connects people all across our region through the arts. Thank you! P&G Fifth Third Bank and the Fifth Third Foundation GE Aviation Western & Southern Financial Group Cincinnati Bell PNC Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Kroger Co. The Cincinnati Insurance Companies Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Macy’s Great American Insurance Group
Enquirer Media The Thomas J. Emery Memorial Ohio National Financial Services The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees
U.S. Bank Duke Energy Cincinnati Business Courier The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation Cincinnati Reds
Thank you to our Business Circle, foundation, government, and institutional donors who supported us through cash and in-kind contributions received by October 7, 2020. The above donor pages represent the information available at the time of print. If you find that you are listed incorrectly or we did not recognize you appropriately, we apologize and want to include you. Please contact our Development Coordinator, Courtney Hatter, at chatter@cballet.org or (513) 562-1117.
52
PRECISION MOTORCARS INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR Cincinnati’s premier independent Mercedes-Benz service and repair shop for nearly 50 years. More than a dealer-alternative— a preferred choice for vintage to new Mercedes vehicles.
5565 Murray Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227 513-271-5565 mercedescarsrepaircincinnati.com
CRAFTSMANSHIP. HONESTY. EXPERIENCE.