A KANSAS BALLET
2023 G E N E R O U S LY S P O N S O R E D B Y :
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3500 SW TOPEKA BLVD. TOPEKA, KS 66611
THE LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER PROUDLY PRESENTS
Lawrence Arts Center 2023 Summer Youth Theatre PRESENTS 2023
FEATURING THE LAWRENCE BALLET THEATRE Based on the original story by E. T. A. Hoffmann and inspired by “A Kansas Nutcracker” by Deb Bettinger and Ric Averill
DECEMBER 8 • 7 PM DECEMBER 9 • 2 & 7 PM DECEMBER 10 • 1 PM & 5 PM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER: Hanan Misko ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF LAWRENCE BALLET THEATRE & CHOREOGRAPHER: Cynthia Crews ORIGINAL CONCEPT & PRODUCTION OF “A KANSAS NUTCRACKER”: Deb Bettinger and Ric Averill
Original Snowflake Artwork: Dave Lowenstein COMPOSER: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky CONDUCTOR: Gregory Campbell SCORE ARRANGED BY: Jeff Dearinger COSTUME DESIGN:
Hanah Glimpse, Beth Dearinger, Jennifer Glenn, Marlena Gramly, Erin McElroy, Laura Caitlin Pettijohn, Susan Rendall, Kent Smith, David Sturm, Kansas City Costume Company SCENIC DESIGN: Tammy Kieser, Lexey Jost ADDITIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY: Candi Baker, Liat Roth SIGNATURE SPONSOR: TCK SUPPORTED BY:
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KAWAI PIANO GALLERY OF KANSAS CITY PROUD PARTNER AND SUPPORTER OF THE LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER Offering the best selection of acoustic grand and upright pianos, digital pianos and preowned pianos in Kansas. Visit our showroom or shop online. KAWAIPIANOSKANSASCITY.COM CALL US (913) 232-8606 4804 W. 119TH STREET LEAWOOD, KS 66209
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE Welcome to The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet! Since 2002, the Lawrence Arts Center has approached the Nutcracker tradition in its own unique way by re-envisioning how it might retell the story while looking both into the future and the past from which it derives. Featuring over 115 performers, 14 musicians, and 50+ staff and volunteers this year’s production has been remarkable to produce. During planning and rehearsals, there are the most incredible people in the room, many returning year after year to share in the making of this show. It’s incredible to witness the pieces of the puzzle coming together and even better to present this wonderful performance to you. In the spirit of community, we would like to mention the tens of thousands who have experienced this tradition since its first version, A Kansas Ballet. We would like to honor those who have played a role on stage or in developing many years’ worth of Nutcracker experiences by humbly saying, thank you! Also, we bestow special appreciation for one of its founding members, Candi Baker, who passed away during last year’s performance series. May her dancing Grasshoppers bring everlasting joy to all for many years to come. Last but not least, to our audience – may this performance fill your heart with delight and send you dancing through the winter holidays. Cheers, Hanan C. Misko Artistic Director of The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet
FOR OUR IN-PERSON AUDIENCE In accordance with Kansas State Fire Marshal regulations, we request that you take a moment to identify the two emergency exits closest to you. In case of an emergency, pay close attention to the announcer for important safety information. As a courtesy to our other guests and performers, please refrain from talking and texting during the performance. All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during performances. The use of photographic, video, or any other recording equipment is strictly prohibited. 3
SYNOPSIS ACT I Our story begins over 150 years ago in Lawrence, KS on Christmas Eve. It’s 1864, the fourth consecutive year of the American Civil War. Preparing for a holiday party hosted by the Stahlbaums, an inventor named Drosselmeyer is in his workshop crafting presents for his godchildren. One, a wooden Nutcracker, resembles Drosselmeyer’s nephew, Kurt, who is a soldier with the 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs. Meanwhile, the Stahlbaums have finished preparing for their party just moments before the arrival of the first guest. Drosselmeyer arrives mysteriously late to the party and immediately presents the dolls to the children, explaining to Clara that if she takes care of the Nutcracker, the Nutcracker will, in turn, protect her. Fritz, seeing his sister receive more presents, grows jealous and breaks her Nutcracker. Agitated but not disheartened, Drosselmeyer repairs the Nutcracker and quietly leaves it by the tree before departing from the party. After the party ends and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum have gone to bed, Clara returns to the living room in search of her Nutcracker soldier. She finds him under the tree and joyfully dances with him until she becomes tired and falls asleep. She enters a strange dream in which Fritz commands the Mouse Queen and her mice to seize Clara. Drosselmeyer intervenes by summoning the Nutcracker to fight on Clara’s behalf along with a supplementary army of toy soldiers. The Mouse Queen is defeated, and Fritz sees that his destructive ways only brought harm and violence. He repents to Clara who forgives him. Upon victory, both the Nutcracker and Clara are transformed and venture across the land of Kansas ACT II The story continues with Clara and the Nutcracker being greeted by various freed Kansan creatures and spirits, who are rejoicing in Clara and the Nutcracker’s victory over the Mouse Queen. The matriarch of the land, the Hummingbird, coordinates an elaborate ball in celebration of their courageous efforts. After witnessing all the wonders of Kansas, Clara and the Nutcracker reunite for a final dance but are interrupted by Drosselmeyer who tells Clara that, like all things, this must too end. Clara wakes up where she last fell asleep, but the Nutcracker is no longer with her. She senses that something has changed for the better.
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CAST
ACT I DROSSELMEYER’S WORKSHOP
Kaleesi Denham Kinsey Gustafson Markis Krestas Mimi Bear Don’t Walk Roslyn Elles Rylie Tiemann Samantha Larsen Sarah Judd Sarah Hanson Sicily Mahoney Stella McCall Tatum Collins Mechanical Dolls Mary Swartzlander Nichole Weis Soldier Doll Nathan Kramer
Drosselmeyer Jerel Hilding Post Carrier Mattea Rasmussen DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE
Lawrencians Kory Kaul Morgan Swartzlander STAHLBAUMS’ HOUSE
Younger Clara Lauren Anderson Rylie Tiemann** Fritz Eli Misko Rylie Tiemann** Mr. Stahlbaum Jason Van Nice Mrs. Stahlbaum Nikki Stewart Party Adults Amanda Sponholtz Beth Whittaker Craig Stewart Cullen Krishna Jeff Mueller Jessica Vanstory Jill Brungardt Korey Kaul Megan Greene Meghan Davisson Morgan Swartzlander Patricia Judd Scott Sponholtz Party Children Clara Podany Clifton West Williams Eleni Reece Eloise Marsh Foster Vigne Hailey Renz Hazel Brackbill Ira Beyer James Whittaker
BATTLE BETWEEN MICE AND TOYS
Attendants to the Queen Crosby Beyer Madison Brown Photina Adrian Mice Alice Gnojek Austyn Hagen Eleanor Paul Lorelei Reuman Luella (Lulu) Parr Rosella Kramer Sophie Rowe Storey Gunter Nutcracker Prince Finn Lotton-Barker Toy Captains
Annalise Lantz Mattea Rasmussen Odelia Colvin Toy Soldiers
Alana Stewart Elise Vigne Kiera Maletsky Mae Havener Olive Smith 5
ACT II Medic
THE KANSAS PRAIRIE
Marcella MacGonagle
Hummingbird
Belzimere Maletsky
Celeste Stinson Zana Kennedy**
Battle Scene Understudy
Sprouting Sunflowers
Mouse Queen
Larkin Oertel Elise Koranda McCarty Lamb Meral Alhashimi Meyer Lamb Scotland Tiemann
Nathan Kramer Older Clara
Stephanie Wirth SNOW WONDERLAND
Snow Queen
Jahnava Sibilla Celeste Stinson**
GRASSLAND INVADERS
Birds
Snow
Maria Mosconi Nathan Kramer
Allie Gates Genevieve Williams Isla Gnojek Kellar Musser Maria Mosconi Mary Swartzlander Phoebe Morris Rhubarb Brubacher Ruth Yang Sydney Tiemann Zana Kennedy Zoë Kaul Mattea Rasmussen** Photina Adrian**
Grasshoppers
Anders Herrera Aurora Shepherd Celeste “Cece” Wisner Eleanor Foster Emberly Deakyne Finley Deakyne Jane Sherwood Lilah Francis Luella Van de Riet Naomi Nanne DANGEROUS BEAUTIES
Snow Flurries
Snakes
Delaney Basore Jenny Wang Madeline Clancy Peter Misko Petra Sowinski Priya Ghosh-Blay Sofia Rendon
Rhubarb Brubacher Zana Kennedy Jahnava Sibilla**
-15 MINUTE INTERMISSION-
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THE BROWNS
SCHOOLYARD SHENANIGANS
Bear
Schoolchildren
Kiefer Bullock
Clara Podany Daphne Shearburn Evelyn Tryanski Hazel Brackbill Kate Buffington Sarah Song Silas Warrior
John Brown
Cullen Krishna John Brown Children
Evelyn Folsom Georgia All James Whittaker Layne Gaynor Madelyn Gaynor Photina Adrian
Mother Ginger
Megan Greene WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS
Hummingbird
CAVALRY IN PURSUIT
Celeste Stinson Zana Kennedy**
Officer
Phoebe Morris
Dew Drops
Troopers
Jahnava Sibilla Phoebe Morris Rhubarb Brubacher
Allie Gates Genevieve Williams Isla Gnojek Marcella MacGonagle Sarah Hanson Sydney Tiemann Photina Adrian**
Flowers
Allie Gates Dec 7 (7pm), Dec 9 (7pm), Dec 10 (1pm)
Annalise Lantz Belzimere Maletsky Genevieve Williams Isla Gnojek Kellar Musser Maria Mosconi Mary Swartzlander Odelia Colvin Ruth Yang Zana Kennedy Zoë Kaul Sydney Tiemann**
STRAWBERRY FIELDS
Lead Strawberries
Crosby Beyer Kellar Musser Zoë Kaul Strawberries
Audrey Shull Eleni Reece Elsie Battaglia-Bergstrom Katie Moyle Kaleigh Barr Sabina Scott Sophia Stratemeier Rylie Tiemann
Dec 8 (7pm), Dec 9 (2pm), Dec 10 (5pm)
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ORCHESTRA
Conductor Bassoon Clarinet Double Bass Flute/Piccolo Harp Mandola Mandolin Mandolin Percussion Viola Violin 1 Violin 2
Gregory Campbell Mackie Thomas Welsey Rhodes Krista Kopper Gwyneth Sigmon Rob Banks David Ludwick Beth Dearinger Avery Parkhurst Luke Helker Nicolas Arguelo Katina Bilberry Jacob Herling
PRODUCTION STAFF
Artistic Director, Choreographer - Hanan Misko Associate Artistic Director, Choreographer - Cynthia Crews Costume Designer & Wardrobe/Lead - Erin McElroy Costume Designer & Construction - Susan Rendall Dance Assistants - Donna Jo Harkrider, Hope DeYoung-Daniels, Megan Greene, Allison McNellis, Liat Roth Hair & Makeup Specialist - Kierstin Bennett House Projection Designer, Lighting Design - Jason Badgett Orchestra Manager - Raffaele Cipriano Photography - Ann Dean Production Coordinator - Claire Buss Stage Manager - Samaria Fleig Sound Engineer- Ben Knight, Kalen Stockton Prop Master - Lexey Jost Running Crew - Lexey Jost, Cliff Hoitt-Lange Set Builders - Ben Knight, Cella Allison, Cliff Hoitt-Lange, David Nichols, Devi Arkeketa, Jennifer Walker, Jess Finkemeier Jodie Little, Josiah Moreno, Kalen Stockton, Quinn Nissen, Tevin Mershon Student Tech Staff - Alia Leon, Ben Tiemann, Cylas Divine-DeVictor, Fletcher Mack, Laurel Hunsinger, Lucas Hasiuk, Miles Perez, Sawyer Harding Live Streaming Engineer - Kalen Stockton, Ben Knight House Manager - Deborah Dillon, Lisa Purdon
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SCHOOL OF DANCE STAFF
Dance Program Director - Hanan Misko Dance Program Coordinator - Claire Buss Artistic Director of Lawrence Ballet Theatre - Cynthia Crews LBT COMPANY MEMBERS
Main Company
Photina Adrian, Rhubarb Brubacher, Odelia Colvin, Isla Gnojek, Zoë Kaul, Zana Kennedy, Annalise Lantz, Finn Lotton-Barker, Belzimere Maletsky, Phoebe Morris, Maria Mosconi, Kellar Musser, Jahnava Sibilla, Celeste Stinson, Mary Swartzlander, Sydney Tiemann, Genevieve Williams Apprentice Company
Lauren Anderson, Allie Gates, Marcella MacGonagle, Mattea Rasmussen, Eleni Reece, Olive Smith, Alana Stewart, Sophia Stratemeier, Rylie Tiemann, Elise Vigne, Nichole Weis, James Whittaker, Ruth Yang,
CAST PHOTOS & PORTRAITS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANN DEAN View and order photos at anndean.zenfolio.com
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BIOGRAPHIES
HANAN MISKO (Artistic Director, Choreographer) studied at the Kansas City Ballet School and received his BFA from The Juilliard School under the directorship of Lawrence Rhodes. Hanan has danced with various companies including Storling Dance Theater, Mark Morris Dance Group, the Metropolitan Opera (Faust, Don Giovanni, Orfeo ed Euridice, and Nixon in China), Jessica Lang Dance, and as a company member with Ballet Hispanico, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Nimbus Dance Works in New York City. Hanan has served as artistic director for the Fine Arts Summer Academy’s Dance Ensemble in Nashville, TN for the past six years. He has taught at the Kansas City Ballet School, the Wharton Music Center, The Culture House, in New Jersey public schools’ after-school programs, and in The Juilliard School’s C.L.I.M.B. program. He has served as the School of Dance Director at the Lawrence Arts Center since 2013. CYNTHIA CREWS (Artistic Director of the Lawrence Ballet Theatre, Choreographer) started her dance training in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin, acclaimed Ballet Russe stars and co-founders of Tulsa Ballet Theatre. In high school, she performed solo roles with Tulsa Civic Ballet, including being Tulsa’s very first Clara in The Nutcracker. Cynthia continued her dance education in New York City as a full scholarship student for Joffrey Ballet and Harkness Ballet. She then returned to Oklahoma and received a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from The University of Oklahoma. Cynthia performed as a principal with Tulsa Ballet Theatre for nine years. Cynthia has performed in and choreographed many community and professional musical productions. Her teaching career started at The School of Tampa Ballet and continued at the Post School of Ballet (Southwest Virginia Ballet Company) and Jasinski Academy, the official school for Tulsa Ballet. Cynthia joined the Lawrence Arts Center in 2004, teaching primarily ballet and pointe. She is the founder and artistic director of the Lawrence Ballet Theatre. GREGORY CAMPBELL (Orchestra Conductor) Gregory Campbell is a versatile and accomplished performing arts professional in performance and arts administration. He is currently the Assistant Music Director of the Shawnee Concert Band, conducts other musical projects in the metropolitan Kansas City region, and serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Gregory started his career in the performing arts as a classical trombonist. He performed extensively in the United States and Mexico with The Fountain City Brass Band, The Kansas City Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of Northwest Arkansas, The Wichita Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Brevard (FL) Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Opera Naples (FL), Klezmer Company Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica UANL (Monterrey, Mexico), Summer Opera Theatre of Washington DC, and the Ohio Light Opera. 10
Gregory holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Miami, where he was a Mancini Fellow, and a bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he received the Richard Franko Goldman award in performance. His expertise and dedication have made him a respected figure in the performing arts community, locally and nationally. SAMARIA FLEIG (Stage Manager, Technical Director) After five years in California working with Coast Kids Theatre, New Vision Theatre Group, and the Star Theatre Co., Samaria made her way back to the Sunflower State and graduated from Emporia State University with her BFA. She has found her home here in Lawrence and at the Lawrence Arts Center. Working with young artists and technicians teaches her something new every day. She is so very thankful for the amazing people she gets to work with every day and her incredibly inspiring family. JEREL HILDING (Guest Artist/Dancer) Jerel Hilding was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet for 15 years, performing in works by many of the most influential choreographers of the last 100 years, including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, Frederic Ashton, John Cranko, Kurt Jooss, Leonide Massine and Gerald Arpino. Jerel began his dance training in New Orleans while earning a BA in musicology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans). He recently retired in 2020 from the University of Kansas, where he was a professor of dance teaching all levels of ballet, pointe, pas de deux, music for dancers and choreographing for the University Dance Company. He has appeared as a guest artist in various Arts Center productions and also has accompanied ballet classes at the University of Kansas, the Lawrence Arts Center and the Lawrence Dance Intensive. STEPHANIE WIRTH (Guest Artist/Dancer) Stephanie Wirth discovered her passion for dance at the age of three and has since explored various techniques, her favorites being ballet and contemporary. She has also participated in dance events including the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), and the Regional Dance America (RDA) Midstates Festival where she earned a scholarship to the National Choreography Intensive in 2022. Stephanie is a student at the University of Kansas pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in dance with a minor in theatre and is currently a member of the University Dance Company and Jayhawk Tap Company. During her time at KU, Stephanie has had the privilege of performing in two guest artists’ pieces in the University Dance Company Concerts and has choreographed in a student-produced showcase. Along with these privileges, Stephanie is honored to perform the role of “Older Clara” in this year’s production of The Nutcracker: A Kansas Ballet. 11
CULLEN KRISHNA (Guest Artist/Dancer) was born in Bellevue, Nebraska and eventually moved to Ashburn, Virginia where he began training under Troy Brown of the Loudoun Ballet Company. After performing in their Coppelia and Nutcracker productions, he moved back to Bellevue and furthered his education under Sasha and Bret York. Cullen is currently a student at KU pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts while under the direction of Ashley Brittingham, where he is also a performer in the University Dance Company. He is thrilled for the opportunity to perform with the Lawrence Arts Center for their season’s Nutcracker. ERIN MCELROY (Costume Designer & Wardrobe/Lead) has been designing and creating costumes for over 20 years. She received her BFA at KU (2009) and her MFA at the University of Georgia (2012), both in theater design with an emphasis in costume design and construction. She has been designing and teaching at LAC since 2017, designing costumes for products such as Wizard of Oz, Oliver, and Willy Wonka plus three summers of SYT shows including She Kills Monsters, The Little Mermaid, Tales of Robin Hood, The Odyssey, and All in the Timing. This is her fifth year as Lead Costumer for The Kansas Nutcracker. JASON BADGETT (Lighting Designer) is a video and theatre professional currently residing in Houston, Texas. Jason studied Film and Media at the University of Kansas. He has worked on multiple feature films, television series and documentaries. In 2010, Jason joined the Lawrence Arts Center technical staff. As a theatre technician, he has served as a lighting designer, sound engineer, projectionist, and stage manager for theatrical productions and events. Jason recently relocated to Houston to do video production full-time, but is excited to be returning to Lawrence to design the lighting for this year’s Nutcracker!
SPECIAL THANKS
Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation Thomas D. Galloway Family To our parent volunteers:
Your behind-the-scenes time, hard work and, most importantly, your passion for this production are the essential ingredients to making the magic of stagecraft come to life. Thank you so much! To our School of Dance sponsors
Bates Co. Sabatini Architects Dance Shoppe, Inc. Scotch Fabric Care 12
Supporting Supportingthe thearts artsmeans meanssupporting supporting the thepeople peoplewho whocreate createthem. them. The The Trust Trust Company Company of of Kansas Kansas is committed is committed to to thethe communities communities where where wewe live, live, work, work, and and support support thethe arts. arts. WeWe belive belive in helping in helping ourour clients clients acheive acheive their their financial financial goals, goals, so so that that they, they, too, too, may may continue continue supporting supporting amazing amazing organizations, organizations, such such as as The The Lawrence Lawrence ArtArt Center. Center.
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UPCOMING FEATURES CELEBRATING
This year, the Lawrence Arts Center celebrate 50 years of wonder, joy, imagination, connection and fun!
YEARS OF ART FOR EVERYONE
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