The Nutcracker

Artistic Director • Jennifer AgbayMusic • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conductor • Eric Culver Performed by The Hanover Theatre Nutcracker Orchestra

Story • E.T.A. Hoffman

Choreography • Jennifer Agbay, Jamie Brown, Mark Harootian, Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka and Jolanta Valeikaite

Production Stage Manager • Kim PheymannicieStage Manager • Stacy WeisbergCrew Chief • Mark UnderkoflerLighting Designer • Brenda ShepardSound Designer • Nick Joyce

Set Design • Jim DiBonaventura, Spruce Mill Set Design, Margo Law and parent volunteers of The Nutcracker production

Wardrobe Mistress • Beth Laperle

Costumes • Nancy Smith, Bernadette Genatossio, Julie McGowan, Beth Laperle and Freda Bromberg

Props • Lori Haddad, Jeffrey Underkoffler, Jim DiBonaventura, Michael Armour and parent volunteers of The Nutcracker production

The Hanover Theatre Nutcracker OrchestraConductor • Eric Culver

Violin 1 Peter Sulski , Concertmaster Angel Hernandez-Dominguez Tara Novak Sue Faux

Viola Noriko Herndon, Principal Dimitar Petkov Dani Rimoni

Double Bass Tony D'Amico, Principal Bebo Shiu

Flute Tess Pope Tracy Kraus (+ piccolo)

Clarinet Marguerite Levin Peter Cokkinias (+ Bass Clarinet)

French Horn Clark Matthews Angele DiBartolomeo

Trombone Neal Melley

Timpani Pieter Struyk

Violin 2 Zoia Bologovsky, Principal Irina Fainkichen Nadejda Krasteva

Cello Johann Soults, Principal Carolina Reiner-Williams

Oboe Denise Plaza-Martins Kyoko Hida-Battaglia (+ English Horn)

Bassoon Greg Newton

Trumpet Mike Dobrinski Adam Gautille

Celeste Matthew Pinder

Percussion Joe DeMarco Bill Manley

Harp Deborah Feld

The Nutcracker Snow ChoirGregory Shannon • Choir Director

Cecilia Foley, Elizabeth Garcia, Abigail Harris, Preston Langlois, Marley Shaw and choir members from Abby Kelley Foster Charter School.

The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Silberhaus home — a large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The Silberhauses are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they also welcome their friends. The party grows festive with music and dance as Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone’s attention as he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance. The children receive gifts and Drosselmeyer gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and grabs the Nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken and looks on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air. As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Silberhaus family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back downstairs and falls asleep with him in her arms.

The Fight Scene

As the clock strikes midnight, strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Rat Queen. The Nutcracker awakens, and leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Rat Queen corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Rat Queen. Clara, horrified, makes a final, daring effort to wrestle away the Rat Queen’s sword, but the Nutcracker intercedes and impales the Rat Queen. She drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying their leader’s lifeless body.

The Land of Snow

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by The Snow Queen, Snow King and dancing snowflakes.

The Land of Sweets

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets, where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The Prince tells the Sugar Plum Fairy about the daring battle with the army of mice. They are rewarded with a celebration of dances from around the world. As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas de deux.

The Dream Ends

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself back at home with her beloved Nutcracker.

PROLOGUE CAST...................Chestnut Girl: Tammi Novia; Chestnut Family: J. Denali Herbert, ........................................................Emma Jalbert, Hanna Moy, Vince Calandra; Tree Vendor: Donald LeBlanc ........................................................Sled Girl & Father: Matthew Polsky and Leah LeBlanc; ........................................................Prologue Military Family: : Emma LeBlanc, Talia Smith, ........................................................Annabelle Thibodeau , Aiden Powers, Sarah Underkofler, Evan Underkofler, ........................................................Sophia Calandra, Jim Courtney ........................................................Chorus: Members of the Youth Ballet Company of Worcester

ACT I • PARTY SCENE

The Cast of The Nutcracker

Clara Silberhaus........................Leland Pierce Fritz Silberhaus .........................Kenneth Andy Lane Herr Drosselmeyer....................Corey Scott Frau Silberhaus..........................Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka (The Hanover Theatre Conservatory, THTC) Herr Silberhaus..........................Sean Kelley (THTC) Maids ...........................................Shannon Courtney, Cecilia Januszewski Kissy Doll.....................................Grace Armour Soldier Doll.................................Cast 1: Isabella Lanzarini; Cast 2: Sydney Duby Party Parents..............................Sophia Calandra, Vince Calandra, Sonia Chimienti, Bill Costa, ........................................................Jim Courtney, Charlotte McNutt (THTC), Donald Leblanc, ........................................................Gillian Murphy (BAW Alumna), Melissa Monreau (BAW Alumna), ........................................................Matthew Polsky Party Girls....................................Elizabeth Buonomo, Noel Rose DeRosa, J. Denali Herbert, Emma Jalbert, ........................................................Emma LeBlanc, Leah LeBlanc, Veronica Maher, Calle Merchant, ........................................................Hanna Moy, Madison Rizzo, Talia Smith, Annabelle Thibodeau, Ava Tselios, ........................................................Sarah Underkofler Party Boys ...................................Jack Greene, Jed McManus, Aiden Powers, Evan Underkofler

ACT I • BATTLE SCENE

The Nutcracker Prince.............Jay Markov (Festival Ballet Providence) Mice...............................................Cast 1: Alexandra Bruce, Tiana Cheng, Adrianna Cook, Ava Gagnon, ........................................................Amy Li, Olivia Jankowski, Thais Koffi, Carmela Renzoni, Mikel Roth, ........................................................Brylee Tycz ........................................................Cast 2: Emma Appleby, Maria Busenburg, Naomi Durost, Caitlin Flynn, ........................................................Ariana Garcia, Cara Klatt, Maia Bickford-Loy, Katherine Totman, ........................................................Victoria Totman, Lillian Warner Rats................................................Jordan Cullen, Alexis Goodwin, Molly Hachey, Morgan Holmes, ........................................................Sydney Olsen Lead Soldier................................Teddy Grillo Soldiers.........................................Cast 1: Laura Benway, Brielle Christenson, Caitlin Diaz, Gabriella Dube, ........................................................Brooke Farrington, Ainsleigh Flanagan, Sarah Garner, Anya Kelley, ........................................................Hannah Schoemer, Madison Teal

Cast 2: Annabelle Adams, Ava D’Eon, Amelia Hoeffler, Arianna Lemerise, ........................................................Allie Mae Macrelli, Elizabeth McCloud, Kendall Olsen, Brianna Pascale, ........................................................Elena Polsky, Dahlia Welland Rat Queen...................................Gianna Grici Mini Rat Queen Doll................Mary Battersby Mini Nutcracker Doll................Vanessa Chen

ACT I • LAND OF SNOW

Snow Queen...............................Eugenia Zinovieva (Festival Ballet Providence) Snow King...................................Alexander Akulov (Festival Ballet Providence) Reindeer.......................................Elle Angarita, Caroline Adams, Sophia Chimienti, Lorelai Collette, Nia Jones, ........................................................Ariana Jurski, Alyson Marcinkus, Alba Martinez, Megan MacDonald, ........................................................Olivia Moyal, Rosalia Renzoni, Anthea Sun, Zoe Welland Snow Corps de Ballet..............Sophia Agbay, Grace Armour, Gwyneth Bechunas, Maia Beaudry, ........................................................Danyelle Gordon, Nina Zurawski

ACT II • ANGELS

Intermission (20 minutes)

Angel Principal .........................Cast 1: Nina Zurawski Cast 2: Danyelle Gordon Angels ..........................................Micaela Christenson, Renee Dube, Annabella Ferraiuolo, Mira Filipkowski, ........................................................Catherine Fleming (Cast 1) Nora Foley, Aelic Lynch (Cast 2) Molly Hachey, ........................................................Morgan Holmes, Karly Matosky, Sydney Olsen, Sierra Racine, ........................................................Elizabeth Schoemer Small Angels ..............................Keeyanah Hutzenbiler, Abbi Lane, Casey Reid, Morgan Soule, ........................................................Annabelle Thibodeau, Hailey Williamson

ACT II • LAND OF SWEETS

Spanish Soloist ......................Cast 1: Gwyneth Bechunas; Cast 2: Nina Zurawski Arabian Princess ......................Cast 1: Erin Stomski; Cast 2: Ana Luisa Thompson- Konopka (THTC) Arabian Attendants.................Teddy Grillo, Aiden Powers, Francisco Sanchez, Noah Serr Chinese Principal .....................Cast 1: Grace Armour; Cast 2: Gwyneth Bechunas Chinese Corps de Ballet.........Cast 1: Arianna Calandra, Megan Costa ........................................................Cast 2: Maia Beaudry, Cecilia Januszewski Russian Principal ......................Isabella Lanzarini Russian Corps de Ballet..........Cast 1: Shannon Courtney, Sydney Duby, Cecilia Januszewski, Taylor Oskin ........................................................Cast 2: Megan Costa, Arianna Calandra, Shannon Courtney, Taylor Oskin Shepherdess ..............................Sophia Agbay White Sheep ..............................Ella Conners, Emily Dupuis, Eva Pierce, Lia Tselios Black Sheep ...............................Madeline Moyal Mother Ginger ..........................Corey Scott Polichinelles ..............................Elise Drake, Charlotte Fredette, Kalin Iagallo, Kaitlyn Kenney, Riley Moody, ........................................................Kaiya Murphy, Jocelyn Ortiz., Fayelinn Poplawski, Kaiden Quinn, ........................................................Lilian Vaillancourt

ACT II • WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS

The Cast of The Nutcracker

Corps de Ballet .........................Sophia Agbay, Grace Armour, Gwyneth Bechunas, Maia Beaudry, ........................................................Paige Doku (THTC Alumna Cast 2) Gabriela Gil (THTC Alumna Cast 1), ........................................................Danyelle Gordon, Gianna Gricci, Nina Zurawski Dew Drop Fairy ........................Rachele Perla (BAW Alumna, Ailey/Fordham University BFA) Sugarplum Fairy........................Ashley Baszto (Orlando Ballet) Cavalier ........................................Telmo Moreira (Ballet Master, Rock School)

Professional Biographies

JENNIFER AGBAY (Artistic Director) is the Director of Dance at The Hanover Theatre Conservatory. Jennifer received her early dance training at The Performing Arts School of Worcester. Studying under Directors Shirley Benjamin, Wayne Stuart, Gayla Zuchavich and the late Kevin Milam, Jennifer was encouraged to pursue a career in dance. In 1997, Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Dance Education from New York University. While at NYU, Jennifer studied under ABT’s Christine Spizzo, New York City Ballet’s master teachers Mireille Briane and Oleg Briansky, Colin Connors of the Limon Company, Douglas Dunn, Cynthia Rowan, from the Erik Hawkins Company. In the six years that Jennifer resided in NYC, her professional repertoire included The Washington Square Repertory Dance Company and a New York City based Ballet Company, “Ballet for Young Audiences”. Jennifer has danced for former Joffrey ballerina, Amy Dannis in Expectations. Jennifer has served on faculty at the Boston Ballet School and has been invited in past summers to teach at the school’s Young Dancers Summer Workshop. From 2003-2005, Jennifer served as Artistic Director for the Performing Arts School of Worcester and assumed the artistic responsibility of their Nutcracker production. In 2006, Ballet Arts Worcester was conceived to provide students formal dance training and education in classical ballet. She has choreographed both classical and contemporary works for the Youth Ballet of Worcester Company. In 2008, Jennifer was blessed to form a professional relationship with The Hanover Theatre and was able to continue to set her traditional interpretation of The Nutcracker on their world class stage. Jennifer has had the great pleasure of working with artists from Boston Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Festival Ballet Providence, RI and Orlando Ballet. In recent news, her business of eleven years, Ballet Arts Worcester has merged with The Hanover Theatre Conservatory. The excitement that the merger has brought to Jennifer is indescribable, as she is so honored that The Hanover Theatre would select her

classical ballet school to represent for the Conservatory. In the ten years that Jennifer has been paired with the theatre she was the proud presenter of the annual production of The Nutcracker in collaboration with the Youth Ballet of Worcester Company and The Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra. Other performances at The Hanover Theatre include, Peter and the Wolf as well as, Hansel and Gretel with The Worcester Polytechnic Institute‘s student orchestra. From 2003-2013 she was selected to choreograph all musical productions for Assumption College and for the past ten summers for The Hanover Theatre’s Youth Summer Program. In the past five years, Jennifer has choreographed for Shrewsbury High School musical theatre productions and won two “Tamy” awards for best choreographer and production number for Urinetown and How to Succeed in Business Without Trying. The “Tamy” awards observe artists in the Central Massachusetts area. Lastly, Jennifer created the Worcester County Dance Festival, an evening of dance celebrating New England’s talented schools and companies on one stage. The festival will be entering its sixth year at The Hanover Theatre!

ERIC CULVER (Music Director, Department of Theatre, College of the Holy Cross.) Conductor, pianist and composer Eric was born in Rochester, New York, to violinist parents. He is Music Director of the Holy Cross Chamber Orchestra, and Lecturer in Music at the College. He studied at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory, Catholic University and Tanglewood. Freelancing in music and theater in New York, he was music director of the New York City Brass Ensemble, and was resident composer and music director for The New Stagecraft Company. He appeared at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater and PS 122 in New York, ART in Cambridge and the Huntington Theater in Boston, and in 60 cities in five seasons with the American Drama Group Europe. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from The Catholic University in 1998.

ANA LUISA THOMPSON-KONOPKA (Ballet Mistress, The Hanover Theater Conservatory Frau Silberhaus, Arabian Princess) A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ms. Thompson-Konopka graduated from the Maria Olenewa School of Dance, the official School of the Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro where she studied with Jacy Jambay, Consuelo Rios, Regina Bertelli, Marcelo Coelho, Silvana Andrade, Paulo Melgaço, Sergio Lobato and under the direction of Maria Luisa Noronha. Also among her teachers were Ms. Valeria Moreira, Mr. Eric Valdo and Mr. Antonio Vasconcellos. The Olenewa School is internationally recognized, with graduates performing in major Ballet Companies in the US and Europe. While a student there, Ms. Thompson-Konopka was chosen to perform in Coppelia and La Sylphide with the Company of Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. She also danced with the Brazilian Modern Dance Company, Companhia de Danca Rio, under the direction of Angela Ferreira and with choreographies from Diana Tomasetig. Ms. Thompson-Konopka completed the David Howard Teacher’s intensive training in 2000. She served on the faculty at the Performing Arts School of Worcester from 1998 until 2004 where she was a former Ballet Mistress, Assistant Director and Director of Curriculum. She served as Ballet Mistress for Ballet Arts Worcester (BAW) from 2005 to 2017. She choreographed ballet, modern and contemporary pieces for the Worcester Youth Ballet Company and PASOW’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Thompson-Konopka has performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker; she was guest artist with the Melrose Youth Ballet, Dance It Up and PASOW’s since 1997 dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian Princess and Spanish Soloist. She is now a full time faculty member and Ballet Mistress at The Hanover Theater Conservatory.

JAMIE IRWIN-BROWN (Rehearsal Coach for Youth Ballet Company) Jamie received her training at the Allegheny Ballet Academy and Boston Ballet with several summers spent studying

at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She was selected to perform corps de ballet roles in Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake and was invited to tour in BBII’s production of Snow White. She went on to dance with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and the Boston Dance Company where notable roles included the title role in Cinderella, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, and Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie and Minkus pas de Trois. Over the past several years, Ms. Brown has enjoyed sharing her passion as a teacher, choreographer and rehearsal coach for studios throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Her students have established themselves with professional ballet companies, in television and on Broadway, as well as continuing on to major in dance at prestigious universities.

ASHLEY BASZTO (Sugar Plum Fairy, Orlando Ballet) Ashley Baszto began her training at the Sarasota Ballet Academy and proceeded to The Rock School for Dance Education, followed by the Miami City Ballet School. For two years Baszto danced with Orlando Ballet II prior to joining Orlando Ballet as an apprentice in 2013. In addition to placing in the top 12 category for both classical and contemporary at numerous Youth American Grand Prix regional competitions and participating in nationals, Baszto and her partner won a silver medal for pas de deux at the 2013 American Dance Competition. In 2010 Baszto competed in the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. She also participated in Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Ballet Program in the summer of 2014.

TELMO MOREIRA (Cavalier, Ballet Master, Rock School) Telmo Moreira began his training at the National Conservatory Dance School of Portugal. After being awarded one of the top prizes in the 2007 Prix de Lausanne, he received a scholarship to complete his studies at the Vaganova Ballet

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Academy, where he had the opportunity to perform Flower Festival Pas de deux at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Moreira has also received the Outstanding European Dancer award at the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) finals, the Judges Prize at the 2008 Varna International Ballet Competition (IBC), was a finalist at the 2008 Beijing IBC, and was a semi- finalist in Jackson USA IBC 2014. After competing in the Prix de Lausanne for the second time, Moreira received the apprenticeship award and chose to join American Ballet Theatre’s second company, where he danced works by Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, and Edwaard Liang. Moreira has been invited to participate in international galas such as YAGP Japan’s Gala. Moreira joined Orlando Ballet in 2011 where he danced numerous leading roles and danced works by Jessica Lang, Peter Chu, Abdur Jackson, Robert Hill, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. During his time with the company, Moreira had the opportunity to choreograph his own ballets and created Barco Negro (2014), Unsaid (2015), and Same Old Fear (2016). He also created his own production of Firebird for Florida Ballet. In 2016, he won best choreography at the YAGP regionals in Tampa. Moreira is the Ballet Master with the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.

EUGENIA ZINOVIEVA (Snow Queen, Festival Ballet Providence) Born in Moscow, Russia, Eugenia Zinovieva moved to the United States at a young age. She studied classical ballet at the Boston Ballet School while also competing as a rhythmic gymnast. She then graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ high school program under the artistic direction of Ethan Stiefel. She spent a year training with SLK Ballet in New York City before coming to Festival Ballet Providence, where she has now been for six seasons. She supplemented her ballet education with programs at ART of Marseille Forsythe Workshop, the Harid Conservatory, Boston Ballet, and the Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco. Throughout her professional career, she has also appeared with Quixotic Cirque Nouveau, North Atlantic Dance Theater, the Kansas City Dance Festival, Workhorse Dance

Project, Tony Williams Ballet, and Staten Island Ballet. Her repertoire includes the title roles in The Firebird, Carmen, and Little Mermaid, principal roles in Balanchine's Apollo, Glinka Pas de Trois, and Rubies, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, principal in Wheeldon's The American, principal in Radenko Pavlovich's Etudes, classical works such as Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, and contemporary works by Viktor Plotnikov, Ilya Kozadaev, Vilia Putrius, Yury Yanowsky, and others. Zinovieva was Festival Ballet Providence's nominee for the 2017 Princess Grace award. She is on faculty at the New Bedford Ballet School, and has guest taught at SLK Ballet, Sally Gould School of Dance, Carver Dance Academy, and North East Rhythmics. She also enjoys choreographing, and she created two pieces for the Rhode Island Women's Choreography Concert in 2018 on company members from Festival Ballet.

ALEXANDER AKULOV (Snow King, Festival Ballet Providence) was born in Krasnodarskiy Krai, Russia. He was selected to study at the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation from the academy, he joined the St. Petersburg State Ballet of Jacobson as a soloist. Mr. Akulov moved to the United States and joined the Festival Ballet Providence as a leading artist, where he danced for six years. In Providence, Alexander discovered the works of many of America’s great choreographers; George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Agnes Demille. During his time in the US, he was featured in all the notable classical ballets and had many contemporary roles created on him. In 2011 he moved to Toulouse, France and expanded his contemporary repertoire, working with the likes of Jacopo Godani, Johann Inger and Stijn Celis and dancing ballets by Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato and Benjamin Millipied. In 2015 Alexander was invited to join the Staatsballett Berlin, where he had the pleasure of working closely with director and famed choreographer Nacho Duato. While in Berlin, Mr. Akulov also worked with Ohad Naharin and numerous other emerging choreographers. Notable roles and works include; Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, The prince in The Nutcracker, Prince Desiree in Sleeping Beauty, Who Cares?, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux,

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Tarantella, (Balanchine) Petit Mort (Kylian), White Darkness (Duato), Secus (Naharin), Walking Mad (Inger) and Coma (Plotnikov.)

COREY SCOTT (Drosselmeyer, Mother Ginger) is venturing on his fourth year portraying this mysterious role. There's something to be said when returning back to a familiar production- sweet faces, costumes that fit, children that have magically grown like beanstalks and a true sense of familyprecious anchors in this business of show. Corey personally dares you to get in the Spirit, tap your toes and allow your imaginations to dance!

JAY MARKOV (Nutcracker Prince, Festival Ballet Providence) was born in Phoenix, Arizona and started training in classical ballet at the age of seven with Slawomir and Irena Wozniak of Master Ballet Academy. The years following he received full scholarships and training at San Francisco Ballet School, Harid Conservatory for the Arts, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. At age 15 Jay was selected to train at San Francisco Ballet School for the year round program. In 2012, Jay began his dance career with Ballet Arizona under the direction of Ib Anderson where he performed roles in productions of Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Napoli, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Don Quixote, and Western Symphony. From 2016-2018 Jay danced as a corps member with Los Angeles Ballet under artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary where he performed contemporary works by Meghan Lou, Aszure Barton and Alejandro Cerrudo. Jay has also performed in many of Balanchine's Ballets such as Theme and Variations, Serenade, Movements and Monumento, Violin Concerto, Who Cares?, Four Temperaments, and Prodigal Son. This is Jay's first season with Festival Ballet.

RACHELE PERLA (Dew Drop Fairy, BAW Alumna, Fordham University/Ailey School, New Chamber Ballet) is a senior at Fordham University in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. Rachele received her earlier training in Boston Ballet School’s Pre- Professional Program studying with Margaret Tracey, Kathleen Mitchell and Melanie Atkins. Her foundational training was with Ballet Arts Worcester under the direction of Jennifer Agbay. She received additional training at Orlando Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Chautauqua Institution School of Dance and Art Of Ballet in Zurich, Switzerland. Rachele has performed roles in Jennifer Agbay’s and Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Who Cares? staged by Debra Austin, Raymonda with Orlando Ballet, Robert Hill’s Requiem, Telmo Moreira’s Same Old Fear, George Balanchine’s Serenade staged by Patricia McBride, original choreography by Amy Hall Garner, Mark Diamond’s Foresight and many other classical and contemporary works. Rachele is beginning her second season as a company member with New Chamber Ballet, under the direction of Miro Magloire.

ERIN STOMSKI (Arabian Princess) Earning her Bachelors of Science in Psychology at Worcester State University and most recently earning her personal trainers certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Erin continues to train and teach within the dance industry. Dancing for over 20 years, she has trained intensively in areas of ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern and tap. She has trained under many well know instructors such as Teddy Forance, Jolanta Valeikaite and Katy Speadbury as well as training from the Walnut Hill and Boston Ballet summer intensive programs. Her community involvement includes building a dance club for grammar school aged children for over five years and working as the original choreographer for Mike Nyman Photography's park project, “Dancers in the Parks”. Erin’s professional credits include dancing and modeling for Reebok Industry;

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choreographing and assisting at “Turn It Up Dance Challenge” Nationals, TD Bank WOW awards and modeling for Capezio dance wear. Erin’s performance credits include, Salt N’ Pepa, Fat Joe and Sean Kingston’s concert dancer, Boston Symphony Orchestra, KISS 108, HGTV, Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Arts Worcester and The Hanover Theatre Conservatory, Miss Massachusetts Pageant, and Boston Celtics games. She has assisted James Alsop (Beyonce’s choreographer), Matthew Kzmierczak (sytycd) and has been a part of multiple hip hop crews in Boston like Static Noyze, CONcept ARTists and PROjectNailz. Her crews have been numerously crowned champions in competitions World of Dance Boston and Prelude New England. Outside of her dancing she is truly passionate and loves teaching and choreographing all styles of dance as her full time job at numerous studios around Massachusetts.

SEAN KELLEY (Herr Silberhaus) is excited to be returning to The Hanover Theatre stage for his second year in The Nutcracker. Sean has had a number of years involved with community theater productions, both on stage and backstage, throughout the state. Some of the shows are Titanic the Musical, 1776, Anyone Can Whistle, Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few. Sean would like to send a sincere thank you to his family and friends, especially his best friend and wife Jen, for her unconditional support during this crazy time of year. His daughters Anya and Abigail, for always keeping his heart dancing. And last but not least to Jennifer Agbay and her staff for allowing me this great opportunity. Hey Nicki and Dad, you have the eternal best seats in the house. I'm following my heart!

BRENDA SHEPARD (Lighting Designer) Brenda has been the Lighting Designer and Master Electrician at The Hanover Theatre since September of 2008. Brenda earned her BA from UMass Amherst in

Communications with a minor in English as well as an unofficial minor in Theatre. She obtained her masters in Broadcast Production at Boston University. Over the years, she’s created designs for corporate events in arenas and theatres across the region, designed for numerous dance concerts, busked more music shows than she can count and even did a play in a crazy barn with barely enough power to turn on 6 lights at any given time. After graduate school, still hooked on lights, she became a Systems Integrator for Barbizon. She designed the lighting and rigging systems for the new Boston Catholic Television studios, designed and installed an energy retrofit project for the Boston Opera House and created the lighting systems packages for MASS MOCA in North Adams. After many years with Barbizon, the stage beckoned her back and she found her new home at The Hanover Theatre where her position allows her to constantly make magic happen, either mechanically or aesthetically. It's hard to translate the feeling when the lighting works, when one is allowed to enhance incredible moments on stage with light, allowing the audience a break from the world and its current woes. It’s a privilege as well as an art. She is overwhelmingly supported by an incredible husband and spectacular daughter, without which none of this could be possible.

GREGORY J. SHANNON (Choir Director) Greg Shannon is the Music Department Head of the Abby Kelley Foster Charter School, and is also the high school Band and Orchestra Director. He received his BA in performance from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2002, and is currently working on his graduate degree at Boston University. Greg studied traditional and contemporary jazz, world music and fusion, and has been a performing musician, both local and touring, since 1998. He is also involved with the Central District Massachusetts Music Educators Association, where he serves as the CDMMEA High School Jazz Band Manager. Greg also focuses much of his personal and professional energy on the advancement of the arts in education and community outreach.

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