Ballet & Friends

Nutcracker 2010

Nutcracker 2011

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The Nutcracker

The story of the Nutcracker was originally a novel written by German author E.T.A. Hoffman. Acclaimed Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovski, in collaboration with choreographer Marius Petipa, wrote a two-act ballet based on the book in 1891. The original production premiered on December 18th, 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The first show of The Nutcracker was not a success, though Tchaikovski's music was well received by critics and audiences and it was and still is, one of the composer's most popular works. Subsequent shows were much more popular, and the ballet has been played around the world ever since, especially around Christmas. Over time it has become a Christmas tradition in most Western countries.

Ballet & Friends' version of The Nutcracker was choreographed by our own Artistic Director, Slawomir Wozniak, for Teatr Wielki of Poznan, while he was Principal Dancer at the National Opera in Warsaw. The ballet opened in February of 2006 and it was a huge success from the very beginning. This is just some of what the Polish press wrote at the time about the show:

"In Teatr Wielki in Poznań, the old fairy tale is presented in such a way that it attracts the children brought up watching cartoons. The battles between mice and toy soldiers resemble the ones from the Cartoon Network. We owe that staging of the 19th century The Nutcracker with Tchaikovsky's music to Sławomir Woźniak. The most famous Polish dancer did not appear on the stage, however, but choreographed the spectacle. His version is not a classical one that can interest children, it's a performance with ballet elements for young spectators and their parents."

(Jacek Marczyński, Rzeczpospolita, 2/13/2006)

After the success of The Nutcracker, Mr. Wozniak was invited to choreograph Coppelia for the same company, both show still being performed today and attracting crowds of ballet lovers.

Slawomir's Nutcracker is still the most popular production of Teatr Wielki to this day. It is played often during Christmas time. From the very first show, Przemek Grzadziela has played Drosselmeyer and his portrayal of the character has played a significant part in the success of this Nutcracker production. Przemek still performs with us here, in the US, and also with the Teatr Wielki.

(Emese Réka Fromm)

Act I

The work opens with a scene from Drosselmeyer's workshop, where he is getting ready for the Stahlbaum's Christmas party. With the help of his assistant he gets two life size dolls in a sleigh and they set off. The next scene reveals the Stahlbaums' house, where the family is getting ready for a Christmas Eve party.

Clara, her little brother Fritz, and their mother and father are celebrating with friends and family, when Clara's godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, enters. Drosselmeyer is a fun and funny character in Slawomir Wozniak's version. He puts on a short puppet show, as well as a magic show to entertain the children at the party. He finally reveals the two life-size dolls, a ballerina and a harlequin doll. Each of them takes a turn to dance a solo. Clara doesn't enjoy the dances, she is scared of the dolls, doesn't like them. Drosselmeyer is disappointed and asks his helper to take the dolls away. He finally reveals his special present for Clara: the Nutcracker, in the traditional shape of a soldier in full parade uniform. Clara is overjoyed, she loves her new present. Her brother, Fritz, is jealous though, and grabbing the nutcracker from Clara's arms, he breaks it. Clara is in tears, but Drosselmeyer binds the Nutcracker with a handkerchief.

Everyone is happy for the rest of the party, while children and parents dance together. Finally, the party is over, everyone goes home, and the Stahlbaum family goes to bed.

Clara finds herself alone with her Nutcracker in the living room. When the clock strikes midnight, she sees her Godfather as a huge, scary character and in the same time she hears the sound of mice. She tries to run away, but the mice stop her. The Nutcracker comes to life along with his army of soldiers and they try to defend Clara, while the Drossselmeyer turned Mouse King leads his mice into battle. During the battle Clara helps the Nutcracker and his army, and they defend the army of mice. Even though victorious, the Nutcracker is badly hurt. Clara's kiss wakes him up though and turns him into a prince.

Clara and her Prince go out in her garden, where dancing snowflakes greet them and the Snow Queen welcomes them.

Act II

Spring comes magically into the garden while flower fairies from different parts of the world dance for them. Drosselmeyer, who is a fun magician now, acts as a master of ceremonies. Clara and her Prince watch the fairies perform Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabian dances, then flowers, some just buds, others in full bloom, dance together. Two White Roses lead Clara and the Prince to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, who rule this wondrous garden. After their performance, everyone joins the flowers in a joyous celebration.

Clara wakes up in her own bed with the Nutcracker toy in her arms. Was it all a dream, she wonders? She is still looking around for the mice, but realizing that it must have been a dream, and her beloved Nutcracker is safe, she dances with it before the curtain falls.

The Cast - in order of appearance

Numbers and letters in ( ) indicate date and time of performance.
M for matinee, E for evening.

Act I, Scene 1
Drosselmeyer's Workshop

Drosselmeyer:

Przemyslaw Grzadziela

Drosselmeyer's Helper:

Michal Wozniak (26M, 27M, 28M),
Slawomir Wozniak Jr (26E, 27E, 28E)

Ballerina Doll:

Leanne Fromm (all shows), Katelin Ahern (understudy)

Harlequin Doll:

Elyse Salisz (26E, 27M,E, 28E); Jessica Alvarez (26M, 28M)

Act I, Scene 2:
The Stahlbaum House

Frau Von Stahlbaum:

Judy D'Appuzzo

Herr Von Stahlbaum:

Krzysztof Swaczyna

Clara:

Annika Vaughn (26E, 27M, 28E),
Allie Burman (26M, 27E, 28M), Esther Huszar (understudy)

Fritz:

Paris Rosenbaum

The Maid:

Katelin Ahern

The Butler:

Crispino Ramos

Party Parents

Mothers:

Jackie Northwer, Allison Evans, Gwen Lindvig,
Kaitlyn Smoot , Ariel Hastings, Stephanie Dominique,
Suzanne Dart, Deserae McCall, Elizabeth Mann

Fathers:

Wilcox Paris, Tony Garcia, Kyle Loehr,
Billy Lee, Kenny Perez, Leonardo Lacaria

Party Children:

Karina Sbiera, Sophia Olson, Isabella Fratesi, Sabrina Kloft,
Chloe Rosenbaum, Esther Huszar, Jade Jacoby, Nicole Dymkov, Lexi Younger, Alexandria Dravillas (...),

understudies: Alli Burman, Annika Vaughn, Mikaela Irizarry

Act I, Scene 3
The Battle

Baby Mice:

Sophia Olson, Isabella Fratesi, Karena Sbiera, Mikaela Irizarry, Angel McCan, Nicole Dymkov, Alison Gaylor

Mice:

Kaitlyn Smoot, Stephanie Dominique, Deserae McCall, Billy Lee, Kenny Perez, Paris Wilcox, Kyle Loehr

Soldiers:

Nicole Dymkov, Paris Rosenbaum, Chloe Rosenbaum,
Sabrina Kloft, Esther Huszar, Jade Jacoby, Nina Kravetz,
Lexie Yunger, Alexandria Dravillas,
Annika Vaughn (26M, 27E, 28M),
Allie Burman (26E, 27M, 28E)

The Nutcracker:

Gabriele Lucci

Mouse King:

Przemyslaw Grzadziela

Act I, Scene 4:
The Snowy Garden

Snow Queen:

Katelin Ahern (26M,E, 27E, 28E),
Alison Yurcak (27M, 28M)

Snow Cavaliers:

Corben Kalinowski, Paris Wilcox, Slawomir Wozniak,
Michal Wozniak, Leonardo Lacaria

Snow Corps:

Elyse Salisz, Michelle Milan, Elizabeth Mann, Jessica Alvarez, Leanne Fromm, Jennifer Cafarella,
Melinda Swaine (26M,E, 27E, 28M,E), Jaclyn Levine,
Stephanie Moen (26E, 27M,E, 28E), Belinda Irving, Angelina Lin, Emily King, Emily Phillover (26M, 27M, 28M),
Gabriella Keski (...), Kaitlyn Smoot (understudy),
Stephanie Dominique (understudy), Ariel Hastings(understudy), Deserae McCall (understudy)

Baby Angels:

Karina Sbiera, Kelsey Turner, Alison Gaylor, Karen Fromm,
Sophia Olson, Isabella Fratesi, Mikaela Irizarry, Sabrina Kloft,
Angel McCan, Nicole Dymkov, Angel McCan

Angels (On Pointe):

Chloe Rosenbaum, Esther Huszar, Jade Jacoby, Nina Kravetz,
Annika Vaughn, Allie Burman, Lexie Yunger (understudy)

Intermission

ACT II
The Garden

Waltz of Flowers:

Elyse Salisz (26M, 28M), Michelle Milan,
Elizabeth Mann (26E, 27M,E, 28E),
Jessica Alvarez (26E, 27M,E, 28E), Leanne Fromm,
Jennifer Cafarella, Melinda Swaine, Jaclyn Levine,
Stephanie Moen, Belinda Irving, Angelina Lin, Emily King,
Emily Phillover, Gabriella Keski (26M, 28M), Kaitlyn Smoot (understudy), Stephanie Dominique (understudy), Ariel Hastings (understudy), Deserae McCall (understudy)

Waltz of Flowers Cavaliers:

Corben Kalinowski, Paris Wilcox, Slawomir Wozniak,
Michal Wozniak, Leonardo Lacaria

Flowers:

Chloe Rosenbaum, Esther Huszar,
Jade Jacoby, Nina Kravetz,Annika Vaughn, Allie Burman,
Lexie Yunger (understudy)

Flower Buds:

Sophia Olson, Karen Fromm, Isabella Fratesi,
Mikaela Irizarry,Sabrina Kloft, Angel McCan

Spanish Girl:

Elyse Salisz, Elizabeth Mann

Spanish Boys:

Billy Lee, Krzysztof Swaczyna, Tony Garcia, Leonardo Lacaria

Chinese Girls:

Stephanie Moen, Michelle Milan, Lexie Yunger (26M, 27E, 28M), Alexandria Dravillas (26M, 27E, 28M), Jade Jacoby (26E, 27M, 28E), Emily Phillover (26E, 27M, 28E)

Chinese Boys:

Roman Zavarov, Humberto Bandera

Russian Girls:

Elizabeth Mann, Emily King, Nina Kravetz, Kaitlyn Smoot, Stephanie Dominique, Gwen Lindvig, Allison Evans, Susanna Dart, Ariel Hastings, Deserae McCall

Russian Boys:

Slawomir Wozniak Jr., Daniel Marshalsay, Michal Wozniak,
Paris Rosenbaum

Arabian Girls:

Jessica Alvarez (26M, 28M), Gabriella Keski (26E, 27M,E, 28E)

Arabian Boys:

Paris Wilcox, Krzysztof Swaczyna, Corben Kalinowski

White Roses:

Leanne Fromm, Annika Vaugh , Allie Burman
understudies: Esther Huszar, Jade Jacoby,

Sugar Plum Fairy:

Katelin Ahern

Sugar Plum Cavalier:

Slawomir Wozniak Jr, Michal Wozniak