The Nutcracker Principal Casting Announced Koto Ishihara Debuts as the Sugar Plum Fairy

December 3, 2019…Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for The Nutcracker. This season, First Soloist Koto Ishihara makes her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy. The holiday favourite is onstage December 12 – January 4, 2020 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #TheNutcrackerNBC

Sold-out for the past four seasons, The Nutcracker takes audiences on a journey from the magical world of the Snow Queen to the opulent splendour of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s palace. Choreographed by James Kudelka with set and costumes design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton, The Nutcracker is a beloved Toronto holiday tradition.

The opening night on December 12 at 7:00 pm will feature Principal Dancers Harrison James and Greta Hodgkinson in the roles of Peter/The Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Ms. Hodgkinson will be retiring as Principal Dancer in March 2020 and this season marks her final performances in The Nutcracker. First Soloist Hannah Fischer will dance the role of the Snow Queen and First Soloist Donald Thom will dance the role of Uncle Nikolai.

Making their debuts this season are Principal Dancer Svetlana Lunkina and Second Soloist Calley Skalnik as the Snow Queen and Second Soloist Joe Chapman as Uncle Nikolai.

Since 1986, Share the Magic has brought the joy of dance to over 94,361 youth and families for free. The programme provides a unique and memorable experience for those who otherwise would not have access to a live performance. On December 11, 2019, the National Ballet invites 1,600 children and family members to a special presentation of The Nutcracker, Tickets are distributed to children and families through our partner schools and various social service agencies.

Nutcracker Story Time begins 45 minutes prior to every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Principal Casting

The Sugar Plum Fairy Greta Hodgkinson (December 12 at 7:00 pm/December 15 at 5:30 pm) Jillian Vanstone (December 13, 14 at 7:00 pm/December 21, January 3 at 2:00 pm/December 29 at 1:00 pm) Heather Ogden (December 14 at 2:00 pm/December 17, 21 at 7:00 pm/December 22, 28 at 5:30 pm/December 31 at 1:00 pm) Elena Lobsanova (December 15 at 1:00 pm/December 18 at 7:00 pm) Sonia Rodriguez (December 19 at 7:00 pm) Calley Skalnik (December 20, January 3 at 7:00 pm/December 22, 28 at 1:00 pm) Koto Ishihara* (December 24 at 1:00 pm/December 29, January 4 at 5:30 pm) Tina Pereira (December 27, January 4 at 1:00 pm/January 2 at 7:00 pm)

Peter/The Nutcracker Harrison James (December 12, 19 at 7:00 pm/December 15, 29, January 4 at 5:30 pm/December 24 at 1:00 pm) Skylar Campbell (December 13, 14 at 7:00 pm/December 21, January 3 at 2:00 pm/December 29 at 1:00 pm) Christopher Gerty (December 14 at 2:00 pm/December 17, 21 at 7:00 pm) Naoya Ebe (December 15, 27, January 4 at 1:00 pm/December 18, January 2 at 7:00 pm) Jack Bertinshaw (December 20, January 3 at 7:00 pm/December 22, 28 at 1:00 pm) Guillaume Côté (December 22, 28 at 5:30 pm/December 31 at 1:00 pm)

Snow Queen Hannah Fischer (December 12, 19, January 3 at 7:00 pm/December 22 at 1:00 pm/December 28, 29 at 5:30 pm) Svetlana Lunkina* (December 13, 14 at 7:00 pm/December 31 at 1:00 pm/January 3 at 2:00 pm) Tanya Howard (December 14 at 2:00 pm/December 15 at 5:30 pm/December 17, 18 at 7:00 pm) Elena Lobsanova (December 20, January 2 at 7:00 pm/December 22 at 5:30 pm/January 4 at 1:00 pm) Calley Skalnik* (December 21 at 2:00 pm/December 29 at 1:00 pm/January 4 at 5:30 pm) Chelsy Meiss (December 15, 24, 27, 28 at 1:00 pm/December 21 at 7:00 pm)

Baba Rebekah Rimsay (December 12, 14, 19 at 7:00 pm/December 15, 29, January 4 at 5:30 pm/December 24 at 1:00 pm) Alejandra Perez-Gomez (December 13, January 3 at 7:00 pm/December 15, 22, 28 at 1:00 pm/December 21 at 2:00 pm)

Tiffany Mosher (December 14, January 3 at 2:00 pm/December 21 at 7:00 pm/December 22, 28 at 5:30 pm/December 31 at 1:00 pm) Stephanie Hutchison (December 17, 18, 20, January 2 at 7:00 pm/December 27, 29 January 4 at 1:00 pm)

Uncle Nikolai Donald Thom (December 12 at 7:00 pm/December 14, 21 at 2:00 pm/December 15, 29, January 4 at 5:30 pm/December 24 at 1:00 pm) Jack Bertinshaw (December 13, 18 at 7:00 pm/December 15 at 1:00 pm) Ethan Watts (December 14, 19, 21, January 2 at 7:00 pm/January 4 at 1:00 pm) Spencer Hack (December 17 at 7:00 pm/December 27, 29 at 1:00 pm/January 3 at 2:00 pm) Joe Chapman* (December 20, January 3 at 7:00 pm/December 22, 28 at 1:00 pm) Piotr Stanczyk (December 22, 28 at 5:30 pm/December 31 at 1:00 pm)

* Debut Casting subject to change. The Nutcracker Availability Show by Show >>

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BMO Financial Group presents the 2019/20 Season. TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet. Skylar Campbell is sponsored through Dancers First by Tricia Younger. Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso, C.M. and Allan Slaight, C.M. Naoya Ebe is sponsored through Dancers First by Gretchen Ross. Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White. Elena Lobsanova is sponsored through Dancers First by Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan. Svetlana Lunkina is sponsored through Dancers First by Anna McCowan Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C. Heather Ogden is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin. Jillian Vanstone is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski. Hannah Fischer is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. Chelsy Meiss is sponsored through Dancers First by Diana St. B. Weatherall. Tina Pereira is sponsored through Dancers First by The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C.

Christopher Gerty is sponsored through Dancers First by Ms. Nancy Viner & Dr. Raymond Stein.

Calley Skalnik is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. Meghan Pugh is sponsored through Dancers First by Cornell Wright & Sarah McEvoy. Ethan Watts is sponsored through Dancers First by Robbie Pryde. Nutcracker Story Time is sponsored by TD Bank Group. The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; and the Government of Ontario through The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Francine Labelle Senior Communications Manager Publicist 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x312 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry Debuts as a Cannon Doll in The Nutcracker Lineup Includes Paralympians, Stars Lead Singer and WE Co-Founder

December 9, 2019… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada today announced the 2019/20 season lineup of Cannon Dolls for The Nutcracker. 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors' Guard Kyle Lowry makes his debut as a Cannon Doll in The Nutcracker on December 19 at 7:00 pm.

Joining the National Ballet onstage as Cannon Dolls this season are Paralympians Cody Caldwell and Mike Whitehead from Team Canada, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Tennis Athletes Gillian Cruz and Anne-Marie Dolinar from Team Ontario, Stars Lead Singer Torquil Campbell, Co- Founder of WE Marc Kielburger, Soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Comedian Candy Palmater, Author Jesse Thistle and Host of Mary's Kitchen Crush Mary Berg.

Celebrity walk-on roles are a long-standing tradition with Nutcrackers all over the world. In the National Ballet’s production, the cameo roles are Cannon Dolls, colourfully costumed Russian Petrouchka dolls who shoot a cannon into the audience in Act I. To date, the National Ballet has invited 1,080 Canadian luminaries and personalities to appear onstage in the coveted roles.

Past Cannon Dolls have included Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner, Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Tessa Virtue, Actress Sarah Gadon, members of ARKELLS, Comedian Rick Mercer, Author Emma Donoghue, Musician Brendan Canning, NDP Party Leader Andrea Horwath, Former Mayor of Toronto Barbara Hall and Mayor of Toronto John Tory.

This season’s Cannon Dolls:

Share the Magic December 11 at 7:00 pm Co-Founder of WE Marc Kielburger and CEO of ME to WE Roxanne Joyal

December 12 at 7:00 pm Wheelchair Tennis Athletes Gillian Cruz and Anne-Marie Dolinar, Team Ontario, Ontario Para Network

December 13 at 7:00 pm Soprano Measha Brueggergosman

December 14 at 2:00 pm Author, Keynote Speaker and Television Host Amber Mac

December 14 at 7:00 pm Blog TO Video Host and Producer Deepa Prashad

December 15 at 1:00 pm CBC Toronto and Here and Now Meteorologist Colette Kennedy

December 15 at 5:30 pm Singer and Actor Tyler Shaw

December 17 at 7:00 pm Afternoon Drive Announcer on 98.1 CHFI, Darren Osborne and Announcer on 98.1 CHFI Sarah Bartok

December 18 at 7:00 pm Restaurateur and Celebrity Chef Cory Vitiello & Lead Singer Martina Sorbara

December 19 at 7:00 pm Toronto Raptors’ Guard Kyle Lowry

December 20 at 7:00 pm Greta Constantine Founders and Designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong

December 22 at 1:00 pm Author of Kitchen Party and Host of Mary's Kitchen Crush Mary Berg

December 22 at 5:30 pm Canadian Pole Vault Athlete Alysha Newman

December 24 at 1:00 pm Comedian and Broadcaster Candy Palmater

December 27 at 1:00 pm Author Terry Fallis

December 28 at 1:00 pm Sportsnet Hosts Caroline Cameron and Danielle Michaud

December 28 at 5:30 pm Maclean’s Editor-in-Chief Alison Uncles

December 29 at 1:00 pm CBC Entertainment Reporter and Film Critic Eli Glasner

December 29 at 5:30 pm Author Jesse Thistle

December 31 at 1:00 pm Paralympians Cody Caldwell and Mike Whitehead, Team Canada, Wheelchair Rugby Canada and Ontario Para Network

January 3 at 2:00 pm Stars Lead Singer Torquil Campbell and Writer of “STARS: Forever” Zack Russell

January 3 at 7:00 pm Host of CBC World Report Nil Köksal and Host, CBC The World This Hour, Joe Cummings

January 4 at 5:30 pm Television personalities Mike Holmes Jr. and Lisa Marie Holmes

The Nutcracker is choreographed by James Kudelka with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set and costume design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.

Nutcracker Story Time begins 45 minutes prior to every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Nutcracker Availability Show by Show >

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TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet. Nutcracker Story Time is sponsored by TD Bank Group. Share the Magic is sponsored by Sun Life and generously underwritten by Ada Slaight. Meghan Pugh is sponsored through Dancers First by Cornell Wright & Sarah McEvoy. The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; and the Government of Ontario through The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Francine Labelle Senior Communications Manager Publicist 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x312 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

James Kudelka, O.C. Choreographer, The Nutcracker

James Kudelka is among today’s most versatile and innovative dance artists. He has choreographed for many of the world’s leading ballet companies and for smaller contemporary troupes. His creative range reflects his eclectic musical interests, command of diverse movement idioms and commitment to working collaboratively with artists from other disciplines. Mr. Kudelka is renowned for distinctive versions of such classics as The Nutcracker and Cinderella – signature works of The National Ballet of Canada where he served as Artistic Director (1996 – 2005). Equally, Mr. Kudelka excels in making smaller- scaled dances that are rich in psychological implication and human drama. Born in Newmarket, Ontario and trained at Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), Mr. Kudelka began choreographing as a student and continued throughout his dancing years with the National Ballet (1972 – 1981) and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (1981 – 1990). He began an affiliation with Toronto’s Citadel + Cie in 2006 and has been resident choreographer since 2008 where he has experimented with cross-disciplinary collaborations. As a teacher, Mr. Kudelka has worked with Vancouver Arts Umbrella, Ryerson University and NBS and he continues to work internationally as a choreographer. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005 and is among the 2020 Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame inductees.

Santo Loquasto Set and Costume Designer, The Nutcracker

Santo Loquasto is a designer for dance, and film. He has collaborated with choreographers , , Kenneth MacMillan, Agnes de Mille and Mark Morris. ’s Push Comes to Shove marked the beginning of his long- term relationship with . As designer for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, he has designed more than 50 pieces. He has collaborated with James Kudelka on major works for The National Ballet of Canada including Swan Lake, An Italian Straw Hat, Pastoral, Spring Awakening, Firebird and The Nutcracker.

Mr. Loquasto has worked with Woody Allen on over 30 films including costume design for Zelig and production design for Radio Days and Bullets Over Broadway for which he received Academy Award nominations. Recent designs on Broadway include Fences, Shuffle Along, The Iceman Cometh, Carousel and Hello, Dolly!. He received the Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration in 2002, was inducted into Theater Hall of Fame in 2004, received the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2006, the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007 and the Gaudium Award in 2013.

Jennifer Tipton Lighting Designer, The Nutcracker

Jennifer Tipton is well known for her work in theatre, dance and . Her recent work in theatre includes To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway and David Cale’s We Are Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time at the Public Theater in New York City. Her recent work in opera includes David Lang’s The Loser at the Los Angeles Opera and in dance, Justin Peck’s Principia for New York City Ballet. Ms. Tipton teaches lighting at the Yale School of Drama. She received the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2001, The Jerome Robbins Award in 2003 and in April 2004 the Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture in New York City. In 2008 she was made a Artists Gracie Fellow and a MacArthur Fellow.

Canada’s National Ballet School

Established in 1959, Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) is one of the world’s foremost training institutions for aspiring young dancers and teachers. The Professional Ballet Program attracts students from across the country and around the world and gives talented young dancers the opportunity to pursue a career in professional ballet in a supportive environment that focuses on the physical and emotional well-being of the student. NBS is at the forefront of professional ballet schools in delivering a wide and diverse range of community programs that improve health and quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. NBS Sharing Dance programs promotes broad public participation in dance, providing dance activities to public school children, adults and the elderly, including those living with Parkinson’s disease or dementia. The excellence of the Professional Ballet Program is reflected in all of NBS’ programs.

For more information, visit www.nbs-enb.ca

VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto

VIVA! celebrates their 20th anniversary this season as an organization and their 20th season in The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker! A vibrant community of singers and educators committed to equity, excellence and the belief that every voice matters, VIVA! is a family of seven choirs, empowering singers of all ages, abilities and experiences through innovative and high-level choral pedagogy and performances. Two vital choir components highlight VIVA’s philosophy: the TD Inclusion Program for singers with disabilities and the Choral Mentoring & Leadership Program for aspiring conductor/educators. Their youth choruses include Preparatory (ages 4 – 6), Junior (ages 6 – 10), Main (ages 9 – 16) and Senior Treble (ages 13 – 17). Adult choirs include Community Choir (SATB, non-auditioned) and Chamber Choir (SATB, auditioned). Their Everyone Can Sing Chorus for singers with disabilities welcomes both teens and adult singers. All singers perform annually in a concert series at Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre as well as other professional engagements. Special events this year include VIVA’s 20th Anniversary Commissions Project featuring five composer-choir collaborations and a performance tour to Scotland in July 2020. vivayouthsingers.com