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Home , Adrianne Lobel, Colin Connor (dancer), Golden Child (play), KDFC, Larry Keigwin, Lar Lubovitch

CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS PROGRAM

Friday, December 11, 2009, 7pm Saturday, December 12, 2009, 2pm & 8pm Sunday, December 13, 2009, 3pm Thursday, December 17, 2009, 7pm Friday, December 18, 2009, 7pm Saturday, December 19, 2009, 2pm & 8pm Sunday, December 20, 2009, 3pm Zellerbach Hall The Hard Nut

Based on Nutcracker and Mouseking, by E.T.A. Hoffmann Music by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, , Op. 71 (1891–1892) Production based on the work of Charles Burns

Mark Morris, Adrianne Lobel, set design Martin Pakledinaz, costume design James F. Ingalls, lighting design Peter Da Silva Mark Morris Group

Craig Biesecker Samuel Black Joe Bowie Elisa Clark Rita Donahue Domingo Estrada, Jr. Lauren Grant John Heginbotham David Leventhal Laurel Lynch Bradon McDonald MetLife Foundation is the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Official Tour Sponsor. Dallas McMurray Amber Star Merkens Maile Okamura Noah Vinson Jenn Weddel Julie Worden Michelle Yard Major support for the Mark Morris Dance Group is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Selena Chau Katie Diamond Julie Fiorenza Katherine Fisher Shawn Gannon The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Meyer Sound/Helen and Lesley Garrison Brian Lawson Claudia MacPherson June Omura Kraig Patterson John Meyer, The PARC Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and Jane Stine and and R. L. Stine. Guillermo Resto Kanji Segawa William Smith III Utafumi Takemura Samuel von Wentz The Mark Morris Dance Group’s performances are made possible with public funds from the Mark Morris, Artistic Director Department of Cultural Affairs; the New York State Council on the Arts, Nancy Umanoff,Executive Director a State Agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Program.

Berkeley Symphony Orchestra These performances are also made possible, in part, by Cal Performances’ Corporate Sponsor Bank of America. Robert Cole, Conductor Cal Performances’ 2009–2010 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. Piedmont Children’s Choir Robert Geary, Director

4 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 5 CAST SYNOPSIS

Marie Lauren Grant The Hard Nut Fritz June Omura Louise/Princess Pirlipat Julie Worden Dr. Stahlbaum/King Guillermo Resto act i Mrs. Stahlbaum/Queen John Heginbotham Housekeeper/Nurse Kraig Patterson Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum’s annual Christmas Eve Drosselmeier Craig Biesecker Party. Their children Fritz, Marie and Louise wait Nutcracker/Young Drosselmeier David Leventhal in the den. Party : , hokey-pokey, Barbie Doll Elisa Clark hesitation, stroll, bump, . Friend of the fam- Robot William Smith III ily Drosselmeier brings animated toys that he has made. He gives a Nutcracker to the children. Party Guests Fritz breaks it. The children fight. Dr. Stahlbaum Joe Bowie, Rita Donahue, Shawn Gannon, Bradon McDonald, Amber Star Merkens, changes the subject. The guests go home. The fam- Mark Morris, Maile Okamura, Noah Vinson, Michelle Yard ily goes to bed. The housekeeper cleans up. Changers William Smith III, Samuel von Wentz Marie can’t sleep and comes downstairs to see if the Rat King

Utafumi Takemura Peter Da Silva Nutcracker is resting comfortably. At midnight she Rat Soldiers is frightened by rats. Everything in the room grows Selena Chau, Katie Diamond, Julie Fiorenza, Lesley Garrison, Claudia MacPherson, Jenn Weddel to giant size. G. I. Joes led by the Nutcracker battle times. The King commanded Drosselmeier rats led by the mutant Rat King. Marie kills the to find the hard nut or face decapitation. G. I. Joe Soldiers Rat King with her slipper. She falls unconscious. Drosselmeier set off in search of the hard Samuel Black, Domingo Estrada, Jr., Brian Lawson, Dallas McMurray, Kanji Segawa The Nutcracker is transformed into a young man. nut. He traveled the world for 15 years be- Marie is tucked in. A worried Drosselmeier makes fore finding it back at home. Snow his way through the blizzard. Samuel Black, Selena Chau, Elisa Clark, Katie Diamond, Rita Donahue, Domingo Estrada, Jr., The ugly teenage Pirlipat watched as one Julie Fiorenza, Katherine Fisher, Lesley Garrison, Brian Lawson, Claudia MacPherson, young man after another attempted to Bradon McDonald, Dallas McMurray, Amber Star Merkens, Maile Okamura, Kanji Segawa, act ii crack the hard nut. The last one to try William Smith III, Utafumi Takemura, Noah Vinson, Jenn Weddel, Julie Worden, Michelle Yard was Drosselmeier’s own nephew. He suc- Rat Queen Jenn Weddel Marie is in a fever. Drosselmeier comes to see if ceeded. On his seventh step backward, Marie is resting comfortably and tells her one of he stepped on the Rat Queen, killing her. Spanish Bradon McDonald, Michelle Yard his stories: Pirlipat became beautiful and rejected the Arabian young Drosselmeier as he started to be- Domingo Estrada, Jr., Brian Lawson, Amber Star Merkens, William Smith III, Samuel von Wentz THE HARD NUT come ugly—like a nutcracker. Chinese Once upon a time, a King and a Queen At this point, Marie interrupts the story and offers Julie Fiorenza, Kanji Segawa, Utafumi Takemura had a beautiful baby girl named Pirlipat. her love to young Drosselmeier. Mrs. Stahlbaum Russian The Queen’s old enemy, the Rat Queen, acknowledges her daughter’s new maturity with a Samuel Black, Rita Donahue, Lesley Garrison, Dallas McMurray, Claudia MacPherson, Jenn Weddel threatened to ruin little Pirlipat. The nurse flower dance. Everyone in the world joins Marie and the cat were left to guard the baby at and young Drosselmeier in celebrating their love. French night. While the nurse and cat slept, the The two go away together forever. Selena Chau, Elisa Clark, Maile Okamura, Noah Vinson Rat Queen destroyed Princess Pirlipat’s Suitors Brian Lawson, Kanji Segawa face. The Royal Family was horrified by the sight of their formerly beautiful daughter. epilogue Dentist Shawn Gannon The Rat Queen explained that the Princess Flowers would regain her beauty only after a young Louise and Fritz are sent to bed. Samuel Black, Joe Bowie, Elisa Clark, Katie Diamond, Rita Donahue, Domingo Estrada, Jr., man cracked the hard nut, Krakatuk, with Lesley Garrison, Bradon McDonald, Dallas McMurray, Amber Star Merkens, his teeth and stepped backwards seven CURTAIN Maile Okamura, June Omura, Noah Vinson, Michelle Yard

6 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 7 ORCHESTRA ROSTER CHOIR ROSTER

BERKELEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PIEDMONT EASY BAY CHILDREN’S CHOIR Joana Carneiro, Music Director Kent Nagano, Conductor Laureate Robert Geary, Director violin i english horn Rachel Adams Franklyn D’Antonio, Concertmaster Bennie Cottone Madeleine Ahlers Robert F. Peterson, Associate Concertmaster Noah Strick, Assistant Concertmaster clarinet Lauren Boranian Virginia Baker Roman Fukshansky, Principal Alexander Browne Emanuela Nikiforova Diana Dorman Antonia Calabrese-Thomas Candy Sanderson Kennedy Christensen Lisa Zadek bass clarinet Renzo Downey Larisa Kopylovsky Bruce Foster Emi Fogg Emma Grove violin ii bassoon Rebecca Havian Richard Altenbach, Principal Carla Wilson, Principal Madeline Heaps Karsten Windt, Assistant Principal Karla Ekholm Kristi Hong Yasushi Ogura Apryl Hsu horn Sam Fischer Erin Hutchinson Ellen Gronningen Stuart Gronningen, Principal Amalia Isen Josepha Fath Darby Hinshaw Loren Tayerle Samantha Lai viola David Goldklang Andrea Lee Darcy Rindt, Principal Sarah Lo Harold Levin, Assistant Principal trumpet Alison Mathews Patrick Kroboth Adam Luftman, Principal Tlalli Aztlan Moya-Smith Ilana Matfis Kale Cumings Bahar Ostadan Stephanie Ng Francine Penikis trombone Catherine Phillips cello Tom Hornig, Principal Annalisa Piccinini Carol Rice, Principal Bruce Chrisp Claire Pinkham Tamara Bohlin, Assistant Principal Ailey Simpson Nancy Bien Souza bass trombone Josef Starc Wanda Warkentin Craig McAmis Rachel Stewart bass tuba Sabrina Tobe Michel Taddei, Principal Jerry Olson, Principal Kai Vogel Jon Keigwin, Assistant Principal Michelle Wan timpani Alina Whatley flute Kevin Neuhoff, Principal Daphne Williams Emma Moon, Principal Maya Wong Stacey Pelinka percussion Paige Woolman Rena Urso-Trapani Ward Spangler, Principal Steve You Scott Bleaken piccolo Rena Urso-Trapani harp Natalie Cox, Principal oboe Laura Reynolds, Principal celesta Barbara Midney John Parr, Principal

8 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 9 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) began He has created seven works for also appears regularly in New York City; Boston; and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the 2008 his career as a civil servant. In 1862, he gave up his since 1994 and received commissions from Fairfax, Virginia; ; and at the Jacob’s Pillow Edinburgh Festival and the Orchestra of the job and enrolled at the St. Petersburg conservatory. and , among Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts. MMDG Mariinsky Theatre with the Perm Ballet at the He was offered the Professorship of Harmony at others. His work is also in the repertory of the made its debut at the Mostly Mozart Festival in White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. Mr. Cole the newly opened Moscow conservatory in 1866. , , 2002 and at the Tanglewood Music Festival in has conducted Mark Morris’s The Hard Nut at After the success of his first piano concerto, he be- New Zealand Ballet, , English 2003 and has since been invited to both festivals Sadler’s Wells in London, the Brooklyn Academy gan a correspondence with Nadezhda von Meck, National Ballet and . Mr. Morris annually. The company’s London seasons have of Music in New York and at Cal Performances a wealthy widow, whose financial support enabled is noted for his and has been described garnered two Laurence Olivier Awards. MMDG in Berkeley. him to devote himself to composition. They re- as “undeviating in his devotion to music.” He has is noted for its commitment to live music, a fea- From 1986 to 2009, Robert Cole served as di- mained correspondents until a misunderstanding worked extensively in opera, directing and choreo- ture of every performance on its full international rector of Cal Performances. He was also general di- in 1890 ended their relationship, but they never graphing productions for the Metropolitan Opera, touring schedule since 1996. MMDG collaborates rector of the Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, an actually met. Tchaikovsky made a disastrous mar- New York City Opera, English National Opera with leading orchestras, opera companies, and international festival of early music he founded in riage in 1877, possibly in an attempt to conceal his and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Mr. Morris musicians including cellist Yo-Yo Ma in the Emmy June 1990. In 1995, Mr. Cole was made a Chevalier homosexuality; a separation followed an attempted was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation Award-winning film Falling Down Stairs (1997); of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Government suicide after only 11 weeks of marriage. Despite his in 1991. He has received nine honorary doctor- Indian composer Zakir Hussain, Mr. Ma and jazz of France. In 2008, he was honored by Early Music subsequent depressions, he managed to produce ates to date. In 2006, Mr. Morris received the pianist Ethan Iverson in Kolam (2002); The Bad America with the Howard Mayer Brown Award for his most successful opera, Eugene Onegin (1877– New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Plus in Violet Cavern (2004); pianists Emanuel lifetime achievement in Early Music. 1878), his Fourth Symphony (1878) and his Violin Mayor’s Award for Arts & Culture and a WQXR Ax, Garrick Ohlsson and Yoko Nozaki for Mozart Concerto (1878) during this period. In 1881, he Gramophone Special Recognition Award. He is Dances (2006); and with English National Opera Berkeley Symphony Orchestra celebrates 40 gave up teaching at the conservatory and for the the subject of a biography by Joan Acocella (Farrar, in Four Saints in Three Acts(2000) and King Arthur years of music-making in 2009. Known for its in- next seven years was deeply involved in composi- Straus & Giroux) and Marlowe & Company pub- (2006), among others. MMDG’s film and televi- novative mix of traditional repertoire and contem- tion. His death in St. Petersburg from cholera, af- lished a volume of photographs and critical essays sion projects also include Dido and Aeneas, The porary works, Berkeley Symphony this season wel- ter imprudently drinking unboiled water, occurred entitled Mark Morris’ L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Hard Nut and two documentaries for the UK’s comes 33-year-old Lisbon native Joana Carneiro as soon after the first performance of his Symphony Moderato: A Celebration. Mr. Morris is a member South Bank Show. In fall 2001, MMDG opened only the third Music Director in its history. No. 6 (Pathétique) in 1893. of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, New Berkeley Symphony presents a four-concert the American Philosophical Society. In 2007, he York, housing rehearsal space for the dance com- subscription series at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Mark Morris was born received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance munity, outreach programs for local children, as Hall. Berkeley Akademie, a new program of on August 29, 1956, in Festival lifetime achievement award. well as a school offering dance classes to students Berkeley Symphony founded in 2007, explores Seattle, Washington, of all ages. repertoire for small orchestra under the direction where he studied as a The Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) was of Conductor Laureate Kent Nagano at the First young man with Verla formed in 1980 and gave its first concert that year Robert Cole (conductor) received his M.A. in music Congregational Church of Berkeley. Berkeley Flowers and Perry in New York City. The company’s touring sched- from the University of Southern School Symphony’s Under Construction new music se- Brunson. Early in his ca- ule steadily expanded to include cities both in the of Music, where he studied with Ingolf ries presents works by four Emerging Composers- reer, he performed with United States and in Europe, and in 1986 it made Dahl. He continued his studies with Richard Lert in-Residence at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Lar Lubovitch, Hannah its first national television program for the PBS and Fritz Sweig in California, Leonard Bernstein Berkeley Symphony also serves every public el-

Kahn, Laura Dean, Eliot Merkens Star Amber series Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG was and Leon Barzin at the Tanglewood Music Center, ementary school in Berkeley with its year-long, Feld and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble. He invited to become the national dance company and Hans Swarowsky in Europe. He served as as- award-winning Music in the Schools program, formed the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1980, of Belgium, and spent three years in residence at sociate conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic which provides every student with the experience and has since created more than 120 works for the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Orchestra and has appeared as guest conductor of becoming a performer. the company. From 1988 to 1991, he was Director company returned to the United States in 1991 with the Florida Philharmonic, the Sacramento Berkeley Symphony was founded in 1969 as the of Dance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in as one of the world’s leading dance companies, Symphony, the Pasadena Symphony, the Hartford Berkeley Promenade Orchestra by Thomas Rarick. Brussels, the national opera house of Belgium. performing across the United States and at major Ballet and the Chautauqua Symphony. Mr. Cole Reflecting the spirit of the times, the Promenade Among the works created during his tenure were international festivals. Based in Brooklyn, New was the executive director and music director of the replaced tuxedos with informal street dress and three evening-length dances: The Hard Nut; York, the company has maintained and strength- Ballet Society of Los Angeles, and has conducted performed in unusual locations, including the L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato; and Dido and ened its ties to several cities around the world, most and produced both opera and musical theater in University Art Museum. Aeneas. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance notably its West Coast home, Cal Performances, California and New York. When Kent Nagano was appointed Music Project with . Mr. Morris is and its Midwest home, the Krannert Center for In recent years, Mr. Cole has appeared as Director in 1978, he charted a new course by offer- also much in demand as a ballet choreographer. the Performing Arts in Urbana, Illinois. MMDG guest conductor with the State Ballet of Georgia ing innovative programming that included many

10 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 11 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS rarely heard 20th-century scores. Notable events East Bay symphonies, have been featured on many ences of Chorus America, the American Choral in 2004 produced and designed A Year with Frog which gained the orchestra international attention of the Bay Area’s most prestigious concert series, Directors Association, the Organization of and Toad, a musical based on the children’s books included West Coast premieres at Davies Hall of and have performed with artists as diverse as the American Kodály Educators and the College Music by her father. Her most recent collaboration with works by Olivier Messiaen with the composer pres- Kronos Quartet, the Mark Morris Dance Group Society. They have performed for radio, television, MMDG is on the Purcell opera, King Arthur. ent, and an evening of works by Frank Zappa with and the folk rock group Barenaked Ladies. opera, symphony and music festivals nationally augmented orchestra, life-size puppets and moving The Choir’s comprehensive music curriculum, and internationally. Mr. Geary also has prepared Martin Pakledinaz (costume design) has designed stage sets. under the direction of Robert Geary and Training his choirs for some of the world’s leading conduc- costumes for theater, opera, and dance. He has col- For more information on Berkeley Symphony’s Department Director Naomi Braun, offers stu- tors, including Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, laborated with Mark Morris on works for MMDG, 2009–2010 inaugural season with Joana Carneiro, dents age five to 18 the chance to progress through Kurt Herbert Adler, Edo de Waart, Krzysztof and Boston Ballet, and has please visit www.berkeleysymphony.org or call a series of training choirs to professional-level per- Penderecki, Michael Tilson Thomas, Herbert worked with the , including (510) 841‑2800. forming groups. Besides offering an outstanding Blomstedt, and Kent Nagano. His Christopher Wheeldon’s recent The Nightingale education in vocal technique and music theory, choirs have been recorded by Harmonia Mundi, and the Rose. Mr. Pakledinaz’s New York credits For 27 years, the internationally acclaimed the organization strives to offer lessons in creativ- Koch International, Swiss International Radio include Gypsy, starring Patti Lupone and directed Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir has been ity, expression, poise and engagement with many and Innova. In 1998, Mr. Geary served on the by Arthur Laurents; The Pirate Queen; The Pajama offering children from throughout San Francisco’s cultures, a character-building, transformative pro- California Arts Commission’s Peer Review Panel Game (Tony Award nomination); The Trip to East Bay an outstanding program of choral training cess they describe as “Growing with Music.” and, in June 1999, he was chosen to judge the Bountiful; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Wonderful and performance. Under the leadership of Artistic Jyväskylä International Children’s Choir festival Town; The Wild Party; A Year with Frog and Toad; Director Robert Geary, the Choir has established Robert Geary, founder of the Piedmont East Bay in Finland. Kiss Me, Kate; Golden Child; The Diary of Anne itself as a leading force in international choral ac- Children’s Choir and the highly acclaimed new Frank; Waste; and The Life. His work in opera tivities and new music. With concert tours to more music ensemble Volti, also holds directorial posi- includes Rodelinda for the Metropolitan Opera; than 25 nations, and sponsorship of the Golden tions with the San Francisco Choral Society and DESIGNERS Tristan und Isolde for the Paris Opera/Bastille, Gate International Children’s Choral Festival (the the Golden Gate International Children’s Choral directed by Peter Sellars with video installations oldest and only international children’s choral Festival. For 14 years, Mr. Geary was the director Adrianne Lobel (scenic design)’s past projects by Bill Viola; as well as two other world premiere competition in the United States), the Piedmont of the Baroque Choral Guild, and he served for 13 for Mark Morris include Platée (Royal Opera, works directed by Mr. Sellars, L’Amour de Loin and East Bay Children’s Choir is vigorously engaged years as the Music Director of the First Unitarian London, Edinburgh and New York City Opera); Adriana Mater, composed by Kaija Saariaho with in the global community of choral ensembles. Universalist Church in San Francisco. L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (La Monnaie, librettos by Amin Maalouf. He has been awarded Recognizing that the creation of art is a forward- A champion of contemporary music, Mr.Geary Brussels; Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York); two and the Obie, Drama Desk and looking and forward-thinking endeavor, the Choir and his choirs have won numerous international The Hard Nut (La Monnaie, BAM); Le Nozze di Lucille Lortel awards, among others. has commissioned and premiered 26 new works by and national awards from ASCAP and at pres- Figaro (Brussels); and Orfeo ed Euridice (BAM, 16 living composers, has won numerous first-prize tigious competitions in Gorizia, Italy; at the U.S. tour). Her sets for Broadway include On the James F. Ingalls (lighting design)’s designs for Mark awards for new music in international competi- Choral Olympics in Linz, Austria (July, 2000); Town, directed by George C. Wolfe; and The Diary Morris include Orfeo ed Euridice (Metropolitan tions, and engages in a never-ceasing exploration the Międzyzdroje Choral Festival in Poland; the of Anne Frank, the Tony Award-winning Opera); King Arthur (English National Opera); of innovative repertoire from around the world. Giessen (Germany) International Children’s and and Twelve Dreams (), all directed Sylvia, Sandpaper Ballet, Maelstrom and Pacific The Choir’s flagship group, Ensemble, has Youth Choir Festival, where Mr. Geary received by . Her European commissions in- (San Francisco Ballet); Platée (Royal Opera House, earned grand prizes, first prizes and gold medals a special award for Outstanding Conductorial clude Lady in the Dark (Royal National Theatre, Covent Garden, and New York City Opera); at prestigious competitions in Canada, Poland, Achievement; the Des Moines International London) and Street Scene (Houston Grand Opera), L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, Dido and Germany, Austria, Italy, Hong Kong and the Children’s Choral Festival; and the Kathaumixw both directed by . Her proj- Aeneas and The Hard Nut (MMDG); Ein Herz United States. They have commissioned and pre- Festival in British Columbia. Mr. Geary was ects for Peter Sellars include The Rake’s Progress (); and the initial White Oak miered new works by Kui Dong, Mark Winges, awarded the International Peace Child Medal (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris), Project tour. His work for Lincoln Center includes Pekka Kostiainen, Kirke Mechem and many oth- for his role as co-founder of the Golden Gate (BAM; Bobigny, Paris; Amsterdam), The Marriage Zaide, and Bach Cantatas, all directed ers. Ensemble has been invited to perform for na- International Children’s Choral Festival (1993), he of Figaro (Pepsico Summerfare, New York; by Peter Sellars; and Renaissance Muse, directed tional and regional conventions of the American was named Music Educator of the Year by KDFC Bobigny); Così fan tutte (Pepsico Summerfare), by Mark Lamos. At the Metropolitan Opera, Choral Directors Association and for the national radio in 2002, and he received the Lois B. Rawlings The Magic Flute (Glyndebourne Festival, England) Mr. Ingalls has also designed An American Tragedy, conference of the Organization of American Educational Inspiration award in 2003. and The Mikado (Chicago Lyric Opera). Her hon- Salome, Benvenuto Cellini, The Gambler, War and Kodály Educators. Ensemble and other Piedmont Mr. Geary’s choirs have performed throughout ors include Lucille Lortel, Obie, Long Wharf’s Peace and Wozzeck. Most recently, he designed A East Bay Children’s Choir groups regularly collab- North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Murphy Award, Emmy and Jefferson awards and Flowering Tree and La Passion de Simone (New orate with major Bay Area performing arts orga- Scandinavia, Russia and the Far East. They have Drama Desk, Maharam and Fanny nominations. Crowned Hope at the Barbican Centre, London), nizations, such as the San Francisco and Oakland been selected to perform for the national confer- Ms. Lobel teaches graduate set design at NYU and Dr. Atomic (Holland Festival/De Nederlandse

12 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 13 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Opera and San Francisco Opera), and The Cherry Joe Bowie was born in Katie Diamond is from Julie Fiorenza was born Orchard at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He of- Lansing, Michigan, and be- Moraga, California, and in South Korea and grew ten collaborates with Saint Joseph Ballet in Santa gan dancing while attending studied ballet with Richard up in Massachusetts, where Ana, California. Brown University, from which Cammack and Zola Dishong at she trained at the Academy he graduated with honors in Contra Costa Ballet. As a stu- of Dance Arts and Boston Charles Burns was born in Washington DC. He English and American lit- dent, she performed the works Ballet. In 2004, she graduated currently lives in Philadelphia with his wife, paint- erature. In New York, he has of and with honors from the Ailey/ er Susan Moore, and their two daughters, Ava and performed in works of Robert David Lichine and studied at Fordham B.F.A. program and Rachel. His illustrations and comics have been Wilson and Ulysses Dove and also danced with both the and London Contemporary was named a Liberace scholar. Since then, she widely published in Europe and the United States the Paul Taylor Dance Company for two years be- Dance schools. In 2005, Ms. Diamond joined has performed and taught throughout the coun- in such magazines as RAW, Time, The New York fore going to Belgium to work with Mark Morris the Limón Dance Company, with which she per- try as a member of Ailey II and the Nai-Ni Chen Times Magazine, The Believer and Rolling Stone. His in 1989. formed until 2009. While with Limón, she danced Dance Company, and has also danced with Adams books include Thrilling Defective Stories (Pantheon, the repertory of José Limón, Doris Humphrey, Company Dance and Company XIV. Last sum- 1988), Blood Club (Kitchen Sink, 1991), Skin Deep Selena Chau received her early , Jiří Kylián and Lar Lubovitch, mer, she played the lead dance role of Eliza in The (Penguin Books, 1992), Facetasm (Gates of Heck, dance training on scholarship and had the pleasure of dancing in Mark Morris’s King and I at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. 1992) and Black Hole (Fantagraphics, 2004). at California Ballet School in Orfeo ed Euridice with the Metropolitan Opera Her first time working with MMDG was in the San Diego. After graduat- Ballet. She has performed solo concerts, taught 2008–2009 production of Romeo & Juliet, On ing with honors in Animal workshops and set Limón repertory in the United Motifs of Shakespeare. DANCERS Sciences from the University of States, Chile and Italy. Ms. Diamond holds a Illinois, she was further men- B.F.A. in performance and choreography from the Katherine Fisher is a Craig Biesecker, from tored by Reginald Ray-Savage California Institute of the Arts. Brooklyn-based dancer and Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, in Oakland. She has performed with Savage Jazz choreographer. She has had received a B.S. in music edu- Dance Company, Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Rita Donahue was born and the pleasure of dancing with cation from West Chester Theater, Christopher Caines Dance Company, raised in Fairfax, Virginia, Lucinda Childs, MOMIX, University of Pennsylvania. Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Tania Pérez-Salas and attended George Mason ODC/San Francisco, Jennifer While teaching music in Compañia de Danza, Santa Fe Opera and the University, from which she Muller/The Works, Johannes Philadelphia, he studied bal- Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Chau is excited to be graduated with honors in Wieland, PearsonWidrig let with John White, Margarita de Saa and Bryan performing The Hard Nut in her home town. dance and English in 2002. She Dancetheater, Mark Dendy, Janis Brenner, Ann Koulman, and worked with choreographers Tim danced with bopi’s black sheep/ Carlson and Breezy Berryman. Her choreographic and Lina Early. In New York City, he has worked Elisa Clark received her early dances by kraig patterson and joined MMDG work has appeared on stage and, at the Slamdance with Pascal Rioult, Carolyn Dorfman, New York training from the Maryland in 2003. Festival, in film.Seven Dolors, a solo work, was Theater Ballet, Mark Dendy and Gerald Casel. Youth Ballet and her B.F.A. selected to be performed at Dancers Respond to Mr. Biesecker joined MMDG in 2003. from The un- Domingo Estrada, Jr., a AIDS, DanceNOW, as well as at the Brooklyn der the direction of Benjamin native of Victoria, Texas, re- Museum of Art. She co-produced In the Company Samuel Black is originally Harkarvy. She danced with cently acquired a B.F.A. in of Women, a dance festival featuring the work of from Berkeley, California, the Lar Lubovitch Dance ballet and from emerging female choreographers. After attend- where he began studying tap at Company, Nederlands Dans Texas Christian University. ing the Baltimore School for the Arts, Ms. Fisher age nine with Katie Maltsberger. Theater and Battleworks Dance Company before Currently, he works with earned her B.F.A. with honors from the Tisch He received his B.F.A. in Dance joining MMDG in 2006. Ms. Clark has also worked choreographers Leslie Scott, School of the Arts at New York University. She from SUNY Purchase and also with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, as BODYart Dance; Mary is thankful to have the opportunity to dance the studied at the Rotterdamse assistant to Robert Battle. She has been on fac- Seidman, Mary Seidman & Dancers; and work of Mark Morris. Dansacademie in Holland. He has performed in ulty at the American Dance Festival and teaches Christian von Howard, Von Howard Project. He New York with David Parker, Takehiro Ueyama for MMDG. She is a 2008–2009 Princess Grace made his MMDG debut during The Hard Nut at and Nelly van Bommel. Mr. Black first appeared Modern Dance Honorarium Award Winner. Cal Performances in 2007 and became a company with MMDG in 2005 and became a company member in 2009. Mr. Estrada would like to thank member in 2007. God, his family and all who support his passion!

14 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 15 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Shawn Gannon received on the faculty at MMDG’s school and also teaches graduated from Brown University with honors in assistant to Donald McKayle at the Alvin Ailey his early dance training with dance internationally. Ms. Grant is married to fel- English literature. He is married to fellow dancer American Dance Theater. Mr. McDonald joined Dorothy Wescott Rosen and low dancer David Leventhal. Lauren Grant. MMDG in 2000. first danced with MMDG from 1994 to 2004. Originally John Heginbotham is from Laurel Lynch began her Dallas McMurray, from El from Dover, New Jersey, Anchorage, Alaska. He is a dance training in Petaluma, Cerrito, California, began he was a featured soloist in graduate of The Juilliard School California. After a few too dancing at age four, studying Resurrection (2002), was part (B.F.A. ’93) and has danced many Nutcrackers, she moved jazz, tap and acrobatics with of the original cast for The Argument (1998), and in the companies of Susan to New York to attend The Katie Maltsberger, and ballet danced the bird solo in L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Marshall, Pilobolus Dance Juilliard School, where she per- with Yukiko Sakakura. He re- Moderato. Along with Mark Morris, Mr. Gannon Theater (guest artist), John formed works by Robert Battle, ceived a B.F.A. in dance from has the distinct honor of being one of a handful of Jasperse and Ben Munisteri. Margie Gillis, José Limón and the California Institute of the men to have performed Ted Shawn’s historical solo, His choreography is featured in the work of record- Ohad Naharin. Since graduation in May 2003, Arts. Dallas performed with the Limón Dance Mevlevi Dervish. He has also performed with Lee ing artists Fischerspooner and in Champ: A Space Ms. Lynch has danced for Dušan Týnek Dance Company in addition to works by Jiří Kylián, Theodore’s Dance Machine, Mark Dendy Dance Opera (New York International Fringe Festival). Theatre, Sue Bernhard Danceworks, Pat Catterson, Alonzo King, Robert Moses and Colin Connor. Group, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, and As a teacher, Mr. Heginbotham works regularly Stephan Koplowitz and T.E.A. (Transpersonal Mr. McMurray joined MMDG as an apprentice in Jane Comfort and Company. with members of the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group. Education and Art). She performed at the Festival 2006 and became a company member in 2007. He joined MMDG in 1998. Oltre Passo in Lecce, Italy, and appeared as a guest Lesley Garrison grew up in artist with Petaluma City Ballet. Ms. Lynch per- Amber Star Merkens is Swansea, Illinois, and received Brian Lawson began his formed with MMDG as an apprentice in 2006 and originally from Newport, much of her early training at dance training in Toronto at became a company member in 2007. Oregon, where she began her the Center of Creative Arts in Canadian Children’s Dance dance training with Nancy St. Louis. She is a 2007 gradu- Theatre. There, he worked with Claudia MacPherson was Mittleman. She received her ate of the Conservatory of such choreographers as David born in Wisconsin, but she calls B.F.A. from The Juilliard Dance at the State University Earle, Carol Anderson and Kentucky home. She received School in 1999 and then of New York at Purchase. She Michael Trent. He spent a year her B.F.A. in dance from Alvin danced with the Limón Dance has also studied at Interlochen Arts Academy, studying at the Rotterdamse Dansacademie and is Ailey/Fordham University, Company for two years. She is a recipient of the Rotterdamse Dansacademie, Jacob’s Pillow and currently working towards his B.F.A. at the State where she worked with Nathan 2001 Princess Grace Award and has presented her The Professional Project. She has performed with University of New York at Purchase. At Purchase, Trice, Jennifer Muller and Ron own choreography both in New York and abroad. the Kevin Wynn Collection, Nelly van Bommel’s he has had the opportunity to perform works by Brown, among others, and per- Ms. Merkens joined MMDG in 2001. NØA Dance and Sidra Bell Dance New York. and Nelly van Bommel. This formed at City Center in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria. She first performed with MMDG in L’Allegro, is his second Hard Nut. She has also worked with Eva Dean Dance, the Maile Okamura is originally il Penseroso ed il Moderato two seasons ago, and Kevin Wynn Collection, SuriCo and the Tattooed from San Diego, California. toured with Mark Morris’s Romeo & Juliet, On David Leventhal has danced Ballerinas. She is excited to be in her second She was a member of Boston Motifs of Shakespeare last season. with MMDG since 1997. Hard Nut. Ballet II from 1992 to 1993 He performs principal roles and from Lauren Grant, born and raised in The Hard Nut, L’Allegro, il Bradon McDonald received 1993 to 1996. She has danced in Highland Park, Illinois, has Penseroso ed il Moderato and his B.F.A. from The Juilliard with choreographers Neta danced with MMDG since Romeo & Juliet, On Motifs of School in 1997. He danced with Pulvermacher, Zvi Gotheiner 1996. Appearing in over 40 of Shakespeare. He is a faculty the Limón Dance Company for and Gerald Casel, among others. Ms. Okamura Morris’s works, she performs member of the Mark Morris three years and was the recipi- began working with MMDG in 1998 and became leading roles in The Hard Nut Dance Center in Brooklyn and teaches technique ent of the 1998 Princess Grace a company member in 2001. and Mozart Dances. Ms. Grant and repertory at schools and universities. He is one Award. He has choreographed has been featured in Time Out of the founding teachers of MMDG’s Dance for and presented his own works New York, and the book Meet Parkinson’s program and leads classes around the internationally, served as choreographer for seven the Dancers, and is the subject of a photograph by world for people with Parkinson’s disease. Raised Juilliard Opera Company productions under di- Annie Leibovitz. She graduated with a B.F.A. from in Newton, Massachusetts, Mr. Leventhal received rector Frank Corsaro, and was the choreographic the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. She serves his early training from Boston Ballet School and

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June Omura was born in New Guillermo Resto has danced Utafumi Takemura received Jenn Weddel received her York, grew up in Birmingham, with Mark Morris since 1983. her B.F.A. in dance from the early training from Boulder Alabama, and graduated from State University of New York at near where Barnard College with honors Purchase and her M.F.A. from she grew up in Longmont, in dance and English. She first Tisch School of the Arts at New Colorado. She holds a B.F.A. studied with Mark Morris in York University, where she was a from Southern Methodist 1986, joined MMDG in 1988. recipient of the Siedman Award University and also studied In 2005, she received a New for Dance. She has performed at Boston Conservatory, Colorado University Kanji Segawa began his train- York Dance and Performance Award (“Bessie”) with Freefall, Ltd., Amy Cox, Xipólytos Dance and the Laban Center, London. Since moving to ing with his mother, Erika for her career with the company. Ms. Omura and Theatre, Mark Jarecke, JoAnna Mendl Shaw, Carol New York in 2001, Ms. Weddel has created and Akoh, and studied ballet her husband are the proud parents of twin girls, Fonda, Maja Lorkovic, KDNY/Kathleen Dyer performed with RedWall Dance Theater, Sue with Kan Horiuchi in Tokyo, born in 2003, and a baby boy, born in September and Wil Swanson/Danceworks, among others. Bernhard Danceworks, Vencl Dance Trio, Rocha Japan. In 1997, he came to the 2006. She is grateful to her family, Mark Morris She currently works with Rebecca Katz-Harwood, Dance Theater, TEA Dance Company and with United States to study at The and MMDG for their love and support. Pam Tanowitz Dance, Paz Tanjuaquio and Andrea various choreographers including Alan Danielson Ailey School under a Japanese Haenggi/AMDaT. and Ella Ben-Aharon. Ms. Weddel performed with government fellowship. Kraig Patterson was born MMDG as an apprentice in 2006 and became a Mr. Segawa has been a member of Battleworks in Trenton, New Jersey. He Noah Vinson received his company member in 2007. Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works and was inspired to pursue a ca- B.A. in dance from Columbia Ailey II. He first performed with MMDG in The reer in dance after performing College Chicago, where he Julie Worden graduated from Hard Nut in London in 2004 and has since ap- in high-school musicals. He worked with Shirley Mordine, the North Carolina School of peared in Mark Morris’s productions of L’Allegro, continued his formal dance Jan Erkert and Brian Jeffrey. In the Arts and joined MMDG il Penseroso ed il Moderato, Romeo & Juliet, On training via scholarships New York, he has danced with in 1994. Motifs of Shakespeare and King Arthur with English from the Princeton Ballet, The Ailey School, the Teri and Oliver Steele and the National Opera and Orfeo ed Euridice with the Graham School and the Cunningham Studio. Kevin Wynn Collection. He Metropolitan Opera. He received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School began working with MMDG in 2002 and became in 1986, joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in a company member in 2004. William Smith III grew up 1987, and danced with the company until 1999. Michelle Yard was born in in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Mr. Patterson, also known as bopi, has performed Samuel von Wentz hails from Brooklyn, New York, and be- and attended George Mason with Mark Haim, the Danny Lewis Repertory the land of open spaces, strong gan her professional dance University under a full aca- Ensemble, Ohad Naharin, Neta Pulvermacher and Christian values and monthly training at the New York City demic and dance talent schol- the White Oak Dance Project. In 1996, Mikhail livestock auctions. Leaving the High School of the Performing arship. He graduated magna Baryshnikov invited Mr. Patterson to choreograph ranch behind, he left North Arts. Upon graduation she re- cum laude in 2007 and received a new piece for the White Oak Dance Project, Dakota and explored the per- ceived the Helen Tamiris and achievement awards in perfor- make like a tree…. He went on to create three ad- ilous mountains of Idyllwild, B’nai B’rith awards. For three mance, choreography and academic endeavors. ditional works for the company. Mr. Patterson has California, for many years. He years, she was a scholarship student at the Alvin While at George Mason, he performed the works also served as artist-in-residence at George Mason has worked and studied with Gerald Casel, whom Ailey Dance Center, and she attended New York of Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Doug University, Princeton University, Cornish College he met while he was continuing his academic ad- University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she Varone, , Larry Keigwin, Susan for the Arts and Barnard/Columbia colleges, venture at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York graduated with a B.F.A. Ms. Yard joined MMDG Marshall and Susan Shields. Mr. Smith’s own among others. He has been a guest faculty member University. He joined MMDG in June 2009 and in 1997. Mom, thank you. piece, 3-Way Stop, was selected to open the 2006 at Barnard/Columbia, Sarah Lawrence College, the enjoys jigsaw puzzles and origami. This is Mr. von American College Dance Festival Gala at Ohio International Summer School of Dance in Japan Wentz’s second Hard Nut. State University, and his original choreography for and the American Dance Festival. Mr. Patterson a production of Bye Bye Birdie garnered much criti- started his own dance company in 1996, bopi’s cal praise. As an actor, Mr. Smith’s regional theatre black sheep/dances by kraig patterson, which is credits include Tulsa in Gypsy, Mr. Mistoffelees in currently in residence at Borough Manhattan CATS and Dream Curly in Oklahoma! Since May Community College’s Tribeca Theater. 2007, he has spent his time traveling the world as a member of Parsons Dance. This is his first Hard Nut.

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Mark Morris Dance Group Staff Booking Representation Michael Mushalla (Double M Arts & Events) Media and General Consultation Services William Murray (Better Attitude, Inc) Artistic Director Mark Morris Legal Counsel Mark Selinger (McDermott, Will & Emery) Executive Director Nancy Umanoff Accountant O’Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP Orthopædist David S. Weiss, M.D. (NYU-HJD Department Production of Orthopædic Surgery) Technical Director Johan Henckens Hilot Therapist Jeffrey Cohen Assistant Technical Director Matthew Eggleton Technical Assistant Dirk Loomans Rehearsal Director Matthew Rose Costumes constructed by Martin Adams, Anne Maskrey, Euro Co., Vincent Costumes, Lighting Supervisors Michael Chybowski, Keri Thibodeau Woody Shelp, Izquierdo Studios and Eric Winterling, Inc. Sound Supervisor Jim Abdou Wardrobe Supervisor Katherine M. Patterson Costumes refurbished by Bobby Condon, Stephanie Sleeper, Alan Smith, Joy Havens, Hair & Makeup Supervisor Leslee Newcomb Jennifer Perry, Carli Beardsley, Katherine M. Patterson and Cindy Chock. Assistant Hair & Makeup Supervisor Sara Beukers

Administration Thanks to Maxine Morris. General Manager Aaron Mattocks Company Managers Adrienne Bryant, Daniel A. Finney Sincerest thanks to all the dancers for their dedication, Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Fox commitment and incalculable contribution to the work. Finance Associate Marea Chaveco

Education The Mark Morris Dance Group New Works Fund is supported by Director of Education Eva Nichols The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, School Administrator Diane Ogunusi The PARC Foundation, Meyer Sound/Helen and John Meyer, and Poss Family Foundation. School Bursar Marc Castelli Additional funding has been received from the Altman Foundation; The Capezio/Ballet Makers Dance Marketing & Development Foundation; Brooklyn Community Foundation; the Susan Buck Family Fund; JP Morgan Chase Director of Marketing and Development Lauren Cherubini Foundation; Dance Heritage Coalition; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; the William Randolph Associate Director of Marketing and Hearst Foundation; The Iovino Family Foundation; Leon Lowenstein Foundation; Corporate Support Christy Bolingbroke McDermott, Will & Emery; New England Foundation for the Arts; Special Projects Manager Alexandro Pacheco USArtists International; and the Friends of the Mark Morris Dance Group. Development Associate Kelly Sheldon Development Assistant Moss Allen Marketing Assistant Ashley Matthews For more information, contact Office Assistant Jay Selinger Mark Morris Dance Group 3 Lafayette Avenue Dance Center Operations Brooklyn, New York 11217-1415 Studio Manager Karyn Treadwell phone (718) 624-8400 Production and Facilities Manager Matthew Eggleton fax (718) 624-8900 Assistant Facilities Manager Chris Sperry [email protected] Administrative Assistant Hilary Tanabe www.mmdg.org Receptionists Sara Genoves-Sylvan, Colleen Macomber Music Coordinator Bruce Lazarus Maintenance David Axelrod, Ramon Calderon

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