Ball State University, College of Fine Arts, School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance present The Nutcracker Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Directed by Audra Sokol and Christie Zimmerman Conducted by Douglas Droste Choir Direction by Kerry Glann Choreography by Lisa Carter, Susan Koper, Audra Sokol, Michael Worcel, Christie Zimmerman Youth Choreography by Betsy Curry and Tracy Navas Costume Design: Patty Daehn and Melanie Mortimore Lighting Design: Mickie Marie Master Sound Engineer: Joe Court* Hair and Makeup Design: Robert Dirden and Kayla Bickham Stage Manager: Colleen Tovar^ Ball State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). *United Scenic Artists, Local 829 of the IATSE is the union representing Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound and Projection designers in Live Performance. ^Appears by permission of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Video, Photo, or Audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Act One Stahlbaums’ Christmas Party Claire: Sammi Shoufler* Drosslemeyer: Jonathan Becker Mother: Helen Sorensen* Father: Micheal Hassel Grandmother: Hannah St. Aubin* Fritz: Dru Hines Fritz’s Friend: Kailyn Kelley* Claire’s Friend: Raegan Huth* Party Guests: Hannah Bertrand*, Ciara Borg*, Levi Coy, Bekka Ferguson*, Dashawn Perry*, John Viso* Maid: Carly Jerstad* Butler: Robbie Weatherington* Columbine Doll: Maria-Elena Sanchez* Soldier Dolls: Alexandria Koontz*, Shannon Swift* The Battle of Soldiers and Mice Nutcracker: Dashawn Perry* Mouse Queen: Helen Sorensen* Soldiers: Alexa Abbott*, Bridget Donovan*, Alexandria Koontz*, Darcy Kummerow*, Shannon Swift*, Keely Wissel* Mice: Cassidy Crull*, Lily Deeg*, Eugenia Jones, Tyler Parnella, Maria-Elena Sanchez* The Land of Snow Snow Queen: Raegan Huth* Snow Princes: John Viso*, Robbie Weatherington* Snow: Hannah Bertrand*, Ciara Borg*, Bekka Ferguson*, Carly Jerstad*, Kate Laughlin, Anasha Milton, Hannah St. Aubin* Act Two Kingdom of Sweets Sugar Plum Fairy: Keely Wissel* Prince: Levi Coy The Angel: Shannon Swift Angels: Miriam Allred, Andrew Baker, Blakelee Carroll, Keira Leap, Landri Moulton, Katelyn Rector, Addison Thurston Angels appear courtesy of Cole Academy Spanish Chocolate: Lily Deeg*, Kailyn Kelley*, Hannah St. Aubin* Arabian Coffee: Ciara Borg*, Kate Laughlin Chinese Tea: Cassidy Crull*, Darcy Kummerow*, Tyler Parnella French Mints: Hannah Bertrand*, Bekka Ferguson*, Carly Jerstad*, Anasha Milton Russian Candy Canes: Micheal Hassel, John Viso*, Robbie Weatherington* Mother Ginger: Jonathan Becker Bon-Bons: Emma Brenna, Delaney Brinson, Leah Davis, Booklynne Orr, Ava Riegle, Georgia Shrieve, Julia Woods, Madelyn Woods Poppets appear courtesy of Dazzle Dance & Cheer Dew Drop: Eugenia Jones Flowers: Alexa Abbott*, Lily Deeg*, Bridget Donovan*, Alexandria Koontz*, Darcy Kummerow*, Tyler Parnella, Maria-Elena Sanchez*, Shannon Swift* Understudy: Katie Sullivan* There will be one 15-minute intermission *Denotes Theatre and Dance Scholarship Student Ball State Symphony Orchestra Violin I Cello Bassoon Xiaoou Ma ^Po-Chen Chang Lindsey Wiehl Grace Marshall ^Kathy Burrell Erin Gehlbach I Chang ^AJ Jabarin Horn Megan Simmons ^Radwan Khatib Corinne Edom Emma Andersen ^Max Engler ^Ethan Wilkinson Miranda Blevins ^Jeremy Anderson *Brian Reel ^Taylor Matthews *David Pira Emily Schroeder ^Isaac Mahoney *John Woodward Justin Phillips ^Sarah Stoutamyer *Jordan Scott Anita Rodriguez *Sam Turk *William Smith (assistant) *Sierra MacMillan *Nicholas Burrell *Jonathan Hummel *Nick Leon Trumpet Eric Rodriguez Violin II Bass ^Kieran McNamara Tian Li ^Gonzalo Kochi *Drew Tomasik Emily McCroskey Kikuchi Christopher Monty ^Roger Graves Trombone Emma Erickson ^David Tweddell Josiah Williams ^Sebastian Giraldo ^Ariya Marr Peter Lehmann ^Levacy Quinn *Ian Elmore Austin Hinkle ^Nathan Leamer *Alma Mele Tuba ^Alex Karker *Mitch Borkowski ^Maddie Edwards Sam Michels *Jacob Smith ^Jessica Joyner Percussion *Jose Rodriguez Flute/Piccolo Evan Moore *Alex Campbell Samantha Haake Sam Thompson *Aaliyah Winters Cyris Wallis Aaron Kaluza *Alyssa Jerke Lydia Perry David Kuo *Jacob Sumner Oboe Harp *Emily Wickline Sarah Loos Lydia Wisehart Viola Rachel Gripp Julie Stuckert Noah Connolly Celesta Megan Grady (English Horn) Nina Lee Claire Harvey Clarinet Ben Davis *Denotes Friday Rachel Jordan ^Christian Zepeda only Caleb Boswell ^Katie Buchholz ^Denotes Saturday Liz Felsted *Morgan Upton only *Kayla Welte (Bass Clarinet) Ball State Women’s Chorus Grace Arndt Carniah Herrero Abby Specht Brooke Barkley Marisa Jenkins Katelyn Speck Sarah Bennett Cheyenne Johnson Jordan Swingle Katie Collins Madeline King Josie Underhill Shelby Crouse Lydia Kotowski Alex Vale Elise DeRuby Bryn Marlow Kendra Vanderstar Sylvie Dowd Mia Marrero Jesarela Villarreal Harlie Ferguson Alexandra Martin Connie Walker Lindsay Fields Abigail Plummer Meghan Walls Jaelyn Hence Cathleen Ramirez Madeline Werner Jennifer Riedel Special Thanks President Mearns and Ball State University Steve Jobe, Cindy Buchanan, and Old National Mortgage Dean Robert Kvam and College of Fine Arts Patron Information Please turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices before the start of the performance. Active devices disrupt the enjoyment of your fellow patrons, are disrespectful to performers, and can interfere with equipment. Please see the house manager or box office staff if you have questions, or need information regarding patrons with special abilities and/or seating issues. Please take a moment to locate the nearest emergency exits. In the unlikely event of an emergency, please follow all instructions provided to you by the stage manager and house manager. Tickets for future Department of Theatre and Dance productions may be purchased online at bsu.edu/theatre, in person in the University Theatre Box Office Monday-Friday 12 noon-5 p.m., via phone at 765-285-8749, and at performance venues starting one hour before each show. Synopsis Act One The Nutcracker is a fantasy about a little girl, Claire, who cherishes her Christmas gift, a wooden nutcracker. The story begins on Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house, a large and beautiful mansion with the most beautiful Christmas tree one could imagine. Their family and friends are prepared for the festivities. The celebrations are interrupted by the appearance of Herr Drosselmeyer, the godfather of Claire. Herr Drosselmeyer reveals to Claire, her brother Fritz, and their friends 3 life-sized mechanical dolls. The children become fascinated and gather around the new toys. Soon after, Drosselmeyer takes another toy from his mysterious cloak: a large nutcracker. As he presents the toy to Claire, Fritz snatches it away from her and immediately breaks it. Claire, clearly upset, picks up the remains of the nutcracker. Drosselmeyer approaches her, consoles her, and tells her that he can mend it. The party officially ends and all of the children are sent to bed. As he leaves the party, Herr Drosselmeyer casts a mischievous glance at his goddaughter… He still has a few surprises for her. Claire insists on taking the nutcracker to be with her, but her mother protests. Unable to sleep, Claire sneaks away from her bedroom to catch another glance of her nutcracker. The comfort of being with her new toy allows her to fall asleep under the Christmas tree. Suddenly, she is jolted awake by the chimes of the clock striking twelve. She discovers that a horde of mice has invaded the house and is trying to steal her nutcracker from her. Magically, the Christmas tree begins to grow and her nutcracker comes to life. The nutcracker, with a troop of toy soldiers in tow, leads a battle against the evil forces of the Mouse Queen. After standing by and watching the battle take place, Claire decides to defend her new favorite toy and hurls her slipper at the Mouse Queen, vanquishing her. Herr Drosselmeyer then appears, mysteriously, and transforms the nutcracker into a handsome prince who proceeds to lead Claire into the Land of Snow. Enchanted, she watches the Snow Queen, Snow Kings, and snowflakes swirl about the crystal white landscape. Act Two Claire and the Nutcracker Prince find themselves being led by a beautiful angel to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy rewards Claire for her bravery in the battle against the Mouse Queen. A very elaborate celebration follows with all of the citizens of the Land of Sweets performing for Claire. The celebrations apex with a Grande Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince, and culminate with a grand waltz of all of the subjects of the land. As the celebrations begin to die down, Claire’s vision fades away. When Claire finally regains consciousness, it is in the arms of her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. As she takes in her surroundings, she becomes aware of her nutcracker, now fully mended and back to its intended toy-size resting in her clutches. Directors’ Note On November 13, 2018, The New York Times published an article that spoke of a small, but distinguished group of national ballet companies who are making some changes to The Nutcracker in a concerted effort to present a world on stage that more closely reflects the world in which contemporary audiences live. In the article, Lane Harwell of the Ford Foundation was quoted as saying “I see what’s happening at the Balanchine Trust as part of a larger movement in the