West Point Ballet proudly presents:
The Nutcracker
Performance Program
Act 1
Synopsis
Clara's Toy Chest
Our story begins with young Clara passing the afternoon away daydreaming of Christmas and playing with her toys. She is delighted when her friend Party Princess joins her for a playdate. The two laugh and play pretend until Clara's little brother Fritz (who has a flair for annoying Clara) interrupts the girls. Clara scolds him and sends him out; it's her turn to play in the playroom! Before long, Party Princess realizes she must get home! Clara bids her friend farewell and wonders how she will occupy her time now. She's delighted when her Friends arrive to play with her and they enjoy fun escapades in the playroom. Clara's favorite uncle Herr Drosselmeyer pays her a visit. Drosselmeyer is a tricky fellow, keen to dabble in magic and fantasy. He puts a spell on Clara to help bring her imagination to life. Suddenly there are Dancing Bears and life-sized Ballerina Dolls and Nesting Dolls in her playroom. Clara can't believe her eyes! She is delighted to see how all of these "toys" work and can't wait to play with them. Party Princess comes back for more fun with Clara, and it's just in time too: Herr Drosselmeyer has a few more tricks up his sleeve. He presents Party Princess with a beautiful teddy bear and gives Clara a nutcracker doll. The girls have so much fun with their new toys until naughty Fritz sneaks in, steals the nutcracker doll from Clara, and breaks it. Clara is devastated! Herr Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue, admonishing Fritz for his carelessness and, using his magic repairs the nutcracker doll. Drosselmeyer wants to cheer Clara up, so he asks would she like to see some mice and soldiers? Clara, thinking he means mice and soldier dolls, readily agrees. Much to her surprise, some life-size mice and soldiers spring out of nowhere! A fierce battle ensues between these natural rivals. The evil Mouse King is determined to defeat the soldiers. But wait! A leader for the soldiers charges into the fight. Clara can't believe her eyes; could it actually be that her nutcracker doll has come to life? Whoever this hero is, he defeats the Mouse King with the help of quick-thinking Clara. The mice mourn the loss of their leader and Clara is overcome with emotion after this trying ordeal.
The Snow Forest
Due to all of the commotion, Clara doesn't quite realize that she's not in her playroom anymore. Somehow she finds herself in a snowy forest with her handsome partner. As they try to navigate their way through the trees, a beautiful Snow Queen appears. She tells the pair that she will help grant them safe passage through the Snow Forest. Clara is so taken with her beautiful appearance that she asks if she too can have a beautiful dress like the Snow Queen's. To her delight, the Snow Queen sends Clara off to dress for the snowy conditions. And it's just in time too; a blizzard is coming in...
Clara's Toy Chest
Our story begins with young Clara passing the afternoon away daydreaming of Christmas and playing with her toys. She is delighted when her friend Party Princess joins her for a playdate. The two laugh and play pretend until Clara's little brother Fritz (who has a flair for annoying Clara) interrupts the girls. Clara scolds him and sends him out; it's her turn to play in the playroom! Before long, Party Princess realizes she must get home! Clara bids her friend farewell and wonders how she will occupy her time now. She's delighted when her Friends arrive to play with her and they enjoy fun escapades in the playroom. Clara's favorite uncle Herr Drosselmeyer pays her a visit. Drosselmeyer is a tricky fellow, keen to dabble in magic and fantasy. He puts a spell on Clara to help bring her imagination to life. Suddenly there are Dancing Bears and life-sized Ballerina Dolls and Nesting Dolls in her playroom. Clara can't believe her eyes! She is delighted to see how all of these "toys" work and can't wait to play with them. Party Princess comes back for more fun with Clara, and it's just in time too: Herr Drosselmeyer has a few more tricks up his sleeve. He presents Party Princess with a beautiful teddy bear and gives Clara a nutcracker doll. The girls have so much fun with their new toys until naughty Fritz sneaks in, steals the nutcracker doll from Clara, and breaks it. Clara is devastated! Herr Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue, admonishing Fritz for his carelessness and, using his magic repairs the nutcracker doll. Drosselmeyer wants to cheer Clara up, so he asks would she like to see some mice and soldiers? Clara, thinking he means mice and soldier dolls, readily agrees. Much to her surprise, some life-size mice and soldiers spring out of nowhere! A fierce battle ensues between these natural rivals. The evil Mouse King is determined to defeat the soldiers. But wait! A leader for the soldiers charges into the fight. Clara can't believe her eyes; could it actually be that her nutcracker doll has come to life? Whoever this hero is, he defeats the Mouse King with the help of quick-thinking Clara. The mice mourn the loss of their leader and Clara is overcome with emotion after this trying ordeal.
The Snow Forest
Due to all of the commotion, Clara doesn't quite realize that she's not in her playroom anymore. Somehow she finds herself in a snowy forest with her handsome partner. As they try to navigate their way through the trees, a beautiful Snow Queen appears. She tells the pair that she will help grant them safe passage through the Snow Forest. Clara is so taken with her beautiful appearance that she asks if she too can have a beautiful dress like the Snow Queen's. To her delight, the Snow Queen sends Clara off to dress for the snowy conditions. And it's just in time too; a blizzard is coming in...
-Intermission-
Act 2
Synopsis
The Land of Sweets
Clara has made safe passage through the Snow Forest and finds herself in a beautiful new land. She is greeted by the ruler of the realm, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Clara wonders, 'what is this place?' The Sugar Plum Fairy calls on her ladies in waiting: the Arabian Queen, Spanish Queen, Waltz Queen, and wait, is that a familiar face? Why yes, it's the Snow Queen! They all greet Clara and ask about her journey. Right on time, the Nutcracker Prince joins Clara to tell everyone about the harrowing encounter with the Mouse King and his minions. All are delighted to hear that Clara's quick thinking coupled with the Prince's prowess helped to defeat the Mouse King. The Sugar Plum Fairy wants to reward the brave pair to all the sweets they can dream of! She offers them more treats than they've ever seen; Spanish Chocolate, Bon Bons, Gum Drops, Chinese Tea, Lemon Drops, Mirlitons, Russian Candy Canes, and more! They're even graced with a visit from Angels and Cherubs from heaven on high. Just when Clara thinks she's seen (and eaten!) it all, a woman with an enormous dress joins in on the fun with a few surprises in store. The Waltz Queen paints a beautiful picture for Clara using flowers, Garland Girls, and Dew Drops. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier dominate the Land of Sweets and send Clara on her way. Clara can't believe what an incredible adventure she's had; or was it just a dream?
The Land of Sweets
Clara has made safe passage through the Snow Forest and finds herself in a beautiful new land. She is greeted by the ruler of the realm, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Clara wonders, 'what is this place?' The Sugar Plum Fairy calls on her ladies in waiting: the Arabian Queen, Spanish Queen, Waltz Queen, and wait, is that a familiar face? Why yes, it's the Snow Queen! They all greet Clara and ask about her journey. Right on time, the Nutcracker Prince joins Clara to tell everyone about the harrowing encounter with the Mouse King and his minions. All are delighted to hear that Clara's quick thinking coupled with the Prince's prowess helped to defeat the Mouse King. The Sugar Plum Fairy wants to reward the brave pair to all the sweets they can dream of! She offers them more treats than they've ever seen; Spanish Chocolate, Bon Bons, Gum Drops, Chinese Tea, Lemon Drops, Mirlitons, Russian Candy Canes, and more! They're even graced with a visit from Angels and Cherubs from heaven on high. Just when Clara thinks she's seen (and eaten!) it all, a woman with an enormous dress joins in on the fun with a few surprises in store. The Waltz Queen paints a beautiful picture for Clara using flowers, Garland Girls, and Dew Drops. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier dominate the Land of Sweets and send Clara on her way. Clara can't believe what an incredible adventure she's had; or was it just a dream?
Casting
Act 1 Lead Roles
Clara............................Olivia Humeniuk; understudy Mercedes Stout
Party Princess..........Carson McIntosh; understudy Penelope Slaugh
Fritz.............................Odin Child; understudy Juliet Lammi
Herr Drosselmeyer ("Drossel-Mike")......Mike Martin
Lead Ballerina Dolls......Andrea Holker, Anaya Perez
Lead Dancing Bears......Paisley Crookston, Leah Frandsen
Lead Nesting Dolls.......Ellie Steadman, Rosalynn Gomez, Hallie Dixon
Lead Soldier..................Penelope Odion; understudy Jenna Hansen
Lead Mice......................Audrey Glad, Abigail Hall; understudies Sydney Sampson, Heidi Davis
Mouse King..................Brooklyn LaMela; understudy Ashlee Barney
Nutcracker Prince.....Talmage Child; understudies Kierra Wraught and Avery Child
Snow Queen...............Mercedes Stout; understudy Olivia Humeniuk
Act 1 Corps de Ballet
*Clara's Friends: Eden Dunn, Ellie Hendrickson, Myna Lee-Marzo, Julia Michaelis, Ella Morrell, Isabella Williams
*Dancing Bears: Hollow Dunn, James Glad, Hattie Hurd, Lydia Lambson, Ivy van Rij, Chloe Badger, Penny Davis, Faye Hurd, Natalia Kirn, Dominik Martin, Rylee Rollins, Lily Jane Schumann, Paige Segura, Brigitta Stewart, Emery Wilhite
*Ballerina Dolls: Clara Allen, Ellie Baird, Charlotte French, Gentry Hendrickson, Presley Higgins, Olivia Owens, Evelyn Rogers, Brighton Sutton, Macie Wasden, Jane Webster, Jenny White
*Nesting Dolls: Lucy Chipman, Lucy Dean, Clara Mitchell, Eleanor Broadbent, Maddison Davis, Baylor Higgs, Jillian Hinckley, Sicily Savage, Cora Slack, Elise Stout, Charlotte Ten Eyck
*Soldiers: Kali Kirton, Lilliana Baker, Lila Gardner, Jenna Hansen, Kylie Patterson, Penelope Slaugh, Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts, Kierra Wraught, Allison Bailey, Edie Denet, Ila Dunn, Tayli Greenhalgh, Tiffany Jones
*Mice: Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Fiona Hansen, Willow Hess, Amillya McCain, Lilly Miller, Penelope Mitchell, Sydney Sampson, Emily Spafford, Eliza Walker
*Snow Fairies: Siena Cherrington, Isabelle Dixon, Isabella Michaelis, Esther Valladares, Vittoria Wayman, Adina Adams, Eden Oveson, Kaiila Tiatia
*Snow: Gracie Edmunds, Olivia Humeniuk, Abigale Perry, Mercedes Stout, Kaidence Vance, Addy Meza
Act 2 Lead Roles
Sugar Plum Fairy..........Nikki Ferry; understudy Gracie Edmunds
Cavalier...........................Derek Martinez
Spanish Queen............Abigale Perry; understudy Gracie Edmunds
Arabian Queen.............Morgan Reid
Waltz Queen.................Gracie Edmunds; understudy Abigale Perry
Lead Bon Bons.............Kali Kirton, Kierra Wraught
Lead Gum Drops.........Brooklyn Thompson, Ashlee Barney
Lead Angels....................Sydney Sampson, Heidi Davidson
Lead Cherubs.................Elise Daw, Payton Spanbauer
Lead Chinese Tea..........Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts, Penelope Slaugh
Lead Lemon Drops.......Pyper Lund, Naomi Galke
Lead Mirlitons...............Lucy Chipman, Clara Mitchell
Lead Russian...................Leah Frandsen; understudy Naomi Galke
Mother Ginger..................Dusty Stout
Waltz of the Flowers Demi-soloists.......Brooklyn Thompson, Andrea Holker, Naomi Galke, Leah Frandsen
Lead Dew Drops............Mahayla Chappell, Lilly Miller
Act 2 Corps de Ballet
*Sugar Plum Fairy Attendants: Brianna Colmenero, Danielle Crandall, Parvathy Naveen, Hope Nielsen, Adaline Pineda, Isabella Preusz, Alice Williams
*Bon Bons: Alice Darrow, Nora Helmke, Candace Jones, Everlee Ashworth, Hazel Davis, Lilly Dial, Emma Diaz, Adelae Finnell, Scarlett Pickrell, Lana Bruegger, Scotland Kelsch, Kehlani Loane, Hadley Orton, Tinsley Vaseleou
*Gum Drops: Rosanna Burrell, Linda Castro, Isabella Lindquist, Evelyana Maka, Isa Mesker, Isla Saunders, Luna Tapia, Kaiah Tonata, Eunika Wang
*Spanish Senioritas: Sarid Alfonso, Eesha Jasthi, Allie Jeffs, Macey Thum, Abigail Walker, Tetonia Wang
*Angels: Auryah Baadsgaard, Abigail Desmond, Emma Dickes, Ivy Hansen, Haven Melton, Keelie Patterson, Aspen Rappleye, Makenna Rollins, Kate Stinger, Kate Wadsworth, Emma Burton, Cambree Higgins, Emma Higley, Victoria Nevarez, Evelyn Preston
*Cherubs: Gracie Carney, Mary Day, Hazel Dunn, Maggie Glad, Oceana Hobbs, Zoey Lambson, Jethro Platt, Cadence Prazen, Brooklyn Ross, Sezja Salinas-Harris, Gwen Seamons, Kate Bliss, Alysha Wayman
*Chinese Tea: Kierra Wraught, Allison Bailey, Edie Denet, Ila Dunn, Tayli Greenhalgh, Tiffany Jones
*Lemon Drops: Aurora Amaro, Sophia Andoh, Juniper Campos, Peyton Coates, Addison Keele, Isabella Mendoza, Bailey Nielsen, Aleyna Ramirez, Nora Siry, Juniper Williams, Mya Brown, Tracie Porter, Adelyn Ramirez
*Mirlitons: Hallie Dixon, Rosalynn Gomez, Lucy Dean, Eleanor Broadbent, Maddison Davis, Baylor Higgs, Jillian Hinckley, Sicily Savage, Cora Slack, Ellie Steadman, Elise Stout, Charlotte Ten Eyck
*Arabian: Gracie Edmunds, Olivia Humeniuk, Abigale Perry, Mercedes Stout
*Russian: Penelope Odion, Carson McIntosh, Kali Kirton, Lilliana Baker, Lila Gardner, Jenna Hansen, Kylie Patterson
*Candy Canes: Millie Katherine Atkinson, Emily Badger, Urban Dunn, Kate Hansen
*Buffoon Surprises: Cara Hicks, Eiley Himle, Dilainey Hinojos, Juliet Lammi, Alysen Masinelli, Bronte Perez
*Garland Girls: Brooklyn LaMela, Paisley Crookston, Anaya Perez, Pyper Lund, Payton Spanbauer, Elise Daw, Ashlee Barney, Lola Firpo, Zellie Greenhalgh, Claire McNeil, Avery Child
*Dew Drops: Heidi Davidson, Audrey Glad, Abigail Hall, Fiona Hansen, Willow Hess, Amillya McCain, Penelope Mitchell, Sydney Sampson, Emily Spafford, Eliza Walker
Act 1 Lead Roles
Clara............................Olivia Humeniuk; understudy Mercedes Stout
Party Princess..........Carson McIntosh; understudy Penelope Slaugh
Fritz.............................Odin Child; understudy Juliet Lammi
Herr Drosselmeyer ("Drossel-Mike")......Mike Martin
Lead Ballerina Dolls......Andrea Holker, Anaya Perez
Lead Dancing Bears......Paisley Crookston, Leah Frandsen
Lead Nesting Dolls.......Ellie Steadman, Rosalynn Gomez, Hallie Dixon
Lead Soldier..................Penelope Odion; understudy Jenna Hansen
Lead Mice......................Audrey Glad, Abigail Hall; understudies Sydney Sampson, Heidi Davis
Mouse King..................Brooklyn LaMela; understudy Ashlee Barney
Nutcracker Prince.....Talmage Child; understudies Kierra Wraught and Avery Child
Snow Queen...............Mercedes Stout; understudy Olivia Humeniuk
Act 1 Corps de Ballet
*Clara's Friends: Eden Dunn, Ellie Hendrickson, Myna Lee-Marzo, Julia Michaelis, Ella Morrell, Isabella Williams
*Dancing Bears: Hollow Dunn, James Glad, Hattie Hurd, Lydia Lambson, Ivy van Rij, Chloe Badger, Penny Davis, Faye Hurd, Natalia Kirn, Dominik Martin, Rylee Rollins, Lily Jane Schumann, Paige Segura, Brigitta Stewart, Emery Wilhite
*Ballerina Dolls: Clara Allen, Ellie Baird, Charlotte French, Gentry Hendrickson, Presley Higgins, Olivia Owens, Evelyn Rogers, Brighton Sutton, Macie Wasden, Jane Webster, Jenny White
*Nesting Dolls: Lucy Chipman, Lucy Dean, Clara Mitchell, Eleanor Broadbent, Maddison Davis, Baylor Higgs, Jillian Hinckley, Sicily Savage, Cora Slack, Elise Stout, Charlotte Ten Eyck
*Soldiers: Kali Kirton, Lilliana Baker, Lila Gardner, Jenna Hansen, Kylie Patterson, Penelope Slaugh, Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts, Kierra Wraught, Allison Bailey, Edie Denet, Ila Dunn, Tayli Greenhalgh, Tiffany Jones
*Mice: Mahayla Chappell, Heidi Davidson, Fiona Hansen, Willow Hess, Amillya McCain, Lilly Miller, Penelope Mitchell, Sydney Sampson, Emily Spafford, Eliza Walker
*Snow Fairies: Siena Cherrington, Isabelle Dixon, Isabella Michaelis, Esther Valladares, Vittoria Wayman, Adina Adams, Eden Oveson, Kaiila Tiatia
*Snow: Gracie Edmunds, Olivia Humeniuk, Abigale Perry, Mercedes Stout, Kaidence Vance, Addy Meza
Act 2 Lead Roles
Sugar Plum Fairy..........Nikki Ferry; understudy Gracie Edmunds
Cavalier...........................Derek Martinez
Spanish Queen............Abigale Perry; understudy Gracie Edmunds
Arabian Queen.............Morgan Reid
Waltz Queen.................Gracie Edmunds; understudy Abigale Perry
Lead Bon Bons.............Kali Kirton, Kierra Wraught
Lead Gum Drops.........Brooklyn Thompson, Ashlee Barney
Lead Angels....................Sydney Sampson, Heidi Davidson
Lead Cherubs.................Elise Daw, Payton Spanbauer
Lead Chinese Tea..........Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts, Penelope Slaugh
Lead Lemon Drops.......Pyper Lund, Naomi Galke
Lead Mirlitons...............Lucy Chipman, Clara Mitchell
Lead Russian...................Leah Frandsen; understudy Naomi Galke
Mother Ginger..................Dusty Stout
Waltz of the Flowers Demi-soloists.......Brooklyn Thompson, Andrea Holker, Naomi Galke, Leah Frandsen
Lead Dew Drops............Mahayla Chappell, Lilly Miller
Act 2 Corps de Ballet
*Sugar Plum Fairy Attendants: Brianna Colmenero, Danielle Crandall, Parvathy Naveen, Hope Nielsen, Adaline Pineda, Isabella Preusz, Alice Williams
*Bon Bons: Alice Darrow, Nora Helmke, Candace Jones, Everlee Ashworth, Hazel Davis, Lilly Dial, Emma Diaz, Adelae Finnell, Scarlett Pickrell, Lana Bruegger, Scotland Kelsch, Kehlani Loane, Hadley Orton, Tinsley Vaseleou
*Gum Drops: Rosanna Burrell, Linda Castro, Isabella Lindquist, Evelyana Maka, Isa Mesker, Isla Saunders, Luna Tapia, Kaiah Tonata, Eunika Wang
*Spanish Senioritas: Sarid Alfonso, Eesha Jasthi, Allie Jeffs, Macey Thum, Abigail Walker, Tetonia Wang
*Angels: Auryah Baadsgaard, Abigail Desmond, Emma Dickes, Ivy Hansen, Haven Melton, Keelie Patterson, Aspen Rappleye, Makenna Rollins, Kate Stinger, Kate Wadsworth, Emma Burton, Cambree Higgins, Emma Higley, Victoria Nevarez, Evelyn Preston
*Cherubs: Gracie Carney, Mary Day, Hazel Dunn, Maggie Glad, Oceana Hobbs, Zoey Lambson, Jethro Platt, Cadence Prazen, Brooklyn Ross, Sezja Salinas-Harris, Gwen Seamons, Kate Bliss, Alysha Wayman
*Chinese Tea: Kierra Wraught, Allison Bailey, Edie Denet, Ila Dunn, Tayli Greenhalgh, Tiffany Jones
*Lemon Drops: Aurora Amaro, Sophia Andoh, Juniper Campos, Peyton Coates, Addison Keele, Isabella Mendoza, Bailey Nielsen, Aleyna Ramirez, Nora Siry, Juniper Williams, Mya Brown, Tracie Porter, Adelyn Ramirez
*Mirlitons: Hallie Dixon, Rosalynn Gomez, Lucy Dean, Eleanor Broadbent, Maddison Davis, Baylor Higgs, Jillian Hinckley, Sicily Savage, Cora Slack, Ellie Steadman, Elise Stout, Charlotte Ten Eyck
*Arabian: Gracie Edmunds, Olivia Humeniuk, Abigale Perry, Mercedes Stout
*Russian: Penelope Odion, Carson McIntosh, Kali Kirton, Lilliana Baker, Lila Gardner, Jenna Hansen, Kylie Patterson
*Candy Canes: Millie Katherine Atkinson, Emily Badger, Urban Dunn, Kate Hansen
*Buffoon Surprises: Cara Hicks, Eiley Himle, Dilainey Hinojos, Juliet Lammi, Alysen Masinelli, Bronte Perez
*Garland Girls: Brooklyn LaMela, Paisley Crookston, Anaya Perez, Pyper Lund, Payton Spanbauer, Elise Daw, Ashlee Barney, Lola Firpo, Zellie Greenhalgh, Claire McNeil, Avery Child
*Dew Drops: Heidi Davidson, Audrey Glad, Abigail Hall, Fiona Hansen, Willow Hess, Amillya McCain, Penelope Mitchell, Sydney Sampson, Emily Spafford, Eliza Walker
Featured soloists
Derek Martinez
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Mike Martin
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Dusty Stout
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Production Acknowledgments
Artistic Director: Juliana Martin
Choreography: West Point Ballet Faculty
Staging: Maggie Wright-Tesch
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, Boris Chegodayev, Rem Maslov, Josu Gallastegui, Angela Yoffe
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Martin, Mariah Edmunds, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Kalise Child, Shelley Rollins, and Stephanie Humeniuk
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, and backstage helpers
*Guest artists courtesy of the University of Utah School of Dance Ballet Program: Nikki Ferry and Derek Martinez
*Coaching and staging: Maggie Wright-Tesch
*Guest artists: Mike Martin and Dusty Stout
*Lighting Designer: Riley Merrill
*Sound Engineer: Joey Alonzo
*Head Costume Designer and Seamstress: Nikki Stout
*Seamstress: Annie Walker
*Stage Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Manager: GeriLynn Vorkink
*Volunteer Manager: Carolyn Nottingham
*Floor installation: Mike Martin and Kent Vorkink
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographer: Don Polo Photography
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Director: Doug Parkin
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff
Artistic Director: Juliana Martin
Choreography: West Point Ballet Faculty
Staging: Maggie Wright-Tesch
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, Boris Chegodayev, Rem Maslov, Josu Gallastegui, Angela Yoffe
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Martin, Mariah Edmunds, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Kalise Child, Shelley Rollins, and Stephanie Humeniuk
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, and backstage helpers
*Guest artists courtesy of the University of Utah School of Dance Ballet Program: Nikki Ferry and Derek Martinez
*Coaching and staging: Maggie Wright-Tesch
*Guest artists: Mike Martin and Dusty Stout
*Lighting Designer: Riley Merrill
*Sound Engineer: Joey Alonzo
*Head Costume Designer and Seamstress: Nikki Stout
*Seamstress: Annie Walker
*Stage Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Manager: GeriLynn Vorkink
*Volunteer Manager: Carolyn Nottingham
*Floor installation: Mike Martin and Kent Vorkink
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographer: Don Polo Photography
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Director: Doug Parkin
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff
A note from the Artistic Director
Dear family, friends, and supporters,
Welcome to our performances of The Nutcracker! I am thrilled that you are in attendance to support our incredible dancers. While every performance we have is a special event, The Nutcracker marks an important benchmark for our program as it is our first time performing an original full-length version of this beloved Christmas story. I have dreamed of the day when our program would be ready to present this ballet and I couldn't be happier to have all of you here to experience it with us! This performance is also made special by the fact it's the first time our cast has over 200 dancers including guest artists from the community and the renowned University of Utah's School of Dance Ballet Program; the latter of which many of West Point Ballet's faculty members graduated from.
We are thrilled to be performing in the brand-new state-of-the-art theater here at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and hope you will enjoy the performance in this professional facility. As many of you might recall, as recently as February of this year we had to severely limit how many attendees could patronize our performances due to COVID-19 restrictions. While we are mindful of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are so grateful that changes in restrictions have allowed us to perform at almost a normal capacity. Through your support and patronage we have 3 consecutive sold out performances which is such a treat for all of our dancers. As a performer, there is nothing like the energy one feels from a full audience laughing, clapping, cheering, and otherwise being engaged in the show.
I would like to thank my amazing faculty for their time, talents, and energy. Their creativity, vision, and problem-solving skills are unparalleled. Thank you to Hannah Hurd, Mariah Edmunds, Sharlee Peay, Kalise Child, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Shelley Rollins, Nikki Stout, and Stephanie Humeniuk. We wouldn’t be here without the class moms and other volunteers for contributing their time this week. I also need to recognize many members of my own family for their continued support and manpower to help these performances be successful. Thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would surely not exist in any form. It only took 11 years to convince him to make his performing debut as "Drossel-Mike". Finally, thank you parents for your faith in me and support of this program. This has been an amazing ride and I am looking forward to what's to come for West Point Ballet. We are excited to present The Nutcracker each holiday season from here on out.
Enjoy the show!
Kind regards,
Juliana Martin
Owner and Artistic Director
Dear family, friends, and supporters,
Welcome to our performances of The Nutcracker! I am thrilled that you are in attendance to support our incredible dancers. While every performance we have is a special event, The Nutcracker marks an important benchmark for our program as it is our first time performing an original full-length version of this beloved Christmas story. I have dreamed of the day when our program would be ready to present this ballet and I couldn't be happier to have all of you here to experience it with us! This performance is also made special by the fact it's the first time our cast has over 200 dancers including guest artists from the community and the renowned University of Utah's School of Dance Ballet Program; the latter of which many of West Point Ballet's faculty members graduated from.
We are thrilled to be performing in the brand-new state-of-the-art theater here at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and hope you will enjoy the performance in this professional facility. As many of you might recall, as recently as February of this year we had to severely limit how many attendees could patronize our performances due to COVID-19 restrictions. While we are mindful of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are so grateful that changes in restrictions have allowed us to perform at almost a normal capacity. Through your support and patronage we have 3 consecutive sold out performances which is such a treat for all of our dancers. As a performer, there is nothing like the energy one feels from a full audience laughing, clapping, cheering, and otherwise being engaged in the show.
I would like to thank my amazing faculty for their time, talents, and energy. Their creativity, vision, and problem-solving skills are unparalleled. Thank you to Hannah Hurd, Mariah Edmunds, Sharlee Peay, Kalise Child, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Shelley Rollins, Nikki Stout, and Stephanie Humeniuk. We wouldn’t be here without the class moms and other volunteers for contributing their time this week. I also need to recognize many members of my own family for their continued support and manpower to help these performances be successful. Thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would surely not exist in any form. It only took 11 years to convince him to make his performing debut as "Drossel-Mike". Finally, thank you parents for your faith in me and support of this program. This has been an amazing ride and I am looking forward to what's to come for West Point Ballet. We are excited to present The Nutcracker each holiday season from here on out.
Enjoy the show!
Kind regards,
Juliana Martin
Owner and Artistic Director