THE NUTCRACKER

West Point Ballet Presents

November 21-22, 2025

Acknowledgements

Production

Artistic Director:

Juliana Vorkink Martin

Associate Director of Performances:

Hannah Hurd

Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra

Choreography: Staged by Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, and West Point Ballet Faculty

Special thanks to...

*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Lisa Vorkink, Kalise Child, Faith Hortin, Addy Boll, Mercedes Stout, Meleah Paishon, Carole Bingham, Ashley Chappell, Rocio Holker, Jenni Sperry, Julianna Velling, Mikayla Milligan, Jessie Salter, April Paul
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, chaperones, and backstage helpers
*Guest artists: Morgan Morley Hastings, Bashaun Williams, Mike Martin, Dusty Stout, Rocio Holker, Mercedes Stout, Brandon Frandsen, Sharlee Peay, Landon Peay, Amber Holmes, Hannah Hurd, Juliana Vorkink Martin
*Lighting Designer: Riley Merrill
*Sound Engineer: Chris Gould
*Flyman and Rigger: Peter Jones

*Coordinator: Carole Bingham
*Costume Coordinator: Rocio Holker
*Seamstress: Rebecca Burton, Annie Walker
*Stage and Production Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Manager: GeriLynn Vorkink
*Volunteer Manager: Carolyn Nottingham
*Volunteer Coordinator: Ashley Chappell
*Floor installation: Mike Martin, Ben Chappell
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographers: Sharlee Peay Photography, Pro Pointe Photography
*Props: Breece Perry, Jason and Sydnye McCain, Gaige Dupaix, Jenni Sperry
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Director: Ryan Smythe
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff

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A note from the Artistic Director:

Dear family, friends, and supporters,

Welcome to our performances of The Nutcracker! I am thrilled to have you here supporting our incredible dancers. While every production we present is special, The Nutcracker holds a particularly dear place in my heart. It represents our own original interpretation of this beloved Christmas story, and I am delighted to bring it back to the stage for the fourth consecutive year.

This production is especially meaningful to us, as it features not only our talented academy dancers—over 150 of them—but also guest performers from the community, our faculty, and professional guest artists. It is truly inspiring to see so much talent come together to bring this story to life.

We are grateful to perform in the beautiful, state-of-the-art theater at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. I hope you enjoy experiencing The Nutcracker in this wonderful, professional facility.

As a performer myself, I know there is nothing quite like the energy of a full audience—laughing, clapping, cheering, and engaging with the show. I am so glad you are here to share in that experience.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my amazing faculty for their time, talent, energy, creativity, and vision. Their problem-solving skills and dedication are unparalleled. I am also deeply grateful to our class parents and volunteers for generously contributing their time this week. In addition, I want to recognize many members of my own family for their support and willingness to help make these performances possible. And thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would not exist in any form.

Finally, thank you to our parents for your faith in me and your ongoing support of this program. This journey has been incredible, and I am excited for what lies ahead for West Point Ballet.

Enjoy the show!

Warmly,
Juliana Vorkink Martin
Owner and Artistic Director, West Point Ballet

Story Synopsis:

~ Act 1 ~

The enchanting story of The Nutcracker begins at the home of the Stahlbaum family, where they are hosting their annual holiday celebration in honor of Clara coming of age. Friends and relatives arrive from near and far, bringing gifts to mark the special occasion. Clara and her younger brother Fritz are especially excited for the arrival of their mysterious godfather, Drosselmeyer. When he appears, he delights the guests with magic tricks and presents life-sized dancing dolls. He also brings Clara a very special gift: a beautiful, one-of-a-kind Nutcracker doll.

As the party winds down and the guests depart, Clara—tired from the excitement—falls asleep with the Nutcracker cradled in her arms.

During the night, strange things begin to happen. The Christmas tree grows taller and taller, and mice emerge from the shadows. Clara awakens to find herself surrounded by rats. Suddenly, her beloved Nutcracker comes to life, transformed into a Nutcracker Prince. He summons his toy soldiers to battle the Rat Queen and her army. Terrified but brave, Clara distracts the Rat Queen, allowing the Nutcracker Prince to claim victory and seize the Queen’s crown.

With the battle won, the Nutcracker fully transforms into a prince. Angels appear and guide Clara and the Prince into a shimmering winter landscape. There, the Snow Queen welcome them, dancing among falling, glistening snowflakes.

~ 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION ~

~ Act 2 ~

Clara and the Prince travel to a delightful realm known as the Land of Sweets. Upon their arrival, they are warmly welcomed by the Court Fairy, Ladies in Waiting, sweet fairies, and the elegant Sugar Plum Fairy with her Cavalier. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince share the tale of their battle and the journey that brought them to this magical kingdom.

In celebration of their victory, the Sugar Plum Fairy joyfully summons everyone in the Land of Sweets to dance in their honor. Clara joins her newfound friends in a final, joyful dance before she returns home with her beloved Nutcracker.

Casting

Act 1 Casting

Villagers: Eden Dunn, Sicily Savage, Ella Morrell, Isabella Williams

Maid: Kate Wadsworth

Understudy: Sicily Savage

Nanny: Madi Earhart

Understudy: Eden Dunn

Clara: Lila Gardner

Understudy: Baylor Higgs

Fritz: Amillya McCain

Understudy: Ella Morrell

Mrs. Stahlbaum: Sharlee Peay

Mr. Stahlbaum: Landon Peay

Granny Julianny: Juliana Martin

Party Parents: Jenna Hansen, Mercedes Stout, Alyssa Bingham, Rocio Holker, Amber Holmes, Dusty Stout, Levi Allen, Brandon Frandsen

Party People: Dilainey Hinojos, Julia Michaelis, Sicily Savage, Jillian Hinckley, Emma Burton

Party Girls: Faye Hurd, Melody Tuitupou, Isabelle Dixon, Scout Salter, Hazel Dunn, Ashtyn Snow, Oakley Brown, Savannah Kern, Ivy van Rij, Scarlett Shamy, Ellie Baird

Jr Party Girls: Bria Martin, Blake Peay, Azalea Holmes, Portia Bonham, Hallie Hawkins, Kiera Pedroza, Rue Cassell, Nyah Griffith, Natalie Kennedy, Birdie Salter, Indy Howe, Lucy Bair, Ella Guevara, Luna Fulukava, Renata Aponte, Alexis Smith

Party Boys: Taft Peay, Crew Peay, Bryce Hurd, Finn Salter, Theo Martin

Garland Gallop: Ashtyn Snow, Bronte Perez, Ellie Baird, Maggie Glad, Rose Wright, Scout Salter, Sophia Andoh

Herr Drosselmeyer (“Drossel-Mike”): Mike Martin

Ballerina Doll: Clara Mitchell

Understudy: Jenna Hansen

Harlequin Doll: Addison Hunter

Understudy: Rosie Shamy

Jesters: Ella Morrell, Isabella Williams

Dancing Bear: Leah Frandsen

Understudy: Liv Hanson

Baby Mice: Brighton Sutton, Catalina Eddings, Chloe Shamy, Hattie Hurd, Isabella Michaelis, Isabella Preusz, Isla Morrissey, Kate Sperry, Macie Wasden, Rosie Lamping, Tatiana Dorofeeva, Margot Roeller, Savanna Bean, Siena Judd

Bravo Company: Ahna Li, Audrey Glad

Drummer: Scarlett Shamy

Trumpeter: Savannah Kern

Rat Queen: Abigail Walker

Understudy: Halie Dixon

Rats: Naomi Day, Rosie Shamy, Addy Hunter, Madi Earhart, Heidi Davidson, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Levi Allen, Mahayla Chappell, Lola Firpo

Nutcracker Prince: Ryan Lambert

Understudy: Levi Allen

Soldiers: Faye Hurd, Hazel Dunn, Izzy Dixon, Ivy van Rij, Melody Tuitupou, Savannah Kern, Scarlett Shamy

Lead Angel: Anabella Hernandez

Angels: Hazel Schultz, Alice Kunzler, Lettie Hinckley, Ember Watson, Bella Bullard, Bella Ellingson, Emily Degn, Emery Wilhite, Hannah Blankenagel, Anabella Hernandez, Sadie Taylor

Snow Crystals: Brooklyn LaMela and Mahayla Chappell

Understudy: Tayli Greenhalgh

Snow Queen: Andrea Holker

Understudy: Leah Frandsen

Snow Jr. Corps: Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Heidi Davidson, Jenna Hansen, Mahayla Chappell, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Liv Hanson, Tayli Greenhalgh, Lola Firpo

Snow Sr. Corps: Clara Mitchell, Carson McIntosh, Kali Kirton, Leah Frandsen, Alyssa Bingham, Elise Daw

Act 2 Casting

Sugar Plum Fairy: Morgan Hastings Morley

Cavalier: Bashaun Williams

Court Fairy: Leah Frandsen

Understudy: Alyssa Bingham

Ladies in Waiting: Ahna Li, Audrey Glad, Dilainey Hinojos, Emma Burton, Eunika Wang, Jillian Hinckley, Julia Michaelis, Kate Wadsworth, McKenzie Nielson, Oakley Brown

Sweet Fairies: Brighton Sutton, Kate Sperry, Macie Wasden, Tatiana Dorofeeva, Margot Roeller, Savanna Bean, Siena Judd

Jesters: Ella Morrell and Isabella Williams

Spanish pas de deux: Carson McIntosh and Levi Allen

Understudy: Clara Mitchell

Arabian Queens: Andrea Holker and Leah Frandsen

Understudy: Kali Kirton

Arabian Cavalier: Ryan Lambert

Chinese Leads: Lola Firpo, Elise Daw, and Heidi Davidson

Chinese Corps: Ashtyn Snow, Bronte Perez, Ellie Baird, Maggie Glad, Rose Wright, Scout Salter, Sophia Andoh

Russian Soloists: Levi Allen, Leah Frandsen

Understudy: Andrea Holker

Russian Corps: Amillya McCain, Naomi Day, Rosie Shamy, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Liv Hanson, Tayli Greenhalgh

Lead Mirliton: Kali Kirton

Understudy: Elise Daw

Petite Mirlitons: Eden Dunn, Mckenzie Nielsen, Hallie Dixon, Oakley Brown, Eunika Wang, Baylor Higgs

Mother Ginger: Dusty Stout

Gingersnaps: Catalina Eddings, Chloe Shamy, Bella Michaelis, Isabella Preusz, Hattie Hurd, Rosie Lamping

Gingerfeet: Hannah Hurd

Dew Drop Fairy: Alyssa Bingham

Understudy: Carson McIntosh

Waltz of the Flowers Jr Corps: Abigail Walker, Amillya McCain, Baylor Higgs, Eden Dunn, Ella Morrell, Hallie Dixon, Isabella Williams, Madi Earhart, Naomi Day, Rosie Shamy, Sicily Savage

Waltz of the Flowers Sr. Corps: Addison Hunter, Brooklyn LaMela, Carson McIntosh, Clara Mitchell, Elise Daw, Heidi Davidson, Jenna Hansen, Lola Firpo, Mahayla Chappell, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Liv Hanson, Tayli Greenhalgh, Kali Kirton, Andrea Holker, Leah Frandsen

We’re excited to be building a new ballet studio—a space where dancers of all ages can learn, grow, and feel inspired. As we work toward making this space a reality, we’re hoping for a little help. Donations will go directly toward making the studio safe and welcoming, including providing the equipment our dancers need to train and thrive.

If you’d like to support this project, we’re truly grateful. Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer. Thank you for being part of this community and cheering us on.

DONATE HERE

VENMO: @westpointballet

Performers

Guest Performers

Morgan Morley

Sugar Plum Fairy

Morgan grew up in Sandy, Utah, where she began her dance training at Linda Fenton Dance Studio. She was a trainee with Ballet West until she moved to Moscow, Russia, to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Morgan studied ballet in Russia for a year, and upon her return, she danced with the company, Utah Metropolitan Ballet.

She graduated from BYU with a BA in dance and was able to work with repetiteurs from the Arpino and Balanchine foundations while dancing with Theatre Ballet Company.

After graduating, Morgan lived in London and continued to train and dance as a freelance artist.

Over the years, she has taught ballet at various studios across the valley. Morgan was the Ballet Director at Studio V Performing Arts Academy for 4 years. While teaching, she also enjoyed her time dancing with Chrysalis Ballet Company.

Alongside her dance career, Morgan has supported her training by becoming certified in Stott Pilates (Mat & Reformer), Total Barre, and Progressing Ballet Technique.

Recently, she went back to school to study nursing. She is working as a nurse on the Neuro ICU at Intermountain. She continues to dance and perform as a guest artist and jumps at any opportunity to be involved in the dance world.

Bashaun Williams

Cavalier

Bashaun Williams is a native of Lubbock, Texas. He started dancing at the age of 16 with Ballet Lubbock, under the Artistic Direction of Yvonne Racz-Key. While in high school, Bashaun was the only Sophomore to play Varsity basketball for Lubbock High. He went on to become the captain of the Varsity team during his Junior and Senior years. Bashaun excelled artistically and academically while at Lubbock High school, performing numerous roles in many of Ballet Lubbock’s professional productions, and received the top honor of being named All-Westerner Boy during his Senior year. Bashaun was offered a full academic and artistic merit scholarship to attend the University of Utah.

At the University of Utah, Bashaun was a member of the resident performing company, Utah Ballet from 2007-2011. During this time, he performed numerous Principle and Soloist roles and graduated with Honors in 2011.

Upon graduation, Bashaun was offered a contract to join the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, where he danced for an entire decade! As a member of the company, he toured extensively throughout the United States, Africa, France, Japan, Mongolia & South Korea to perform and teach master classes. As a professional dancer, Bashaun has performed the works of many renowned choreographers such as Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Stevan Novakovich, Edward Truitt, Val Caniparoli, Rick Tija, Johannes Weiland, Bill T. Jones, Adam Barruch, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Doug Varone, Yin Yue, Raja Feather Kelly and Daniel Charon, among others. Not only did his passion for performing grow during this time, but also, his passion for teaching. Bashaun has had the privilege of teaching master classes at renown universities such as Georgia University, The University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Brenau University, & Loyola Marymount University, to name a few. In the last 12 years, Bashaun has set choreography and taught creative movement classes in over 100 Utah schools! Bashaun is currently on faculty for Ballet West Academy, a full time fitness instructor, dance educator, and a freelance performer and choreographer based out of Salt Lake City.

Ryan Lambert

Nutcracker Prince, Arabian Cavalier

Ryan Lambert began his ballet training at the age of thirteen at Linda Fenton Dance Studio in Sandy. He attended the Ballet West Summer Intensive in 2014. From 2017-2022 as a member of BYU Theater Ballet he performed various roles in Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Flower Festival, Paquita, Gerald Arpino's Reflections, and George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht. His earliest ballet performances were with Mountain West Ballet in productions including The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland.

He has guest-starred in various Nutcracker productions for Barlow Arts Conservatory, Hot Shots Dance Studio, and Smash Dance Academy. You may have seen him at the Hale Center Theatre in Sandy in An American in Paris, and the Hale Center Theatre Orem in Anything Goes, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Ryan now lives in New York City and has continued his dance training at Steps on Broadway and Gibney Dance Center.