Ruth Page's
THE NUTCRACKER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024
1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
and
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2024
1 p.m.
JLC Mainstage
Happy Holidays!
We are delighted to welcome you to The Nutcracker, a cherished holiday tradition here at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts (JLC). With its enchanting dancing, breathtaking sets and beautiful costumes, this timeless classic continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
December is a season for both reflection and renewal. As we celebrate the successes of this year, we also look forward to an exciting future filled with creativity, inspiration and artistic excellence.
The JLC remains dedicated to bringing exceptional performances to Lake County. This upcoming spring season promises something for everyone: world-class musicians from far and near -- including two artists from right here in Lake County -- exploring a variety of genres. From Broadway star Michael Cavanaugh to raucous New Orleans jazz to a new take on traditional mariachi, you will love what you see on our stage!
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a bright new year. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Warm regards,
Alisa Baum, Executive Director
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts
College of Lake County
We respectfully acknowledge that the College of Lake County is on the ancestral homelands of the Kickapoo, Peoria, Potawatomi, and other native peoples. We recognize the longstanding significance of these lands for indigenous peoples past, present and future. Historical awareness of indigenous exclusion and erasure is critically important to preventing further atrocities. The College of Lake County pledges to acknowledge the grave injustices of the past and pledges to create awareness and advance education that invites truth.
Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker
Ruth Page’s classic ballet in two acts, based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” written in 1816.
Run Time 2h:00m including intermission.
Music – Piotr I. Tchaikovsky
Original Choreography – Ruth Page
Additional Choreography – Dolores Long, Larry Long, and Birute Barodiçaite
Costume Design – José Verona
Script – Tom Etlinger and William Raffeld
Lighting Direction and Design – Shelbi Arndt
2024 Director Credits
Artistic Director - Victor Alexander
Associate Director - Dolores Long
Rehearsal Director - Birute Barodiçaite
Children’s Directors – John Atterberry, Chrissy Atterberry Lacny, Dori Goldstein Rothschild
Stage Door Dance Academy Rehearsal Directors – Andrea Collier and Janis Jaska
Talent Forum Executive Director – Shelley Page Hoselton
Talent Forum Soldier Director – Wesley Owens
Director of Actors - Renardo Johnson
2024 Production Credits
Lighting Direction and Design – Shelbi Arndt
Stage Manager – Jan Watson
Sound Engineer – Ron Wirth
Production Coordinator – Zach Dreelin
Wardrobe Lead - Claire Lyons
Wardrobe Assistant – Madeline Robertson
Front of House Merchandise Lead – Kim Mitchell
2024 Administrative Staff
Executive Director – Sara S. Schumann
Ruth Page School of Dance, Director – Victor Alexander
Director of Finance & Operations – Clintina Taylor
Ruth Page School of Dance, Associate Director – Dolores Long
Ruth Page School of Dance, Artistic Associate – Maray Gutierrez
Development & Operations Manager – Suzy Robertson
Production Administrator – Anne Laue-Minden
Community Engagement Coordinator – Katie Matteson Campana
Front Desk Lead & Social Media – Austin Shirley
Keystone Dance Academy Program Coordinator – Elysia C. Banks
Keystone Dance Academy Program Assistant – Brianna Simms
Ruth Page School of Dance, Ballet Instructor & Repertory Coach – Emmanuel Ramirez
Technical Director, Ruth Page Theater – Sarah Lackner
Summer Intensive Coordinator – Cara Wedeking
Public Relations – SHOUT! Marketing & Media Relations
Fundraising Consultant – Ideas Without Boundaries
Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker
Act I
A cozy Christmas Eve party at the Stahlbaum home. When midnight strikes, the evening takes a magical turn, and the house is transformed into a battleground. Once the battle has ended, Clara and her Prince are transported to a beautiful pine forest: The Land of Snow.
Party Scene
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Dr. Stahlbaum - Neal McCollam
Mrs. Stahlbaum – Annette Jackson - Hughes
Grandfather – Michael Anderson
Grandmother - Juliette Mitre
Maids – Keeley Clark & Olivia Gonzalez
Drosselmeyer - Jeffery Hancock
Clara – Caroline Grodnick or Samara Grossman
Fritz – Arsène Mierzwinski
Nephew – Conor McGuire
Party Guests – John Atterberry, Renardo Johnson, Ginger Leopoldo, Robert Ertel, Therese Kinasiewicz, Citlali Lopez-Ortiz
Party Children – Ayla Biodrowski, Penelope Charfoos, Taylor Fishman, Avery Gannon, Poppy Gordon, Elizabeth Jahn, Lauren Jirgal, Mick Kaplanoglu, Eva Partin, Vivienne Riopelle, Remi Rothschild, Blythe Sirleaf, Jane Stenta, Ayla Schaftenaar, Ellery Thomas, Alana Wegscheider
Columbine and Harlequin Dolls – Lucia Escobar or Kyra Olson, and Luis Cordero
Cantiniere and Soldier Dolls – Grace Butler or Akilah Harris and Ishmael Giddens Jr. or Sean-Hobbs Waters
Battle Scene
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Nutcracker Prince – Conor McGuire
Mouse King – Brian Enos
Mice – Luis Cordero, Cesar Galan, Ishmael Giddens Jr., Kaelen Gouveia, Oscar Mierzwinski, Jasper Orr, Jordan Ricks, Austin Shirley, Sean-Hobbs Waters
Soldiers ** Denotes students from Talent Forum, Libertyville IL – Leonor Almonte**, Brianna Beckman**, Kaitlyn Beckman**, Finley Brown**, Penelope Dale**, Connor Farrell**, Sofia Gueli**, Finley Hively**, Jenna Holdeman**, Quinn Kalinowski**, Vivienne Knollenberg**, Olivia Kottmeyer**, Joseph Martin**, Maddy McDermott**, Coco Stout**, Bianca VanBuren**, Camden Viray**, Tessa Wells**
Land of Snow
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Snow Queen – Kseniia Stetsenko
Snow King – Jackson Liee
Snowflakes – Nicole Arboleda, Louisa Belian, Judea Bond, Grace Butler, Keeley Clark, Caroline Grodnick, Samara Grossman, Augustine Hardison, Alicia René Kenefic, Madeline Kiesel, Samantha Lasalle, Gabrielle Mierzwinski, Isabella Moore, Elayne Podolske, Molly Rabon, Sasha Rawlinson, Molly Teschner, Harper Wright, Annabelle Wrocinski
--- INTERMISSION ---
Act II
Clara and her Prince travel to the Kingdom of Sweets. In honor of our heroine, Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy celebrates with sweets from around the world.
Kingdom of Sweets
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Sugar Plum Fairy – Adiarys Almeida
Cavalier – Taras Domitro
Clara - Caroline Grodnick or Samara Grossman
Nutcracker Prince – Conor McGuire
Angels – Avani Bony, Penelope Charfoos, Samantha Desser, Liana Eisenstein, Annalise Fritz, Daphne Maglares
Understudy - Sienna Toepke
Divertissements
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Hot Chocolate
Soloist – Luis Cordero
Corps – Louisa Belian, Judea Bond, Ishmael Giddens Jr., Samantha Lasalle, Isabella Moore, Jasper Orr, Jordan Ricks, Austin Shirley
Coffee
Demi-Soloists – Keeley Clark and Ben Moleto
Corps – Penelope Charfoos, Samantha Desser, Liana Eisenstein, Annalise Fritz, Lauren Jirgal, Sienna Toepke
Tea
Soloist – Kaelen Gouveia
Corps – Lucia Escobar, Caroline Grodnick, Samara Grossman, Leighton Jirgal, Gabrielle Mierzwinski
Mother Ginger – Brian Enos
Bonbons – Celeste Belmonti, Naomi Christen, Blake Hirschtritt, Lillian Jahn, Coco Much, Willa Schaftenaar, Eva Schaffer, Celia Sturges, Alana Wegscheider, Violet Werner
Trepak
Soloist – Sean-Hobbs Waters
Corps – Ishmael Giddens Jr., Jordan Ricks, Jasper Orr, Austin Shirley, Harper Wright, Annabelle Wrocinski
Marzipan
Soloist – Eliza Weekley
Corps – Akilah Harris, Madeline Kiesel and Elayne Podolske
Candy Canes * Denotes students from Stage Door Dance Academy, Oak Forest, IL
Avani Bony, Liana Eisenstein, Annalise Fritz, Caroline Grodnick or Samara Grossman, Daphne Maglares, Gwen Sands*, Lily Senesac* Harper Wright
Waltz of the Flowers
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American Beauty Rose - Kyra Olson
Yellow Roses – Augustine Hardison and Alicia René Kenefic
Flowers – Nicole Arboleda, Louisa Belian, Judea Bond, Grace Butler, Lucia Escobar, Samantha Lasalle, Isabella Moore, Sasha Rawlinson, Molly Rabon, Molly Teschner, Harper Wright, Annabelle Wrocinski
Grand Pas de Deux
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Sugar Plum Fairy – Adiarys Almeida
Cavalier – Taras Domitro
Finale
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Ensemble
Ruth Page Foundation Board of Directors
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Kristin R. Beal
Janice Corley Blaney
Dan Conley
Lynn Ferszt Kravis
Thea Flaum
Julie Hamos
Gloria L. Materre
Dori Rothschild
Salme Harju Steinberg, Ph.D.
Ruth Page's The Nutcracker Sponsors
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Presenting Sponsor ($25,000+) – Lynn Ferszt Kravis
Venue Sponsors ($1000+) - Rosemary Johnson-Dean, Victoria Moore, Patti Eylar, Sara S. Schumann
Guest Artist Sponsor ($500+) - Nicholas and Elizabeth Christen, Janice Corley Blaney, Thea Flaum, Vanessa Schaftenaar
Production Fee Scholarship Sponsor ($250+) - Marquita Bedway, Erin Grodnick, Greg and Shelley Smith
Costume Fitting Sponsor ($50+) - Dana Gordon, Kirsten LaSalle, Victoria Moore, Liesl Rael, Dori Rothschild, Dana Treister
Ruth Page School of Dance Sponsors
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The 2024 engagement of “Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker” also acknowledges additional support from the Illinois Arts Council, Copa Airlines, the Chicago Community Trust, and all those who contributed to the Ruth Page Center’s 2024 Founders’ Campaign. The Ruth Page Professional Training Program is partially supported by a grant from Wintrust Financial. The Ruth Page School of Dance is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is supported, in whole or in part, by federal assistance listing number, 21.027 awarded to The Ruth Page Foundation by the US Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of $100,000.00.
Special Thank You To
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Northeastern Illinois University and the Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center Leadership and Staff, The Governors State University and its Center for Performing Arts Leadership and Staff, Stage Door Dance Academy Staff and Faculty, College of Lake County and the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts Leadership and Staff, Talent Forum Staff and Faculty, Ruth Page Founders’ Day donors and Nutcracker sponsors, the dedicated Ruth Page School of Dance Faculty, Ruth Page Center Front Desk Staff and Work Study, Ruth Page Foundation Board of Directors, the Whitehall Hotel, and our many dedicated Ruth Page School of Dance Volunteers and Friends and Family of our dancers for all their support!
Ruth Page Center (RPC)
RPC carries forward the vision of founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.
For more information:
Info@RuthPage.org
Ruth Page Subsidized Theater & Studio Rental Program
The Ruth Page Subsidized Theater and Studio Rental Program allows performing artists and companies to prepare and present their work at reduced costs. Ruth Page Center subsidizes the operating costs, helping organizations meet their artistic and financial goals while reducing the financial burden of a Chicago engagement.
For more information:
Info@RuthPage.org
Ruth Page School of Dance (RPSD)
RPSD embraces diverse cultures as a source of inspiration for creativity and human self-expression in dance. This is accomplished through high-quality training provided by an experienced and dedicated faculty of dance professionals and international partners. RPSD develops well-rounded dancers who become lifelong ambassadors for the art of dance. RPSD curriculum focuses on ballet, using elements of the Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD techniques, with additional emphasis on Afro-Cuban, character, contemporary, floor barre, jazz, modem, partnering, Pilates, pointe, and tap techniques, as well as repertory and variations.
For more information:
Registration@RuthPage.org
Professional Dance Training Program (PDTP)
PDTP is a pre-professional, post-high school, daytime training program for serious classical and contemporary dancers. The 2025-2026 season will run from late August to June, including performance and travel opportunities.
For more information and to audition:
PDTP@RuthPage.org
Ruth Page's The Nutcracker
A rite of passage for children of all ages and a fixture of the Chicago holiday season, this iconic production was choreographed by one of Chicago’s most celebrated dance artists, Ruth Page, and raised more than $8 million for Chicago Tribune Charities, which provided grants for literacy and employment programs over the years. Attended by over three million people, it was presented at the McCormick Place Arie Crown Theater from 1965 until 1997.
Torrie Mark Newsome, J.D.
Chair
Elected term: 2021-2025
Paul G. Virgilio, B.S., S.E., P.E.
Vice Chair
Elected term: 2021-2027
Allena Barbato, J.D., L.M.F.T.
Secretary
Elected term: 2023-2029
Pastor Jesus Gerena
Elected term: 2024-2025
William M. Griffin, Ed.D.
Elected term: 2023-2029
Amanda D. Howland, J.D.
Elected term: 2021-2027
Julie B. Shroka, M.A.
Elected term: 2019-2025
Sulma Teruel
Student Trustee
Elected term: 2024-2025
Lori Suddick, Ed.D.
President
Trustees Emeriti
Richard A. Anderson, J.D.
William M. Griffin, Ed.D. (2021-2023)
Patricia Jones, M.Ed.
Barbara D. Oilschlager, M.Ed.
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Alisa Baum
Executive Director
Jessica Daly
Patron Services Coordinator
Kim Dizzonne
Assistant to the Executive Director
Jeremy Eiden
Production Manager
Peter Hansen
Technical Production Assistant
Alyssa Jean-Pierre
Box Office Assistant
Judie Katz
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Jessey Prugh
Audience Development Manager