Ruth Page's
THE NUTCRACKER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023
1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023
1 p.m.
JLC Mainstage
Welcome to the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts' 23/24 season! We're so happy to have you join us as we continue to build the arts community in Lake County.
The arts have such a huge impact, whether you're on stage, behind the scenes, or in the audience. They help us travel near and far, giving us an opportunity to express our emotions, share our passions, and explore other cultures. The arts enrich our lives, creating joy and wonder or challenging us to examine things in a new way. They also serve as a source of enrichment and entertainment, allowing us to forget our daily lives and immerse ourselves in creativity and inspiration.
However you experience the arts, we thank you for doing so at the JLC. You are part of our community, and we applaud you for supporting the arts.
Enjoy the show!
Alisa Baum, Executive Director
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts
College of Lake County
Season Sponsors
The Lynn Ferszt Kravis Trust
Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Northeastern Illinois University, College of Lake County, Michael Reed, Illinois Arts Council Agency, DCASE, The Saints, Driehaus Foundation, Copa Airlines - The Ruth Page Center’s Official International Airline Partner to Latin America
Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker
Classic ballet in two acts, based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” written in 1816.
Music by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky
Original Choreography by Ruth Page
Additional Choreography by Dolores Long, Larry Long, and Birute Barodicaite
Script by Tom Etlinger and William Raffeld
Production Administrator – Anne Laue-MindenStage Manager – Jan WatsonSound Engineer – Ron WirthCostume Design by José VeronaLighting Design by Jacob Snodgrass
Lighting Direction & Design - Shelbi ArndtWardrobe Lead – Claire LyonsTechnical Director – Jacob Snodgrass
Run Crew – Zach Dreelin, Kieran O’Conner, Amanda Bradley, Victoria Moore
Artistic Director – Victor Alexander
Associate Director – Dolores Long
Rehearsal Director – Birute Barodicaite
Director of Actors – Renardo Johnson
Children’s Directors – Chrissy Atterberry Lacny and Dori Rothschild
Soldier Director – Wesley Owens
The Ruth Page Center for the Arts Staff
Acting Executive Director – Sara S. Schumann
Ruth Page School of Dance, Director – Victor Alexander
Director of Operations – Clintina Taylor
Ruth Page School of Dance, Associate Director – Dolores Long
Ruth Page School of Dance, Artistic Associate – Maray Gutierrez
Development and Operations Manager – Suzy Robertson
Production Administrator – Anne Laue-Minden
Community Engagement Coordinator – Katie Matteson Campana
Project Coordinator – La Mar Brown
Front Desk Lead, Social Media Coordinator – Austin Shirley
Keystone Dance Academy, Program Coordinator – Elysia C. Banks
Technical Director – Sarah Lackner
Summer Intensive Coordinator – Cara Wedeking
Marketing & PR Consultants – SHOUT! James Juliano & Jill Evans LaPenna
Development & Fundraising Consulting – Ideas without Boundaries – Silvino da Silva
The Ruth Page Center for the Arts Board of Directors
Kristin R. Beal
Janice Corley Blaney
Dan Conley
Lynn Ferszt Kravis
Thea Flaum
Dori Goldstein Rothschild
Julie Hamos
Salme Harju Steinberg, Ph. D
Gloria L. Materre
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 then transported to a beautiful pine forest: The Land of Snow.
Party Scene
Dr. Stahlbaum: Neal McCollam
Mrs. Stahlbaum: Annette Hughes
Grandfather: Michael Anderson
Grandmother: Juliette Mitre
Maids: Mikala Curless, Olivia Gonzalez
Drosselmeyer: Jeff Hancock
Clara: Isabelle Cody-Källén
Fritz: Oscar Mierzwinski
Nephew: Conor McGuire
Party Guests: John Atterberry, Renardo Johnson, Therese
Kinasiewicz, Ginger Leopoldo, Citlali Lopez Ortiz, Austin Shirley
Understudy: Ian Brown
Party Children: Zane Aguirre, Ayla Biodrowski, Penelope Charfoos,
Samantha Desser, Annalise Fritz, Dahlia Goodman
Lauren Jirgal, Nola Johnson, Daphne Maglares, Arsene Mierzwinski,
Gia Perona, Kaitlyn Samz, and Corinne Thompson
Understudy: Taylor Fishman
Columbine and Harlequin Dolls: Valeria Caño, Rigo Saura
Cantiniere and Soldier Dolls: Alexandra Bradley, Trystan Lopez Zumwalt
Battle Scene
Nutcracker Prince: Conor McGuire
Mouse King: Todd Kiech
Mice: John Atterberry, Kaelen Gouveia, Xavier Lillig,
Trystan Lopez Zumwalt, Jordan Ricks, Austin Shirley
Soldiers: Leonor Almonte, Hayden Cole, Mallory Drury,
Sofia Gueli, Quinn Kalinowski, Olivia Kottmeyer, Araceli Rojas,
Cecilia Rojas, Simone Treysman, Maybel Mae Vincent,
Camden Viray, Tessa Wells
Land of Snow
Snow Queen: Marité Fuentes
Snow King: Jackson Liee
Snowflakes: Jennamarie Aboul-Hosn, Judea Bond, Alexandra
Bradley, Grace Butler, Keeley Clark, Gianna Curless,
Mikala Curless, Akilah Harris, Isabella Moore, Alexandra Webb,
Eliza Weekley, Annabelle Wrocinski, Caitlin Yatsuhashi
Understudies: Valeria Caño, Gabrielle Mierzwinski, Harper Wright
Intermission
Act II
Clara and her Prince travel to the Kingdom of Sweets. In honor of our heroine, the Sugar Plum Fairy presents a celebration of sweets from around the world.
Opening
Sugar Plum Fairy: Haley Baker
Cavalier: Jackson Liee
Clara: Isabelle Cody-Källén
Nutcracker Prince: Conor McGuire
Angels: Tre'Niyah Cruz, Kriselle Daniel, Annalise Fritz, Dahlia
Goodman, Juliana Rainey, Noa Stewart
Divertissements
Hot Chocolate
Soloist: Emmanuel Ramirez
Corps: John Atterberry, Judea Bond, Grace Butler, Akilah Harris,
Isabella Moore, Jordan Ricks
Understudies: Jennamarie Aboul-Hosn, Trystan Lopez Zumwalt,
Austin Shirley
Coffee
Pas de Deux: Jessie Gutierrez, Rigo Saura
Corps: Stella Jenno, Nola Johnson, Daphne Maglares, Juliana Rainey
Understudies: Samantha Desser, Dahlia Goodman
Tea
Soloist: Kaelen Gouveia
Corps: Samara Grossman, Gabrielle Mierzwinski, Harper Wright,
Annabelle Wrocinski
Mother Ginger
Soloist: Todd Kiech
Bonbons: Taylor Fishman, Poppy Gordon, Elizabeth Jahn, Julianna
Novak. Eva Partin, Vivienne Riopelle, Remi Rothschild, Jane Stenta
Acrobat: Lila Sturges
Understudies: Lauren Jirgal, Violet Werner
Trepak
Soloist: Heriberto Meneses
Corps: John Atterberry, Ania Dimalta, Leighton Jirgal,
Trystan Lopez Zumwalt, Jordan Ricks, Austin Shirley
Understudies: Judea Bond, Xavier Lillig
Marzipan
Soloist: Eliza Weekley
Corps: Valeria Caño, Gianna Curless, Alexandra Webb,
Caitlin Yatsuhashi
Candy Canes: Avani Bony, Mikya Dale, Caroline Grodnick,
Adeline Johnson, Lana Kalamperovic, Eleonore Polin
Understudy: Samara Grossman
Waltz of the Flowers
American Beauty Rose: Marité Fuentes
Yellow Roses: Alexandra Bradley, Keeley Clark
Flowers: Jennamarie Aboul-Hosn, Grace Butler, Mikala Curless,
Akilah Harris, Isabella Moore, Caitlin Yatsuhashi
Understudy: Judea Bond
Grand Pas de Deux
Sugar Plum Fairy: Haley Baker
Cavalier: Jackson Liee
Finale
Ensemble
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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.
Julie B. Shroka, M.A., Vice Chair
Torrie Mark Newsome, J.D., Secretary
Paul G. Virgilio, B.S., S.E., P.E.
Allena Barbato, J.D.
William m. Griffin, Ed.D.
Amanda D. Howland, J.D.
Gerri Songer, M.A.
Daniel Blaine Student Trustee
Lori Suddick, Ed.D., President
Trustees Emeriti
Richard A. Anderson, J.D.
William M. Griffin, Ed.D.
Patricia Jones, M.Ed.
Barbara D. Oilschlager, M.Ed.
Alisa Baum
Executive Director
Leslie Baraboo
Marketing and Communications Analyst
Jessica Daly
Patron Services Coordinator
Kim Dizzonne
Accounting Associate
Jeremy Eiden
Technical Coordinator
Peter Hansen
Technical Production Assistant
Judie Katz
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Jianni Newsome
Box Office Assistant