The opening night performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® on December 12, 2025 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami has been generously sponsored by the Ella Riley Adler Foundation, Matthew and Amanda Adler.
Celebrating Ella Riley Adler, Miami City Ballet’s very own Angel
The moment the lights dim and Tchaikovsky’s first notes fill the air, something extraordinary happens: memories stir, hearts open, and a familiar magic takes hold. For generations, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® has been a cherished tradition that brings families and friends to the theater, reminding us what makes the holidays so special: wonder, imagination, and the joy of being together.
Here at Miami City Ballet, that spirit is alive in every rehearsal and every performance. Backstage, dancers cheer one another on as they step into new roles or revisit familiar ones with fresh artistry and heart. It’s a season of generosity—of spirit, of creativity, of community—and we’re so proud to share it with you.
Act II, with its colorful journey through music and dance from around the world, always feels like a true “Passport to Magic”. It’s a celebration of the global traditions that inspire
The Nutcracker and a reflection of the beautiful diversity that defines our Miami community. From the shimmering colors to the tropical touches (yes, that pineapple throne still reigns supreme!), our Nutcracker reflects the warmth, energy, and joy that make our city shine.
We hope this performance fills you with the same sense of wonder and nostalgia that has captivated audiences for generations. May it spark new memories, revive treasured ones, and surround you with luz, alegría, and the true spirit of the season. Thank you for making our Nutcracker part of your holiday tradition.
From our families to yours, con cariño y espíritu navideño,
 |
| Gonzalo Garcia Artistic Director |
A Ballet in Two Acts, Four Scenes and a Prologue.
Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and The Mouse King (1816).
The original production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® was generously underwritten by The State of Florida Department of Cultural Affairs, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Southeast Banking Corporation Foundation.
Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is dedicated to Toby Lerner Ansin, whose energy, enthusiasm and support provided the spark that ignited Miami City Ballet.
Miami City Ballet premiered The Nutcracker on November 23, 1990 at the Hayes Hall, Artis Theatre; Naples, Florida.
CREDITS
Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky*
Staged by Miami City Ballet
Children originally staged by Sandra Jennings
Costume Design by The Late Isabel Toledo**
Set and Properties Design by Ruben Toledo
Lighting Design by James F. Ingalls
Projection Design by Wendall K. Harrington
Children's Répétiteurs Maribel Modrono and Michaela Mann
COSTUME CREDITS
Costume Construction by
Arnold Levine
Betzabé Pujaico
Caryn Wells
Catafagno Productions
Cygnet Studio
Euro Co Costumes, Inc.
Isabel Toledo Entreprise, Inc.
Joe Scafati
Lynne Mackey Studio
and Miami City Ballet
Wardrobe Consulting by Andrea Spiridonakos
SCENIC CREDITS
Scenic Design Assistant by Robert John Andrusko
Projection Programming by Paul Vershbow
Lighting Design Assistant by Heather Graff
Scenery Construction and Painting by I. Weiss Theatrical Solutions and Scenic Art Studios
Properties Construction by General Scenery
Audio Description provided by Sara Zajic
This performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
The Balanchine ballet presented in this program is protected by copyright. Any unauthorized recording is prohibited without the expressed written consent of The George Balanchine Trust and Miami City Ballet.
* The Nutcracker, Opus 71
** Deceased
* indicates Miami City Ballet School Alumni
LEADERSHIP
Gonzalo Garcia, Artistic Director & MCBS Chair
Toby Lerner Ansin, Founder
Edward Villella, Founding Artistic Director
ARTISTIC
Roma Sosenko, Principal Rehearsal Director
Joan Latham, Rehearsal Director
Arnold Quintane, Rehearsal Director
Tricia Albertson, Rehearsal Director
Jessica Perez, Company Manager
Gary Sheldon, Principal Conductor and Music Director
Francisco Rennó, Company Pianist
Leana Reisman, Company Class Accompanist
Dr. Lily McCrossin, PT, DPT, Lead Physical Therapist
PRODUCTION AND WARDROBE
John Hall, General Manager
Kelly Brown, Production Stage Manager
Bailey Kirk, Assistant Stage Manager
Brian Harris, Head Carpenter
Nicanor Smith, Properties Master
Shane Cassidy, Head Electrician
Elvin Thomas, Assistant Electrician
Sean M. Deceunick, Sound Engineer
James Sampedro, Assistant Carpenter/Flyman
Gary Darling, Properties Assistant
Wilmer Arellano, Projection Operator
In memorium Richard Carter
WARDORBE
Carrie Cochran, Wardrobe Manager
Ricardo Asturias, Wardrobe Master
Natalie Axley, Wardrobe Mistress
Ibis Hernandez, School Wardrobe Mistress
Julia Villalobos & Alberto Fages, Stitchers
Carol Raskin, Hair & Makeup Artist
Helen Cave, Shoe Inventory Assistant
In memorium Jennifer Conrad
DEVELOPMENT
Dena Liston, Senior Director of Development
Orene Tross-Harris, Senior Director, Major Gifts
Michele Scanlan, Director of Foundation and Government Relations
Lee Eachus, Manager of Foundation and Government Relations
Heather Rush, Director of Special Events
Samantha Hurwitch, Associate Director of Individual Giving – Palm Beach
MARKETING, TICKETING & AUDIENCE SERVICES
Chantell Ghosh, Chief Marketing Officer
Mary Landreth, Senior Director, Business Development
Anne Mortomore, Director of Marketing, Digital and Content
Joshua Wickard, Director of Audience and Ticketing Services
Ali Castro, Senior Manager, Content and Creative Services
Mina Rhee, Senior Production Designer
Masha Enriquez, Marketing Coordinator, Events and Creative Services
Eden Cohen, Marketing & PR Coordinator
Katharine Baines, Manager Ticketing Operations
Adam Garner, Associate Coordinator, Audience Services and Ticketing
Ashley Arvizu, Anthony De Peña, Jade Emmanuel, Randy Fumero, Sofia Osorio, Jennifer Parra | Audience Services Representatives
Billy Zavelson/Richard Kornberg & Associates, General Press Representation
Ron Roberts, Creative Direction Consultant
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Brenda Alba, Director of Community Engagement
Norma Fuisting, Community Dance Education Programs Manager
Bianca Guirado, Community Engagement Coordinator
Kassie Abreu, Matthew Aubeuf, Efrain Chibas, Bradley Dunlap, Nuria Martinez, Rilanty Septiantari, Rae Wilcoxson, Tamia Williams | Arts in Education Teaching Program: Teaching Artists and Musicians
Merle Inasi, Noeli Morejon | Community Engagement Program Assistants
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Ainsworth Geddes, Chief Financial Officer
Marisa Rios-Lopez, Payroll Manager
Carlos Lopez, Finance and Donor Systems Manager
John Colon, Staff Accountant
Lina Aguirre, Senior Director of Human Resources
Joy Stanfield, Human Resources Assistant and Office Manager
Amanda Del Cerro, Board and Executive Relations Assistant
MIAMI CITY BALLET SCHOOL
Arantxa Ochoa, School Artistic Director
Cameron Basden, School Managing Director
Jessica Bork, School Operations Manager
Manon Maher, Pre-Professional Division Manager
Vanessa Haro, School Administrative Assistant
Lyndall Vickers, Housing Manager
Ana Arledge, Residential Coordinator
Carmen Ramos, Rachel Abelenda | Front Desk Receptionists
Durante Verzola, Alexander Iziliaev, Katia Carranza, Maribel Modrono, Michaela Mann, Kareen Pauld Camargo, Ana Arledge, Africa Ramirez, Natalia Cordero, Claudia Kuwana, Claudia Lezcano, Rosa Mercedes, Herman Payne, Renato Penteado, Rilanty Septiantari, Chase Swatosh, Leslie Young | Permanent Faculty
Marianela Castro, Juvenal Correa-Salas, Gladys Fariñas, Vivian Gonzalez, Yraima Menendez, Teresa Valdivia | Pianists
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
Lisa Berg, Esq. — Stearns Weaver Miller, et al, P.A. Employment and Labor Law
Glenn Rissman, Esq. — Stearns Weaver Miller, et al, P.A. Immigration Law
Robbins and Moroney, P.A. Auditor
MEDICAL PROVIDERS
Dr. Lily McCrossin, PT, DPT, Lead Physical Therapist
Dr. Kathleen Davenport, MD, Company Physician
Dr. Steven David Steinlauf, MD, Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Specialist
Alexis Somoano, LMT, Jill Davidson, LMT, Massage Therapists
Dr. Bethany Cook, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, Physical Therapist
Chase Swatosh, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Strength and Conditioning
Maria Vallasciani MS, RDN, LD, RN, CNSC, IBCLC, CSSD, Dietitian
Dr. Scott Leydig, Psy. D. Sport Psychologist
Jeffrey Davis, Chair
Charles Adelman
Jill E. Braufman
Veronica de Zayas, Esq.
Alex DiLeonardo
Robert Friezo
Gonzalo Garcia, Ex Officio
Dan Gelber, Former Mayor of Miami Beach
Kathy Guttman
Bruce Halpryn, Vice Chair
Maria Hernandez, Ex Officio
Kristi Jernigan
Susan D. Kronick
Allen London
Manny Marquez, Ex Officio
Saul Sanders, Treasurer
Michael Schultz
J. Randall Waterfield
Sara Minsoff Allan
Toby Lerner Ansin, Founder
Robert Chaskes
Lester Coney
Philip DeBoer
Susan Fox-Rosellini
James Freeze
Dini Golden
Janine Gordon
Elissa Kramer
Sara Solomon
Barbara Sullivan
Elizabeth “Zibby” Tozer
John Vogelstein
Suzy Wahba
Gail Wasserman
Charmaine Waterfield
Fehmi Zeko
Diana S.C. Zeydel
Ana-Marie Codina, Past Chair
Mike Eidson, Past Chair
Ron Esserman*, Past Chair
Robert Gottlieb*
Jacqueline Kott*
R. Kirk Landon*
Gerri LeBow*
Rhoda Levitt, Past Chair
Rita Stein*
*Deceased
Major funding for Miami City Ballet provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Arison Arts Foundation, and The Ansin Foundation. Miami-Dade County support provided by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, with support from the City of Miami Beach Department of Tourism and Culture, Cultural Arts Council, and the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has been a generous supporter of Miami City Ballet with over $14.2 million in cumulative giving since the company’s founding.
