State Theatre New Jersey

Company Artists
Madison Elizabeth Egyud, Shaye Firer, Annie Johnson, Andrea Marini, Aldeir Monteiro, Clara Pevel, Michelle Quiner, Elias Re, Erikka Reenstierna-Cates, Matanya Solomon, Ryoko Tanaka, Nanako Yamamoto

Apprentices
Tiziano Cerrato, Roland Jones, Seth Koffler, Lily Krisko, Leandro Olcese, Savannah Quiner

ARB2
Emily Cordies-Maso, Jasmine Jasper, Anthony Pototski

Cheryl Whitney
Princeton Ballet Workshop Administrator & Rehearsal Director

Rebeca Maso, Amy Megules, Anna McDowell
Princeton Ballet School Rehearsal Directors

*Ms. Murphy’s appointment is made possible by a generous gift from Lewis and Genevieve Geyser.

A NOTE FROM THE ARB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

What a joy to be here with you, celebrating the magic of the holiday season!!

I can’t help but smile at the children twirling in the lobby or eyeing treasures at The Nutcracker boutique. I love their wide-eyed wonderment when they hear the first notes of Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, and their sudden stillness when the curtain rises on Act I. American Repertory Ballet’s The Nutcracker inspires these kinds of magical moments, which is why so many families have made this ballet a holiday tradition - for decades!

Whether this is your first time seeing The Nutcracker, or you are a longtime patron, we hope you also find moments of delight that inspire you to see more of American Repertory Ballet’s programming throughout the year. In March 2023, we invite you to another full-length story ballet titled Giselle, a timeless tale of love, betrayal, and forgiveness that will stir your heart and capture your imagination.

If you enjoy more contemporary movement and music, ARB presents Movin’ + Groovin’ in New York City and again at McCarter Theatre in Princeton on April 1, 2023. (Are there any Fleetwood Mac fans in the house?) You won’t want to miss it!

Please visit arballet.org for a full list of upcoming events, including Princeton Ballet School’s spring performances of Cinderella. If any children in the audience are inspired by what they see onstage, they too can be part of the magic and enroll for classes at American Repertory Ballet’s official school with studios in New Brunswick, Princeton, and Cranbury.

On behalf of our entire cast, staff, and crew, thank you for joining us and for supporting the arts in our community. We hope to see you again in the new year!

Julie Diana Hench
Executive Director

American Repertory Ballet would like to thank Bloomberg Philanthropies for its generous support of The Nutcracker and ARB’s Dance for Parkinson’s program.

More information about Dance for Parkinson’s and other Access & Enrichment programs can be found at arballet.org.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Music
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography
Audrée and Bud Estey, and after Mary Barton, Douglas Martin, and Marius Petipa, with additional choreography by Ian Hussey and Ethan Stiefel

Lighting Design
Christopher Chambers

Scenic Design
Douglas Martin, Lauren Parrish (Act 1 Party Scene), Carl Sprague (Tree, Snow Scene, Act 2), Ron Czyzewski (Props)

Costume Design
Lowell A. Mathwich and Gina Ricca, with additional costume design by Janessa Cornell Urwin

Production Manager
Makenzi Kalsch

Production Stage Manager
Cheryl Mintz

Lighting Supervisor
Jason Flamos

Technical Supervisor
Dylan Stratton

Wardrobe Supervisor
Janessa Cornell Urwin

Associate Wardrobe Supervisor
Devon Nicole Austin

Stage Manager
Jackie Mariani

Children’s Stage Manager
Amanda Donato

Music Coordinator
Jonathan Benjamin

Wardrobe Assistants
ElleryJane Ring, Jaclyn Vela

Children’s Stage Manager Assistant
Sarah Hogan

THE STORY OF THE NUTCRACKER

ACT I
The Party

The story begins with the annual Christmas Eve tree lighting party at the Silverhaus’ home. Clara and Fritz anxiously wait outside the parlor when, to Clara’s horror and Fritz’s delight, the maid enters the hall, chasing a mouse from the pantry. Father calls the children in, and the tree is lit. As guests arrive, we are introduced to the Elegant Family, the Widow and her daughter, the Dapper Gent and the Big Family with their nine children. After a festive dance the mysterious Drosselmeyer and their Nephew arrive. Drosselmeyer reveals wonderful mechanical dolls, and then presents their niece Clara with a beautifully carved Nutcracker. As all of the children watch Drosselmeyer’s demonstration, Fritz becomes jealous and grabs the gift from Clara. In his flight, he drops and breaks it. Drosselmeyer bandages the Nutcracker and gives it to Clara. The party winds down, the guests depart and the Silverhaus family goes to bed.

The Battle

Unable to sleep, Clara sneaks downstairs to visit her Nutcracker. As she dances in the parlor the shadows and the movement of mice disturb her delight. Drosselmeyer appears and casts her into a dream world, transforming the parlor into a battleground between an army of soldiers and rats. Clara is amazed by the transformation of the parlor as the now life-size Nutcracker and his army of soldiers defend the Christmas tree from the Rat King’s minions. Clara defends her beloved Nutcracker by throwing her shoe at the Rat King—vanquishing him and his awful troop.

Land of Snow

Drosselmeyer reappears and transforms the wounded Nutcracker into the Nutcracker Prince who will accompany Clara on an enchanted journey. The parlor is magically transformed into a Land of Snow, where Clara and the Nutcracker Prince meet the beautiful Snow Queen and King and are dazzled by whirlwinds of Snowflakes.

ACT II
Land of Sweets

Clara and the Nutcracker Prince make their way to the Land of Sweets and are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells the story of the great battle for the Christmas tree and how Clara saved the day by thwarting the Rat King and securing victory. As a reward for her heroism, the Sugar Plum Fairy presents a suite of dances including Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Birdsong, Candy Cane, Marzipan, and wonderfully playful Polichinelles. Following is a fragrant bouquet of Flowers and the tour de force pas de deux by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. After the grand finale, a very happy but tired Clara is returned to the comfort of her family’s parlor and wakes from her wonderful journey. Was it all a dream?

SCENES

Act I / The Party

CLARA

MRS. SILVERHAUS

SILVERHAUS

NEPHEW/NUTCRACKER PRINCE

MAID

BUTLER

ELEGANT MOTHER

WIDOW

DAPPER MOTHER

DAPPER FATHER

Irene Austin, Lara Bracilovic Cooper, Izik Bromirski-Umanskaya, Jade Cadjee, Gloria Chang, Roma Coppola, Kori Decoteau, Rhylee Edwards, Carey He, Lea Iznyuk, Dylan Kazalonis, Karl Liao, Annie Lockman, Olivia Lumba, Chloe Marcelino, Paige Marshall, Katie McCrone, Shakthi Mukundaraj, Alissa Nagata, Finn O’Brien, Gabriella Poynter, Olivia Poynter, Sophie Prusan, Isabella Ramos Rudder, Gabriella Soto-Alicea, Violet von Roemer, Beatriz Vozone, Emily Wassef

SUGAR DOLL

CAVALIER DOLL

Act I / The Battle

RAT KING

Marie Arberet, Erika Asakawa, Margaux Ayroles, Elisabeth Colón, Esperance Cullity, Ruby Davis, Defne Demirbilek, Serafina Gonzalez, Anmei Li, Zelene Mendoza, Dyuthi Menon, Rafaella Mousa, Isabella Osores, Seraphina Pereira, Gabriella Pereira, Jacqueline Allie Pereira, Arya Sarda, Viola Swanson-Berman, Ruby Rohrbach, Norah Thorn, Olivia Tsai, Suzy Williams, Sujia Zhang

RATS

Savannah Cherry, Anna-Maria Ducros, Myah Frase, Melissa Glenn, Maggie Hollingsworth, Jade Jackson, Sophia Kolodney, Electra Morley, Ellody Peters, Maya Pope, Francesca Saggin, Kelsey Tangorra, Mia Williams

SOLDIERS

Karine Asakawa, Madeleine Agcaoili, Josephine An, Sydney Benjamin, Gwendolyn Carbine, Elsie Davis, Josephine Domingo, Evangeline Foukas, Angelena Gonzalez, Elsie Hart, Seanna Hsieh, Leila Khabbaz, Olivia Luddy, Alexandra Murray, Esme Pasquale, Sofia Rose Macatangay, Ava Oropeza, Janiyyah Ross, Hana Suzuki, Noelle Vitelli, Hannah Wang, Subin Yu, Yawen Yuan, Diya Zavar

Act I / The Land of Snow

SNOW QUEEN

SNOW KING

SNOWFLAKES

Avery Alley, Leila Alpizar, Emelia Belet, Alexandra Byank, Isabella Duck, Delaney Ewert, Sofia Ferrigno, Sarah Frank, Katrina Jans, Izzy Kalodner, Beatris Khamidullaeva, Jillian Kramarck, Samara Moran, Stephanie Murphy, Andromache Notis, Iara Rodrigues, Isis Santo, Avery Snyder, Misaki Tajima, Hailey Torbit, Tais Vargas, Shin-Ying Yu

— 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION —

Please visit our Nutcracker boutique in the lobby for specialty gift items and souvenirs.

Act II / Land of Sweets

HOT CHOCOLATE

Annie Johnson and Leandro Olcese | Dec 16, 7:30pm
Michelle Quiner and Elias Re | Dec 17, 2pm
Savannah Quiner and Elias Re | Dec 17, 7pm
Annie Johnson and Leandro Olcese | Dec 18, 1pm
Michelle Quiner and Elias Re | Dec 18, 5pm

Elsa Barzilai, Felicia Garro, Yitong Huang, Amanda Lee, Kimberly Litzinger, Ambra Mele, Sudeepta Murthy, Eliana Padron, Holly Rizzo, Kendall Sands, Ava Schwinghammer, Jane Shindnes, Lily Solomon, Jessica Zhang

COFFEE

Madison Elizabeth Egyud and Elias Re | Dec 16, 7:30pm
Savannah Quiner, Emily Cordies-Maso

Emily Cordies-Maso and Anthony Pototski | Dec 17, 2pm
Madison Elizabeth Egyud, Gigi Schadrack

Erikka Reenstierna-Cates and Roland Jones | Dec 17, 7pm
Madison Elizabeth Egyud, Emily Cordies-Maso

Madison Elizabeth Egyud and Elias Re | Dec 18, 1pm
Savannah Quiner, Emily Cordies-Maso

Emily Cordies-Maso and Anthony Pototski | Dec 18, 5pm
Madison Elizabeth Egyud, Gigi Schadrack

BIRDSONG

Rhea Aiyar, Laura Babikian, Natalie Davis, Julia Dismukes, Elle Haan, Emily Jorgensen, Alexandra Kaus, Angelena Kristman, Finlay Nyce, Rebecca Padron, Kyra Pruszinski, Jacqueline Ramos Rudder, Mia Risoldi, Kristina Sarkisova, Skyla Vera, Audrey Wilhelm, Emma Wilson, Natalie Yohrling, Cici Yu, Jingwen Yuan, Aimee Zou

CANDY CANE

Madeleine Agcaoili, Micaela Boyle, Sophia Budny, Gwendolyn Carbine, Ariel Croner, Kori Decoteau, Evangeline Foukas, Lila Grantz, Ella Greenberger, Cara Kim, Annie Lockman, Olivia Lumba, Katie McCrone, Georgia Melnick, Alissa Nagata, Anastasia Poljevka, Lillian Renninger, Brianna Sainte, Emily Wassef

MARZIPAN

Avery Alley, Alexandra Byank, Isabella Duck, Delaney Ewert, Katrina Jans, Jasmine Jasper, Izzy Kalodner, Jillian Kramarck, Lily Krisko, Stephanie Murphy, Andromache Notis, Avery Snyder, Misaki Tajima, Hailey Torbit, Tais Vargas, Shin-Ying Yu

POLICHINELLES

Madeleine Agcaoili, Josephine An, Micaela Boyle, Sophia Budny, Jade Cadjee, Gwendolyn Carbine, Amolika Chatterjee, Ariel Croner, Elsie Davis, Kyle Davis, Kori Decoteau, Josphine Domingo, Evangeline Foukas, Lila Grantz, Ella Greenberger, Leila Khabbaz, Cara Kim, Annie Lockman, Olivia Lumba, Katie McCrone, Georgia Melnick, Alissa Nagata, Suchi Oak, Anastasia Poljevka, Lillian Renninger, Janiyyah Ross, Brianna Sainte, Emily Wassef

DEW DROP

FLOWERS

Avery Alley, Leila Alpizar, Laura Babikian, Emelia Belet, Alexandra Byank, Jordan Cunningham, Isabella Duck, Delaney Ewert, Sofia Ferrigno, Elle Haan, Katrina Jans, Emily Jorgensen, Izzy Kalodner, Beatris Khamidullaeva, Jillian Kramarck, Angelena Kristman, Samara Moran, Stephanie Murphy, Andromache Notis, Finlay Nyce, Rebecca Padron, Kyra Pruszinski, Mia Risoldi, Iara Rodrigues, Clara Sánchez, Isis Santos, Kristina Sarkisova, Madeline Skye Stiner, Avery Snyder, Misaki Tajima, Hailey Torbit, Tais Vargas, Emma Wilson, Natalie Yohrling, Shin-Ying Yu, Cici Yu, Aimee Zou

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

CAVALIER

Casting subject to change.

ARB ORCHESTRA

Violin I Ruo-Tao Mao, concertmaster Cheng-Hsun David Tsai Eugenia Goldman Sandra Billingslea Robert Radliff		Violin II Anne Marie Pocklembo, principal Benjamin Hellman Elzbieta Winnicka Ingrid Tang
Viola Ning Mu, principal Steven Heitlinger Marge Selden Ruth Conti		Cello Katrina Kormanski, principal Tomasz Rzeczycki Elina Lang
Bass Jack Hill, principal Stephen Groat		Flute Jan Holms, principal Katherine McClure
Clarinets Keri Ann DiBari, principal Christopher Sumner		Oboe Melissa Bohl, principal Erin Banholzer
Bassoon Andrea Herr, principal Zach Feingold		French Horn Tim McCarthy, principal Doug Lundeen
Trumpet Charles Bumcrot, principal Thomas Boulton		Trombone Gilles Bernard, principal
Tuba Charles Giannelli, principal		Celeste Ian Howles, principal
Harp Frances Duffy, principal		Percussion Greg Giannascoli, principal
Timpani Kenneth Riehman, principal		Greg Giannascoli Musical Contractor

Kenneth Bean (Conductor) was appointed Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in October 2021, and as such serves as conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey’s Symphonic Orchestra. He has appeared as a guest conductor for the Marywood String Festival, Berks County Orchestra Festival, and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. His past music director/conductor appointments include the Junior String Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley, the Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley, and Luzerne Music Center. He currently serves as assistant conductor of Symphony in C, conductor of the Symphony in C Youth Orchestra in Collingswood, NJ, and director/conductor of the Young Musicians Debut Orchestra of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music Education degree from Jackson State University.

PRINCETON GIRLCHOIR

Fred Meads
Musical Director

Hilary Butler
Executive Director

SEMI-TONES
Olivia Ahn
Athena Arvanites
Elysa Atkins
Ellery Badros
Laila Boccella
Morrigan Clarke
Ileene Dedhia
Shannon Frantz
Antonella Funiciello
Ritika Ganguli
Cassandra Hanstveit
Vanessa Harrison
Tarini Jalagam
Nishka Kalra
Yvonne Karagiozova
Amelie Kraft
Asha Nag
Zara Nagabhushana
Anvi Nair
Kailani Nallbani
Sunaya Nayee
Charlotte Persche
Sameera Quddus
Aditi Rasbagh
Niah Rustagi
Adelina Samsonava
Nisha Sargunar
Andriana Savva
Lilly Scannapieco
Malli Shah
Serena Shah
Emma Shlossberg
Arsheen Siddiqui
Sarah Sienicki
Ahana Subbaraman
Avika Tellis
Manisha Tengshe
Julia Walker

CONCERT CHOIR
Adhya Abi
Anamitra Abi
Annika Alden-Siegel
Anika Amin
Avery Bahr
Sai Brinda Bhupatiraju
Kavya Billa
Megan Bommireddy
Dianna Bonefont
Julia Ferencz
Katherine Ferencz
Robin Freeman
Radha Gagarani
Treya Ghosh
Shreya Goda
Annabelle Grayson
Samantha Henderson
Abigail Johnson
Keerthna Kartik
Melina Kyriakopoulos
Helena LeCompte
Vivian Ma
Rachael Mann
Jaszlene Martinez
Suki McNulty
Ashmi Mehta
Aishani Mukherjee
Diya Nagella
Kavya Nayak
Hansika Nittala
Siri Parakoti
Brianna Polite
Celina Qian
Sara Quddus
Aditi Rapaka
Catalina Rivera
Holly Robinson
Juliet Roden
Savannah Ruiz-Hinson
Emma Salas
Veidika Sen
Kaeya Shah
Mahi Sharma
Aria Shi
Olivia Strauli-Ellis
Shriya Sumanth
Leah Valcin
Marjorie Williams
Sydney Williams
Alicia Xu
Julia Zhou

AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET & PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET DANCERS

Madison Elizabeth Egyud

Erikka Reenstierna-Cates

APPRENTICES

ARB2

AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET/PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL STAFF

Ethan Stiefel
Artistic Director

Julie Diana Hench
Executive Director

Ian Hussey
Rehearsal Director

Gillian Murphy
Artistic Associate

Aydmara Cabrera
School Director

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Director of Finance: Dawn Dell’Omo

Director of Marketing & Digital Strategy: Pasqualina DeBoer

Communication & Operations Manager: Dan Bauer

Development Manager: Rachel Abrams

Development Associate: Joanne Diez

Business Manager: Tony Lee

Production Manager: Makenzi Kalsch

Videographer: David Fernandez

Graphic Design: Danny Garber

ACCESS & ENRICHMENT

Access & Enrichment Manager: Lindsay Cahill

DANCE POWER Teaching Artists: Nicole Bednar, Lindsay Cahill, Shannon Dolan, Amanda Donato, Sarah Fratesi, Olivia Musanti, Stephanie Palm

Dance for Parkinson’s Lead Teacher: Rachel Stanislawczyk

RECEPTIONISTS

Gabrielle Alvarez-Cabrera, Emily Cordies-Maso, Lane Dallape, Amanda Donato, Shaye Firer, Maggie Hollingsworth, Alexandra Jans, Katrina Jans, Lauren Levine, Anna McDowell, Matanya Solomon

PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL

Summer Programs Coordinator & Cranbury Principal: Carol Bellis

PBW Administrator & PBW Jr. Rehearsal Director: Cheryl Whitney

Administrative Assistant & Children’s Coordinator: Amanda Donato

Administrative Assistant: Anna McDowell

Music Director: Jonathan Benjamin

FACULTY

Valerie Amiss, Carol Bellis, Lindsay Cahill, Emily Cordies-Maso, Amanda Donato, Shaye Firer, Katrina Jans, Lindsay Jorgenson, Anna McDowell, Rebeca Maso, Amy Megules, Kathleen Moore, Ana Novoa, Luis Napoles, Shari Nyce, Yuliya Rakova, Maura Ryan, Erikka Reenstierna-Cates, Madeline Skye Steiner, Rachel Stanislawczyk, Ryoko Tanaka, Susan Tenney, Cheryl Whitney, Nanako Yamamoto

ACCOMPANISTS

Jonathan Benjamin, Jaeyon Chung, Raul Cordies, Mila Fursik, G.G. Glazer-Armstrong, Ian Howells, Richard Moskowitz, Megan Register, Marina Salganik, David Tenney, Pavel Zarukin

ARB BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Susan Croll, Chair
Daphne Jones, Vice Chair
Ronald Blake, Treasurer
Ngoc Nguyen, Secretary

Akira Bell
Magrielle Eisen
DonnaJean Fredeen
Peter Gerry
Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D. (Ex Officio)
Nancy MacMillan
Melissa Marschner
Charles Metcalf
Pamela Mingle
Jo-Ann Munoz
Jane Silverman
Dan Strika
Joel Studebaker

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D. (Chair)

Nancy Becker
Ana Bracilovic, M.D.
Mayor Jim Cahill
Dinesh Dhanaraj, M.D.
Betsy Garlatti
Barry Hughson
Michele Kent
Michael Mindlin
Jorge Moya
Gabriella Vajtay

THANK YOU TO THESE ARB SUPPORTERS

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