It is Christmas Eve when families make their way to the celebrated Christmas party of Mrs. Stahlbaum and her children, Marie and Fritz.

The party is already alive with music and dancing when Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives with his magic wand and extraordinary toys. The children gather round as Drosselmeyer stages a puppet show, telling a story of a great battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King. Afterwards, the children watch in awe as his magic wand waves to life mechanical dolls from around the world that  dazzle the crowd with their dancing. The children beg Drosselmeyer for one more surprise. Finally, he reveals the most magical wonder yet: the Nutcracker Doll.  Most of the children turn away from this odd looking creature. Marie, however, is instantly drawn to it, and as she begins to dance with her new companion, her enchantment grows. Her delight is suddenly interrupted when the Nutcracker slips from her fingers and breaks.  Tearfully, she asks Uncle Drosselmeyer to mend it, and soon the Nutcracker is good as new.

At last, the families return to their own homes, tired but happy. Just before midnight, Marie slips back to the place where she left her beloved Nutcracker. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the darkness and creep toward her cherished doll.  As Marie tries to protect the Nutcracker, the magic of Drosselmeyer  descends, causing the Christmas tree to grow, and the Nutcracker to jump to his feet, prepared for battle.  The Nutcracker Prince and his toy soldiers finally triumph over the Mouse King.  The old curse is broken, and the Nutcracker is free to become a Prince once more.  The Prince and Marie rejoice as the first Christmas snow sweeps them up and carries them to a far-distant land filled with magic.

- INTERMISSION - 

After traveling through the forest, Marie and the Prince arrive at the magical land ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy Queen. Marie is delighted to find Uncle Drosselmeyer there and runs to greet him. Drosselmeyer introduces them to the Sugar Plum Queen and describes the adventures that brought them to this land. Following the tale, the Prince declares his love for Marie. The Queen, charmed by their devotion, asks her flower maidens to bring bridal clothes for their wedding. Marie and the Prince thank her, take the clothes, and return transformed into the very picture of a fairy tale Prince and Princess.  However, just as the Queen and Drosselmeyer bless their marriage, a mouse suddenly runs onto the scene and tries to start a fight with the Prince. The Sugar Plum Queen breaks up the fight and settles the matter once and for all by offering the mouse a delicious piece of cheese. The mouse is so overjoyed with his gift that he quite forgets its lost tail. With peace restored, the festivities begin as Marie joins her bridesmaids in a joyful dance. Mother Ginger, a favorite inhabitant of the land, summons her cooks to help her make delicious ginger cookies for the occasion. As the wedding draws near, the Sugar Plum Queen and her retinue present a beautiful Waltz to honor the royal couple. Finally, the moment arrives when, radiant with happiness, the bride and groom express their love for one another before all their guests in a grand wedding dance. Soon, the guests swirl around the pair in one final celebration, before melting into the night. Throughout it all, Drosselmeyer watches with a smile.

The next morning, Marie awakens in her own house, filled with confusion.  When her Uncle Drosselmeyer enters the room, she pleads with him for answers. 
Was it real or was it all a dream…?  Drosselmeyer returns with the Prince who presents Marie with a crown.  As the light fades, the question remains… was it real or a beautiful Christmas dream?  

ACT I

Marie – Jane Weymouth (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Seine Chin (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Nutcracker Prince – Cole Lessard

Uncle Drosselmeyer - Guillermo Franco

Mrs. Stahlbaum (Marie & Fritz' Mom) - Shannon Thurston

Fritz – Bruno Martínez Galicia

Kissing Doll – Dayna Hernández (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Nutcracker Doll – Kagetora Takagi

Party Girls – Jane Mautz (Friday evening, Saturday matinée) / Dayna Hernández (Saturday Evening, Sunday matinée), Maddison Goode (Friday Evening, Saturday matinée) / Paloma Killoran (Saturday Evening, Sunday matinée), Sophia Rastelli (Saturday matinée, Saturday evening) / Sara Ivanna Luna (Friday evening, Sunday matinée), Madison Fehnel (Friday evening, Sunday matinée) / Leslie Escartín (Saturday matinée, Saturday evening)

Parents – Dawn Wiers, Greg Wiers, John Buys, Sophia Rastelli (Friday evening, Sunday matinée) / Sara Ivanna Luna (Saturday matinée, Saturday evening) 

Maid – Jane Weymouth / Seine Chin / Jane Mautz

Mouse King – Sophia Rastelli (Friday evening, Sunday matinée) / Jane Mautz ( Saturday matinée, Saturday evening) 

Mice – Sophia Rastelli (Saturday matinée, Saturday evening) / Jane Mautz (Friday evening, Sunday matinée), Alba Estrada, Sara Ivanna Luna, Leslie Escartín (Saturday matinée, Sunday matinée) / Paloma Killoran (Friday evening, Saturday evening), Bruno Martínez.

Soldiers – Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Dayna Hernández, Paloma Killoran (Saturday matinée, Sunday matinée) / Leslie Escartín (Friday evening, Saturday evening) 

Little Soldiers – Maria Parker, Anevay Downs, Meredith Potvin, Tiger Haiss, Logan True, Macaulay Curtis, Beatrice Robbins, Dalyah Van Deveter, Karina Fuller.

Snowflakes – Jane Mautz, Seine Chin (Friday evening, Saturday matinée) / Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Sophia Rastelli, Dayna Hernández, Sara Ivanna Luna, Leslie Escartín, Paloma Killoran, Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Elsie Gray, Alba Estrada.

Little Snow – Maria Parker, Meredith Potvin, Tiger Haiss, Anevay Downs, Dalyah Van Deveter, Beatrice Robbins, Karina Fuller.

ACT II

Marie – Jane Weymouth (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Seine Chin (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Nutcracker Prince – Cole Lessard

Uncle Drosselmeyer - Guillermo Franco

Sugar Plum Queen – Seine Chin (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Spanish Variation – Sophia Rastelli & Sara Ivanna Luna (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée) / Jane Mautz (Friday evening, Saturday matinée)

Chinese Variation – Dayna Hernández & Kagetora Takagi

French Variation – Bruno Martínez Galicia, Maddison Goode & Madison Fehnel (Friday evening, Saturday matinée) / Leslie Escartin & Paloma Killoran (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Arabian Variation – Sara Ivanna Luna (Friday evening, Saturday matinée) / Jane Mautz (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Arabian escort: Anevay Downs, Maria Parker, Meredith Potvin, Dalyah Van Deveter.

Bridesmaids – Jane Mautz (Saturday evening) / Sara Ivanna Luna (Sunday matinée), Sophia Rastelli, Leslie Escartín, Dayna Hernández

Mother Ginger - John Buys

Elves – Maria Parker, Anevay Downs, Meredith Potvin, Tiger Haiss, Dalyah Van Deveter, Karina Fuller, Beatrice Robbins, Cooks: Logan True, Macaulay Curtis.

Cupcakes – Alice Brownell, Ryleigh Watson, Mila Quincey, Bodhi Witham, Aviana Curtis, Shira Van Deveter, Clara Jackson.

Waltz Flowers – Jane Mautz, Sophia Rastelli, Dayna Hernández, Sara Ivanna Luna, Leslie Escartín, Paloma Killoran (Friday evening, Saturday matinée) / Maddison Goode (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée) 

Sugar Plum Escort – Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Elsie Gray, Alba Estrada, Leslie Escartín, Paloma Killoran

Mouse reprise – John Buys

Our adult performers:

Shannon Thurston, Johnny Buys, Dawn & Greg Wiers, for sharing the stage with our dancers.

Our Costume Mistress: Amy T. 

-   Waterville Opera House   -

Michelle Sweet, Executive Director

Erik Thomas, Assistant Executive Director

Juniper Purinton, Production Manager/Lighting

Bryant Cyr, Technical Director 

N. Blake Bartlett

Winthrop Carter

Mike Fendler & Melinda Loveitt

Bonnie & Anothony Edith

Maine Community Foundation on behalf of Warren and Brammie Cook

Paul Faria

Mr. David Pearson, MCI Head of School

Guillermo Franco, BBT Program Manager

Bob Sloma, Christopher Lyons & MCI’s Maintenance Department

Dana Fehnel, Dorm Director

BBT's 'Friends of the Ballet'

BBT parents and families

A special thanks to our talented Artistic Director, Natalya Getman, without whom none of this would be possible.

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