The Biggest Ballets ... The Best Productions

BCA's Nutcracker 2010

December 16-17, 2010

Playing to four sold-out houses December 16 to 17 at the Diana Wortham Theatre, BCA's production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker was a delight. From the wonderful party scene to the classic Waltz of the Flowers, BCA's pre-professional dancers led a cast of 133 on Clara's magical journey. The production featured Claire Hutchinson and Sarah Foley as Clara, Tyler Sanborn as the Mouse King, Sarah London as the Dew Drop Fairy, and Cassie Woods & Miles Sollars-White as the Sugar Plum Fairy & her Cavalier.

Download the Nutcracker 2010 program.

The Nutcracker: The Greatest Holiday Classic

About The Nutcracker

Music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Original Choreography by Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov

Restaged by Wayne Burritt & Angie Lynn

First Presented December 18, 1892 at the Imperial Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia

Act I

The curtain opens to reveal the Stahlbaums' house, where a Christmas Eve party is under way. Clara, her little brother Fritz, and their mother and father are celebrating with friends and family, when Clara's mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer enters. He quickly produces a large bag of gifts for all the children. All are very happy, except for Clara, who has yet to be presented a gift. Herr Drosselmeyer gathers everyone around and tells the story of the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The children are fascinated. Herr Drosselmeyer then produces life-size dolls, which each take a turn to dance. When the dances are done, Clara approaches Herr Drosselmeyer asking for her gift. It would seem that he is out of presents, and Clara, while still quite happy, gently hints to Drosselmeyer that she would like a toy. Drosselmeyer then produces a Nutcracker, in the traditional shape of a soldier in full parade uniform. Clara is overjoyed, but her brother Fritz is jealous, and breaks the Nutcracker. The party ends, the guests leave, and the Stahlbaum family goes to bed. After everyone is asleep, Clara creeps downstairs to have a look at her beloved Nutcracker. When the clock strikes midnight, she hears the sound of mice. She wakes up and tries to run away, but the mice stop her. A conflict ensues and Clara helps the Nutcracker win the battle with the Mouse King. The mice retreat, taking their dead leader with them. The Nutcracker is then transformed into a prince. Clara and the Prince travel to a world where dancing Snowflakes greet them, welcoming Clara and the Prince into their world. The curtain falls on Act I.

Act II

Clara and the Prince arrive at the Kingdom of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Fairy and the people of the Kingdom of Sweets perform several dances for Clara and the Prince: a Spanish Dance, an Arabian Dance, a Chinese Dance, a Russian Dance, a Marzipan Dance, Mother Ginger's Dance, the Waltz of the Flowers, and the Grand Pas de Deux. After the Grand Pas de Deux, everyone dances a joyous Final Waltz. The ballet ends with Clara waking up with the Nutcracker toy in her arms, safe and sound in her house.

Casting

Clara

Cast 1 – Claire Hutchinson

Cast 2 – Sarah Foley

Drosselmeier – Christopher Lynn+

Mr. Stalhbaum – Harry Bryan

Mrs. Stalhbaum – Jill Ersham

Fritz – Harrison Cory

Maids – Ciera Barrow, Caryn Camacho, Matilyn Hull, Bella Lupoli, Hannah McCorry, Jordan Santoro, Avery Sund, Rebecca Wilcox

Parents – Marybeth Kingston, Jan Luquire, Mark Morris, Eric Mueler, Clint Roberts, Heather Whitmire, Emily Woods, Leigh Young

Clara’s Friends

Cast 1 – Sayres Alspaugh*, Emmeline Duft*, Julia Fleming*, Shannon Grady*, Lexie Moore*, Caroline Roberts*, Elianah Vargas*

Cast 2 – Emma Cory*, Lilian Eselgroth*, Emma Grace Hutchins*, Emeline Ward*, Olivia Weidie*, Rose Wuertz*
Party Boys – Harrison Cory, Lily Mae Dickinson, Clark Eselgroth, Katie Foley,  Jessica Lynn, Ira Moul, Kaiya Nilsson, Kayla, Schmitt, Patricia Tonner-Mintier

Party Girls – Sarah Adams, Acacia Dayton, Erin Ikelheimer, Ruthee Jester, Darcey Lynn, Gracie Leonor-Spears, Catherine Roberts, Chloe Singleton, Ava Blane Speigal

Doll Girls – Kate Casell, Hazel Grotenhuis, Gabriella Jones, Flora Konz, Kimberly Krout, Mary Wells Letson,  Jordan Lundy, Lilith Mueller, Hope Robinson, Gea Rotollo, Nilah Wharton, Mary Victoria Young

Harlequin Doll – Hunter Anne Hutchinson*

Jester Doll – Elisabeth Roberts*

Mouse King – Tyler Sandborn

Mice – Caroline Brown*, Caroline Carlton*, Hunter Anne Hutchinson*, Tess Miller*, Mia Richardson*, Elisabeth Roberts*

Soldiers – Nicole Allison*, Bailey Butters*,Deanna Loew*, Meredith Woodson*, Maria Papakonstantinou*, Alexandra Best*

Prince – Miles Sollars-White

Angels

Cast 1 – McKenzie Acton, Ivy Anderson, Jane Emerson Andry, Concetta Conrad, Dottie Benninghoffin, Lily Carroll, Hellen Coats, Lily Crum, Sara Grace Dalton, Sophie Davis, Aimee Diefenbach, Sophie Feinblatt, Abbey Hamilton, Christina Hamilton, Audrey Hayes, Kaitlyn Keys, Bridget Leary, Katie McNabb,Loulie Olsen, Sydney Oversmith, Madeline Peeples, Jasmine Ripley, Nella Sharp, Kelcie Smathers, Sophia Smith, Anna Marie Stoppelbein, Rosy Tate, Keira Ward, Mia Weidner

Cast 2 – Lily Alexander, Suzannah Best, Sophie Jane Blankinship, Riley Coakley, Stella Coffey, May Currens, Jocelyn Davis, Harper Dechant, Piper Esmon, Audrey Neel, Emily Foley, Isabella Gualano, Arwen Imfeld, Tess Joerling, Ursula Kelly, Meira Kennedy, Audrey Lynn, Josie Maita, Ava Menkes, Ariel Mercurio, Gracelyn Olinger, Susannah Owen, Wiley Poss, Maddy Rentz, Charlotte Ross, Ellsworth Sullivan, Erin Wilson

Snow Leads

Cast 1 – Lilian Eselgroth*, Sarah Foley*, Emeline Ward* Olivia Weidie*, Rose Wuertz*

Cast 2 – Sayres Alspaugh*, Claire Hutchinson*, Julia Fleming*, Caroline Roberts*, Elianah Vargas*

Snow Corps – Emma Cory*, Emmeline Duft*, Shannon Grady*, Emma Grace Hutchins*, Lexie Moore*

Sugar Plum Fairy – Cassie Woods*

Dew Drop Fairy – Sarah London*

Spanish – Nicole Allison*, Caroline Brown*, Bailey Butters*, Meredith Woodson*

Arabian – Sarah London*

Russian – Alexandra Best*, Deanna Lowe*, Caroline Carlton*, Maria Papakonstantinou*

Chinese

Cast 1 – Emma Cory*, Emmeline Duft*, Lilian Eselgroth*, Sarah Foley*, Emma Grace Hutchins*, Emeline Ward*, Olivia Weidie*, Rose Wuertz*

Cast 2 – Sayres Alspaugh*, Emmeline Duft*, Shannon Grady*, Claire Hutchinson*, Julia Fleming*, Lexie Moore*, Caroline Roberts*, Elianah Vargas*

Marzipan – Mia Richardson*, Tyler Sandborn

Flower Waltz Leads – Nicole Allison*, Hunter Anne Hutchinson*, Elisabeth Roberts*, Meredith Woodson*

Flower Corps – Alexandra Best*, Tess Miller*, Caroline Brown*, Bailey Butters*, Caroline Carlton*, Deanna Lowe*, Maria Papakonstantinou*, Mia Richardson*

Mother Ginger

Cast 1 – Dick Kowal

Cast 2 – Josh Jordan

Mother Ginger Kids – Kate Casell, Hazel Grotenhuis, Gabriella Jones, Flora Konz, Kimberly Krout, Mary Wells Letson, Jordan Lundy, Lilith Mueller, Hope Robinson, Gea Rotollo, Nilah Wharton, Mary Victoria Young

Chefs and Confectionists – Sarah Adams, Harrison Cory, Acacia Dayton, Lily Mae Dickinson, Clark Eselgroth, Katie Foley, Erin Ikelheimer, Ruthee Jester,Gracie Leonor-Spears, Darcey Lynn, Jessica Lynn, Ira Moul, Kaiya Nilsson, Catherine Roberts, Kayla Schmitt, Chloe Singleton, Ava Blane Spiegal, Patricia Tonner-Mintier

Bakers – Ciera Barrow, Caryn Camacho, Matilyn Hull, Bella Lupoli, Hannah McCorry, Jordan Santoro, Avery Sund, Rebecca Wilcox

+ Member of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers

* Ballet Conservatory of Asheville's Pre-Professional Division