THE NUTCRACKER

S t a t e S t r e e t B a l l e t p r e s e n t s

State Street Ballet / Gustafson Dance / Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra

Performed December 22, 2019 at the Granada Theatre

Photo: Heidi Bergseteren

Ashly Pryor

Noam Tsivkin

Sergei Domrachev

Sienna Bible / Catalina Brace /Sage Honikman /

Gisella Yoshim

Anna Carnes / Jack Stewart

Oscar Bravo Ly

Josie Donnelly* / Arianna Hartanov / Amber Hirschfield /

Chloe Kelley / Ahna Lipchik / Tanner Blee /

Francois Liorente / John Christopher Piel /

Sisombath Souvannasacki*

Susan Van Abel / Laura Capps

Alvaro Oquita

Marcie Demangos*

Mia Hernandez / Laila Skrinski

Jacey Allen / Ava Benhayon /Isabel Finnigan /

Persephone Gallegos / Olivia Gobbell / Madelyne Herbert

Rebecca Lennon / Ella Rotondo / Sadie Ugoretz

Hannah Cohen / McKenzie Gosney / Camila Hernandez /

Tali McPeters / Olivia Pires / Lucia Ramirez Solano /

Luna Ramirez Solano / Lauren Wilk / Taylor Wolf /

Grace Wyman

Marika Kobayashi / James Folsom

Bennett Ruehlman

Ahna Lipchik

Oscar Bravo Ly / Michael Haverty* / Alvaro Oquita /

John Christopher Piel

Hartley Abesysekera / Sloan Brookshire /

Phoebe Caldwell / Margaret Deakyne / Sofia Faraoni /

Kailyn Galbraith / Charlotte Haimeri / Loma Murdy /

Annabelle Waldinger / Kate Warkentin / Penelope Walsh

Raya Yazadzhiev

ACT 1 CAST

Clara. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nutcracker Prince / Drosselmeyer's Nephew.. . .

Herr Drosselmeyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Drosselmeyer's Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Stahlbaums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fritz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Guests at the Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Special Guests at the Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grandmother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Little Maids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Party Girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Party Boys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Columbine and Harlequin Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Soldier Doll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rat Queen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Nutcracker

Photo: David Bazemore

Elida De Fazio* / Marcie Demangos* / Hope Easter* /

Emma Lawrence* / Emily McKinney* / Callie Mick* /

Michelle Oakman* / Hannah Ornelas* / Erica Patton* /

Emily Ridings* / Kayla Kane Vaskelis* / Eliana Yopp*

Taylor Alfama / Bernice Clair / Nicole Cornejo /

Ella Hernandez

Jack Stewart / Deise Mendonça

Amara Galloway / Arianna Hartanov / Amber Hirschfield

/ Chloe Kelley / Marika Kobayashi / Ahna Lipchik /

Emma Matthews / Saori Yamashita

Hannah Anderson* / Roya Baker-Vahdani* / Amanda

Beasley* / Valerie Garcia* / Julia Kamilos" / Josephine

Marrow*

Gustafson Dance Students: Sadie Beebe / Sydney Coffman

/ Clara Morando / Catherine Pizzinat

ACT 1 CAST (CONTINUED)

Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Battle Toys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Snow King and Queen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Snowflakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Nutcracker

Kona Castil lo / Mia DiMaggio / Daisy Gemberling /

Stella Jones / Sierra Kendig / Ava Knothe /

Sonia Melkonian / Shaundie Moore / Chloe Nydam /

Emma Poulinets / Everly Rhode / Georgette von Yurt /

Zsa Zsa Zemeckis / Gisella Zuzunaga

Abby Almeroth / Catherine Blabey / Dagny Boxer /

Zoe Jewell / Amanda Kabaretti / Zoe Lowenstein /

Finley Mowery / Mariam Mussman / Amanda Pires /

Georgia Raring / Kristiana Wightman

Sadie Beebe / Olivia Benbow / Adrienne Cruse /

Olivia Gobbell / Clara Morando / Catherine Pizzinat

Marika Kobayashi

Francois Liorente

Anna Carnes / Arianna Hartanov

ACT 2 CAST

Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Little Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Princesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sugar Plum Fairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cavalier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spanish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cadets: Jacey Allen / Ruth Baker / Evyn Dalforno /

Madelyne Herbert / Bennett Ruehlman / Sadie Ugoretz

Dolls : Anna Braastad / Ava Benhayon / Isabel Finnigan /

Persephone Gallegos / Rebecca Lennon / Tessa Storr

Deise Mendonça / Jack Stewart

Amber Hirschfield / Oscar Bravo Ly

Chinese Dragons: Jacey Allen / Sadie Ugoretz

London Besler / Juliet Bradley / Ella Osley /

Maddy Osley

Emily McKinney* with

Michelle Oakman / Erica Patton* / Emily Ridings* /

Kayla Kane Vaskelis*

Emma Matthews / James Folsom / John Christopher Piel

Sergei Domrachev

Leaders: McKenzie Gosney / Olivia Pires

Jocelyn Haugen / Grace Johnson / Patricia Kerr / Lilliya

Macon / Arpi Mekonian / Orelya Mussman / Fatima

Vehedian / Saaa Vehedian / Eniana Ymeri

Saori Yamashita

Anna Carnes / Josie Donnelly* / Amara Galloway / Ahna

Lipchik / Tanner Blee / Oscar Bravo Ly / James Folsom /

John Christopher Piel

Gustafson Dance Students: Ruth Baker / Olivia Benbow /

Anna Braastad / Adrienne Cruse / Evyn Dalforno / Elsa

Goldwasser

Marika Kobayashi / Francois Liorente

Full Company

ACT 2 CAST (CONTINUED)

Cadets and Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Arabian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chinese. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Little Chinese. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mirlitons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Russian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mother Ginger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bon Bons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dewdrop Fairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Waltz of the Flowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grand Pas de Deux. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Finale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Nutcracker

* State Street Ballet Professional Track Trainee

STATE STREET BALLET

Artistic Directors: Rodney Gustafson / William Soleau

Choreography: Rodney Gustafson

Additional Chorecography: Marina Fliagina / Cecily MacDougall / Gary McKenzie / Megan Philipp

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conductor: Brian Asher Alhadeff / Denise Grimm

Repertory Directors: Marina Fliagina / Paola Hartley / Megan Philipp

Production and Lighting Design: Sammy Jelinek

Production Assistant: John Christoper Piel

Set Design: Daniel Nyiri / Yuri Samodurov

Wardrobe Direction: Nicole Thompson

Costume Design: A. Christina Giannini / Mary Etta Lang / Nicole Thompson

Costume Construction: Denise Caracas / Milly Colahan / Sara Mahar / Nicole Thompson

GUSTAFSON DANCE

Director: Allison Gustafson

Assistant Director: Nicole Comella

Children's Choreography Rehearsal : Shelby Caputo / Nicole Comella / Marina Fliagina /

Afton Gustafson / Allison Gustafson / Kira Hopkins / Cecily MacDougall / Clara Morando /

Megan Philipp

Wardrobe: Alissa Herbert / Marta Morando

OPERA SAN LUIS OBISPO GRAND ORCHESTRA

General Director and Conductor: Brian Asher Alhadeff

Violin 1: Brynn Albanese, Concertmaster / Kristina Tsanova / Anya Papikian / Eva Werner / Chris

Reutigner / Stefan Krut

Violin 2: Araksia Naxlikian, Principal / Sabine Vener / Johana Krejci / Ingrid Kovacs / Nick

Bircher / Kai Rushworth

Viola: David Hennessee, Principal / Karen Loewi-Jones / Margaret Whitson / Kim Wilkins

Violoncello: Barbara Spencer, Principal / Elizabeth Tseng / Boris Nixon

Bass: Lara Lehmer, Principal / Brendan Statom

Flute 1 and Piccolo: Suzanne Duffy

Flute 2 and Piccolo: Carol Houchens

Oboe 1: Heidi Butterfield

Oboe 2 and English Horn: Kelly Leu

Clarinet 1 and Flute 3: Ryan Glass

Clarinet 2 and Bass Clarinet: Richard Dobeck

Bassoon: Mark Lehmer

Jorn 1: Alan Smithson

Horn 2: Tawnee Lillo

Trumpet 1: Rich Ward

Trumpet 2: Devin Henderson

Trombone: Thomas Frederickson

Harp: Elizabeth Huston

Celesta: Rebecca McClaflin

Timpani and Percussion: Marshall Granger, Principal / John Astaire

Contractor: Rich Ward

Assistant Conductor: Daniel Newman-Lessler

MATILIJA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER CHOIR

Thomas Frederickson, Choir Director

Addison Belcher / Madeline DeMauro / Shanti Kettles / Coree Kotula / Elizabeth Ledbetter /

Lillie Morris / Mariah Moraes / Maya Mouderres / Karen Murillo / Sienna Patterson /

Rebecca Rosales / Zoe Sercu / Amma Sullivan / Samantha Willaimson

THE NUTCRACKER SYNOPSIS

ACT 1

It is Christmas Eve as friends and family happily gather at the Stahlbaum's home for a holiday

party. Clara and Fritz Stahlbaum dance and play as they welcome their friends and their

godfather, the magical toy maker Herr Drosselmeyer, who arrives with very special gifts and his

young nephew. He calls the children around him for a puppet show, telling the story of kind-

hearted Clara, the evil Rat Queen, and teh valiant Nutcracker Prince. He also presents magical

life-sized dolls before gifting a wooden Nutcracker Prince to young Clara herself . The Nutcracker

quickly becomes the favorite of all the children, and Clara is delighted with her special gift,

promising to take good care of it . In a moment of childish rivalry, Fritz grabs Clara's Nutcracker

and breaks it , but Drosselmeyer works his magic once more, repairing the toy and telling Clara

that true love and friendship is the real magic.

As the evening grows late the guests leave with their holiday gifts, and the Stahlbaum's go off to

bed. When all is quiet, Clara quietly creeps downstairs to find her Nutcracker and falls asleep

next to him under the Christmas tree. As the clock strikes midnight, Clara is awakened by the Rat

Queen and her band of evil rats . The Christmas tree begins to grow, and her beloved Nutcracker

springs to life, leading a band of toy soldiers into battle against the Rat Queen and her forces.

Just as it seems the Nutcracker and his soldiers are about to be defeated, Clara steps forward to

protect her toy with her love and bravery. She mortally wounds the Rat Queen, but her

Nutcracker also lies l ifeless . Clara weeps for him in a moment of despair, but then rejoices as the

Nutcracker transforms into a handsome Prince. True love has conquered evil , and Clara and her

Nutcracker Prince begin their enchanted journey, traveling to a land of dancing snowflakes where

the Snow King and Queen guide them on their way.

ACT 2

Clara and the Nutcracker Prince arrive in the Land of Sweets, surrounded by angels and cherubs,

as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier welcome them to their kingdom. Upon hearing the tale

of the courageous young Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy presents the young girl with joyful dances of

entertainment from across the land; fiery Spanish dancers; jubilant Chinese dancers; graceful

Mirlitons; the exotic Arabian couple; the spirited Russians, Mother Ginger and her adorable Bon

Bons; and a beautiful, twirling waltz . The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a Grand Pas

de Deux, and the enchanted inhabitants of their kingdom gather together for a rousing finale.

As the festivities draw to a close, the Land of Sweets and its magical characters begin to fade

away as Clara is transported back to her family's l iving room. Her maid awakens her from her

magical dream, and she finds herself beside her own Christmas tree, with visions of enchanted far-

away kingdoms lingering in her mind. As she realizes her beloved wooden Nutcracker is missing,

Drosselmeyer's young nephew enters and she marvels at his resemblance to her favorite doll . He

presents her with a Christmas gift as the curtain falls , suggesting that perhaps our dreams really

do come true.