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On Rocky Mountain PBS
Presented by PNC Bank
#ThursdayThoughts: Joburg Ballet offers a full-time Aspirant Programme which includes lessons, training and the opportunity to rehearse and perform on stage with the professional company members. This year was quite a tough one on our Aspirants with the COVID-19 pandemic but these young men got the brief chance to grace the stage. Clara’s Nutcracker Prince, an all-new abbreviated presentation of the stage ballet combining your favorite scenes, characters and dances and made especially for the screen; A behind-the-scenes peek at our Nutcracker costumes, rehearsal process and more; Nutcracker-themed adventures, including a self-guided scavenger hunt for the whole family.
The magical spirit of the season comes to life in this acclaimed production and beloved holiday favorite that sells out every year. Tune in to view this special presentation of Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker on Rocky Mountain PBS. Join Clara and her army of toy soldiers as they battle the Mouse King and journey to the legendary land of Sweets.
Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker premieres on Rocky Mountain PBS on Thanksgiving at 7pm.
The Nutcracker is Colorado Ballet’s longest running production and a beloved holiday tradition for countless families. The loss of ticket revenue from this single production is substantial. With the spirit of holiday giving in mind, we ask Colorado Ballet’s patrons and the general arts-loving public to consider making a contribution this holiday season. In light of this need, Colorado Ballet has launched a Relief & Recovery Fund. With a fundraising goal of $3 million, this fund will help to cover a significant portion of the lost ticketing revenue, helping Colorado Ballet to emerge from this crisis as the strong company it has become over the past 60 years. View Colorado Ballet’s Relief and Recovery Campaign.
Broadcast schedule on Rocky Mountain PBS:
Friday, Dec. 18 – 9pm
Saturday, Dec. 19 – 1am
You can view this broadcast online here on our Colorado Ballet Presents page. The production may also be streamed at no cost any time throughout the holiday season on the Rocky Mountain PBS app, downloadable at rmpbs.org/pbs-video-app. For information about how to access the Rocky Mountain PBS channel in a specific area, please visit rmpbs.org/channels.
SYNOPSIS
The curtain rises to reveal Herr Drosselmeyer in his workshop preparing for the party at the home of Dr. and Frau Stahlbaum. It’s their annual Christmas Eve Party. The magical and eccentric Herr Drosselmeyer has planned a special surprise for his beloved godchild, Clara Stahlbaum. He presents her with a wonderfully mysterious wooden Nutcracker.
Clara is immediately taken with the gift. Clara’s brother Fritz is jealous and steals the Nutcracker from Clara. In the chaos of his teasing, Fritz accidentally breaks the Nutcracker. Herr Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue and assures Clara that all will be well.
The party ends and Clara, just before the stroke of midnight, returns to the darkened living room to check on her Nutcracker. She is frightened by large mice, but suddenly, Herr Drosselmeyer appears and the mice flee. Much to Clara’s amazement, Herr Drosselmeyer commands the Christmas tree to grow to such an enormous size that it pushes away the entire room. Next, he changes her little wooden toy into a life-size Nutcracker. The Nutcracker introduces himself and his soldiers to Clara.
The mice suddenly reappear and a vicious battle ensues. The soldiers seem to be winning, but the great Mouse King appears and the tide turns. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King fight, and just as the Mouse King is about to overpower the Nutcracker, Clara distracts him, giving the Nutcracker the chance to overcome the Mouse King.
To Clara’s delight and surprise, the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome young prince, who takes her off on an enchanted journey. He takes her to the Land of the Snow and then to the beautiful Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy, where Clara is entertained by dances from many lands.
Clara and the Prince dance together, surrounded by radiant flowers. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier then dance for Clara and the Prince. The Prince carries a sleeping Clara back to her home, where she awakens uncertain if her magical journey was a dream or reality.
CAST
THE NUTCRACKER CREDITS
Based on Choreography by Martin Friedmann
Additional Choreography by Sandra Brown
Staged by Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia and Maria Mosina
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra
Based on the Story by E.T.A. Hoffman
Scenery and Costumes by Jose Varona
Additional Costumes by Colorado Ballet Wardrobe Department
Lighting Design by Todd Elmer
Associate Lighting Designer Patrick “Red” Howard
CASTING
Clara and Nutcracker Prince
Sarah Tryon and Francisco Estevez
Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier
Chandra Kuykendall and Christophor Moulton
ACT I
Fritz
Kevin Gaël Thomas
Frau Stahlbaum
Morgan Buchanan
Dr. Stahlbaum
Joshua Allenback
Drosselmeyer
Gregory K. Gonzales
Clara’s Friends
Sheridan Guerin, Kyra Hughes, Gabriela Rodriguez, Nani Ross
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Maids
Jacqueline Gionet, Hannah Lesold
Parents
Robbie Downey, Alexandra Gilliom, Madeleine Kuebler, Ever Larson, Ariel McCarty, Simon Zinabu Costello, Liam Hogan, Tyler Humphrey, Tate Lee, Jacob Ray
Aunt
Francesca Martoccio
Grandmother and Grandfather
Eileen Fenner, Dan Fenner
Doll
Fernanda Oliveira
Soldier Doll
Jeremy Studinski
Mouse King
Benjamin Winegar
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Mice
Tate Lee, Alejandro Perez, Tyler Rhoads, Alexander Roy, Marty St. Pierre, Jeremy Studinski
Crystals
Mackenzie Dessens, Tracy Jones, Fernanda Oliveira, Melissa Zoebisch
Snow
Renee Castonguay, Arianna Ciccarelli, Christina Cummings, Madeleine Kuebler, Hannah Lesold, Francesca Martoccio, Ariel McCarty, Leah McFadden, Beverly Mitchell, Lauren Philson, Gabriela Rodriguez, Rosemary Shahani, Daniella Silverman, McKenzie Thomas, Sara Thomas, Alexandra Wilson
ACT II
Spanish
Ariel McCarty, Sara Thomas, Tyler Rhoads
Arabian
Fernanda Oliveira, Nicolas Pelletier
Chinese
Bryce Lee
Lion
Alejandro Perez, Jacob Ray, Marty St. Pierre
Marzipan
Arianna Ciccarelli, Leah McFadden, Simon Zinabu Costello
Russian
Alexandra Wilson, Joshua Allenback, Tate Lee
Mother Ginger
Tyler Humphrey
Dew Drop
Asuka Sasaki
Flowers
Catherine Aoki, Isabella Browne, Renee Castonguay, Sheridan Guerin, Madeleine Kuebler, Gabriele Lukasik, Francesca Martoccio, Catherine McGregor, Gabriela Rodriguez, Rosemary Shahani, McKenzie Thomas, Shelby Vennekotter
