KEITH MICHAEL’S THE NUTCRACKER

SUN, DEC 1, 2024, 3 PM at Colden Auditorium

 

New York Theatre Ballet

Steven Melendez, Artistic Director

Sophie Blue, Managing Director

Artists:

Wonjin Chang

Giulia Faria

Danielle Guirma

Ethan Huffman

Jonathan Leonard

Mónica Lima

Kieran McBride

Giana Parlin

Richel Ruiz

Kristina Shaw

Sarah Stafford

Mitchell Welsh

Grace Wiechart

Daisy Ye

With Children from New York Theatre Ballet School

 

Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker

Choreography by Keith Michael

Music by Peter Tchaikovsky

Costume Design by Sylvia Taalsohn Nolan

Scenery Design and Original Painting by Gillian Bradshaw-Smith

Properties Design and Construction by Herbert Kuhn

Construction and Painting by Adirondack Studios

Godmother Drosselmeyer’s Nephew Nathaniel …… Ethan Huffman

Godmother Drosselmeyer …… Wonjin Chang

The Tick Tocks …… Audrey Cen*, Claire Li*/Chenyi Fang*, Ludovica Russo*

 

The Party

Marie Stahlbaum …… Sarah Stafford

Mother Stahlbaum …… Giulia Faria

Doctor Stahlbaum …… Jonathan Leonard

 

The Battle

The Mice …… Children from NYTB School

Queen Mouserinks …… Kristina Shaw

The Mounted Soldiers …… Children from NYTB School

The Nutcracker Prince …… Ethan Huffman

 

The Land of Snow

Snow Pas de Deux

Marie and The Nutcracker Prince …… Sarah Stafford, Ethan Huffman

Snowflakes and Frost …… Giana Parlin, Kristina Shaw, Grace Wiechart, Daisy Ye, Richel Ruiz, Mitchell Welsh

 

The Land of Sweets

The Sugar Plum Fairy …… Giulia Faria

Her Cavalier …… Jonathan Leonard

The Sugar Plumlets …… Children from NYTB School

The Divertissements

Lace …… Kieran McBride/Danielle Guirma

Shadows …… Daisy Ye, Mitchell Welsh

Chopsticks …… Giana Parlin, Kristina Shaw

Boules …… Audrey Cen*, Claire Li*/Chenyi Fang*, Ludovica Russo*

Harlequin & Arlequina …… Grace Wiechart, Richel Ruiz

Marzipan Shepherdess and Marzipan Sheep …… Giana Parlin with Children from NYTB School

Waltz of the Flowers …… Kristina Shaw, Daisy Ye, Grace Wiechart

Grand Pas de Deux

The Sugar Plum Fairy & Her Cavalier …… Giulia Faria, Jonathan Leonard

Finale …… The Company

*New York Theatre Ballet School students

 

The clock is ticking. It is Christmas Eve 1907 in a grand house on a grand street in a grand city. We are looking in on The Stahlbaum’s elaborate Art Nouveau mantelpiece – a clock, a ceramic Christmas tree, a framed photograph. Godmother Drosselmeyer’s Nephew Nathaniel, an enchanted young man, is tidying up before the evening festivities. He fantasizes, “When will I return as Crown Prince to my beloved magical land? Maybe tonight!” 

The clock has stopped and must be wound. Drosselmeyer, the Clockmaker, is discovered dreaming inside its gears and flywheels, as are her Tick Tock “Keepers of the Clock.” With a few turns of the key, once again, time whizzes on its merry way. The photograph of Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their daughter, Marie, comes to life. Nathaniel is the newcomer to this intimate Christmas Eve party, and Marie blushes at his introduction. 

Somehow, when Drosselmeyer arrives, amazing things happen. Behind a small door, one of Drosselmeyer’s creations, a delightfully droll wooden nutcracker man, mesmerizes Marie. 

When Nathaniel and Marie bump into each other during a round dance, the nutcracker flies from Marie’s hands into the safety of Nathaniel’s arms. The connection is made. The party ends. Marie and Nathaniel coyly say goodnight. In the darkened house, Marie sneaks back into the living room and drifts off to sleep enamored of her new nutcracker. But she is not alone. A band of mice scavenge for holiday crumbs. The room soon shudders as Queen Mouserinks bursts in, grabbing for the potentially tasty nutcracker. Marie bravely protects the mustachioed little man, and this spark of love frees the Nutcracker Prince from within the nut-cracking wood! Now the Nutcracker Prince protects Marie. The Queen and the Prince snatch the hands from the Clock – minutes and hours clash in the air. Marie tangles Queen Mouserinks in her own tail, giving Nutcracker the split-second chance to “dispatch” her.

As Nutcracker pledges his devotion to Marie for saving his life, the mantel clock, already freed of its hands, freezes over with glistening icicles. With time stopped, the midnight living room fades away. Nutcracker and Marie thrill to their fantastic journey through the Land of Snow and onward to the delectable Land of Sweets. 

Nutcracker’s kingdom rejoices in his return and celebrates Marie’s valor. Nutcracker is the Crown Prince, but the undisputed rulers of the Land are The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. A surprise cornucopia of entertainment has been prepared. And, indeed, surprises they are – transporting Marie to that neverland reached only just before waking from a delightful dream. 

Even wonderful journeys must end. It is Christmas morning. Marie awakes. Can she possibly have traveled to all of those delicious places while she slept? It WAS real. Wasn’t it?                               

– Keith Michael

 

Keith Michael conceived and choreographed New York Theatre Ballet’s productions of The Nutcracker, Mother GOOSE!, The Alice-in Wonderland Follies, and L’Histoire du Soldat. He was the Manager of Dance Production at The Juilliard School (NYC) 1997-2023, and has facilitated thousands of performances nationally and internationally wearing a large variety of production hats. He is also an urban naturalist, leading New York City WILD! nature walks throughout the environs of NYC, is a monthly contributor to The Village View: Voice of the Village and the Lower West Side, and has published four books of writing and photography. www.keithmichaelnyc.com and Instagram @newyorkcitywild.

This production of Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker for NYTB, premiered at Florence Gould Hall, New York, NY, December 9th, 2011. Keith Michael’s previous production of The Nutcracker was presented annually by NYTB for 26 years—1985–2010.

 

About NYTB

Founded in 1978, New York Theatre Ballet performs small classic masterpieces and new contemporary works for adults and innovative hour-long ballets for young children, all at affordable prices. The mission is carried out in the work of the Professional Company, its Ballet School, and its LIFT Program. Together these divisions reach adults and family audiences across the country building a love for dance and diverse audiences for the future.

 

About New York Theatre Ballet School 

NYTB School was founded in 1978 as the official training school of New York Theatre Ballet. Graded classes are offered at the pre-ballet through advanced levels. Teaching assistants guarantee highly individualized instruction. The school teaches dance as a total art form, developing strong technical skill and discipline. Following the Cecchetti syllabus, classes emphasize music, theatricality, gesture and style. For qualified students, the school’s unique relationship with NYTB provides performing experience throughout the year in ballets featuring roles for children.

 

Learn more: nytb.org