Nutcracker
Saturday, December 21 and 22 at 2 p.m.
Artistic Director: Gregory Amato
Choreography: Gregory Amato, after Marius Petipa
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Scenario: Gregory Amato, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story
PROGRAM
Synopsis
ACT I
It’s Christmas Eve, and Fräulein Drosselmeyer is hard at work in her workshop, putting the final touches on the enchanting gifts she has crafted for the Stahlbaum family’s annual gathering.
At the Stahlbaum home, Clara, Fritz, Louis, and their parents joyfully welcome their guests to the festive Christmas party. Drosselmeyer arrives with her signature flair, presenting delightful gifts for the children, including a wooden Nutcracker for Clara. The evening unfolds with lively dancing and the wonder of Drosselmeyer’s magic. Before the children head to bed, she reappears with one last surprise: an extraordinary, enchanted book created especially for them.
As the children delve into its pages late into the night, the stories spring to life. Giant mice scurry from the shadows, only to be met by the Nutcracker and his loyal battalion, now miraculously transformed to life-size. The Rat King emerges, and a fierce duel ensues between him and the Nutcracker, the clash of their swords building to a dramatic crescendo. Once the battle subsides, the Snow King and Queen appear, conjuring a swirling storm of snowflakes to escort the children to the Land of the Sweets.
Intermission
ACT II
In the Land of the Sweets, Clara, Fritz, and Louis are greeted by a dazzling array of characters, including the regal Sugar Plum Fairy and her dashing Cavalier. In their honor, the Sweets perform a series of mesmerizing dances, celebrating the arrival of their young guests.
As the magical tale draws to a close, the children lovingly shut the book, their hearts full of wonder. Meanwhile, Drosselmeyer dreams of crafting even more magical adventures for Christmases yet to come.
Cast
Clara: Yuri Yoneyama ◊, Sierra Hartwig•
Fritz: Chloe Schwerin◊, Keira Sweany•
Louis: Ruby Skulpone◊, Adela Talpes•
Herr & Frau Stahlbaum: Evan Johnston & Chloé Watson◊, Léna Alvino & Phoenix Wilkins•
Fräulein Drosselmeyer: Minna Rogers
Drosselmeyer’s Apprentices: Sasha Arbo, Maria Fanourgiakis, Mia Meisenheimer, Everett Wolfe
Dowager: Nina Amato◊, Keiko Schmid•
Maid: Melia Kramer
Party Guests: Léna Alvino◊, Leo Arellano, Shirley Cheng, Evan Johnston•, Shellie Jew, DJ Kim, Bernardo Ramos, Maddie Sager, Phoenix Wilkins◊, Chloé Watson•
Party Children: Olivia Caulfield, Sophie Chang Blake, Fiona Larlarb, Sierra Hartwig◊, Hannah Jiang, Eleanor Liu, Maiqi Luo, Keira Mendezona, Olivia Moyer, Chloe Schultze, Chloe Schwerin•, Keira Sweany◊, Oscar van der Berg, Yuri Yoneyama•, Naomi Zhao
Ballerina Doll: Astrid Arvelo
Harlequin Doll: Alyssa-Marie Muña
Nutcracker: Phoenix Wilkins
Rat King: Bernardo Ramos
Lead Rats: Tabitha Smith, Diamond Zhou
Baby Mice: Isabella Cui, Laney Lasat, Maiqi Luo, Ashley Miliotes, Arabella Phiri, Clarissa Phiri, Seenah Sison, Sahaana Sonone, Aria Sullivan, Givi Sullivan, Oscar van der Berg, Audrey Zhang
Mice: Sasha Arbo, Annabelle Bahbout, Chelsea Bowlby, Elise Maestas, Mila Liberti, Tatianah Martinez, Mia Meisenheimer, Sinjini Mitra, Lorin Ozulko, Haley Scott, Chloe Schultze, Tianna Singh, Everett Wolfe, Naomi Zhao
Baby Transition Dolls: Amara Kissandra Aytona, Hazel Chan, Vilu Farias, Maeve Gandhi, Sohpia Goh, Kanna Ishida, Olivia Mendezona, Ellington Millender, Ahana Pandit, Stefanie Thompson, Taylor Whyte, Camille Wong, Vivienne Wong
Transition Dolls: Olivia Caulfield, Alice Lynagh, Luci Singh, Audrey Stoll, Samantha Wolff
Soldiers: Katelyn Bell, Sophie Chang Blake, Chloe Cho, Maria Fanourgiakis, Sierra Hartwig◊, Hannah Jiang, Fiona Larlarb, Eleanor Liu, Maiqi Luo, Amber Miliotes, Keira Mendezona, Mei Narushima, Olivia Moyer, Zeynep Patton, Chloe Schwerin•, Anniyah Singh, Keira Sweany◊, Winnifred Wolfe, Yuri Yoneyama•
Snow Queen: Naomi Sailors
Snow King: Evan Johnston
Snowflakes: Léna Alvino, Astrid Arvelo, Jenna Brandt, Shirley Cheng, Shellie Jew, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Maddie Sager, Chloé Watson
Snowman: Isabella Cui
Sugar Plum Fairy: Kelley Hashemi
Cavalier: Jacob DalPorto
Sugar Plum Attendant: Diamond Zhou
Rose: Alyssa-Marie Muña
Cherubs: Isabella Cui, Laney Lasat, Maiqi Luo, Ashley Miliotes, Arabella Phiri, Clarissa Phiri, Haley Scott, Seenah Sison, Sahaana Sonone, Aria Sullivan, Givi Sullivan, Oscar van der Berg, Audrey Zhang
Angels: Katelyn Bell, Chloe Cho, Maria Fanourgiakis, Amber Miliotes, Mei Narushima, Zeynep Patton, Anniyah Singh, Tabitha Smith, Winnifred Wolfe
Flower Fairies: Sophie Chang Blake, Olivia Caulfield, Sierra Hartwig◊, Fiona Larlarb, Eleanor Liu, Keira Mendezona, Olivia Moyer, Chloe Schwerin•, Luci Singh, Keira Sweany◊, Audrey Stoll, Samantha Wolff, Yuri Yoneyama•
Chocolate: Astrid Arvelo, Maddie Sager
Coffee: Léna Alvino and Evan Johnston
Tea: Jenna Brandt, Shirley Cheng, Shellie Jew with Katelyn Bell, Chloe Cho, Maria Fanourgiakis, Amber Miliotes, Mei Narushima, Zeynep Patton, Anniyah Singh, Tabitha Smith, Winnifred Wolfe, Diamond Zhou
Marzipan: Naomi Sailors, Chloé Watson
Trepak: Phoenix Wilkins with Hannah Jiang, Alice Lynagh
Mother Ginger: Bernardo Ramos
Polichinelles: Sasha Arbo, Annabelle Bahbout, Chelsea Bowlby, Elise Maestas, Mila Liberti, Tatianah Martinez, Mia Meisenheimer, Sinjini Mitra, Lorin Ozulko, Chloe Schultze, Haley Scott, Tianna Singh, Everett Wolfe, Naomi Zhao
Flowers: Léna Alvino, Astrid Arvelo, Jenna Brandt, Shirley Cheng, Shellie Jew, Maddie Sager, Naomi Sailors, Chloé Watson
Casting notes:
◊ December 21st performance only
•December 22nd performance only
Snow Chorus
FROM MASTERWORKS CHORALE
Serenade Chamber Choir
Artistic Director & Conductor: Dr. Bryan Baker
Soprano: Lauren Estes, Karen Gernand, Lory Kitamura, Indu Pereira, Erin Renfroe, Felicia Yang
Alto: Lindesay Adams, Jacquelyn Chang, Isabella Custino, Suzanne Farbstein, Carolyn Finlayson, Yiting Jin, Eliana Ward-Lev
Tenor: Bill Chiles, John Farbstein, John Harrison, Paul Montes, Peter Sargent
Bass: Kevin Dong, Jim Hawley, Peter Kim, Rod Lowe, Dave Merrill, Paul Wendt
FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL
Skyline’s Choral Director: Adam Green
Soprano: Genevieve Achee, Melody Blankman, Tammy Cai, Ashley Jacinto Sales, Ella Killingsworth, Kari Ly, Alexandria Williams
Alto: Jasmine Cazier, Nailah Davis, Rosa Fernandez-Parker, Jessenia Martinez Estrella, Lon’ja Mustafa, Samantha Moir, AJ Canon
Tenor: Cameron Williams, Jesus Orozco Cervantes, Nihal Rathod, Amoria Baldridge, Emmet Slater
Bass: Jack Magness, Jacob Irving, Nexx Harris, Stefanos Zarbalis
Crew
Technical Director: Dave LeBlanc
Stage Manager: Danielle Santana Combs
Lighting Designer & Light Board Operator: Brian Yang
Audio Engineer: Richard Healy
House Manager: Jeff Stoll
Wardrobe: Nina Amato, Nina Baratoff, Alanna McAlorum, Elizabeth Pelikan, Rosalyn Wolfe
Properties Master: Rich Schwerin
Flymen: Michael Grush, Jorge Narez-Rodriquez
Deck Crew: D’andrea Fernandez, Ruben Narez-Rodriquez
Backstage Volunteer Coordinator: Verónica Quevedo
Boutique Coordinator: Yuki Horiguchi
Junior Backstage Managers: Audrey Barsetti, Jules Singh
Staff
Interim Executive Director: Debbie Chinn
Consulting Producer: Jonathan Moscone
Ballet Mistress: Nina Amato
Director of Artistic Operations: Chloé Watson
PSA Co-Directors: Léna Alvino & Gregory Amato
School Administrator: Shannon Briesach Schueller
Peninsula School of the Arts Ballet Faculty: Léna Alvino, Gregory Amato, Kelley Hashemi, Hannah Jang, Melia Kramer, Hayley Marilao, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Verónica Quevedo, Minna Rogers, Chloé Watson, Matthew "Ninja" Sutton, Phoenix Wilkins, Christian Winzenread
Chief Financial Officer: Jan Mendez
Senior Accountant: Audelia Rendon
Public Relations: Jon Finck
Marketing Director: Michael Davis
Photographer: Vin Eiamvuthikorn
Webmaster: Maria Nichols
