The Nutcracker
Studio K Youth Ballet presents holiday favorite at Farthing Dec. 13-14

By Jeff Eason

Folks who love the annual holiday tradition that is The Nutcracker might be surprised to know that it was never a success during the lifetime of its composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The ballet premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892 and the musical passages soon became favorites of orchestras around the world.

It wasn’t until choreographer George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet collaborated on a stage version of the show in 1954 that the ballet became a holiday favorite. Today, more than a hundred ballet companies nationwide stage annual versions of The Nutcracker, including a company in the High Country that has been staging the spectacular for the past two decades.

Studio K Youth Ballet will present The Nutcracker at ASU’s Farthing Auditorium in Boone on Saturday, September 13 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults, $8 for all students, and free for children three and under.

The Studio K production of The Nutcracker features over 200 local dancers ranging in age from pre-school through the 60s. The ballet utilizes colorful costumes, special effects, giant backdrops and sets and Farthing Auditorium’s state-of-the-art sound system.

The Nutcracker, adapted from E.T.A. Hoffman’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” tells the tale of young Clara Von Stahlbaum on the evening that her family hosts an elegant Christmas party. A mysterious party guest, Dr. Drosselmeyer, gives Clara a toy nutcracker in the shape of a soldier, which her brother Fritz promptly breaks.

After everyone leaves the party, Clara falls asleep and is visited by dancing mice, a Christmas tree that grows in front of her eyes and other exciting visions. The Nutcracker comes to life and defends Clara against the Mouse King and his rodent horde. After the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, he and Clara visit magical lands such as the Land of the Sweets and Arabia.

It has become a Studio K tradition to have a different dancer portray the lead role of Clara Von Stahlbaum each year. This holiday season Watauga High School student and longtime Studio K dancer Ariel Franklin will don a specially made pink party dress for the role.

In addition to Franklin, The Studio K Youth Ballet production of The Nutcracker stars Kenneth Wright as Councillor Von Stahlbaum, Kit Fisher as Frau Von Stahlbaum, Savannah Spencer as Fritz Von Stahlbaum, Andy Harkins as Dr. Drosselmeyer, Meghan Mixon as Columbine, Matt Backe as the Soldier Doll, Michael Sutton as the Mouse King, Matt Backe as the Nutcracker Prince, Cay Harkins as the Snow Queen, Greg Pope as Cavalier, Sara Critcher as the Queen of Sweets, Rhonda Spencer as Mother Ginger, Shellie Karaus as the Dewdrop Fairy, and Sally Miller as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Toy store children include Lacey Bradford, Ella Carroll, Alexis Clary, Bethany Critcher, Kathleen Gibson, Kaitlyn Hodges, Jackie Illich, Lizzie Miller, Lucy Miller, Ellery Rushing, Grace Sears, Janie Ann Soucek, Gaia Harper, Emily Hill, Marie Kallestad, Hailey Marshall, Ramsey Parker, Kacie Rominger, Caitlin Clarke, Abby Marlett, Abbie Anderson, Andrew Hatley, Morgan Hatley, Josie Armes, Peyton Bakken, Raylen Christian, Rayna Christian, Hannah Critcher, Sarah Fredenburg, Madi Greene, Emma Kate Moore, and Ve Ve Rushing.

Village dancers include Joanna Campbell, Ivy Ulmer, Gabrielle Barlow, Hannah Bates, Courtney Bell, Addi Berry, Emily Berry, Mackenna Berry, Taylor Blanton, Brittany Burwell, Emily Burwell, Ashley Canter, Sidney Ginn, J.J. Indicott, Nicole Krontz, Amelia Powers, Hanna Reeves, Lauren Sanderson, Rebekah Washburn and Laura Zuber.

Party guests include Carol Anderson, Mike Wilson, Jeff Hatley, Sandy Miller, Shannon Hatley, Ken Steele, Dan Krontz, Colette Krontz, Tom Fisher, John Cook, Carol Cook, Kathy Moorman, Margaret Handley, Terry Anderson, Saralynn Kader, Greg Lovins, John Holder, Mary Dean Silver and Tiffany Christian.

Party children include Emma Harkins, Morgan Hatley, Emma Harkins, Andrew Hatley, Megan Smith, Nicole Krontz, Kellyn Stamey, Brandy Hicks, Caroline Lovins, Savannah Copeland, Laurel Beebe, Mary Lovins, Brittany Burwell, Emily Burwell, Sara Frances Greene, Ryan Loflin, Peyton Walton, Kati Mac Greene, Alana Patterson, Cami Hastings, Amanda Eagle Farrar, Kaitlin Meiring, Aynsley Moore, Mackenna Berry, Marlie Shelton, Catie Holder, Emma Kate Sevensky and Gaia Harper.

Clock mice include Avery Devereux, Lily Devereux, Will Devereux, Carlton Dyer, Madeline Hays, Angela Claire Henderson, Reagan Miller, Evangelina Mizell, Elizabeth Noble, Emma Rominger, Lydia Rothrock, Cricket Conway, Sofia Crump, Hunter Gall, Chloe Galleher, Sunny Greene, Abigail Kern, Lily Mueller, Kazia Orkiszewski, Bethany Pryor, Cerlia Renwick, Naia Renwick and Hannah Roten.

Large mice include Jeff Hatley, Ken Steele, Mike Wilson and Kenneth Wright. Soldiers include Hannah Bates, Mackenna Berry, Staci Brown, Joanna Campbell, Ashley Canter, Catherine Catoe, Rayanna Christian, Savannah Copeland, Amanda Eagle-Farrar, Moriah Franklin, Sidney Ginn, Morgan Hatley, Brandy Hicks, Amelia Humiston-Baker, Jasmine Jackson, Kennedy Kavanaugh, Nicole Krontz, Ryan Loflin, Caroline Lovins, Gabrielle Moody, Aynsley Moore, Rachel Norwood, Amelia Powers, Victoria Redmon, Sierra Sweeney, Megan Tate, Olivia Watson and Leah Wilson.

Snowflakes include Gayle Anderson, Sara Critcher, Wendy Curtis, Abby Foster, Ariel Franklin, Akesha Greene, Catharine Milner, Lindsey Harkins, Meghan Mixon, Shellie Karaus, Lindsay Kaudelka, Sally Miller, Shannon Hatley, Anna Reichard, Eve Smalling, Nicole Werner, Tara Wicker, Ashley Harkins, Lauren Greene and Megan Rawdon.

Lead angels are Shellie Karaus and Anna Reichard. Little angels include Julia Banks, Rebekah Blair, Lilly Coggins, Bailey Cook, Luci Brooke Creed, Alessandra Densham, Alexis Eggers, Libby Glidewell, Kati Mac Greene, Molly Grimes, Sarah Grimes, Ella Pennell, Olivia Pinnix, Marisa Romanat, Katie Thompson, Allison Turbyfill, Rhianna Verholek, Peyton Walton, Ava Williamson, Emma Barr, Kylie Clarke, Savannah Grizzard, Isabella Harris, Josie Herring, Caroline Hodges, Hannah Ligon, Kendall Reece, Taylor Replogle, Madelyne Street, Molly Taylor and Annika Willis.

Gumdrops include Anna Grace Anderson, Isabella Barlow, Olivia Burroughs, Rylee Councill, Bailey Councill, Lilly Fairbanks, Macayla Kanoy, Camryn Norris, Ava Pinnix, Lauren Plummer, Katie Gray Sechrist, Anna Satterwhite, Laurel West, Gretchin Turbyfill, Makayla Andrews, Elli Berry, Foster Fowler, Matty Garvin, Sarah Garvin, Kara Johnson, Avery Martin, Brielynn Myers, Piper Grace Saunders, Kailie Watts and Bre Winkler Price.

Sugar plum attendants include Allison Brown, Lindsey Cole, Carolina Conway, Morgan Critcher, Emma Harkins, Deanna Indicott, Mary Lovins, Amanda Lubkemann, Tabitha Moody, Alexis Pope, Sydney Styron and Emily Whittaker.

Spanish dancers include Wendy Broderick, Gayle Anderson, Eve Smalling and Nicole Werner. Spanish Dance attendants include Annabeth Berry, Emma Carder, Sara Frances Greene, Olivia Handley, Emma Harkins, Cami Hastings, Lacy Holder, Tory Jensen, Kelsi Kanoy, Hannah Nemcosky, Heather Ostwalt, Allison Quinn, Meghan Smith, Jessica Tufts, Katherine Tufts, Camille Ward, Olivia Williamson, Catherine Catoe, Rayanna Christian, Moriah Franklin, Amelia Humiston-Baker, Jasmine Jackson, Kennedy Kavanaugh, Gabrielle Moody, Rachel Norwood, Sierra Sweeney, Jessica Tufts, Katherine Tufts, Camille Ward, Heather Oswalt and Lacy Holder.

Arabian Dance leads are Nolan McKew and Megan Rawdon. Arabian Dance attendants include Abigail Apgar, Laurel Beebe, Addi Berry, Emily Berry, Taylor Blanton, Brittany Burwell, Emily Burwell, Joanna Campbell, Anna Jensen, Sarah Mohr, Carly Moser, Lauren Sanderson, Kellyn Stamey, Ivy Ulmer, Rebekah Washburn and Laura Zuber.

Chinese Dance soloists include Jenny Myers, Wendy Broderick, Shannon Hatley, Anna Reichard and Lindsay Kaudelka. Chinese Dance attendants include Tegan Allan, R J Christian, Kaylee Cottom, Noelle Eller, Summit Fredenburg, Andrew Hatley, Catie Holder, Carrie Labonte, Claire McCoy, Angela Ramsdell, Emma Kate Sevensky, Anna Shellman, Audrey Smith, Elizabeth Vilas Sage Cercopely, Alison Cook, Emily Grant, Hattie Rose Greene, Cheney Hester, Kaitlin Meiring, Emma Pinnix, Samantha Reese, Savannah Spencer, Belinda Wang, Demi Wang, Kelsey Watts and Caroline Zuber.

Mirlitons (reed flutes) soloists include Ashley Harkins, Lindsey Harkins, Catharine Milner, Anna Reichard and Tara Wicker. Mirlitons attendants include Hannah Bates, Mackenna Berry, Ashley Canter, Sidney Ginn, Nicole Krontz, Amelia Powers, Staci Brown, Savannah Copeland, Amanda Eagle-Farrar, Morgan Hatley, Brandy Hicks, Ryan Loflin, Caroline Lovins, Megan Tate, Olivia Watson, Leah Wilson and Aynsley Moore.

Russian Dance soloists include Akesha Greene, Abby Lowder, Abby Foster and Alana Patterson.

Mother Ginger children include Lili Bauer, Lauren Cottom, Faith Ann Henson, Allie Hollis, Caroline Hoover, Emmie Huffman, Eden Indicott, Erin Jensen, Maggie Milhaupt, Natalie Noble, Caitlin Sanders, Sarah Grace Shellman, Mattie Suggs and Kaycee Wilson.

Waltz of the Flowers dancers include Gayle Anderson, Sara Critcher, Wendy Broderick, Abby Foster, Ariel Franklin, Akesha Greene, Ashley Harkins, Catharine Milner, Shannon Hatley, Lindsay Kaudelka, Abby Lowder, Sally Miller, Meghan Mixon, Jenny Myers, Anna Reichard, Eve Smalling, Nicole Werner, Tara Wicker, Alana Patterson, Simone Anderson and Megan Rawdon.

Pas de deux dancers are Lauren Greene and Sid Greene.

Cotton Candy dancers include Abigail Apgar, Devon Haas, Anna Jensen, Sarah Mohr, Alana Patterson, Jessica Presnell, Emily Ray, Evangeline Redmond, Marlie Shelton, Kellyn Stamey, Kelsey Wilson, Laurel Beebe, Megan Dean, Kaitlin Felts and Simone Anderson.

Finale Corps de Ballet dancers include Abigail Apgar, Devon Haas, Anna Jensen, Sarah Mohr, Jessica Presnell, Emily Ray, Evangeline Redmond, Marlie Shelton, Kellyn Stamey, Kelsey Wilson, Laurel Beebe, Megan Dean, Kaitlin Felts and Simone Anderson.

To order tickets for The Nutcracker, call the Farthing Auditorium Box Office at (828) 262-4046.