Also join us for these

holiday treats!

Arts Centre Orchestra (ARCO)

Winter Concert Monday, December 7 at

7:30

It’s a Wonderful Life (The original movie

starring Jimmy Stewart) Friday, December 18 at 7

Herr Stahlbaum and his wife are giving a Christmas Party. Their children, Clara and Fritz, their children, eagerly greet the guests. The parents give dolls and toys to all the guest children. Suddenly the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer, Clara’s favorite uncle, arrives and entertains the children with his magical tricks and clockwork dolls. Drosselmeyer brings Clara a special gift – a wooden nutcracker. In a jealous fit, Fritz breaks it. Drosselmeyer, quickly repairs the broken nutcracker. Clara and her friends dance a lullaby, which is interrupted by Fritz and his cohorts who disrupt the evening with their loud trumpets and jabbing swords.

The party ends, the guests leave, and the Stahlbaums retire for the night. Clara awakens and returns to the drawing room to find her nutcracker, and as she falls back asleep, mice begin to scurry through the room. Drosselmeyer returns as the clock strikes midnight. Clara wakes to find that everything in the drawing room has grown in size, including her nutcracker doll which has become life-size. Suddenly, giant mice fill the room and attack Clara. Giant toy soldiers, led by her valiant Nutcracker, come to her rescue. The Rat King attacks the Nutcracker, but Clara hits him with her shoe, and the Nutcracker wins the battle. After the battle, the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. Drosselmeyer takes Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to an enchanted sleigh to begin their travels through the Land of Snow. The icicles, snowflakes and Snow Queen dance as the sleigh is led by Clara’s guiding Angels.

Clara continues her journey across the Lemon Drop Sea. Nearing the Kingdom of Sweets, she passes several Country Ambassadors carrying trays of delicious treats. All at the Kingdom of Sweets are preparing for a celebration in Clara’s honor. The candy makers, confectioners, and sugar sprinklers are busy putting the final touches on the delectable treats. The Sugar Plum Fairy greets Clara and arranges for the inhabitants of her kingdom to entertain her. While Clara eats the scrumptious sweets, she watches fanciful dancers from Spain, Arabia, and China. She, also, enjoys entertainment by Mother Ginger and her clowns, the Austrian Shepherdess, Russian candy canes, and waltzing flowers. Then the Sugar Plum Fairy with her handsome Cavalier dance together in a grand pas de deux. As the celebration draws to a close, Clara says good-bye to all. Drosselmeyer returns the wooden nutcracker to Clara as her Nutcracker Prince salutes his princess Clara farewell.

Raphaela, a native of Germany, received her dance training at the Cologne

Ballet Academy in Cologne, Germany and the School of Cleveland Ballet,

under the tutelage of Nicole Sowinska and Daniel Job. While on full

scholarship at the School of Cleveland Ballet, she performed with the

Cleveland Ballet under the direction of Dennis Nahat. She continued to dance

while completing her doctorate degree at Wayne State University. Her most

recent performances include The Nutcracker with the Port Huron Ballet

Theater Company, Sleeping Beauty with Ballet Renaissance, and the Pas de

Deux from Swan Lake for the American Dance Academy. In addition to guest

teaching, she is a ballet instructor at the American Dance Academy, Glenn

School of Dance, and the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet.

Addison began his training at the age of 16 at the O’Day School of Dance in

Detroit under his mother and father’s tutelage. He studied at the Saratoga

Springs and the Rock Summer School programs. He also trained for a year at

the School of American Ballet and spent his junior year of high School at the

Interlochen Arts Academy before leaving for the San Francisco Ballet School.

Addison danced with the Alabama Ballet, under the direction of Wes

Chapman from 1998 – 2001. After dancing professionally, Addison began his

academic pursuit at the Indiana University continuing to participate in their

Dance Program. An injury while guest performing brought him home to

Detroit for surgery and recovery. Currently he is attending Wayne State

University working toward a degree in chiropractic medicine.

The Stahlbaum Family .................................... Clara —Abigail Fleszar (Sat), Emily Hileman (Sun)

Fritz—Ethan Hileman Parents— Melissa Moore and Alen Fyfe Grandparents—Kellie and Tim Lajiness Nanny—Christyne Hilken Herr Drosselmeyer ........................................................................................................Jeff Boze

Guest Children.................... Clara’s Friends: Kate McLeod, Haley Langmeyer, Sophia Petrangelo

Guest children: Claire Bechard, Willow Biggs, Charlie Brown, Gabriella Fedewa Derek and Gabe Hileman, Alex, Benjamin and Gabe Molnar Brenna Murphy, MacKynze Slatinsky

Guest Parents ....................................................... Drew Batton, David Behnke, Jennifer Bezeau

Lisa and Tim Lewandowski, Julie Merz

Mechanical Dolls .................................................................. Jester: Alexandra Sauer, Reina Cooke (Fri)

Ballerina: Rachel Bruck, (Fri, Sat) Anthonette Fedewa (Fri), Lindsay Navarre (Sat, Sun) Soldier Dolls: Darcy Howland and Anna Raymond

Nutcracker Prince ....................................................................... Gabe Hileman (Sat) Alex Molnar (Sun

Soldiers .................. Reina Cooke, Anthonette Fedewa, Abigail Fleszar (Sun), Emily Hileman (Sat)

Kiera Malone, Morgan Slatinsky, Alessandra Rutkowski Jen Sliwinski, Alexis Zuckerman Marching Cadets: Makenzie Brown, Sidney Collino, Avery Morales, Amber Snider

Rat King .......................................................................................................... Alyson Zuckerman

Mice ................................................................................................................... White mouse: Hailey Burger

Lieutenant mice: Chloe McLeod, Benjamin Molnar, Faith Zochowski Grey mice: Charlie Brown, Abigail Costlow, Hannah Hodgson, Ebony Hudson Isabella Petrangelo, Autumn Molnar, Brenna Murphy, Catherine Zochowski

Snow Angels ........................ Marina Cerrone, Carlie and Abigail Costlow, Rubie and Kaylee Faulk

Jessica Foulkrod, Zoe Friedline, Emma Germeroth Ebony Hudson Hannah Hodgson, Katya Lewandowski, Emilia McLeod, Autumn Molnar Katy Pasko, McKenna Preadmore, Peyton Reed, Sophia Rivard Sarah Grace Taft, Isabelle Wiederhold Snow Scene ................................................................................... Snow Queen: Alexis Howland Icicles: Neeli Amin, Elizabeth Blanchette, Samantha Snell, Alyson Zuckerman Snowflakes: Meaghan Crawford, Darcy Howland, Melissa Moore Julie Merz, Lindsay Navarre, Anna Raymond, Shelby Sensing

Merry Christmas

And Happy New Year!

Peace & Blessings,

The Blanchette Family

Good luck to our

little gumdrop,

Katy.

Love,

Mommy, Daddy

and Maggie

Country Ambassadors ............................................................................................ Arabia: Derek Hileman

Russia: Gabe Molnar China: Benjamin Molnar Austria: Brenna Murphy Spain: Ethan Hileman Peppermint .................................................. Elizabeth Blanchette (Sat e) Samantha Snell (Sat/Sun a) Palace Bakers ................................ Gabriella Fedewa, Kate McLeod, Head Baker: Alexis Zuckerman Sugar Sprinklers .............................................................................. Monique Lajiness and Sarah Reicker Gum Drops ........................................... Marina Cerrone, Carlie Costlow, Rubie Faulk, Zoe Friedline

Katya Lewandowski, Katy Pasko, Peyton Reed Lemon Drops ............................ Kaylee Faulk, Jessica Foulkrod, Emma Germeroth, Emilia McLeod

Sophia Rivard, Sarah Grace Taft, McKenna Preadmore, Isabelle Wiederhold Peppermint Twist................. Abigail Costlow, Hannah Hodgson, Ebony Hudson, Autumn Molnar Court Jesters ................................................................................ Hailey Burger and MacKynze Slatinsky

Chocolate (Spanish) ............................... Elizabeth Blanchette, Samantha Snell, Alyson Zuckerman

Tea (Chinese) ................................ Rachel Bruck (Sat a, Sun), Reina Cooke, Anthonette Fedewa Gabriela Fischer (Sat a, Sun), Abigail Fleszar (Sun), Emily Hileman (Sat) Kiera Malone, Morgan Slatinsky (Sat e), Jen Sliwinski (Sat e), Alexis Zuckerman Candy Canes (Russian) ............................ Meaghan Crawford, Darcy Howland, Lindsay Navarre Austrian Shepherdess ..........................................................................................Alexis Howland Sheep: Jessica Foulkrod, Emma Germeroth, Sarah Grace Taft, Emilia McLeod Black Sheep: Gabe Molnar Shepherd: Gabe Hileman (Sun) and Alex Molnar (Sat) Mother Ginger ............................................................................................................... Jeff Boze Ginger Clowns: Charlie Brown, MaKenzie Brown, Sidney Collino, Ethan Hileman Claire Bechard, Willow Biggs, Gabriella Fedewa, Monique Lajiness, Bria Lapp Chloe McLeod, Avery Morales, Isabella Petrangelo, Sarah Reicker, Amber Snider Catherine and Faith Zochowski Coffee (Arabian) ..................................................................................................... Isabella Ingels Neeli Amin, Anna Raymond, Alexandra Sauer, Shelby Sensing Waltz of the Flowers .......... Dew Drop: Elizabeth Blanchette (Sat/Sun a) Samantha Snell (Sat e) Petals: Neeli Amin, Elizabeth Blanchette, Meaghan Crawford Alexis Howland, Shelby Sensing, Samantha Snell, Alyson Zuckerman Flowers: Rachel Bruck, Reina Cooke, Anthonette Fedewa Gabriela Fischer, Abigail Fleszar, Emily Hileman, Christine Hilken, Darcy Howland, Kiera Malone, Lindsay Navarre, Anna Raymond, Alexandra Sauer Morgan Slatinsky, Jen Sliwinski, Alexis Zuckerman Garland: Claire Bechard, Willow Biggs, Gabriella Fedewa, Haley Langmeyer, Bria Lapp, Kate McLeod, Sophia Petrangelo Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier ... Guest Artists: Raphaela Finkenauer-O’Day and Addison O’Day

Ms. Choate-Pettit, a summa cum laude graduate of Eastern Michigan University, holds her Bachelors in Education as well as the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma. She is an Executive Board member and permanent examiner for the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA) and a frequent guest teacher at workshops, festivals, and seminars. She serves as the liaison to both the West Coast and the Southeast CCA Committees of the United States. As business administrator of the CCA, Ms. Choate-Pettit organizes the annual two-week International Summer School held at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. She was trained in the Detroit area, studying and performing with the Detroit City Ballet Company, under the artistic direction of Marjorie Hassard. She received teacher training with Marjorie Randazzo, Betty Bandyk, and Dawn Greene. Additional dance studies include programs in New York, Canada, and England where she was awarded the Sylvia Hamer Teacher’s Scholarship.

Melissa holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Western Michigan University. As a scholarship student, Melissa danced as a soloist in Giselle and in George Balanchine’s, Who Cares? Melissa was also a scholarship student at the University of Michigan where she studied modern dance with Peter Sparling and Sandra DeYoung. She performed in the ballet, Carmen, and excerpts from Raymonda with the Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas. She was also guest performer at the LeFemme Concert in Louisville, Kentucky, with company dancers from the University of Illinois. As a young student Melissa attended the Kirov Ballet Academy, Cleveland Ballet School, and the Milwaukee Ballet; she also studied abroad in England and Denmark. She performed soloist roles in Nutcracker, Cinderella, Le Sylphide, Coppelia, Graduation Ball with the Monroe Ballet Company. As a part of the RRCA’s MusicTheater Company, she has danced in 42

nd Street, Jesus

Christ Superstar, and Chicago. Melissa holds the Advanced Professional Certificate from the Cecchetti Council of America, and is currently a member teacher.

Artistic Directors ............... Gail Choate-Pettit and Melissa Moore

Stage Manager ................................................... Laurie Langmeyer

Rehearsal Assistant ........................................................ Julie Merz

Costume Design .................................................. Dyanne Howland

Scenery Design ......................................... Lois Morris, Lucy Ingels

Sets, Props, Costumes .............................. Jeff Boze, Lynn Fedewa

Katie Hileman, Jessica Molnar, Janet Murphy

Jim Patton, Garth and Diane Slatinsky

Stage Crew ..................... Lynn Fedewa, Jordan and Meghan Boze

Drew Batton

Lighting ....................................................................... Mike Trapp

Spot Operators ........................... Nolan Lajiness, Jennifer Bezeau

Dressing Room Coordinators ....... Stephanie McLeod, Angel Biggs

assisted by numerous parent volunteers

Merchandise ................................ Calley Duffy, Joette Zochowski

The beauty found in every detail of this production is due to the dedicated volunteers who graciously shared their talent and time—Thank You.