Nutcracker
The Story in Dance

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  • Music by: Tchaikovsky
  • Book and Lyrics by: Emily C. A. Snyder
  • Based on the tale by: Hoffman

  • Performed by: Hudson Catholic High School Drama
  • Performed on: December 2005
  • Performed at: Marlborough Middle School, Marlborough, MA

    Production Notes Cast Crew Videos Photos

    Production Notes

    At the end of the 2004-2005 school year, we realized that we would probably have quite a few actors coming in the following year...which meant that performing our proposed play (The Importance of Being Earnest) wouldn't work. So, one day Alina Saez was hanging out in Miss Snyder's room and they got to discussing the following play season - at which point Alina mentioned that perhaps they might do the Nutcracker. Which meant, of course, that Miss Snyder had to write it.

    Fortunately, Miss Snyder had taken the summer off (she hadn't had a break for a dozen shows in a row), and having nothing to do, she wrote the Nutcracker as a story-in-dance: combining dialogue with Tchaikovsky's best beloved music. The result proved excellent, despite being snowed out opening night (just like Guys and Dolls)!

    To create a complete story for Nutcracker, Miss Snyder watched every available ballet version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker available. She was particularly impressed by Baryshnikov's classic interpretation that allowed Clara to be a girl on the cusp of adulthood - rather like a Wendy. She also returned to the original source material, Hoffman's tale - which is quite different from the ballet. Taking these two, as well as her own love for Europe in the early 1800's, Miss Snyder created a Nutcracker that explores the relationship between fantasy and reality, childhood and growing up.

    (And if Miss Snyder never sees another Nutcracker ballet again, she will be happy.)

    Cast
    Cast of Characters by Family

     SILBERHAUSES
    Sergei, their father (at war)...Spencer Williams
    Hélène, their mother... Maureen O’Leary
    Katerina, engaged to Dmitri... Yvonne Coloumbe
    Fritz, a University student... Brian O’Leary
    Clara, the youngest ... Alina Saéz
    Grandma, Hélène’s mother... Diana Tamburri
    Humphrey, their uncle ... Whitney Taylor

    DROSSELMEIERS
    Godfather Elias, magician... Joseph Manzella
    Christian, his nephew ... Ryan Gonor
    Anya, an assistant... Jenny Williams
    Vanya, an assistant... Megs Noonan

    VANISLOVKAS
    Désirée, Fritz’ old flame... Gayle Farrington
    Sophia, Clara’s best friend... Meaghan Halfpenny
    Giselle, a tomboy ... Brianna Chaves
    PLOTZES
    Dame Plotz, mother... Audra Foster
    Marfa, the eldest ... Allie Sebeika
    Masha, the youngest ... Jess Jarrard

    PINCES
    Dame Pince, mother... Margaret Scheiner
    Nina, her only child... Vanessa Gilchrest

    SOLDIERS
    Dmitri, Katerina’s fiancé... Chris Hoar
    Luka, a messenger ...Connor Gannon
    Members of the Infantry ... Matt Kelly, Michael Grunbaum,
    Chris Meoli, Patrick Sullivan, Kyle Vigeant

    Featured Dancers in the Dream Ballet
    (Clara and Drosselmeier remain themselves in the dream)

    DANCE OF THE REED PIPES
    Drosselmeier’s Doll... Diana Tamburri

    WALTZ OF THE SNOWFLAKES
    Snowflake Attendants... Brianna Chaves, Caroline Chaves,
    Meaghan Halfpenny, Jess Jarrard,
    Allie Sebeika, Diana Tamburri,
    Whitney Taylor
    Their Escorts...Chris Hoar, Connor Gannon
    Skaters... Audra Foster, Margaret Scheiner
    Queen of the Snows (Hélène)... Maureen O’Leary
    Her Consort (Sergei) ...Spencer Williams
    Rat King (Fritz) ... Brian O’Leary
    Rats (French Soldiers)...Kelly Daeke, Matt Kelly,
    Michael Grunbaum, Chris Meoli,
    Patrick Sullivan, Kyle Vigeant
    The Nutcracker (Christian)... Ryan Gonor

    CHINESE DANCE
    Meaghan Halfpenny (Sophia), Brianna Chaves (Giselle),
    Caroline Chaves (Adele)

    SPANISH DANCE
    Yvonne Coloumbe (Katerina), Chris Hoar (Dmitri)

    SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
    Gayle Farrington (Désirée)

    FINAL FIGHT
    Sergei’s Soldier...Connor Gannon
    Rat King's Lieutenant...Kelly Daeke

    Crew

    Stage Managers: Stephanie Bennett, Meaghan Noonan, Cassidy Santamaria, Jennie Williams
    Crew: Sonny Beaulieu, Joe Langevin

    Directed/Written/Choreographed by:
    Emily C. A. Snyder
    Assistant to the Director: Carolyn Halfpenny

    Produced by: Christine Snyder
    Assistant Producers: Margie Saez, Bonnie Farrington

    Set Design/Decoration: Bonnie Farrington
    Costumes: Bonnie Farrington, Margie Saez, Bai Vuong

    Sound: Tom Prunera, Jim Babish
    Sound Technician: Tom DeSocio

    Lights: David Farreh of LazerSound
    Spotlights: Brian Benson, Blake Marques

    Once Long Ago
    A bit of silliness between Christian (the Nutcracker) and his friend Dmitri
    They recount how they "fought off the Rat King"
    Thus foreshadowing their similar battle in the dream sequence.

    Drosselmeier's Present
    On the eve of battle, Drosselmeier gives Clara the Nutcracker

    The Intrada
    Part of the Dream Sequence - Clara wishes to have the romance she sees her older sister enjoying.
    Suddenly, Drosselmeier appears and offers her the heart of his nephew, Christian (the Nutcracker).
    However, she must first "bring him to life."

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    Updated 4 September, 2007
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