Sue Ann Lorenz-Wallace, Artistic Director and Linda Lorenz LaDue, Associate Artistic Director of the Old Forge Ballet Company have announced the cast for the Company’s annual “Nutcracker” ballet.
2013 Nutcracker cast. Photo by Clark Lubbs
This holiday tradition will include a few new faces as well as company members who have been performing for the past twenty years.
This year, students of the School of the Old Forge Ballet in Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake and Boonville join the local students to complete the 40-plus member cast.
Tchaikovsky’s two-act ballet Casse-Noisette (Nutcracker) is set in the 1850’s in Germany. The Stalbaum’s are hosting a glorious Christmas Eve party for family and friends.
Laurie Waranis, a teacher at The School of the Old Forge Ballet Company, returns to her role as Frau Stahlbaum again this year and Clint Otto returns as Herr Stahlbaum.
Their children, Clara and Fritz, are danced by Kerissa Dunn and Atlas Croniser. Karen Otto will again portray the parlour maid. Betty Rannels will be the children’s Nanny.
Doug Masters returns to his role of the magical Uncle Drosselmeyer and Pastor John Gocke will be the Bishop.
The Act 1 party guests include: Autumn Armendola, David Beck, Sarah Beck, Darby Bick, Katie Case, Kirsten Croniser, Dawson Dunn, Tory Dunn, Jennifer Dunn, Selina Emanual, Lily Roe, Haylee Roe, Abby Gocke, Amy Gocke, Emma Gocke, Sarah Gocke.
Rebecca Hasemeier, Jim Helmes, Sara Belle Helmes, Alivia Hopsicker, Sarah Kraeger, Cararra Lance, Carissa Lance, Mary Jane Lasher, Ashley Ludwig, Kaitlyn Makey, Allissia Moore, Dawn Montanye, Terra Montanye, Alayna Nerschook, Arista Pierson, Avery Pohl.
Alison Russell, Caitlin Russell, Julianna Russell, Carol Jean Scholl, Abhisher Sharma, Haileigh Stokes, Rachel Thrasher.
Dancing as the mechanical dolls in Act 1 are Alivia Hopsicker, Julianna Russell, Sarah Gocke, Cararra Lance and Kirsten Croniser with Atlas Croniser as the Toy Soldier.
Dancers highlighted in additional roles in Act 1 are Dawson Dunn as the Nutcracker and Betty Rannels as the Mouse King in the Battle.
The Snow Princess will be Alison Russell. Dawson Dunn will dance the role of the Snow Prince.
Snowflakes are Company dancers, Mary Jane Lasher, Jennifer Dunn, Kerissa Dunn, Emma Gocke, Ashley Ludwig, Caitlin Russell, Katie Case, Laurie Waranis, Rebecca Hasemeier and Sarah Gocke.
In Act 2, Caitlyn Russell as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, David Beck, will lead Clara to the Land of Sweets where Company dancers and Act 1 children will perform in traditional divertissement of character dances.
Emma Gocke will perform Spanish. Indian (Arabian) will be danced by Abhisher Sharma with Mary Jane Lasher, Jennifer Dunn, Rebecca Hasemeier, and Laurie Waranis.
Chinese Dragon Dance will be performed by: Haileigh Stokes, Terra Montanye, Alayna Nerschook, Sara Belle Helmes, Autumn Armendola, Darby Bick, Sarah Gocke, Cararra Lance, Ashley Ludwig, Katie Case.
The Russian dance will be performed by Abhisher Sharma, Sarah Beck, Alison Russell, and Ashley Ludwig.
Candy Canes will feature Kerissa Dunn, Dawson Dunn, Kirsten Croniser, Atlas Croniser, Alivia Hopsicker and Julianna Russell.
This year’s very popular Mother Ginger will be portrayed by Carol Jean Scholl. Her Bon Bons include: Selina Emanual, Sarah Gocke, Cararra Lance, Kaitlyn Makey, Rachel Thrasher, Allissia Moore, Lily Roe, Haylee Roe, Avery Pohl, Arista Pierson, Abby Gocke, Carissa Lance.
Flowers dancers will be Laurie Waranis, Clint Otto, Mary Jane Lasher, Doug Masters, Caitlin Russell, Abhisher Sharma, Jennifer Dunn and Tory Dunn.
Caitlyn Russell will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, David Beck the final divertessements.
The performance will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre of Old Forge. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and teens, and $5 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
More information is available by calling (315) 369-8721 or 369-6273, or email oldforgeballet@roadrunner.com or linda_ladue@hotmail.com.
