Message from the Artistic Director

Carla S. Gibbs-Zellmer

Welcome to our annual production of The Nutcracker! Thank you for supporting our local dance studio.

On the stage today, you'll see all of our MPAC dancers from the cutie-pie Tiny Tots who are only two years old through several adults, many of which are MPAC alum. In each case, no matter their age or time they've danced with us, I am so proud of the work they've done to present this show to you. I invite you to show your appreciation loudly and often because these dancers deserve every moment of it.

Thank you to all of the families we have dancing with us now, and thank you for supporting this show. Please don't forget to stop by the bake sale and help the scholarship fund. All revenue generated by the bake sale goes to scholarships that include tuition assistance for families with a financial need and could not dance otherwise, as well as to graduating MPAC Company members each spring.

Our Fall Session has just come to a close, and so we look forward to seeing you all in the new year at the start of our Spring Session January 4. New students are ALWAYS welcome and can take a FREE class anytime to try it out.

No matter who you are, we wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,
-Carla

Story Adaptation by : Torres, Woods, Zellmer and Zellmer

SYNOPSIS

~~~ ACT I

The curtain opens to reveal several families traveling to a Christmas party. After Herr Drosselmeyer passes enroute to the same party, we arrive at Dr. and Frau Stahlbaum's house, along with their children Clara and Fritz, preparing for their Christmas guests at their annual Christmas Eve Party.

The guests arrive and share dances and merriment, and then Herr Drosselmeyer shows up, planning a special surprise for his beloved godchild, Clara Stahlbaum. He presents gifts to all of the children, and then he presents Fritz with a bag of nuts and Clara with a wonderfully mysterious, wooden Nutcracker.

Clara is immediately taken with her strange gift, but Clara’s brother, Fritz, is jealous and steals the Nutcracker from Clara. Fritz accidentally breaks the Nutcracker, and Drosselmeyer comes to the rescue by fixing Clara’s new doll. The party eventually comes to an end, the guests depart, and the Stahlbaums all go to bed.

A short while later, Clara returns to the darkened living room to check on her Nutcracker. She lays on the couch with her new doll. Herr Drosselmeyer enters the room and magically shrinks her to the size of her Nutcracker.

The mood quickly shifts when frighteningly large mice attack, and a battle between the mice and soldiers ensues. Drosslemeyer brings the Nutcracker to life, and along with his soldier battalion, the Nutcracker battles the mouse army.

The soldiers appear to gain the upper hand, but the mice retrieve their Mouse Queen and the tide sways in favor of the mice. Just as the Mouse Queen is about to overpower the Nutcracker Prince, Clara takes off her shoe and hits the Mouse Queen on the head, knocking her out. The mice take their queen and retreat.

As thanks for saving his life, the Nutcracker takes Clara on a fantastic journey into his magical world; first through the magical Snow Forrest. 

*** INTERMISSION ***

~~~ ACT II

The curtain opens to reveal the Nutcracker’s magical world, the Land of the Sweets. Word has traveled quickly through the land about the triumphant battle, and the ruler of this world, the Sugar Plum Fairy, invites all delegates from the many neighboring lands to join in a tribute to the Nutcracker and his heroine Clara.

Angels welcome the guests from many lands arriving at the Sugar Plum Fairy’s magical Kingdom. After the Nutcracker tells everyone about their amazing story and Clara’s heroism, the guests entertain the couple with dances from the many lands: Spanish, Arabian, Marzipan, Russian, Chinese, Polichinelles, Flowers, and the Sugar Plum Fairy with her Cavalier.

All perform for Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, and after the last tribute dance, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince join the dancing festivities. Finally, all gather around one last time before Clara and the Nutcracker Prince say goodbye.

Suddenly, Clara wakes up holding her Nutcracker, and wonders if her adventure was real or just a dream.

Cast

In order of appearance

Act I

PARENTS
Jaydin Erickson, Sam Faillace, Georgia Gelderman, Ben Smith, Daeryan Padgett, Skyler Phillips, Mark Sandor, and Allison Sudano

CLARA’S FRIENDS
Andrea Boronow, Julia Boronow, Emma Kostic, and Avangeline Zellmer

FRITZ’S FRIENDS
Grace Faillace, Abigale Majewicz, Makenzie Morgan, and Brielle Ortiz

HERR DROSSELMEYER
Dan Davis

FRAU STAHLBAUM
Jessica Sudano

DR. STAHLBAUM
Devin Zellmer

CLARA
Halie Decker

FRITZ
Phoenix Faillace

MAID
Kaitlin Adamcik

KISSY DOLL
Emma Sandor

MOUSE DOLL
Clare Adamcik

SOLDIER DOLL
Eleanor Valle

MICE
Kaitlin Adamcik, Andrea Boronow, Phoenix Faillace, Emma Kostic, Abigale Majewicz, Makenzie Morgan, Grace Sandor, Rachel Sandor, and Olivia Webb


SOLDIERS
Julia Boronow, Ashley Faillace, Hannah Olivier, Brielle Ortiz, and Rylee Nitecki

RAT QUEEN
Daeryan Padgett

NUTCRACKER PRINCE
Colin Zellmer

SNOW QUEEN
Hannah Olivier

SNOW CORPS DE BALLET
Andrea Boronow, Julia Boronow, Ashley Faillace, Emma Kostic, Rylee Nitecki, Rachel Sandor, Olivia Webb, and Avangeline Zellmer

Act II

LEAD ANGEL
Andrea Boronow

ANGELS
Clare Adamcik, Jewel Casteline, Aurora Dingman-Zirpoli, Maayan Drenstein, Avery Gawlik, Lane Harrington, Lucy Hill, Molly Hill, Makenzie Morgan, Emma Sandor, Grace Sandor, and Eleanor Valle 

SPANISH PRINCESS
Olivia Webb

ARABIAN PRINCESS
Ashley Faillace

ARABIAN CORPS DE BALLET
Kaitlin Adamcik, Andrea Boronow, Julia Boronow, Halie Decker, Emma Kostic, Brielle Ortiz, Abigale Majewicz, and Avangeline Zellmer

RUSSIAN
Phoenix Sandor and Colin Zellmer

CHINESE PRINCESS
Rachel Sandor

CHINESE CORPS DE BALLET
Kaitlin Adamcik, Andrea Boronow, Julia Boronow, Halie Decker, Phoenix Faillace, Brielle Ortiz, Abigale Majewicz, and Avangeline Zellmer 
 
POLICHINELLE PRINCESS
Emma Kostic
 
POLICHINELLE CORPS DE BALLET
(SATURDAY)
Bella Celli, Adalynn Gerritsen, Mason Link, Ava Mauro, Talia Ruiz, Ellie Siafakas, Naomi Stevens, Skylar Williams, and Eliana Wilson
(SUNDAY)
Lexington Chodkowski, Ashlynn Culligan, Maliyah Johnson, Ava Niosi, Maisie Sommers, Emery Stokes, and Zarel Wilson

MARZIPAN DUET
Phoenix Faillace and Avangeline Zellmer

MARZIPAN CORPS DE BALLET
Clare Adamcik, Francesca Arnold, Jewel Casteline, Eden Culligan, Aurora Dingman-Zirpoli, Avery Gawlik, Lane Harrington, Lucy Hill, Molly Hill, Makenzie Morgan, Emma Sandor, Grace Sandor, Eleanor Valle, and Elaina Walters

DEW DROP FAIRY
Hannah Olivier

BABY FLOWERS
(SATURDAY)
Mila Broas, Eleanor Zhang-Geiger, Luna McDole, Noelle Perito, Maryn Ruiz, Eloise Woodmansee, and Maive Whitthoft
(SUNDAY)
Oaklynn Burghardt, Skylar Caller, Aubrey Dipillo, and Jaide Walters

LITTLE FLOWERS
(SATURDAY)
Celina Callegari, Penelope Helms, Emmalena Lawson, Lyla Larssen, Stella Murray, Ava Sheehan, Celina Torres, Juniper Valle, and Shay Whitthoft
(SUNDAY)
Rayne Albea, Emily Babcock, Lily Devore, Charlie Gardianos, Safia Hajry, Violet Mahala, Zita Santini, Sammy Sommers, Russel Sumnick, and Evelyn Stortecky

FLOWERS
Kaitlin Adamcik, Andrea Boronow, Julia Boronow, Halie Decker, Ashley Faillace, Emma Kostic, Brielle Ortiz, Abigale Majewicz, Rachel Sandor, Olivia Webb, and Avangeline Zellmer

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
Rylee Nitecki

SUGAR PLUM CAVALIER
Everett Zellmer

Acknowledgements

PRODUCED BY: Milford Performing Arts Center
* Bryan Zellmer, Executive Producer
* Carla Gibbs-Zellmer, Artistic Director

TEACHING STAFF
* Jessica Sudano: Modern Dance and Intermediate Tap
* Melissa Thomas: Advanced Tap and Theater Dance
* Carla Zellmer: Ballet, Lyrical, Combos, Company, etc.

APPRENTICES
* Rylee Nitecki
* Rachel Sandor
* Ashley Faillace
* Colin Zellmer

TEACHER'S HELPER
* Halie Decker
* Avangeline Zellmer

LIGHTSSPOT/FOLLOW-SPOT
* Bryan Zellmer

AUDIO/FOLLOW-SPOT
* Roxann Cauchi

SET DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION/CREW CHIEF
* Dan Torres

BACKSTAGE CREW
* Dan Davis
* Ashley Torres
* Gabe Torres
* Gideon Torres
* Ted Decker

BACKSTAGE COORDINATOR
* Barbara Sudano

SEAMSTRESS & CHECK-IN
* Janet Gibbs

BACKSTAGE PARENTS
Melanie Broa, Elena Perito, Katie Callegari, Amanda Sheehan, Tessa Walter, Jill Lynch, Sarah Decker, Tedd Decker, Ashly Ruiz, Emily Woodmansee, Stephania Wilson, Jocelyn Sandor, Jesse Valle, Barbara Sudano, and Janet (Nana) Gibbs

COSTUMES
* Carla Zellmer
* Janet Gibbs
* James Campistrous
* Lorelei Davis
* Jason Randolph
* Barbara Sudano

FRONT OF HOUSE
* Christine Williams
* Elena Nitecki
* Sue Olivier
* Victor Nitecki

PHOTOGRAPHY
* Thomas Duncan Photography

VIDEO
* The Davis Family

OTHER THANK-YOUS & MENTIONS
* Thanks to DVHS for use of their theater
* Insurance provided by: State Farm Insurance
* Special THANKS to all of the Parents, Ushers, Load/Clean-up Crews, Scholarship Committee and all else who helped with this show!
* A huge THANK YOU to all of the MPAC Families!

Notables (rules)

* Applauding during a dance IS acceptable (and appreciated)

* Please pickup after yourselves; don’t leave anything behind in the theater, whether you want it or not (use a trash can)...we want to be invited back for future shows!

* Please set your cell phones to vibrate; don’t text during the show; and don’t answer/talk on the phones in the theater (use the lobby if it cannot wait)

* While photography IS permitted, please DO NOT USE A FLASH during the show, and please be mindful of the people around/behind you with how and where you hold your device, and with the brightness of your screen turned down low.

* Live penguins are not permitted in the building. Please leave them at the zoo, public aquarium, or in their wild habitat. Thank you!

Thank You!

Thank You

...for your financial support!

For those in the position to do so, thank you for your support! Donations help us in three ways: to support tuition scholarships (based on financial need), college scholarships (for graduating company members), and general operating support (to help us keep our doors open while we still recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic).

We will be accepting donations by check (made out to "MPAC") and cash, in-person during the Nutcracker, and we welcome digital donations as well, at any time:

Via Zelle (preferred): carla@mpaconline.com

Via Venmo:
@carla-zellmerMPAC

THANK YOU!!!!!