2006 Nutcracker
Scene from 2005 Production
The River Ballet Company performed their seventh annual full-length production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s
Nutcracker at the J.P. Case Middle School Theatre Saturday,
December 9th, and on Sunday, December 10th
The River Ballet’s production of Nutcracker was choreographed by Artistic Director, Victoria Szeplaki, and Associate Director, Lori Koller.
This was the third year that all major female roles were performed by River Ballet Company members. River Ballet’s principal, Sarah Hoffmann, performed as Sugar Plum Fairy and soloist, Haley Bradstreet, and performed the role of Snow Queen. Sarah, a senior at Hunterdon Central High School, has performed in all seven productions, beginning as a son and an angel at the age of 11. Haley, a junior at Hunterdon Central, has performed in six of the seven productions, beginning her Nutcracker career as a daughter and an angel. The role of Clara was portrayed by Lauren Hoffmann, an 8th grade student at J.P. Case Middle School, who also performed in her seventh Nutcracker.
A vast majority of the cast was under the age of 17 years, with the youngest performers of 4 and 5 taking on smaller roles such as baby mice and Chinese tea pages. Although the cast was young, many of the dancers have been working together for several years. In fact, several of the girls have danced in all seven of the River Ballet’s Nutcracker productions.
View Photos from 2006 Production
The story of The Nutcracker begins at the home of the Stahlbaums, who entertain their family
and friends with a grand party on Christmas Eve. Excitement fills the air as the Stahlbaum’s two
children, Clara and Fritz, and their friends anxiously await the arrival of the guests and lively dancing
and laughter. The children’s godfather, Drosselmeyer, arrives late to the party with a surprise
guest, his handsome nephew. Clara and Drosselmeyer’s nephew take an immediate liking to one
another. Drosselmeyer entertains the children with a magical dancing soldier and dolls.
Drosselmeyer has a special present for Clara – a brightly painted wooden Nutcracker. In a
jealous fit, Fritz steals the Nutcracker, throws it to the floor and breaks it. Drosselmeyer’s nephew
mends the Nutcracker doll and calms Clara’s tears as the party draws to a close and the guests
depart.
Clara’s Christmas Eve dream begins late in the evening when she returns to the living room
to see her beloved Nutcracker and falls asleep on the sofa. In the darkness, as the clock strikes
midnight, tiny mice appear. Eerie things begin to happen as the mice are transformed into gigantic
proportions. By the magic of her godfather’s powers, Clara’s surroundings continue to grow and
disappear and Clara’s cherished Nutcracker becomes a life-size soldier. A battle ensues between the
Nutcracker, toy soldiers and the mice. Ultimately the Nutcracker wins with Clara’s assistance, as he
is magically transformed into Drosselmeyer’s nephew, now a prince. Clara and her prince begin
their journey by traveling through a gently falling snow, cropped in a Currier and Ives-like woodland
scene, to end Act I.
In Act II, Clara’s dream continues. Clara and her prince travel through the clouds of angels
and arrive at the Kingdom of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her
Courtiers and entertained by Spanish Chocolate, Arabian Coffee, Chinese Tea and Russian Taffy.
Marzipan performs the Dance of the Reed Flutes, as they play their pipes. Mother Ginger arrives
onstage as her candy cane children spill out from beneath her hoop skirt. Candy flowers of rose and
sage entertain their guests with a graceful waltz. As the celebration draws to a close, the Sugar
Plum Fairy dances a grand pas de deux with her Cavalier.
Clara’s dream concludes as the entire court gathers for a final waltz. Clara and her prince
depart this magical land or perhaps Clara only returns to awaken on Christmas morning.