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Nutcracker Short and Sweet

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Palace Theatre Grapevine

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house — A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable.  The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends.  The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives.  He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone’s attention as he presents three life-size dolls.  They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz.  Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that  becomes the hit of the party.  Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it.  Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening.  Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen.  Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her.  The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King.  As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice.  The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one.  The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King.  Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head.  The Royal Rodent is distracted and the Nutcracker slays him.

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland  where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

Christmas Angels greet Clara as the Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy.  The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.

As the dance came to an end, the Sugarplum Fairy whispered to Clara, “You brought magic to our kingdom, dear Clara. You and the Nutcracker shall forever be a part of the sweetness that fills our hearts.”

With a sprinkle of fairy dust, Clara bid farewell to the Sugarplum Fairy and the Kingdom of Sweets. As she returned home, she carried with her the memories of a magical adventure and the joy of a world where dreams and sweets danced hand in hand.

Narrator:  Heather Stepp

Rag Doll: Jeylah Russell

Ballerina Doll: Angelina Nguyen

Soldier Doll: Faith Logan

Snow Queen:  Megan Flight

Snowflakes:    Reagan Dee, Julianna Camier, Cadence Sullivan, Katy English, Lauren Graves, Katelyn Hooker, Callie McCasland, , Faith Logan, Angelina Nguyen, Jeylah Russell

Angels:  Madeleine Aguillion, Henley Bollig, Deanna Bowers, Jeannice Guillen, Belle Loudenberg, Molly Macklin, Bethany Nuttall, Violet Preissinger, Sophie Riedel, Emma Shost, Harlow Whitmore

Sugarplum Fairy: Callie McCasland

Clara: Penelope Droege

Nutcracker Prince: Zach Watkins

Spanish Chocolate:  Maria Dee

Mirliton:   Julianna Camier. Emma Massengale, Cadence Sullivan

Bakers:  Lauren Bollig, Parker Brown, Katie Conley, Nora Durham, Hanna Faulklenberr, Aurora Horsch, Becca Oravetz, Ariana Rios, Rylin Shawver, Kyla Stepp

Chinese Tea:   Clara Marsh, Anaih Pinto, Sabrina Pon-Jackson, CJ Smith

Dragons – Emma Shost, Harlow Whitmore

Russian Trepak:   Lauren Graves, Katelyn Hooker, Angelina Nguyen

Arabian Coffee:  Reagan Dee and Katy English

Tarantella:  Madeleine Aguillion, Henley Bollig, Deanna Bowers, Jeannice Guillen, Bethany Nuttall, Violet Preissinger, Sophie Reidel, Emma Shost, Harlow Whitmore

Candy Canes:   Clara Marsh, Anaih Pinto, Sabrina Pon-Jackson, CJ Smith

Dewdrop Fairy: Faith Logan

Waltz of the Flowers: Maria Dee, Reagan Dee, Katy English, Megan Flight, Jamie McKenna, Emma Massengale

Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy: Callie McCasland

Special thanks to:

Lori Lawthers, Costume Mistress; Jennifer Boren, Faculty, Alyssa Runyan, Faculty, Claire Whitmore, Costuming; Steven Shost,  Stage Crew; Lourdes Graves,  Costuming; Nona McKenna, Boutique and Tea Parties, Megan Matthews, Palace Theatre

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