American Youth Ballet - 4 performances

http://www.americanyouthballet.org/

Studio rehearsal Nov 23, 2019 Saturday - Candy Canes: Julia Walewicz (center, lead) and (L and R front) Ella Hiebert and Ansley Chambers (demi soloists)
Studio rehearsal Nov 23, 2019 Saturday - Candy Canes: Julia Walewicz (center, lead) and (L and R front) Ella Hiebert and Ansley Chambers (demi soloists)

Nutcracker 2019

In Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College

Saturday 14 December 2018, 2 pm and 7 pm
and Sunday 15th, 2 pm and 6 pm
( Note that evening times differ between Sat 7pm and Sun 6pm )
JCCC(dress/performance) in Yardley Hall

Ticketing - JCCC Box Office: 913-469-4445
Via: https://www.americanyouthballet.org/nutcracker - at $15, $21 and $23

Tickets prices: Adults Orch.- $23 Tier/Terr - $21 Balcony - $15 Youth 12 & Under
Yardley Hall's capacity is 1341 seats
- Full or nearly full each performance

= = Pictures = =

See a full set of pictures with options to buy prints at: http://www.kcdance.com/Events/Default.asp

The Updated Program from optical character recognition (OCR) scan is at the bottom of this page (will be updated after performance dates)

In-Theater pictures at JCCC's Yardley Hall


Pictures from Dress and Performance Days

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Dress for Cast A - Friday December 13th

Daphne Johnson as young Clara - and the menacing mice
Daphne Johnson as young Clara - and the menacing mice

Ella Hiebert (Snow Queen) and Ben Rabe (Snow King) in lift (Note: see same lift below as they practice pre-show backstage)
Ella Hiebert (Snow Queen) and Ben Rabe (Snow King) in lift (Note: see same lift below as they practice pre-show backstage)

Mackenzie Feldman (lead) in Spanish with (L/R) Annika Jones and Ella Huggins in corps.
Mackenzie Feldman (lead) in Spanish with (L and R) Annika Jones and Ella Huggins in corps.

Julia Walewicz, Candy Cane lead
Julia Walewicz, Candy Cane lead

Candy Canes: Julia Walewicz (center, lead) and (L and R) Ansley Chambers and Ella Hiebert (demi soloists)
Candy Canes: Julia Walewicz (center, lead) and (L and R) Ansley Chambers and Ella Hiebert (demi soloists)

Flowers with Ximena Flores as Rose Queen (in jete)
Flowers with Ximena Flores as Rose Queen (in jete)

Abbey Crews as Grown Clara
Abbey Crews as Grown Clara

Julia Harshbarger in Arabian
Julia Harshbarger and Zach Bennett in Arabian
Julia Harshbarger and Zach Bennett in Arabian

Daphne Johnson as Young Clara and Laura Jones Wallner as Frau Stahlbaum
Daphne Johnson as Young Clara and Laura Jones Wallner as Frau Stahlbaum

 

 

 

Dress for Cast B - Thursday December 12th

Pre-performance practice at dress, behind a scrim, Julia Walewicz (center) as Snow Queen, Left to Right: Ella Huggins as Columbine Doll, Laura Jones Wallner as Frau Stahlbaum, Annika Jones (back to us) as Vivandiere doll
Pre-performance practice at dress, behind a scrim, Julia Walewicz (center) as Snow Queen,
Left to Right: Ella Huggins as Columbine Doll, Laura Jones Wallner as Frau Stahlbaum, Annika Jones (back to us) as Vivandiere doll

Guests on the street, heading for the house party, David Cross in front
Guests on the street, heading for the house party, David Cross in front

Fritz grabs the Nutcracker doll (Arielle Li as young Clara, and Ella Hiebert asFritz)
Fritz grabs the Nutcracker doll (Arielle Li as young Clara, and Ella Hiebert asFritz)


and Grandma (Abbey Crews) takes care of business with Fritz (Ella Hiebert)

Snow Queen Julia Walewicz and Snow King Ben Rabe, in dress (above) and below in practice before dress performance
Snow Queen Julia Walewicz and Snow King Ben Rabe, in dress (above) and below in practice before dress performance
Pre-show, behind the curtain, Julia Walewicz and Ben Rabe practicing a fish position for Snow Queen and King
Pre-show, behind the curtain, Julia Walewicz and Ben Rabe practicing a fish position for Snow Queen and King

Grown Clara - Ximena Flores
Grown Clara - Ximena Flores

Julia Harshbarger - three hops back then releve on toe, each time moving backward (notice the background)
with shots taken only at the releve (frames 2666, 7, 8, 9)
Julia Harshbarger - three hops back then releve on toe, each time moving backward (notice the background)
with shots taken only at the releve (frames 2666, 7, 8, 9)

Spanish lead Audrey Merckling,- sisson at finale
Spanish lead Audrey Merckling,- sisson at finale

Candy Cane lead Annie Cook, pulling a hula hoop around her in a leap.
Candy Cane lead Annie Cook, pulling a hula hoop around her in a leap.

Maureen Borberg in Arabian, at finale
Maureen Borberg in Arabian, at finale

Abbey Crews, Rose Queen
Abbey Crews, Rose Queen

Arielle Li, as young Clara, hoisting the Nutcracker at the finale.
Arielle Li, as young Clara, hoisting the Nutcracker at the finale.


Pictures from Studio Rehearsals

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Sunday Dec 1st, both casts in section below - earlier rehearsals below that.


"Angels" at curtain open, Act II


"Spanish" role (sisson) Cast B (above) and Cast A (below)

Mackenzie Feldman ("Spanish" character) in a sisson


Same opening moment (in front of curtain, on apron), different casts above (A) and below (B).
Miss Jennifer in grandma role above and below she is on the side watching Abbey Crews as grandmother.

Sunday Nov 24th (below), Cast B (Saturday, cast A, below this section)


Annie Cook - candy cane lead pulling hula hoop around her
Annie Cook - candy cane lead pulling hula hoop around her

Saturday Nov 23rd and Cast A, below

A Few More Pictures

Practicing behind the curtain during intermission at 2 pm performance Saturday - Candy Cane lead Julia Walewicz
Practicing behind the curtain during intermission at 2 pm performance Saturday - Candy Cane lead Julia Walewicz

A "mugging" backstage
A "mugging" backstage

More "mugging" in the lobby
More "mugging" in the lobby

Ella Hiebert and Ben Rabe (as Snow Queen and Snow King pas de deux) practicing pirouettes pre-show, behind the curtain.
Ella Hiebert and Ben Rabe (as Snow Queen and Snow King pas de deux) practicing pirouettes pre-show, behind the curtain.

Ella Hiebert and Ben Rabe (as Snow Queen and Snow King) practicing a lift, pre-show, behind the curtain. This is the same lift you see above in dress.
Ella Hiebert and Ben Rabe (as Snow Queen and Snow King) practicing a lift, pre-show, behind the curtain.
This is the same lift you see above in dress.

Conductor Kris Hilding, 4 minutes before curtain - inspired by the photo meme of "Conductors Doing Ordinary Things" Right after this I headed for my sight-line video cameras and Kris headed for the orchestra pit.
From the Tongue-in-Cheek Department:
Conductor Kris Hilding, 4 minutes before curtain - inspired by the photo meme of "Conductors Doing Ordinary Things" (or words to that effect)
Right after this I headed for my sight-line video cameras and Kris headed for the orchestra pit.

My sightline cameras with two digital audio recorders next to Sean the sound guy.
My sightline cameras with two digital audio recorders next to Sean the sound guy.

The incredibly famous and enigmatic "Woman on a Couch" image - Annie Cook in maid costume, preshow behind the curtain.
The incredibly famous and enigmatic "Woman on a Couch" image - Annie Cook in maid costume, preshow behind the curtain.

View over the orchestra pit of Yardley Hall at intermission.
View over the orchestra pit of Yardley Hall at intermission.

Intermission behind the curtain: Zachary Bennett ducks under Maureen Borberg's leg in Arabian while Julia Harshbarger works on her Sugar Plum Fairy. Abbey Crews (Rose Queen) and Annie Cook (Candy Cane lead) are in the background.
Intermission behind the curtain: Zachary Bennett ducks under Maureen Borberg's leg in Arabian while Julia Harshbarger works on her Sugar Plum Fairy.
Abbey Crews (Rose Queen) and Annie Cook (Candy Cane lead) are in the background.

Spanish 2 pm Sunday lead Audrey Merckling poses with young concert goer after Sunday's 2 pm show.
Spanish 2 pm Sunday lead Audrey Merckling poses with young concert goer after Sunday's 2 pm show.



American Youth Ballet
Nutcracker 2019 cast and crew

Artistic Directors Jennifer Tierney and Kristopher Estes-Brown

Nutcracker 2019

Choreographyby Kristopher Estes-Brown
Musiccomposed by Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky
Set Designby Jason Phillips, Paul Mesner Puppets, Ryan Hasler, and Kristopher Estes-Brown
Lighting Designby Kristopher Estes-Brown
Costuming DirectorSheila Olson with Kathleen Bradford, Jennifer Tierney, Deborah Green, Gayla Voss, Denna Flickner, Carol Brookover, Kate Erlinger
  
Act I 
Young ClaraDaphne Johnson, Arielle Li
Dr. DrosselmeyerCurt Knupp
NephewPreston Cook
LouisaNadine Peck, Halle Jaeger
FritzJulia Walewicz, Ella Hiebert
GovernessAudrey Merckling
GrandmotherJennifer Tierney, Abbey Crews
ColumbineHannah Chong, Ella Huggins
VivandiereMadalyn Hesterlee, Annika Jones
Soldier DollAsher Wilson
Frau StahlbaumLaura Wallner
Herr StahlbaumTony Witt
MaidsAnnie Cook; Ximena Flores, Ansley Chambers
Party Guest ParentsDavid Cross, Julia Harshbarger, Alexis Applegate, Mackenzie Feldman, Moe Graenser, Zachary Bennett
Party Guest ChildrenMason Cook, Max Isaac, Souleye Bodian, Logan Jones, Asher Merckling, Owen Chambers, Mikayla Neo, Matalin Patel, Adeline Qin, Ashley Chen, Lillian Meier, Wren Versluis, Ella Kaemmer, Sophia Qui Mia Maciula, Juliet Lothyan, Ellie Xu, Lily Leach, Cindy Jiang, Tara Cook, Lindsey Kim
Baby MouseLeonie Osman, Phoebe Fyten, Annalise Stroud, Elijah Jones, James Klenke, Ximena Velazquez-Musalem, Miriam Ruder, Vivienne Weaver
MiceBella Gladish, Estella Stawarz, Kiersten Koenings, Madeline Harvey, Bella Breithaupt, Mason Cook, Kylie Julianto, Emily Petrella, Anna Sawafuji, Katie Chen, Shiloh Nelson, Owen Chambers
CavalryVivan Hsiao, Elsa Pineda, Tara Cook, Caroline Taliaferro
SoldiersJasmine Harris, Lexi Arp, Annabella Choi, Vera Scanlan, Halle Jaeger, Lindsey Kim, Arielle Li, Lily Leach, Cindy Jiang, Koyuri Morita, Grace Himmelberg, Daphne Johnson
NutcrackerAsher Wilson
Grown ClaraAbbey Crews, Ximena Flores
Snow KingBenjamin Rabe
Snow QueenElla Hiebert, Julia Walewicz
SnowflakesAnsley Chambers, Ximena Flores, Julia Harshbarger, Maureen Borberg, Audrey Merckling, Alexis Applegate, Rebeca Flores, Ann Nelson, Avani Lakkireddy, Annika Jones, Annie Cook, Hannah Chong, Julia Walewicz, Ella Hiebert, Abbey Crews, Mackenzie Feldman, Madalyn Hesterlee, Ella Huggins
 
Act II 
Sugar Plum FairyAnnie Cook, Julia Harshbarger
Chinese LeadsAlexis Applegate, Hannah Chong, Ann Nelson, Ella Hiebert
Russian LeadsMaureen Borberg, Ansley Chambers
Angel LeadsAudrey Merckling, Mackenzie Feldman, Tara Cook, Kayla Forbes, Rebeca Flores, Nadine Peck
Candy Cane LeadsJulia Walewicz, Annie Cook
Spanish LeadsMackenzie Feldman, Audrey Merckling
Mirliton LeadsHannah Chong, Ann Nelson
Arabian LeadsJulia Harshbarger, Maureen Borberg, Zachary Bennett
Rose QueenXimena Flores, Abbey Crews
Black SheepAdeline Qin, Matalin Patel
Lead CookKoyuri Morita, Jasmine Harris, Grace Himmelberg, Sophia Qui
AngelsGrace Himmelberg, Jasmine Harris, Arielle Li, Halle Jaeger, Annabella Choil, Daphne Johnson, Ella Kaemmer, Lindsey Kim, Sophia Qiu, Cindy Jiang
Cherubs and PageLia Hanks, Georgina Kozel, Charlotte Minkler, Ashlyn Bidwell, Naomi Ferrin, Penelope Stawarz, Bridget Simmons, Annabeth Smith, Angeline Tignon, Cade Simonsen, Shelby Fueston
Spanish CorpsAnnika Jones, Ella Huggins, Madalyn Hesterlee, Avani Lakkireddy
Arabian CorpsNadine Peck, Kayla Forbes, Mackenzie Naster
Chinese CorpsAltan Badmaev, Mikaela Ivanov, Kiersten Koenings, Madeline Harvey, Bella Breithaupt, Emily Petrella, Caitlyn Manning
Mirliton CorpsTara Cook, Madalyn Hesterlee, Avani Lakkireddy, Kayla Forbes, Rebeca Flores, Ella Huggins, Elsa Pineda, Nadine Peck
SheepChloe Hanks, Mirabella Bedell, Layla Maciula, Sofia Huggins, Caroline Nissen, Hadley Reeves, Madison Thaete, Rowan McGill, Evyn Diegel, Aoi Morita
Candy Cane Demi SoloistsAnsley Chambers, Annika Jones, Ella Hiebert, Alexis Applegate
Candy Cane CorpsLily Leach, Lexi Arp, Vera Scanlan, Caroline Taliaferro, Elsa Pineda, Vivian Hsiao, Tara Cook
Russian CorpsElla Kaemmer, Halle Jaeger, Annabella Choi, Lindsey Kim, Logan Jones, Preston Cook, Cindy Jiang
GingerbreadsMikayla Neo, Mataline Patel, Adeline Qin, Ellie Xu, Ashley Chen, Lillian Meier, Juliet Lothyan, Wren Versluis, Mia Maciula
Gumdrop ButtonsSkyla Neo, Hazel Leach, Stella Martinez, Sophia Sitzes, Madeline Davenport, Betsy Rodriquez, Juliette Tigon
CooksClaire Spencer, Claire Wheat, Clare Nissen, Dylan Baggott, Lexi Porta, Elena Fellers, Clare Kaemmer, Emmaline Smith, Sophie Halksworth, Corinne Simmons, Sophia Teply, Clara Julianto
FlowersAnsley Chambers, Maureen Borberg, Audrey Merckling, Annie Cook, Julia Walewicz, Mackenzie Feldman, Nadine Peck, Alexis Applegate, Ella Hiebert, Ann Nelson, Avani Lakkireddy, Annika Jones, Ella Huggins, Caroline Taliaferro, Rebeca Flores, Tara Cook, Vivian Hsiao, Hannah Chong, Madalyn Hesterlee
Choreography Kristopher Estes-Brown
Music composed Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky
Set Design Jason Phillips, Paul Mesner Puppets, Ryan Hasler, and Kristopher Estes-Brown
Lighting Design Kristopher Estes-Brown
Costuming DirectorJennifer Tierney with Deborah Green, Gayla Voss, Denna Flickner, Carol Brookover, and Kate Erlinger
 
 

2019-2020 AYB Company

Artistic Directors Jennifer Tierney and Kristopher Estes-Brown
Company Manager and Rehearsal Director Laura Jones-Wallner
Staff Michelle Wheat, Sheila Olson
Junior 2 Company Lily Leach,
Vera Scanlan,
Lexi Arp,
Vivian Hsiao,
Tara Cook,
Caroline Taliaferro
Junior 1 Company Grace Himmelberg,
Ella Kaemmer,
Annabella Choi,
Cindy Jiang,
Arielle li,
Daphne Johnson,
Halle Joy Jaeger,
Koyuri Morita,
Lindsey Kim,
Sophia Qui,
Jasmine Harris
Apprentice Company Mikayla Neo,
Matalin Patel,
Adeline Qin,
Ashley Chen,
Lillian Meier,
Juliet Lothyan,
Wren Versluis,
Mia Maciula,
Ellie Xu,
Max Issac
--
  

Overland Park Orchestra

Sponsored by the City of Overland Park
ConductorRaffaele Cipriano
Assistant Conductor Kris Hilding
Violin I Vicki Hauser, Concertmaster, Kara Hess, Yeanna Moon, Joe Shapiro, Maria Steinacker, Julianne Zheng
Violin II Edwin Fukunaga, Principal, Mary Adams, David Page, James Taylor, Ernestine Wildman
Viola Jackie Ives, Principal, Kelly Childers , Faith Childress , Hali Liu , Karen Sowers, Erin Wilson
Cello Therese Park, Principal, Gail DeGeer, Becky Miller , Piper Myers, Ed Roxas , Betsy Wright
Bass Kathleen McCullough, Principal, Carolyn Thurlby
Flute Nancy Clark, Principal, Susan Culp
Piccolo Charles Jessup, Principal
Oboe Roy Messick, Principal, Hannah Thurlby
English Horn Kristin Thurlby
Clarinet George Pagels, Principal, Will Belden
Bass Clarinet Will Belden
Bassoon Carissa Kasper, Principal, Kailey Peterson
Horn Angelica Sandry, Principal, Jeremy Kuechen, Joseph Carlton, Daniel Grahm
Trumpet David Clark, Principal, Tim Gillispie
Trombone Bob Wilson, Principal, Danny Lovell, David Hass
Tuba Allen Walbert, Principal, Santiago Latorre
Timpani / Percussion Anthony Liu, Principal, Kurt Johnson
Harp Katie Sigler, Principal
Celeste Yu Kureyama

 

 

See these AYB / ADC / Concept Zero picture pages also:

Nutcracker Dec 2021
Nutcracker Dec 2019
Concept Zero "Alibi" July 5, 6, 2019
Solstice Dance Project - 15 June 2019
Sleeping Beauty - May 2019
Nutcracker Dec 2018
Solstice Dance Project - 16 June 2018
Fashions by Jennifer and Amani - 9 June 2018
Alice in Wonderland May 2018
Nutcracker Dec 2017
Project Premiere June 2017
"Beauty and the Beast" and "Firebird" May 2017
Nutcracker Dec 2016
Cinderella May 2016
Nutcracker Dec 2015
One Elegant Evening Oct 2015
Project Premiere June 2015
Concept Zero June 2015
Swan Lake May 2015
Nutcracker Dec 2014
Concept Zero June 2014
Project Premiere June 2014
Don Quixote May 2014
Nutcracker Dec 2013
One Elegant Evening Oct 2013
Project Premiere June 2013
"Sleeping Beauty" and "Firebird" May 2013
Nutcracker Dec 2012
One Elegant Evening October 2012
Project Premiere June 2012
Swan Lake May2012
Nutcracker Dec 2011
Project Premiere June 2011
Nutcracker Dec 2010
See a full set of pictures from a couple of events (by Mike Strong / kcdance.com) with options to buy prints of various sizes (PayPal) at: http://www.kcdance.com/Events/Default.asp
For picture offers directly from American Youth Ballet, all photographers, click below:
https://americanyouthballet.zenfolio.com/