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President: Rob Schimmelpfennig Executive Vice President: Judy Robson Vice President: Mike Fedler Vice President: Bill Kline Treasurer: Rich Vanek Secretary: Debbi Waring BOARD MEMBERS: Baerbel Baginski, WSL Steve Candella Neroy Carter Arnie Esterer Adele Herzog Mary Ellen Higley Ken Johnson Mark Jones Randy Jones Gloria Kaull Kim Laurello Ed Looman Chris McClure Tom Picken Scot Sinkler Linda VanBuren Joseph Varckette Ellen Winer Phyllis Duffy-Zala | ||||
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Executive Director Cindy Rimpela Business Manager Pamela Hammond Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator Shelagh Dubsky Dance Coordinator Lyn Savarise Music Coordinator Meeghan Humphrey Visual Arts Coordinator Phil Mullet Technical Liason Joe Ford Maintenance Coordinator Marquitta Mollick Evening Desk Coordinator | ||||
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 2928 West 13th St. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 phone: 440-964-3396 |
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Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2003
 A little girl’s dream will again take audiences on a magical and wondrous journey, as Ballet Theatre Ashtabula presents the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” on the main stage of the Arts Center.
The full scale production which has become a family tradition for many audience members will run for 12 performances, December 5 - 7, 12-14, and 18-21. Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights, and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. There will also be evening performances on two Saturdays, December 12 and 19. “The Nutcracker” has played to sold out audiences every year and has become a holiday classic. The ballet’s dazzling special effects, beautiful music by Tchaikovsky, costumes and exciting choreography appeals to patrons young and old alike. Children particularly like Ballet Theatre Ashtabula’s production of “The Nutcracker” because the theater is small enough that they can see everything and really feel a part of the action on stage.  Come share Clara’s dream as she experiences a beautiful and memorable night journeying with her brave and valiant escort, the Nutcracker Prince. They journey together through the enchanted snow forest as snowflakes fall and whirl about them. Their journey culminates at the Enchanted Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy, where the Sugar Plum’s subjects come to celebrate Clara and the Prince’s victory over the Evil Mouse King. The Spanish, Chinese, Arabian, Mazipan Shepherdesses, and Russian Trepak - and, of course, Mother Ginger and her darling Bon Bons - will all be on hand to entertain the young couple.
Tickets for "The Nutcracker" are on sale now. Be sure to reserve your tickets early to guarantee availability of your choice of performance dates! |
Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Have you ever wanted to meet the magical characters who dance in the holiday classic “The Nutcracker?” Well, now you can, as the Arts Center’s “holiday elves” invite you to have lunch with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince in the gallery prior to the 2:00 performance on Saturday, December 13.  The luncheon will begin at noon, and will feature not only some delicious food, but also the chance to meet and take pictures with the Prince and his beautiful Clara. And who knows, there may even be some surprise visits from other characters in the show as well! You never know who may pop in to say hello at the Nutcracker Luncheon!
Adults and children are sure to enjoy this magical afternoon. What an exciting way to get up close and personal with a few of the cast members before watching the show on stage! Cost of the luncheon is $9 for adults and $6 for children. In addition, those attending the luncheon and wishing to stay for the 2:00 p.m. performance of “The Nutcracker” that same afternoon will have their performance tickets discounted by $1 for each person. The event is co-chaired by AAC Board of Trustees members Baerbel Baginski and Adele Herzog. This event usually fills quickly, so make your reservations early! |
Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2003
An interview with the Nutcracker Prince sets the audience straight on backstage cahoots The very handsome and busy hero of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” has agreed to an exclusive pre-performance interview on the patio of the posh “Land of Sweets” palace. He seems very pensive and unhappy as he applies ice to his newly rearranged jaw. Actually, if the number of groans and ice bags are any indication of his pre-battle scene status, we might need to send in a “second string” Nutcracker Prince. When pressed for details about whether he will indeed perform in this year’s battle scene, The Nutcracker Prince says “I’m ready for the battle if (artistic director) Shelagh Dubsky decides to use me. I feel confident in my ability to take down the Mouse King if given the chance.” The Nutcracker’s swollen face brightens with confidence as he discusses his battle plan for the scene. “Actually, the Evil Mouse King is new to the production, and the part is all ‘greek’ to him now!” he says. “Being the nice guy that I am, I offered to help him learn the battle plan. I have heard repeatedly through the ‘Bon Bon gossip machine’ that the new Mouse King plans to be victorious in the battle this year. Ha! What is he thinking? I’ll make sure he doesn’t even make his famous pyro-jumping entrance! I will enlist the help of my loyal and trusted friend The Toy Rabbit to assure the Mouse King is a ‘no show’.” When pressed to details of his plan, the Nutcracker smiles deviously and explains his friend The Toy Rabbit’s role in his planned victory over the Evil Mouse King. “Counting music can be tricky. The Mouse King will be preoccupied counting the music before his big entrance. This will make it easy for my loyal friend The Toy Rabbit to trip him as he runs through the backstage area to pick up speed for his grand entrance on the stage. It’s dark backstage, so he won’t even see her until it’s too late! Bam!! Down the Mouse King will go in front of the stage manager and the entire backstage crew - how humiliating! By the time he gets himself up and on stage he will be completely off the music and so confused that Clara, The Toy Rabbit and I can make victory ours in no time at all!” As the Nutcracker laughs at the mere thought of the Mouse King going down on his evil derriere, he grabs an ice bag and applies it gingerly to his thigh. His mood suddenly darkens and he wears a weary expression over his handsome face. When asked what seems to be troubling him, he heaves a heavy sigh. “To tell you the truth,” he says worriedly, “I’m beginning to doubt Clara’s loyalty to me. I know that sounds absurd, but the evidence keeps mounting against her. I really have to depend on her to throw her shoe at the Mouse King at the crucial moment in the battle scene. If she fails to throw the shoe, I’m toast!” Standing up with the use of Grandpa Stahlbaum’s cane, the Nutcracker stiffly walks over to his throne and slowly groans as he lowers his body down. His audible groan proves just how tired and beaten he really is. “Clara and I have been rehearsing our breath taking choreography over and over. Dubsky has this bizarre rule about doing each Pas de deux four times in a row without a break. That’s bad enough, but Clara has taken every opportunity to smack, punch, and/or kick me with her not-so-dainty little feet. The physical punishment just keeps coming! “Just the other day we were practicing a new lift, and she smacked me in the neck and face with her hip bone! Whew! That really got my attention! Of course I forgave her ... who couldn’t when she smiles so sweetly and apologizes. As soon as I recover, though, she cleverly delivers the next kick. In fact, her last kick gave me a whole new perspective on the meaning of ‘The Nutcracker’.” When pushed for more thoughts on Clara’s apparent lack of loyalty, the Nutcracker Prince admits he has reoccurring bouts of jealousy over the fact that he caught Clara looking at the Evil Mouse King’s cute tail. Embarrassed by his jealousy, he stand up, rearranges his ice bags, and politely excuses himself to make last minute preparations for “The Nutcracker 2003.” Taking small, painful strides and leaking water from his ice bags, he disappears through the palace gates and fades from view. Will Clara be loyal to her handsome Nutcracker Prince? Will the Nutcracker Prince survive the grueling rehearsal process? Find out beginning December 5th at the Ashtabula Arts Center. | ||