2023 nutcracker ballet
Madison Heth reflects on the 2023 Grants Pass Nutcracker Ballet that graced the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center stage for two weekends in December.
A Reflection on stillpoint production's 2023 nutcracker ballet
By Madison Heth
For three decades, Grants Pass has delighted the community by producing the Nutcracker Ballet during the Christmas season. In 2023, Stillpoint Production’s Nutcracker Ballet is still going strong, being perfected annually by the artistic director Penny King, and various other guest artists, choreographers, and directors.
Though The Nutcracker is a seasonal show, the months of production, creativity at work, and creative process behind the scenes span more than just the Christmas season. The workers of 2023 Stillpoint Production’s Nutcracker began their creative process in the spring of 2023. The detailing and creating of costumes, sets, props, and choreography have been in constant attention, and are continually being perfected. Head costume designer Bonnie McKelligott, who has been relaying her expertise throughout almost the show’s whole existence, has put in hours of work throughout the year, ensuring that costumes are top quality and look beautiful for the beloved winter production. The set design and props have been continually added to and perfected, and the choreography is also created and experimented with throughout the year.
Penny King, artistic director, has been creating the show's choreography and magic since very early in the year, meeting with guest artists who would be featured in the show. This production starred four guest artists/ professionals, beginning with Pasha Timofeyev (Snow King and Rose Cavalier) and Arielle Solomon (Snow Queen and Rose Queen), whose dancing goes back to southern California. Timofeyev even starred in Stillpoint’s Nutcracker in the past. From Grande Finale Dance Studio in Gladstone, Oregon, came extremely talented CJ Hankins (the Cavalier) and Morgan Parks (the Sugar Plum Fairy), who both delighted the Grants Pass stage with their well-earned technique and performance.
This Nutcracker was a little different from past years, featuring an array of crew who brought the show to life. Rachel Kostrna, an experienced thespian, played a key role in this year’s production by working on the storyline, characterization, and acting of the production’s cast. Her expertise and big heart made for a beautiful production that brought the audience an amazing show. Along with performing as guest artists, Timofeyev and Solomon worked on choreographing much of the Act II variations, including Spanish, Slavic, and "Waltz of the Flowers". Rose assisted choreography, alongside King, bringing her insight on dancing from around the world into Grants Pass' local Nutcracker through the battle scene, and Act II variations of Arabian and Chinese. Rose also acted as assistant stage manager during the show's performances. Shannon Wilcox, stage manager, was present, helping King during rehearsal days, guiding the cast and crew on all of the technical aspects of putting on the show, and making the magic happen. Dallin Cofoed acted as prop master, keeping track of all of the objects that helped the show's magic go on. There was also an immense amount of volunteers that aided in the technical aspects of the show, running the lobby during performances, steaming and ironing costumes, helping backstage on stage crew, and assisting director Penny King; every person involved in the production gave their all to make Nutcracker 2023 amazing, and it surely paid off.
Stillpoint’s Nutcracker was housed for rehearsals at Southern Oregon Dance Center, located in downtown Grants Pass. Starting in August, King and her crew held auditions and, by early September, the cast list was announced and rehearsals commenced. This year’s cast consisted of Madison Heth as Clara, Benjamin Snodgrass as Fritz, Evan and Jess Daggett as Papa and Mama, Ron Strom as Drosselmeyer, and Ricky Reebel as the Nutcracker/General, along with many others.
The 2023 Nutcracker was performed at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center on Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, with a beautiful opening weekend, and a sold-out closing show. At the conclusion of Stillpoint Production’s Nutcracker 2023, when asked about the experience, Addi Smith, a student at Grants Pass High School, dancer with Southern Oregon Dance Center, and third-year Nutcracker performer, expressed that "though this show was different than other years, it was absolutely amazing and the performances went really well!" Smith also reflected on a favorite backstage memory when Julia Greidanus (Arabian soloist) and herself ("Waltz of the Flowers") missed their Opening of Act II cue when Greidanus' costume became stuck on one of the stage lights, which caused all of the cast a laugh when the show concluded. Chloe Davison, a student at North Valley High School, dancer with Fusion Dance Academy, and 13-year Nutcracker performer expressed, "It's a wonderful production full of so many memories!" Davison explained how she loved being a part of the production and the magic of the creative process. She expressed, "I think that all of our dancers this year were wonderful, especially our beautiful Clara, Madison Heth." Davison also said that her favorite memory was the first rehearsal, and she explained how she loved dancing her role of Clara's best friend this year as she got to dance alongside another great friend of hers. She expressed her excitement for next year, and how much fun she had at the cast party.
A common agreement among all of the cast, whether it be their first year or their thirteenth, is that the Nutcracker is a time of much love, hard work and excitement, and that the people they get to do it with are what truly make Nutcracker the loved experience that it is. The cast and crew are proud of their work this year, and very happy to have brought, once again, a beloved performance of the Nutcracker Ballet to the Grants Pass stage.
Sources:
Interviews with cast members Addi Smith and Chloe Davison
