Clara, performed by Elizabeth-Gray Rivers with Leonardo Victorine as the Nutcracker Prince in the 2020 performance of The Nutcracker.
Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet will present The Nutcracker Thanksgiving week only at The Township Auditorium. This holiday classic features international guest artists and a company of over 150 performers together with full orchestra and chorus. Performances will be Tuesday, November 22 and Wednesday, November 24 at 10 a.m.; Friday, November 26, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 28, at 3 p.m. This is a full return to the stage with a live audience. The Township will follow all health and safety measures for audience and performers.
This Nutcracker is the only full-length production of this holiday classic in Columbia that uses full orchestra and chorus. The Columbia Festival Orchestra is conducted by Neil Casey. The children’s choir for the production is the Capella Pueri of St. Peter’s Catholic School, under the direction of Jordan De Rouen.
Carolina Ballet’s production is directed by John Whitehead with artistic director Mimi Worrell.
Whitney Huell will return to Columbia to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Lamin Pereira, from Brazil, will dance the role of the Cavalier, partner to the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Ihosvany Rodriguez will dance the role Snow Cavalier with Adeline Fletcher as his partner, The Snow Queen.
Camilo Herrera, former principal with the Columbia City Ballet and a staff member for the Carolina Ballet, will dance the Guardian Angel with his partner, Rebekah Klausi.
Marian Morgan, a former member of Carolina Ballet, will be returning as guest artist for Arabian Coffee divertissement dancing with Ihosvany Rodriguez
Simone Harris began her dance training at Carolina Ballet at the age of four. She relocated to Atlanta and danced with Valeria Sinyavskaya of the Kirov Ballet. She will dance the role of Chinese Tea with Robbie Reed, an ensemble member of the company.
Pamela Atieno will dance Spanish Chocolate with Carlos Caballero. Blythe Robinson will be partnered with Josh Alexander dancing the divertissement of the Russian Sugar Twist.
Cecilia Haas will dance the role of Clara, the young girl whose dreams create the magic of The Nutcracker. Daniel Hare will dance the Nutcracker Prince with Ayden Cobb as the mischievous younger brother, Fritz.
The role of Herr Dr. Drosselmeyer will be portrayed by Jimmy Moon.
Susan Moon will portray the Countess Silberhaus, Clara’s mother. Tina Forsthoefel will recreate her role as the Dowager Countess with Corey Summerall as Count Ezterhazy, Clara’s grandfather.
Quinn Mangum will dance the role of The Bear in the Russian Divertissement. The Toy Soldiers, dancing the original choreography created by Naomi Calvert under the direction of Deanna Paterson, will be from Patterson School of Dance in Lugoff.
Chris Beattie reprises his role as the evil Rat King with Pamela Atieno as his Consort.
In recognition of the support Carolina Ballet receives from the City of Columbia and Richland County, the Friday evening performance will honor the first responders and their families from the city and county.
Reservations and tickets for the performances are available by calling the Township at 803-576-2350 or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Leave a Reply