Nutcracker

[Dale]

Nutcracker casting is expected to be posted soon here on the official website:

http://www.paballet.org/season/production.aspx?id=6&src=l

(look at bottom right, under the list of dates)

Here's the first night lead casting:

December 2, 7pm:

The Sugarplum Fairy AMY ALDRIDGE

and Her Cavalier ALEXEI BOROVIK

Dewdrop ARANTXA OCHOA

Coffee Riolama Lorenzo

[socalgal]

Thanks Dale for the heads up! Nothing has shown up for entire casting yet when I last looked today at their web site.......

[Dale]

Ack, those website guys are slow. I'll try to cut and past some of the dates (from the playbill).

[socalgal]

Dale....you are too kind.....that is way too much work!!! I can wait....it will probably be up tomorrow Thanks..... But they did get the new apprentices listed and all the new corps dancers

[Dale]

Saturday, December 3, 2005 at 2:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy ARANTXA OCHOA

and Her Cavalier ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

Dewdrop RIOLAMA LORENZO

Saturday, December 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy VALERIE AMISS

and Her Cavalier JAMES ADY

Dewdrop AMY ALDRIDGE

Sunday, December 4, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy RIOLAMA LORENZO

and Her Cavalier JAMES IHDE

Dewdrop TARA KEATING

Sunday, December 4, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy ARANTXA OCHOA

and Her Cavalier ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

Dewdrop TARA KEATING

Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 11:00 a.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy RIOLAMA LORENZO

and Her Cavalier JAMES IHDE

Dewdrop VALERIE AMISS

Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 3:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy AMY ALDRIDGE

and Her Cavalier ALEXEI BOROVIK

Dewdrop TARA KEATING

Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy ARANTXA OCHOA

and Her Cavalier ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

Dewdrop VALERIE AMISS

Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy VALERIE AMISS

and Her Cavalier JAMES ADY

Dewdrop TARA KEATING

Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy AMY ALDRIDGE

and Her Cavalier ALEXEI BOROVIK

Dewdrop RIOLAMA LORENZO

Friday, December 16, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy ARANTXA OCHOA

and Her Cavalier ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

Dewdrop RIOLAMA LORENZO

Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy VALERIE AMISS

and Her Cavalier JAMES ADY

Dewdrop AMY ALDRIDGE

Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy AMY ALDRIDGE

and Her Cavalier ALEXEI BOROVIK

Dewdrop JULIE DIANA

Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy RIOLAMA LORENZO

and Her Cavalier JAMES IHDE

Dewdrop ARANTXA OCHOA

Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy VALERIE AMISS

and Her Cavalier JAMES ADY

Dewdrop JULIE DIANA

Friday, December 23, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy ARANTXA OCHOA

and Her Cavalier ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

Dewdrop AMY ALDRIDGE

Saturday, December 24, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.

The Sugarplum Fairy RIOLAMA LORENZO

and Her Cavalier JAMES IHDE

Dewdrop JULIE DIANA

[Dale]

That's what has been released so far.

[lillianna]

Is Julie Diana not doing Sugar Plum? She would be a beautiful Sugar Plum.

[Dale]

Those are the casts so far, but I was told that, of course, there will be changes due to injuries etc...

[socalgal]

I do not see Zach Hench listed as Cavalier either Lovely to see both Rio Lama and Julie dancing dewdrop this year! That is new! If you can, catch Rio dancing Coffee - it is beyond dazzling!

[lillianna]

I've been waiting for someone to post reviews of the PA Ballet Nutcracker performances but guess that I will have to be first. I was privileged to see 5 Nutcracker performances last weekend.

I must admit that I thought that the party scene looked very flat this year. The exception to this was the cast of the 3PM show on Saturday. Bill DeGregory's Drosselmyer certainly lit up the stage and made the scene interesting. Christine Cox's portayal of the Frau also added to the interest of this cast. It is certainly possible that jet lag and over exposure to Nutcracker party scenes clouded my perception, but I was disappointed in the energy level of the party scene this year.

There were some outstanding performances in Act II. I LOVED Valeria Amiss in Dew Drop. Such a sweet and light performance she gave. I also loved Riolama Lorenzo in that role. Her Dew Drop was very different but also breathtaking.

My favorite pas couple was Amy Aldridge and Alexei Borovik. Ms Aldridge was very sure in the role and I loved her smile. Mr Borovik was excellent, his turns and jumps superb.

Riolama's performance of Arabian is a whole step above everyone else's rendition. I am not a fan of this particular version of the Arabian choreography , but it looked amazing when Rio performed.

I enjoyed Gabriella Yudenich and Emily Waters in Hot Chocolate. Abi Mentzer was also a standout as Marzipan lead.

I thought that the corps did a wonderful job in Snow and Flowers. A great job all around and a Nutcracker worth seeing (x5).

[socalgal]

Hi lillianna!

I will be seeing a few Nuts this weekend. So I will chime in later. Glad it has warmed up a bit here......

[Petra]

I am sitting Nutcracker out this season, but my husband and son (almost 4) went to the 11 a.m. matinee last Saturday (Dec 10). They both had an amazing time. This was my son's first real ballet and I am overjoyed that he was able to experience such a magical production! It even passed the ultimate pre-schooler's test - my son ate one 'snack' in the middle of the party scene, the rest of the time he was completely engrossed!

[lillianna]

Julie Diana was not cast in any of last weekend's performances. I will be anxious to hear if she performed this weekend and what everyone thought of those performances. I would have loved to see her as Sugar Plum but no such luck.