Playbill
The Maryland Nutcracker and Mixed Repertoire 2022
Saturday, December 10 at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 11 at 2:00pm
Carroll Community College Theater
Westminster, MD
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This performance is funded in part by a Community Arts Development Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council.
Ballet Embody is Maryland’s premiere contemporary ballet company located in Carroll County. Co-founded in 2019 by Emily Runkle and Melissa Lineburg, Ballet Embody produces original classical and contemporary works.
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NOTES ON BALLET EMBODY’S THE MARYLAND NUTCRACKER BALLET
The magic and tradition of The Nutcracker has brought joy and whimsy to American audiences during the holiday season for nearly a century. Its music and fantastical story keeps the familiarity in our hearts as different ballet companies have changed choreography and occasionally added their own “twist” or flavor to their production. As a Baltimore girl and Maryland native, I started dreaming up a version of The Nutcracker that Marylanders could find especially fun and unique as our own diverse and quirky Maryland culture. May we all fully experience the magic of each Maryland season, grateful for what each brings to our lives.
Enjoy the holidays this year, and cherish the time with your loved ones. May your days be merry and bright,
Emily Runkle
Artistic Director | Ballet Embody
Act 1 opens with Clara, her brother Fritz, and her parents preparing for their Christmas Eve party. When her friends arrive, the party commences and they find themselves busy with hugs, gift giving, and dancing…until they are interrupted by the arrival of a shadowy and mysterious figure. Clara calms everyone when she announces that it’s just her godfather, Edgar Allan Poe!
Poe tries to entertain the children with some of his current musings, such as the haunting Raven, the sickly Annabel Lee, and the terrifying Masque of the Red Death, but the children are frightened. Clara interrupts and reminds him that they are at a Christmas party, and that it’s a time for lovely, happy, Christmas-y things. Poe then uses his imagination and magic to conjure up a beloved holiday toy for her, a magical Nutcracker!
After the party, the magic of the Nutcracker creates whimsical adventures in Clara’s dreams. She steps outside her home in Baltimore and meets the Ice Queen and the Frost King, and they summon the Wintery Mix.
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Act 2 continues Clara’s dream. Her magical Nutcracker brings in the changing of seasons, from a cold Maryland winter to a hot Maryland summer. Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier (who feel quite familiar to Clara!), and together they promise to show Clara many of the wonderful things Maryland has to offer.
From crabs, to Baltimore peppermint twists, from the beloved Maryland flag, to an Ocean City beach scene, and beyond, Clara’s dream takes her from the Western Maryland Mountains into the City and “downy oshun”!
The Sugar Plum Fairy is a magical character and her presence draws in a holiday feel, no matter the weather. Here, she and her dashing Cavalier dance together, remindingClara to enjoy each season she is in and to welcome the holiday spirit in that present moment. Clara finally awakens from her dream, thankful to be home and thrilled about the memories she’s made with her new magical Nutcracker.
The Maryland Nutcracker
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Music: Tchaikovsky
Act I
Clara
LAUREN SCHREYER (sat) LILY CHARETTE (sun)
Fritz
LILY CHARETTE (sat) LAUREN SCHREYER (sun)
Parents
REBECCA DUNPHY MAX MAISEY
Party Children
MADILYN CONROY ISABELLE KUADEY JULIA LATKO ISABELLA NALEWAK AVA PATTERSON LOLAH PETERS AINSLEY ROCKWELL ARIANNA SCHANBERGER CAELA STORCK ALLI WILLS
Edgar Allan Poe
ERIK HOFFMAN
The Raven MELISSA LINEBURG
Annabel Lee JESSICA MARKIEWICZ
Masque of the Red Death FALKNER DISCHER
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Ice and Frost Pas de Deux
JESSICA MARKIEWICZ FALKNER DISCHER
Wintry Mix Waltz
ELLEN BAST MADISON BONVISSUTO EMILY JARRETT MELISSA LINEBURG MAYA RICHARD
JULIA LATKO LOLAH PETERS
LILY CHARETTE (sat) MADILYN CONROY AVA PATTERSON
ARIANNA SCHANBERGER LAUREN SCHREYER (sun)
** 5 Minute Pause **
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Act II
Welcome to Maryland
REBECCA DUNPHY MAX MAISEY
Crabs + Spice
EMILY JARRETT MAYA RICHARD
The Raven
MELISSA LINEBURG ERIK HOFFMAN
Peppalemons
ISABELLE KUADEY CAELA STORCK ALLI WILLS
Maryland Pride
ELLEN BAST
MADISON BONVISSUTO MELISSA LINEBURG
Orioles
EMILY JARRETT JULIA LATKO AVA PATTERSON LOLAH PETERS MAYA RICHARD
Little Italy and Boh
Originally choreographed by Michaela Muller for the Ellicott City Ballet Guild production directed by Caryl Maxwell in 1981
MADISON BONVISSUTO
Beach Waltz
ELLEN BAST MADISON BONVISSUTO FALKNER DISCHER ERIK HOFFMAN EMILY JARRETT
JESSICA MARKIEWICZ MELISSA LINEBURG MAYA RICHARD
Sugar Plum Pas de Deux
REBECCA DUNPHY MAX MAISEY
Finale
ENTIRE COMPANY
** 10 Minute Pause **
Mixed Repertoire
Trinity
Choreography by Melissa Lineburg and dancers
Music: Steve Reich
ERIK HOFFMAN EMILY JARRETT MELISSA LINEBURG
Trinity is an exploration of circular and linear movements, of capacities of the body, and how both concepts can interact with each other and the music.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Preview
Choreography by Emily Runkle
Music:
Fairies and Butterflies
MADILYN CONROY JULIA LATKO AVA PATTERSON LOLAH PETERS
ARIANNA SCHANBERGER LAUREN SCHREYER
Oberon
ERIK HOFFMAN
Tatiana
MELISSA LINEBURG
The Child
LILY CHARETTE
Puck
REBECCA DUNPHY
Hermia
MADISON BONVISSUTO
Lysander
MAX MAISEY
Helena
JESSICA MARKIEWICZ
Demetrius
FALKNER DISCHER
Management Team
Emily Runkle Artistic Director & Company Artist
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Message from Emily
Now that this is our second year of The Maryland Nutcracker, it's officially a "tradition," I think! Thanks to ALL who have made this possible. Our community at BE is bigger than anyone can imagine, and stretches from anyone who's praised us by word of mouth or donated an empty box to be used for our prop department. We see you and we appreciate you.
I'd like to thank:
My Synergy fam- Jen, Katy, and all of our amazing teachers and collaborators for providing and maintaining such a wonderful home for Ballet Embody.
My parents- Pam and Dave Runkle- if you see them, give them a hug! They're a huge reason I have the courage and drive to choreograph and run a dance company.
My husband- for putting the tree on wheels, for occasionally being my dance partner and for all of his support and brainstorm sessions and intellectual property since 2019. ;)
My students- teaching you and watching you perform is a joy. May you always give light to the world the same way that you are tonight.
My colleagues and Pro Co people- working with you is fulfilling, uplifting and an adventure. I'm honored that you've chosen to dance with Ballet Embody.
Melissa- thanks for sharing a brain, and putting up with me getting ahead of myself on practically a daily basis. I love being able to reflect with you on Mondays and share the pride that we feel for our group. We did it! Again!
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Melissa Lineburg Managing Director & Company Artist
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Message from Melissa
I am not the best at finding the right words that fully embody everything I’m feeling and experiencing… So here goes!
Emily, my partner in creativity, laughs, and love of ballet. Can you believe it!? Never could I have imagined that we’re here, today, presenting this Maryland-themed Nutcracker idea you had mentioned something like 10 years ago. For our early morning talks, constant support, and Energizer bunny energy - I am so grateful for all of it and cannot wait to see what awaits our future while we keep thinking, creating, presenting, and dancing together.
Josh, my literal partner in love and this thing called life. For being that annoyingly calm human who’s there for me at the end of long, fulfilling days and your never wavering level of support of my dancing, management, and ignoring my lack of completing chores when needed - thank you.
My family, Mom, Dad, and Kels - The people who brought me up in life, dealt with my inability to sit still, and taught me to use resources and ask all of the questions. You have always been and continue to be so supportive of my creativity and the oddities that make me, me.
I am constantly, absolutely in awe, astounded, and inspired by the amazing things our company of artists are capable of. Your curiosity to push boundaries and to see where your technique, artistry, and intuition can take you - just wow. Without each of our past, future, and current dancers, the company would not be what it has become nor where it is today. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for trusting and having patience with us on this journey.
Our audiences, donors, volunteers, supporters, followers, anyone I have absent-mindedly left out - without you Ballet Embody wouldn’t be where we are today. Thank you so much and please enjoy the show!
Professional Company Artists
Student Company Dancers
Supporting Cast
Lily Charette
Julia Latko
Lolah Peters
Lauren Schreyer
Arianna Schanberger
Madilyn Conroy
Isabelle Kuadey
Isabella Nalewak
Ava Patterson
Ainsley Rockwell
Caela Storck
Alli Wills
Playbill Ads
Season Sponsors
Ballet Embody is grateful to many for helping to make The Maryland Nutcracker a possibility during the pandemic. This production would not have been possible without support from:
Our dancers
Our donors
Our volunteers
Our stage crew
Evan Davis Media for managing the Livestream of The Maryland Nutcracker 2022
Click here to see Ballet Embody’s Season Sponsors.
Costumes Curated and Provided by
Bluebird Dancewear, Emily Runkle, Melissa Lineburg, Jessica Markiewicz, Company Dancers
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation online through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.