UMS Concert Program, December 16, 1978: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre -- Patrick Frantz

Season: Centennial
Concert: Thirtyseventh
Complete Series: Eighth
Power Center For The Performing Arts Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
PATRICK FRANTZ
Artistic Director
OTTAVIO DE ROSA Music Director
PAT SIMMONS Resident Lighting Designer
FRANO JELIXCIC Director oj Repertoire
GWYNNE ASHTON Ballet Mistress
The. Company
Patricia Uavis Ronald Jones
DAGMAR KESSLER
Peter Degnan Jeanne Loomis
MIGUEL CAMPANERIA
Taylor Degnan Lauren Rouse
Gregory Glodowski Deidre Salyer
Michael Abbitt Sherri Ale Robert Arbogast James Bogan Diane Buck Kristian Davis Matthew Degnan Annette Gadusek Nancy Glynn Charles Hagan, Jr.
Geoffrey Kimbrough Janice Latoszewski Laura Lidral Kathryn McCoy Bruce Paul Michelson Sharon Newton Kenneth Nickel Jacqueline O'Dell Tamar Rachelle Jean Paul Reaves
Hilda Reverte Charlotte Richards Roberto Rodriguez Richard Roistacher Rebecca Ross Katherina Rumpler Margo Scharlin Amy Stoner Beth Zeldes
Saturday Evening, December 16, 1978, at 8:00
Power Center for the Performing Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's five performances this week comprise a dance residency under the Dame Touring Program, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for the Arts.
Centennial Season -Thirtv-seventh Concert
Eiphth Annual Choice Scries
The Nutcracker
Ballet in Two Acts
Music by Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky Choreography by James Clouser Lighting design by Pat Simmons
Decor by W. Oren Parker Costumes designed by Henry Heymann
ACT I
The story of "The Nutcracker" begins at a festive Christmas party given by Mayor Silberhaus. His daughter Clara feels especially grown up this Christmas for, instead of receiving a doll for a present as do the other girls, she is given her first pair of satin ballet slippers. She has often dreamt of becoming a ballerina, and her dream is encouraged by her mysterious Uncle Drosselmayer, a strange man who at first frightens and then delights the children with his mechanical dancing dolls.
The highpoint of the party is when Drosselmayer gives Clara a gift that everyone else wants, a Nutcracker, in the shape of a wooden soldier. Her younger brother Fritz is jealous and, when he and his friends snatch the Nutcracker from Clara, it drops and breaks. Clara is heartbroken, but magically Uncle Urosselmayer repairs the doll.
After the party has ended and everyone has gone to bed, Clara sneaks back into the living room to be with her new toy. There is a strange feeling in the room, the clock seems to have gotten taller, and suddenly there are huge mice menacing Clara. No sooner have they disappeared than the Christmas tree begins to grow. The Nut?cracker turns into a handsome Prince and, with his wooden soldiers, engages the mice in a fierce battle. Clara is amazed that the ferocious Mouse King looks very much like her Uncle Drosselmayer. Clara joins in the fighting and saves the Nutcracker's life, but the Mouse King escapes.
The Nutcracker Prince thanks Clara for her help and invites her on a journey. Together they pass through a magical snowstorm until they reach the Kingdom of Sweets.
INTERMISSION
ACT II
Suddenly in the Kingdom of Sweets, Clara finds herself transformed into the grown-up ballerina that she has dreamt of becoming and, after everyone dances in her honor, she and her Prince dance a beautiful pas de deux.
Clara's happy dream is interrupted by the return of the Mouse King, who battles again with the Nutcracker. This time the Prince is victorious and with a flourish he cuts off the Mouse King's tail and presents it as a prize to Clara, who runs away in horror.
In a split second she is back in her nightgown, and the Kingdom of Sweets is fading away. As she waves good-bye to her Prince, she is transported back to the living room. Curling up in her chair, she remembers her Uncle Drosselmayer, who she is sure has been responsible for her wonderful adventure in Dreamland.
Cast
Clara...................................................................... Dagmar Kessler
Drosseimayer........................................................ Peter Degnan
Nutcracker............................................................ Miguel Campaneria
Mother .................................................................. Patricia Davis
Father.................................................................... Ronald Jones
Frits ...................................................................... Michael Abbitt
Boys Act I............................................................ Roberto Rodriguez. Matthew Degnan.
Geoffrey Kimbrough Girls Act I............................................................ Katherina Rumplur. Margo Scharlin.
Nancy Glynn
Aunties .................................................................. Rebecca Ross. Beth Zeldes
Widow .................................................................. Sherri Ale
Female Guests...................................................... Amy Stoner. Charlotte Richards
Male Guests.......................................................... Jean Paul Reaves. Kristian Davis
Maids .................................................................... Janice Latoszewski. Hilda Reverte
Harlequin .............................................................. Kenneth Nickel
Columbine ............................................................ Jeanne Loomis
Mice ...................................................................... Margo Scharlin. Nancy Glynn. Hilda Reverte.
Annette Gadusek. Charlotte Richards.
Sherri Ale Soldiers.................................................................. Roberto Rodriguez. Michael Abbitt. Kristian
Davis. Bruce Paul Michelson.
Matthew Degnan. Robert Arbogast
Snow Princess ...................................................... Patricia Davis
Snow Prince.......................................................... Ronald Jones
Snowflakes ............................................................ Janice Latoszewski. Margo Scharlin.
Katherina Rumpler. Hilda Reverte, Nancy
Glynn. Annette Gadusek. Sherri Ale.
Charlotte Richards. Amy Stoner. Rebecca
Ross, Beth Zeldes. Jacqueline O'Dell
Spanish .................................................................. Lauren Rouse
Chinese .................................................................. Kenneth Nickel
Arabian Girl ........................................................ Jacqueline O'Dell
Arabian Boy.......................................................... Jean Paul Reaves
Shepherd Girl ...................................................... Jeanne Loomis
Shepherd Boy ...................................................... Matthew Degnan
Russians ................................................................ Roberto Rodriguez. Geoffrey Kimbrough.
Michael Abbitt
Dew drops ............................................................ Patricia Davis. Ronald Jones
Flowers.................................................................. Sherri Ale. Beth Zeldes, Hilda Reverte,
Katherina Rumpler. Margo Scharlin.
Nancy Glynn. Annette Gadusek.
Amv Stoner. Charlotte Richards
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Production Staff
E. F. West, Production Manager Karl J. Kura, Wardrobe Assistant
Marvin L. Wcitzcl, Stage Manager Joseph Susany, Master Carpenter
Thomas J. Gergerich, Technical Director William Brown, Master Electrician
Stephen F. Petipas, Costume Shop Foreman Mark Susany, Property Master Janet Marie Groom, Costumer
COMING EVENTS
Judith Blegen, Soprano...........January 12
Mozart's Marriage oj Figaro..........January 14
"Pirin," Bulgarian Folk Ensemble........January 16
Philidor Trio.............January 21
Paul Taylor Dance Company........January 26 & 27
Barbara Nissman, Pianist..........February 1
Moscow PhilharmonicDmitri Kitaienko......February 3
Paul Badura-Skoda, Pianist..........February 9
Les Menestrels.............February 11
Andres Segovia, Guitarist..........February 17
Aspects of Peking Opera..........February 20
Founders Day Concert..........February 24
NDR Symphony of Hamburg Zdenek Macal.....February 28
Los Angeles Ballet..........March 12, 13, 14
Guarneri String Quartet..........March 21
Festival of Russian Dance..........March 24
Detroit Symphony OrchestraDorati, von Alpenheim . . . March 25
Fifth Annual Benefit Concert.........March 30
Netherlands Wind Ensemble..........April 1
Yakshagana, South India...........April 9
Marilyn Horne, Soprano...........April 12
Cleveland OrchestraLorin Maazel........April 17
Announcing: Ann Arbor May Festival, 1979
Wednesday-Saturday, April 25, 26, 27, 28, in Hill Auditorium
The Philadelphia Orchestra and University Choral Union
Eugene Ormandy and Riccardo Muti, Conductors Alicia de Larrocha, Pianist Victoria de los Angeles, Soprano
Alma Jean Smith, Soprano Zurab Sotkilava, Tenor
Alexandrina Milcheva, Mezzo Soprano Maktti Talvela, Bass
Wednesday, April 25--Ormandy and de los Angeles: Barlok: Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta; Ravel: "Shcherazade"; Hindemith: "Mathis der Maler"; Mozart: "Voi che sapete" from Marriage oj Figaro; Rossini: "Una voce poco fa" from Barber of Seville; Wagner: "Dich teure Halle" from Tannkauser.
Thursday, April 26--Muti: Mendelssohn: Symphony N'o. 3; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5.
Friday, April 27--Muti and Larrocha, All-Beelhovni: Symphony N'o. 6: Piano Concerto No. 3; Overture to Leonore No. ..
Saturday, April 28--Ormandy, Choral Union, Soloists: Verdi: "Manzoni" Requiem.
Plus a special "Bonus" recital for series subscribers: Monday, April 2.1 at 8:.(0, Hill Auditorium
Alicia dk Larrocha and Victoria dl los Angeles
performing music of their native Spain.
Series orders at $42, $32, $22, $18, and $14, now being accepted.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Mi-morial Tower, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Phones: 665-3717, 764-2538