'Nutcracker' dancers ready to bring roles to life this weekend

Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser
·5 min read

When Alabama River Region Ballet’s “Nutcracker” returns to Montgomery this weekend, they’ll have some young veterans in key magical roles.

Maddie Jacobs, 14, is back for her second year as Clara — the girl whose nutcracker doll comes to life, and who gets whisked away on a magical journey.

“My Clara lets her imagination get the best of her,” Jacobs said. “She gets really carried away with everything. She has a bright personality.”

Erin Waggoner, 17, said she feels super blessed to dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy for her third year in a row. This time’s a little different, since she’ll have the role to herself. Previously, she alternated the role with a friend. Waggoner said the technical dancing is challenging, but a lot of fun.

Maddie Jacobs as Clara in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker."
Maddie Jacobs as Clara in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker."

“I’m really trying to think about the character this year, and portray her in a certain way on stage,” said Waggoner, a senior at Saint James School.

AARB’s production is the full-length “Nutcracker,” choreographed by Stevan Grebel, is based on the 1816 storybook by German author E.T.A. Hoffman. Performances are at the Davis Theatre, 251 Montgomery St., on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.

David Block as the Cavalier and Erin Waggoner as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
David Block as the Cavalier and Erin Waggoner as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"

The cast includes almost 100 dancers, from age 3 to 18, plus the parents in the party scene. Auditions took place back in September, and they’ve been in rehearsals every Friday and Saturday since then.

“We do have a very talented group of children from a young age all the way up through our senior youth company,” said AARB school director Kyana Goodyear. “Especially the little ones, when they’re sitting there watching the older ones, you can see it in their eyes, the joy and the excitement of the possibilities of the future, to be able to dance as Clara one day or the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

Waggoner said she loves rehearsing together with all her friends.

“I’m really close with everyone,” Waggoner said. “I’ve grown up with most of the people, so it’s really cool to think about when we were just little kids in party scene, very excited for our party girl dresses. Now we’re wearing tutus and doing big jumps. It’s cool to think about how far we’ve come.”

Full Cast of Act II in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
Full Cast of Act II in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"

Jacobs, who also dances as a candy cane soloist, said “Nutcracker” pulls all the dancers closer together.

“One of my favorite memories is we’re all dancing backstage to the music and cheering our friends on as they dance on stage,” Jacobs said. “We’re very supportive of each other.”

Guest dancer Charley Austin of Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse is flying in from France for roles as the Nutcracker Prince and Cavalier.

“He’s very talented,” said Priscilla Crommelin-Monnier McMullan, AARB’s youth company director and artistic advisor. “That, along with our talented dancers, will make this our best production yet.”

Guest Dancer Charley Austin from Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse will be dancing the lead role of the Nutcracker Prince and Cavalier in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker."
Guest Dancer Charley Austin from Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse will be dancing the lead role of the Nutcracker Prince and Cavalier in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker."

Along with the dancers, there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make “Nutcracker” happen — directors and teachers, costume department, parent volunteers.

“We’re just excited to be able to see everyone’s hard work pay off for the performances,” McMullan said.

Ticket range from $18-$45, and they’re available by calling 334-356-5460 or online at alabamariverregionballet.com.

“It’s a magical experience like no other, and it’s a Christmas memory that the audience will remember forever,” McMullan said.

Party Children in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
Party Children in Alabama River Region Ballet's "The Nutcracker"

ARRB 'The Nutcracker' cast 2023

ACT 1

  • Drosselmeyer: Liam McMullan

  • Clara: Maddie Jacobs

  • Understudy: Mo Drescher

  • Nutcracker Prince: Charley Austin

  • Fritz: Haddon Bonner

  • Lead Mother: Laurie Edmondson

  • Mothers: Amber Russell, Emily Efferson, Elizabeth Leatherwood, Chloe Walker

  • Lead Father: Joseph Schaub

  • Fathers: Anthony Miller, Jim Williams, Matt Barber, Cole Lassiter

  • Nanny: Sarah Paterson

  • Maid: Bianka Miller

  • Teenagers: Mo Drescher, Sydney Ashmore, Milan Crittenden, Lauren Lee, Cate Noell, Riley Reising

  • Party Girls: Quinton Chandler, Campbell Bagwell, Sarah Leatherwood, Hanley Russell, Haylee Anthony, Nakyung Han

  • Little Party Girls: Marika Miller, Evangeline Brown, Yuju Hong

  • Party Boys: Samuel Sanford, Tommy Lassiter, Paul Leatherwood, Evan Braswell, Will Evans Clark, Knox Presley Clark

  • Girl Doll: Piper Bonner

  • Boy Doll: Ellie Miller

  • Soldier Doll: Frances Ann Rogers

  • Ballerina Doll: Rosie Jones

  • Drummer Bunny Doll: Emmylou Gaines

  • Soldier Soloist: Cate Noell

  • Soldiers: Cayla Weng, Marian Ballew, Avery Thompson, Kaila Jeon, Laelyn Raybon, Elizabeth Sullins, Gracie Bagwell, Cecilia York, Everlie Lassiter, Isabella Acosta, Emilia Troccia, Wilda Muzio

  • Mouse Queen: Piper Bonner

  • Big Mice: Riley Reising, Audrey Kate Wamsted, Alexia Barbour, Kathryn Dye, Alexandria Wilhelm, Mary Pace Godwin

  • Baby Mice: Chloe Hwang, Ruby Goodyear, Davy Lassiter, Nathan Sanford

  • Snowflakes: Erin Waggoner, Sophia Link, Piper Bonner, Milan Crittenden, Elisabeth Johnson, Ellie Miller, JaLayah Samples, Jamie Andersen, Lillie MacDonald, Harper Thomas, Cate Lassiter, Frances Ann Rogers, Catherine Perry, Mo Drescher, Bianka Miller, Audrey Kate Wamsted

  • Reindeer: Sydney Ashmore, Alexandria Wilhelm

ACT II

  • Sugar Plum Fairy: Erin Waggoner

  • Cavalier: Charley Austin

  • Angels: Zia Kim, Adeline Dearinger, Airin Hwang, Kayla Cho, Brooklyn Bolden, Chelsie Weng, Amanda Gadea, Vivian Davidson, McRae Heilman, Millie Hope Bailey, Rosie Jones, Emmylou Gaines

  • Spanish Soloist: Piper Bonner

  • Spanish Demi-Soloists: Harper Thomas, Ellie Miller

  • Arabian: JaLayah Samples (Fri/Sun), Cate Lassiter (Sat mat/Sat eve)

  • Chinese Soloist: Elisabeth Johnson

  • Chinese Demi-Soloists: Mo Drescher, Lauren Lee

  • Understudy: Riley Reising

  • Candy Cane Soloist: Maddie Jacobs

  • Candy Canes: Sydney Ashmore, Alexia Barbour, Kennedy Braswell, Clara Kae Schoettker, Cate Noell, Milan Crittenden

  • Marzipan Pas de Trois: Charley Austin, Lillie MacDonald, Jamie Anderson

  • Mother Ginger: Elizabeth Leatherwood

  • Polichinelles: Rachel Cho, Fallon Bass, Keelyn Ingram, Lauren Barkhurst, Zoey Curtis, Ana Smith, Sadie York, Sarah Leatherwood

  • Dew Drop: Sophia Link

  • Flowers: Piper Bonner, JaLayah Samples, Harper Thomas, Cate Lassiter, Frances Ann Rogers, Lillie MacDonald, Ellie Miller, Catherine Perry

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: 'Nutcracker' dancers ready to bring roles to life this weekend