The Graham Cracker
A Nutcracker Parody
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December 6 @ 11am (Student Matinee)
December 6 & 7, 2024 @ 7pm
December 7 & 8, 2024 @ 2pm
Artistic Director
Amberly M. Simpson
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Associate and Technical Director
Joseph R. Brandt
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Directorial Team Members
Nakoma Ehrhart
Jade Frost
MAC
Mysti Jace Pride
Tay Schulz
Sheila Zeng
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The Graham Cracker: A Nutcracker Parody is the Ambo Dance Theatre's original, spectacle-filled spin on the beloved holiday ballet, The Nutcracker. This reimagined version of the show tells the coming-of-age tale of Nutcracker heroine Clara as she discovers and and acknowledges her queer identity, taking audiences on a psychedelic sugar rush perfect for the whole family. Her journey through battles, snowstorms, and the Land of Sweets helps bring a comical story behind the origin of the s'more, and helps her to process the complex emotions that come with self-discovery, acceptance, and love!
The Cast
Clara
Caeli Baker (Dec
Helena Smith-Pohl
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Drosselmeyer / Dew Drop Fairy
Fallon Embry
Auntie Sugar / Sugarplum Fairy
Salem VytchTryells
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Chocolate Connoisseur / General
Nakoma Ehrhart
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Marshmallow Connoisseur / General
Candace Kresse
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Marie
Sofia Ritchie
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Bonfire Goers
Caeli Baker-Green, Simon Boice, Chelse Close, Marie Cunningham, Gabbi Ebeling-Rodriguez, Dorothy Henning, Mia Henry, Carolina Kepler, Heather Moran, Jamie Nicholas, Mysti Pride, Milana Shulman, Amberly M. Simpson, Sheila Zeng Dudgeon
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Sylvester Graham / Graham Cracker
Joseph R. Brandt
Chocolate
Jade Frost
Marshmallow
MAC
Chocolate Clan Warriors
Caeli Baker-Green, Gabbi Ebeling-Rodriguez, Mia Henry, Amberly M. Simpson,
Marshmallow Clan Warriors
Chelse Close, Marie Cunningham, Carly Hay, Jamie Nicholas, Mysti Pride,
Powdered Sugar Snowflakes
***this piece was set on the dancers of Noe Middle School and Grace James Academy as part of a partnership between those school's dance programs and Ambo!***
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Grace James Academy (Friday @ 7pm, Saturday @ 2pm)
Davawn Brown, Aniya Dotson, Barsha Gurung, Laila Johnson, Maycee Porter, Aaliyah Smith, Za'Kiyrah Thomas (FRIDAY), Madison Victor, Zyon Watkins (SATURDAY), Saniyah Weaver
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Noe Middle School (Saturday @ 7pm, Sunday @ 2pm)
Caeli Baker-Green, Alexandria Davis, Samira Javed, Natasha Kouvebi, Charlotte Neumann, Bianca Rosa, Alexus Ross, Lucy Russell, Milana Shulman, Sasha Wade
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Sugarplum's Sprinkles
Chelse Close, Gabbi Ebeling-Rodriguez, Mysti Pride, Sheila Zeng Dudgeon
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Nerds
Caeli Baker-Green, Marie Cunningham, Carly Hay, Mia Henry, Carolina Kepler, Heather Moran (FRIDAY), Milana Shulman (SATURDAY/SUNDAY)
Taffy
Caeli Baker-Green, Simon Boice, Carolina Kepler
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Jelly Belly
Jennifer Shelton
Pop Rocks
Mia Henry, Heather Moran, Jamie Nicholas, Amberly M. Simpson
Peeps
Caeli Baker-Green, Simon Boice, Carly Hay, Mia Henry
Cheese
Chelse Close, Mysti Pride, Sheila Zeng Dudgeon
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Jabba the Cotton Candy
Zachary J. Boone
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Cotton Candy Wisps
***this piece was set on the dancers of the Lincoln Performing Arts School as part of a partnership between those school's dance programs and Ambo!***
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FRIDAY CAST
Paxton Adams, Khloe Bonhomme, Stev'e Clayton, Coleman Frederick,
Everett Glasnovic, Thea Rounsavall, Kristian Todd, Elena Ucan Shadle,
Ja'Shawn Wilford, Makenna Yarbrough
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SATURDAY @ 2pm CAST
Paxton Adams, Snow Castillo, Juliana Dawkins, Lillian Holbrook, Ophelia Olenick, Aniyla Queen-Cooper, Kae'Yah Taylor, Jermani Vannerson,
Isis Watters, LeeShelle Williams
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SATURDAY @ 7pm CAST
DeZarie Bibb, Althea Burkhead, Laila Harper, Ophelia Olenick, Alizah Pickett, Aniyla Queen-Cooper, Lola Sweat, Elena Ucan Shadle, Thea Rounsavall, Jermani Vannerson
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SUNDAY @ 2pm CAST
Paxton Adams, Robert Allen Jr, Addison Franklin, Everett Glasnovic,
Abigail Harrod, Britain Marshall, Opehlia Olenick, Aniyla Queen-Cooper,
Kristian Todd, Jermani Vannerson
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The Story
Act I
Part I: The Bonfire
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We begin at a wintery bonfire gathering of family and friends hosted by Drosselmeyer and Auntie Sugar. As the partygoers engage in general merriment, romantic sparks fly between young Clara and another bonfire guest, Marie. Inspired by the sweetness of young love, Drosselmeyer and Auntie Sugar attempt to aid their beloved Clara in embracing her budding feelings and queer identity through the metaphor of a sugary treat: the s'more! While this angers the Marshmallow and Chocolate Connoisseurs, the majority of the party delights in the idea of bringing these delightful sweets together: chocolate, and marshmallows, and graham crackers, oh my! When Clara and Marie share a s'more together, however, Clara's mind wanders into a daydream of epic proportions...
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Overture
Music: “Overture”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson; Mysti Jace Pride in collaboration with the dancers
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Guests Arrive
Music: “"Marie and Fritz Awake/Guests Arrive/Unveiling of the Christmas Tree"”
Choreography and Staging: Jade Frost and Tay Schulz in collaboration with the dancers
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Conspire
Music: "Father-Daughter Dance/Grandparent's Arrival"
Choreography and Staging: Jade Frost and Tay Schulz
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The Bonfire
Music: “March”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson
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Drosselmeyer and S'Mores
Music: “Gifts/Herr Drosselmeyer’s Arrival with His Nephew/Toy Dolls/Toy Soldiers”
Choreography and Staging: Amberly M. Simpson and Tay Schulz
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Shifting Realities
Music: “Marie's Dream”
Choreography and Staging: Jade Frost, Tay Schulz, and MAC in collaboration with the dancers
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Part II: The Battle and the Land of Snow
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Clara, in a sugar-induced fantasy, soon finds herself in the throes of an epic battle between the Marshmallow Clan and the Chocolate Clan. After centuries of feuding, they have gone to war yet again over the discovery that two of their own have fallen in love with each other. Clara sets out to help the star-crossed lovers as chaos ensues. When the Marshmallow Clan and Chocolate Clan clash in an epic battle before her eyes, the noble Graham Cracker shows up to protect Clara, and together they help the Marshmallow and Chocolate lovers escape. Clara, Graham Cracker, and the lovers flee into a snow storm, ending up at the Palace of the Sugarplum Fairy in the Land of Sweets. However, their feels of safety and security are short-lived as the Chocolate and Marshmallow armies follow close behind...
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Battle Preparations
Music: "Requiem Prism"​
Choreography and Staging: Amberly M. Simpson, Nakoma Ehrhart, Jade Frost, and Tay Schulz
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The Battle
Music: "The Battle"​
Choreography and Staging: Amberly M. Simpson, Nakoma Ehrhart, Jade Frost, and Tay Schulz
The Lovers
Music: “Nutcracker and Marie Depart for the Pine Forest”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson, Jade Frost, and MAC
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Waltz of the Powdered Sugar Snowflakes
"Music: “Waltz of the Snowflakes”
Choreography: Sheila Zeng Dudgeon and Amberly M. Simpson
Staging: Amberly M. Simpson
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The Truce
Music: "Requiem Prism"​
Choreography and Staging: Jade Frost, and Tay Schulz
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Act II
Part I: The Land of Sweets​
In the Land of Sweets, Marshmallow and Chocolate express their desire to be married to the Sugarplum Fairy, inciting a giant celebration. All of the candies in Sugar Plum's court gather to imparts gifts and pass their blessings on to the lovers. As their wedding concludes with a bang, Chocolate and Marshmallow are euphoric and enraptured with each other. But, alas, the Lovers haven't lost their star-crossed status just yet. With their attention fixated on each other, and Clara and the Graham Cracker celebrating their great victory, hostile members of the Chocolate and Marshmallow clans are spotted sneaking around in the palace. An ambush is upon them!
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The Palace
Music: "Herr Drosselmeier's Gifts: Hobby Horse, The Nutcracker"
Choreography: Jade Frost and Tay Schulz in collaboration with the dancers
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The Sugarplum Fairy
Music: “Sugarplum Fairy”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson
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Nerds
Music: “Hot Chocolate”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson and Heather Moran in collaboration with the dancers
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Jelly Bellies
Music: “Coffee”
Choreography: Jennifer Shelton and Amy Gibson
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Peeps
Music: “Marzipan”
Choreography: Jade Frost and Amberly M. Simpson
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Cheese
Music: “Grandfather's Dance”
Choreography: MAC
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Pop Rocks
Music: “Candy Cane”
Ensemble Choreography: Joseph R. Brandt
Duo Choreography: Joseph R. Brandt and Jade Frost
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Taffy
Music: “Tea”
Choreography: Jade Frost
Cotton Candy
Music: “Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson
The Wedding/First Dance
Music: “Waltz of the Flowers”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson, Jade Frost, and MAC
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The Sugarplum Fairy's Blessing
Music: “Waltz of the Flowers” Remix by Brian Burrows
Solo Choreography: Uhstel H. Valentine
Ensemble Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson
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Lover's Bliss/The Ambush/Re-Writing History
Music: “Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier Pas de Deux”
Lover's Bliss Choreography: Jade Frost and MAC
Graham Cracker and Clara's Duet Choreography: Joseph R. Brandt and Helena Smith-Pohl
The Ambush Staging: Joseph R. Brandt and Amberly M. Simpson in collaboration with the dancers
Re-Writing History Staging: Jade Frost and Tay Schulz
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Part II: Return to the Bonfre​
Graham Cracker defends Clara and the newlyweds, but falls in battle. Marshmallow and Chocolate are torn apart. Shocked and devastated, Clara remembers...Marie, Drosselmeyer, Auntie Sugar, the merriment of the bonfire as everyone embraced the idea of the s'more. Love doesn't have to end this way! Remembering the support of her community, Clara's sugary hallucination wears off and she finds herself right where she had been before, sharing a s'more with Marie. Feeling assured in herself and her identity, she enjoys her s'more wholeheartedly and dances the night away.
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Return to the Bonfire
Music: “Finale”
Choreography: Amberly M. Simpson
Staging: Jade Frost and Tay Schulz
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Bows
Music: “The Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier Coda”
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FIN
Thank you for getting silly and sentimental with us this holiday season!
The Creative Team
Artistic Director / Lead Choreographer
Amberly M. Simpson
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Collaborating Directors
Joseph R. Brandt
Nakoma Ehrhart
Jade Frost
MAC
Tay Schulz
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Featured Choreographers
Jade Frost
Joseph R. Brandt
Heather Moran
Jamie Nicolas
Mysti Jace Pride
Jennifer Shelton
Sheila Zeng
***all choreography is created and developed in collaboration with the dancers!***
Projection Design
Joseph R. Brandt
Amberly M. Simpson
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Lighting Design
Lindsay Krupski
Sound and Projection Operator
Jon Waggoner
Costume Design
Mary Kay Brandt
Jade Frost
Candace Kresse
Typh Hainer-Merwarth
Tay Schulz
Amberly M. Simpson
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Props and Set Design
Melissa Bowen
Jade Frost
Tay Schulz
Joseph R. Brandt
Music
“The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's, recorded
by the New York City Ballet Orchestra
“Waltz of the Flowers” Remix by Brian Burrows
"Requiem Prism" by Alibi Music
"Running Fanfare" by John Macleod
Projection Source Artistry
Canva
AA-VFX
Mikhail Nilov
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Special Thanks
Rachel Grote
Mary Kay Brandt
Zachary J. Boone of the Lincoln Performing Arts School
Jade Zilisch and Grace James Academy
The Noe Middle School Dance Program
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A special thank you to our Silent Auction donors!
3rd Turn Brewing
502 Power Yoga
Awaken Skin Care
Blue Dog Bakery
Books and Music Exchange
Carmichael's Bookstore
Crazy Clear Electric
David Kamer DMD
Days Espresso and Coffee
Derby City Salseros
Derby Dinner Playhouse
Diego Bucio
Difabio's Casapela Louisville
Discoveries
Ditto's Grill
Elevated Aesthetics
Fante's Coffee
FisherSIPS
Fun Tea
George Orthodontics
Glow Worm Cafe & Play
Graeters
Greater Art Solutions Photography
Heaven Hill
Highlands Mart
Integrative Movement
Keith's Hardware
La Bodeguita de Mima
La Muerte Tarot and Consulting LLC
Leaf of Faith
Leigha Miller and Ronnie Ashley
Looking for Lilith
Magnolia & Fig Boutique
Marks Feed Store
Massage by Laurie
Middletown Family Chiropractor
Muth's Candies
Naive
Naive Kitchen + Bar
Nearly New
Noche Mexican BBQ (Restaurant)
NoraeBar
Nostalgic
On Pointe Dancewear
Pandora Productions
Parkside Bikes
Peace of the Earth
Pedego Electric Bikes
Physicians Center for Beauty
Poison by Toxins Art Design
Proformance Gym
Purrfect Day Cat Cafe Louisville
Qweerty Coffee
Rabbit Hole Distillery
Rainbow Blossom
Red Tree
Sarang Korean Wellbeing, Bibimbap and Bulgogi
Sensations Salon and Spa
Speed Art Museum
Surprise Lily Boutique
The Craftery
The Hemming Way
The Irish Rover
The Manhattan Project
The Shop
The Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe
The Yellow Cactus
Toasty's Tavern
Tony Boombozz
Top Golf
West Sixth Brewery
What Makes You Smile
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Every cast member who helped to clean our stash of cotton balls,
And everyone who donated new cotton balls!!!
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