It’s ‘Nutcracker’ Time!

It’s a rite of passage for dancers in Studio K Youth Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

The littlest dancers step out on stage as the mice during the grandfather clock scene. As they get older, they take on more advanced roles, such as the young ladies in the Christmas party scene.

As they advance in ballet skills, the dancers take on more coveted roles, such as the toy soldier and the snow fairies.

The most coveted role of all, however, is Clara Von Stahlbaum, the young woman whose dream about the nutcracker coming to life propels the ballet into a fantasy world of color and wonder.

This year that role goes to dancer Kellyn Stamey, a student at Watauga High School. She will battle giant mice, dance romantically with the Nutcracker Prince and dance through magical worlds filled with candy and sugarplum fairies.

The Studio K production of Peter Tchaikovsky’s ballet, “The Nutcracker,” takes place at Farthing Auditorium in Boone at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11. Tickets are on sale now.

The cast of the 2011 Studio K production of “The Nutcracker” includes Andy Harkins as Dr. Drosselmeyer, Kenneth Wright as Councilor Von Stahlbaum, Kit Fisher as Frau Von Stahlbaum, Kellyn Stamey as Clara and Hattie Rose Green as Fritz.

Party guests are played by Erin Anderson, Jacob Ray, Mike Wilson, Jeff Hatley, Shannon Hatley, Ken Steele Dan Krontz, Colette Krontz, Tom Fisher, Saralyn Kader, Kathy Moorman, Margaret Handley, Judd Pinnix, Greg Lovins, Tiffany Christian and Shellie Karaus.

Party children are played by Maddie Greene, Anna Grace Anderson, Josie Armes, Isabella Barlow, Vivi Rushing, Cora Hatley, Annika Willis, Ava Pinnix, Olivia Pinnix, Kati Mac Greene, Gaia Lee, Peyton Walton, Emma Kate Sevensky, Rhianna Verholek, Julia Handley, Savannah Spencer, Emma Pinnix, Emma Harkins, Sara Fran Greene, Caroline Lovins, Nicole Krontz, Olivia Handley, Ellery Rushing, Lily Devereux, Alison Cook, Bailey Cook, Andrew Hatley, Cami Hastings, Mary Lovins, Emma Carder, Morgan Hatley and Mandy Eagle-Farrar.

The toy store children include Amelia Gordon, Hannah Grace Studt, Shannon Hall, Bella Hammil, Lauren Hawkins, Charli Johnson, Liliana Miller, Danielle Norwik, Genevieve Powell, Abbey Pulliam, Addison Smith, Madison Welch, Caroline Wood, Leila Zwetsloot, Elizabeth Coley, Margaret Greene, Enchancia Harmon, Cora Hatley, Julia Lacey, Karsyn Lee, Lily Baye Maple, Madison Mast, Georgia Northern, Madeline Powell, Emma Rasco, Mary Kathryn Riddle, Jackie White and ViVi Rushing.

The maids are played by Meresa Verholek, Gabrielle Barlow and Ellen Steele, and the mechanical dolls are played by Catharine Milner and Lindsey Harkins Ray. The grandmother is Joan Woodworth.

The small clock mice are played by Mattie Greene, Margart Greene, Anna Grace Anderson, Josie Armes, Isabella Barlow, Vivi Rushing, Cora Hatley, Annika Willis, Ava Pinnix, Olivia Pennix, Kati Mac Greene, Gaia Harper, Leyla Barcenas, Adela Barcenas, Alison Bertrand, Bailey Collins, Kylie Creed, Olivia Davis, Aubrey Garrett, Leah Harmon, Lillon Henline, Rylee Mitchell, Bailey Moss, Emma Raymond, Briana Sudderth, Sydney Cate Townsend, Sofia Carmichel, Kennedy Moore, Avery Moretz, Montgomery Cate Taylor, Kahlyn Nicholls, Izzy Garrett, Izzy Haas, Lola Herring, Madeleine Hood, Shelby Miller, Brooklyn Smith, Mackenzie Taylor, Hannah Teague, Shaylyn Walker, Carly Watson and Hadley Woods.

The large mice rats are played by Jeff Hatley, Josh Thurman, Michael Armes, and Jude Pinnix while the mouse king is played by Jacob Ray.

The fight dolls are played by Lindsey Harkins Ray, Catharine Milner, Gayle Anderson, Brianne Thurman, Abby Foster, Wendy Curtis Broderick and Alana Patterson.
Matt Backe plays the Nutcracker Prince.

Soldiers are played by Emma Carder, Carolina Conway, Morgan Critcher, Sara Frances Greene, Olivia Handley, Emma Harkins, Cami Hastings, Mary Lovins, Amanda Lubkemann, Allison Quinn, Sydney Styron, RJ Christian, Andrew Hatley, Noelle Eller, Nicole Fanatico, Chloe Shaut, Camille Ward and Summit Fredenburg.

Cay Harkins plays the Snow Queen and Matt Backe is Cavalier.

Snow attendants include Sarah Pinnix, Abby Willis, Elizabeth Thompson, Olivia Watson, Gabrielle Barlow, Mackenna Berry, Ivy Ulmer and Lauren Foster.

Snowflakes include Sara Critcher Norris, Abby Foster, Brianne Thurman, Gayle Anderson, Abigail Apgar, Brittany Burwell, Lauren Foster, Ashley Harkins, Shannon Hatley, Erin Hunt, Anna Jensen, Shellie Karaus, Meghan Mixon, Alana Patterson, Cara Ray, Evangeline Redmond, Lindsey Harkins Ray and Catharine Harkins Milner.

Queen of Sweets is played by Sara Critcher Norris. The lead angels are played by Shannon Hatley and Jeff Hatley.

Little angels include Rayna Christian, Hannah Critcher, Natalie Osborne, Lauren Patterson, Ava Pinnix, Nora Russom, Lanae Sones, Maggie Souza, Brooklyn Stanbery, Lillian Taylor, Kaitlin Winebarger, Zoe Earp, Anna Grace Anderson, Josie Armes, Josie Franca, Tory Goss, Maddie Greene, Natalie Hill, Charis Hughes, Maya Johnston, Emma Kate Monroe, Emma Kate Moore, Georgia Parker, Mackenzie Rominger, ViVi Rushing, Addison Totherow and Genevieve Waugh.

Candy Land Corps de Ballet includes Rebekah Blair, Lilly Coggins, Bailey Cook, Luci Brooke Creed, Libby Glidewell, Kati Mac Greene, Sarah Grimes, Molly Grimes, Leah Hampton, Emalyn Heathershaw, Gaia Lee, Ella Pennell, Olivia Pinnix, Marisa Romanat, Katie Thompson, Rhianna Verholek, Peyton Walton and Maddey Street.

Gumdrops include Sydney Collie, Piper Corey, Macyn Farrington, Sutton Getty, Zoey Glenn, Samara Hammil, Kyleigh Hogan, Alicia Houstoun, Lainey Johnston, Sophia Law, Cheyenne Millsaps, Maya Pennington, Fiona Russell, Sophia Canu, Madeline Allen, Lilly Anderson, Clair Anderson, Mary Kate Coley, Sita Cooper, Landis Getty, Amelia Greene, Kaiya Houstoun, Madden Maple, Jullian Martin, River Miller, Hayden Miller, Baile Oakes, Ella Powell and Payton Guy.

Sugar Plum attendants include Gabrielle Barlow, Mackenna Berry, Victoria Redmon, Olivia Watson, Ivy Ulmer, Kathleen Baker, Hannah Bates, Ashley Canter, Catherine Catoe, Rayanna Christian, Mandy Eagle-Farrar, Moriah Franklin, Morgan Hatley, Brandy Hicks, Jasmine Jackson, Kennedy Kavanaugh, Nicole Krontz, Brittany Lackey, Amelia Powers, Joanna Campbell and Tess Snider.
The Chocolate Dance features Gayle Anderson, Alana Paterson, Shannon Hatley, Brianne Thurman, Cara Ray and Erin Hunt.

The Coffee Dance features Ashley Harkins, Bryan Taylor, Rebecca Anderson, Emily Grant, Cheney Hester, Emmie Huffman, Erin Jensen, Marie Kallestad, Lily Lipford, Maggie Milhaupt, Natalie Noble, Grace Oh, Maggie Quigley, Caitlin Sanders, Kelsey Watts and Kaycee Wilson.

The Tea Dance features Sarah Pinnix, Abby Willis, Lauren Foster, Evangeline Redmond, Victoria Redmond, Isabella Barlow, Elli Berry, Kylie Clarke, Bethany Critcher, Savannah Grizzard, Julia Handley, Angela Claire Henderson, Caroline Hodges, Lucy Miller, Elizabeth Noble, Ellery Rushing, Grace Sears, Samantha Spiegelman, Molly Taylor, Payton Walton, Kailei Watts, Annika Willis, Emma Barr, Morgan Brink, Natalie Davis, Lily Devereux, Kathleen Gibson, Taylor Grogitsky, Emily Hill, Hannah Ligon, Lizzie Miller, Evangelina Mizell, Megan Norwick, Abby Peyton, Kacie Rominger, Lydia Rothrock, Darmody Tausche, Mackenzie Ward and Meredith Rhem.

Mirlitons (reed flutes) features Shannon Hatley, Anna Jensen, Cara Ray, Erin Hunt, Abigail Apgar, Brittany Burwell, Haylee Barker, Lili Bauer, Alison Cook, Riley Fowler, Hattie Rose Greene, Faith Ann Henson, Carrie Labonte, Emma Pinnix, Emma Kate Sevensky, Faith Singleton and Savannah Spencer.
The Trepak (Russian dance) features Abby Foster, Staci Brown, Joanna Campbell, Lysia Jones, Caroline Lovins, Kathleen Baker, Hannah Bates, Ashley Canter, Catherine Catoe, Rayanna Christian, Mandy Eagle-Farrar, Moriah Franklin, Morgan Hatley, Brandy Hicks, Jasmine Jackson, Kennedy Kavanaugh, Nicole Krontz, Brittany Lackey, Amelia Powers and Tess Snider.

Mother Ginger is played by Rhonda Spencer. Her children include Isabella Barlow, Elli Berry, Kylie Clarke, Bethany Critcher, Savannah Grizzard, Julia Handley, Angela Claire Henderson, Caroline Hodges, Lucy Miller, Elizabeth Noble, Ellery Rushing, Grace Sears, Samantha Spiegelman, Molly Taylor, Payton Walton, Kailei Watts, Annika Willis, Makayla Andrews, Ava Cutlip, Teila Eddins, Madelyn Ellis, Sarah Fredenburg, Colby Hester, Avery Martin, Kyleigh Marton, Reagan Miller, Addison Meyer, Brielynn Myers, Hannah Grace Norris, Naia Renwick, Cerelia Renwick, Piper Grace Saunders, Sophie Speckmann, Bre Winkler Price, Klarrissa Eller and Sophia Canu.

The Dewdrop Fairy is played by Shellie Karaus.

La Valse des Fleurs Corps de Ballet (Waltz of the Flowers) features Gayle Anderson, Abigail Apgar, Brittany Burwell, Lauren Foster, Ashley Harkins, Shannon Hatley, Erin Hunt, Anna Jensen, Meghan Mixon, Alana Patterson, Cara Ray, Evangeline Redmond, Gabrielle Barlow, Mackenna Berry, Victoria Redmon, Olivia Watson, Ivy Ulmer, Sarah Pinnix, Abby Willis and Elizabeth Thompson.

Pas de deux features Meghan Mixon and Matt Backe.

Cotton Candy features Emma Carder, Carolina Conway, Morgan Critcher, Sara Frances Greene, Olivia Handley, Emma Harkins, Cami Hastings, Mary Lovins, Amanda Lubkemann, Allison Quinn, Sydney Styron and Tess Snider .

Sugar Plum Fairy is played by Meghan Mixon.

Finale Corps de Ballet features Emma Carder, Carolina Conway, Morgan Critcher, Sara Frances Greene, Olivia Handley, Emma Harkins, Cami Hastings, Mary Lovins, Amanda Lubkemann, Allison Quinn, Sydney Styron, Tess Snider, R J Christian, Andrew Hatley, Noelle Eller, Nicole Fanatico, Elena Russert, Chloe Shaut, Camille Ward and Summit Fredenburg.