WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Patrons,

Welcome to Golden State Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker! It is an absolute joy to share this cherished holiday tradition with you. The Nutcracker is more than just a ballet — it’s a celebration of community, wonder, and the transformative power of art. For many, this timeless classic is a gateway to the enchanting world of ballet, and we are honored to have it be a part of your holiday season.

For me, The Nutcracker was my first introduction to ballet, and bringing my vision of this masterpiece to life has been a deeply fulfilling journey. This production is the result of extraordinary collaboration, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our company dancers, GSBA students, and artistic staff, whose artistry and dedication have made this performance possible. I am especially thankful to Ahmad Joudeh and Teresa Chao, who provided invaluable cultural guidance for the Arabian Coffee and Chinese Tea dances in Act II, ensuring these moments are as authentic and respectful as they are beautiful.

None of this would be possible without our incredible community. To our devoted Board of Directors, generous donors, and loyal audiences — your support keeps the magic of ballet alive and thriving. It is my hope that every time the curtain rises, you feel the pride and inspiration that your belief in us makes possible.

This holiday season, may your hearts be filled with hope, joy, health, and love. Thank you for being a part of the Golden State Ballet family.

Happy Holidays,

Raúl Salamanca
Founder and Executive Artistic Director

GOLDEN STATE BALLET
Raul Salamanca, Executive Artistic Director

PRESENTS

THE NUTCRACKER
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CHOREOGRAPHY |Raul Salamanca
MUSIC | Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
SCENIC DESIGN | Ariel Bailiff
COSTUME DESIGN | David Heuvel
LIGHTING DESIGN | Eric Keel

Scenery and Costumes Courtesy of
BALLET WEST | Adam Sklute, Artistic Director

SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

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CONDUCTED BY

GSB MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR | John Stubbs
GSB CONDUCTOR | Dana Mambourg Zimbric

CIVIC THEATRE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Show runs approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission.

CASTING  (All )

ACT I

ACT I, PROLOGUE

HERR DROSSELMEYER -
Stephen Hallburn (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/20)
Nathan Madden (12/14M, 12/21, 12/22)

TOWNSBOY -
Emiliano Dael (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Harrison Pickering (12/14M, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

CAROLERS -
Chloe Mitchell, Kaitlyn Reifschneider (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Isabella Tague, Keira Wardrip (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

FLOWER VENDOR - Tara Franklin

ACT I, SCENE I

CLARA STAHLBAUM -
Elise Dai-Liu (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Sophia Stevenson (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)

FRITZ STAHLBAUM -
Matty Pless (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Frankie Sanfilippo (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

MRS. STAHLBAUM -
Silken Kelly (12/14M, 12/21, 12/22E)
Megan Nicotera (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/22M)

MR. STAHLBAUM -
Nathan Madden (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/20)
Reece Taylor (12/14M, 12/21, 12/22)

NANNY -
Mackenzie Davis (12/14, 12/20, 12/21, 12/22E)
Chantelle Pianetta (12/13, 12/15, 12/22M)

MAID -
Savannah Colby (12/14M, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Sophia Dimmick (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/21M, 12/22M)

HARLEQUIN -
Nicole Denney (12/14E, 12/20, 12/21M)
Sophia Dimmick (12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Haley Mauldin (12/13, 12/15, 12/22M)

COLUMBINE -
Mackenzie Davis (12/13, 12/15, 12/22M)
Ashley Onks (12/14E, 12/20, 12/21M)
Chantelle Pianetta (12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)

SOLDIER DOLL -
Evan Arredondo (12/13, 12/15, 12/22M)
Emiliano Dael (12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Harrison Pickering (12/14E, 12/20, 12/21M)

GRANDMOTHER - Annabelle Eurich

GRANDFATHER - Mia Gonzalez-Llorens

PARTY MOMS -
Alexandria Finley
Isabella Bertagni, Samantha Schmidt (alternating)
Nicole Denney, Haley Desjarlais (alternating)
Haley Mauldin, Ashley Onks (alternating)
Natasha Rader, Celyna Tran (alternating)

PARTY DADS -
Leonardo Escobar-Moeller, Ahmad Joudeh,
Timothy Ruelas, Joel Torgeson,
Arredondo, Pickering (alternating)

PARTY GIRLS -
Madeleine Hoang-Kephart, Ingrid Janssens-Lozano, Esme Ramos, Esme Rivera, Sloane Viora (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Shelly Kolakovsky, Auline Kozo, Esme Rivera, Cora Sprinkle, Elise Uchida (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

PARTY BOYS -
Evelyn Brady, Aleksandar Cruz, Violeta De Anda, Arya Dobmeier, Ella Ramos, Natalie Rodriguez (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Sati Cooper-McCann, Amelia Duda, Cara Good, Natalie Rodriguez, Jovie Taylor, Auxence Watts (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

ACT I, SCENE 2

MOUSE KING -
Evan Arredondo (12/13, 12/15, 12/20, 12/22M)
Stephen Hallburn (12/21, 12/22E)
Ahmad Joudeh (12/14)

NUTCRCAKER SOLDIER -
Harrison Pickering (12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Timothy Ruelas (12/13, 12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21M, 12/22M)

MICE -
Emiliano Dael, Leonardo Escobar-Moeller, Rebecca Hervé-Lorenzo, Sophie Jennings, Daria Leontev, Kaitlyn Reifschneider (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Chloe Chen, Emiliano Dael, Leonardo Escobar-Moeller, Sophie Jennings, Megan Krajicek, Grace Krzyz (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

BABY MICE -
Nora Casillas, Andrej Cruz, Petra Strauss, Rowan Veverka (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Alexis Abramson, Jade Craw, Kylie Craw, Nora Ladao (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

SOLDIERETTES -
Rozalyn Llanes, Chloe Mitchell, Olivia Turfler (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Mikayla Gamez, Riley Pferdekamper, Isabella Tague (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

SOLDIERS -
Emry James, Mia Maldonado, Tilly McGrath, Matty Pless, Tori Teasley (12/13, 12/14M, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Eva Allen, Ruby Payne, Wyatt Riemann, Frankie Sanfilippo, Olivia Villavicencio (12/14E, 12/15, 12/20, 12/21E, 12/22E)

ACT I, SCENE 3

NUTCRACKER PRINCE -
Renan Cerdeiro (12/13, 12/15, 12/21M, 12/22M)
Preston Swovelin (12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Reece Taylor (12/14E, 12/20)

SNOW QUEEN & KING -
Miranda Giles with Preston Swovelin
(12/14E, 12/20, 12/21M)
Victoria Jenkins with Renan Cerdeiro
(12/14M, 12/21E, 12/22E)
Silken Kelly with Reece Taylor
(12/13, 12/15, 12/22M)

SNOWFLAKES - Haley Desjarlais, Annabelle Eurich, Mia Gonzalez-Llorens, Natasha Rader,
Isabella Bertagni, Savannah Colby, Mackenzie Davis, Nicole Denney, Sophia Dimmick, Alexandria Finley, Haley Mauldin, Megan Nicotera, Ashley Onks, Chantelle Pianetta, Samantha Schmidt, Celyna Tran (alternating)

ACT II Continued Below…

— INTERMISSION (20 mins) —

ACT II

Profiles

RAUL SALAMANCA, FOUNDING EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
An acclaimed artist and entrepreneur with over 25 years of professional experience in the world of dance. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he enjoyed a celebrated performing career with prestigious companies such as Boston Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, and Ballet Arizona. His time with these organizations allowed him to work with some of the industry’s most esteemed teachers, coaches, and choreographers, honing his expertise in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary ballet. In 2023, Mr. Salamanca expanded his artistic repertoire by choreographing a new production of The Nutcracker, earning widespread praise for his innovative storytelling and artistic vision. As a passionate advocate for the arts, Mr. Salamanca is a member of the International Dance Council (CID), an official partner of UNESCO, demonstrating his commitment to preserving and promoting dance on a global scale. His leadership extends beyond the stage, as he has guided countless artists as an A.G.M.A. union representative, successfully navigating complex labor contract negotiations. Before founding Golden State Ballet in 2021, Mr. Salamanca held several distinguished positions: Ballet Master and Director of Education at Ballet San Antonio, Répétiteur for Boston Ballet’s resident choreographer Jorma Elo, and Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer at Los Gatos Ballet in Silicon Valley. His entrepreneurial spirit also led to the creation of Golden State Ballet Academy alongside his wife, Cindy Huang in 2019. Under Mr. Salamanca’s direction, Golden State Ballet has become a cornerstone of the San Diego arts community, celebrated for its excellence and accessibility. Through his visionary leadership, he continues to champion the transformative power of dance, inspiring the next generation of artists and captivating audiences with world-class performances.

JOHN STUBBS, GSB MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR
John Stubbs, GSB Music Director and Conductor, is also a violinist with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival, and the creator and director of Luscious Noise. His experience as a ballet conductor have ranged from ballet standards such as The Nutcracker, Paquita, and Serenade to premieres of new works with music of Bach, Vivaldi, De Falla, Albinoni, George Crumb and Yoav Talmi. Mr. Stubbs has conducted the Colorado Springs Symphony, the Wyoming Symphony and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra at the re-opening Gala of the historic Balboa Theatre. Most recently, he conducted the world premiere of ALICE: Re-imagining Wonderland through Dance, Music and Spoken Word, a collaboration between Art of Élan and Colette Harding Contemporary Dance Company with a commissioned score by composer Joseph Hallman. As the creator and director of Luscious Noise, an eclectic performance series formerly at local jazz club Anthology, Mr. Stubbs brings new audiences to classical music through the combination of live music and videos in a hip dinner club setting. John Stubbs has been a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra since 1977. 

DANA MAMBOURG ZIMBRIC, CONDUCTOR
Conductor and music educator Dana Mambourg Zimbric is the Artistic Director for Classics 4 Kids and the California Chamber Orchestra. In her more than two decades in San Diego, Zimbric has collaborated with many orchestras, including the San Diego Symphony and La Jolla Symphony, earning a reputation as a dynamic leader in Southern California’s classical music scene.

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GOLDEN STATE BALLET
Founded in 2021, Golden State Ballet stands as a world-class ballet company, a destination for the finest artists from around the globe, and a source of immense pride for San Diego and Southern California. With exceptional performances, groundbreaking choreography, and engaging education programs, we elevate the cultural landscape locally and internationally. Committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and integrity, we provide an environment where extraordinary artists and staff thrive, inspiring a profound appreciation for ballet and showcasing the transformative power of dance on the world stage.

SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra is the oldest orchestra in California and one of the largest and most significant cultural organizations in San Diego. The Orchestra performs for over 250,000 people each season, offering a wide variety of programming at its two much-loved venues, the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center in downtown San Diego and the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Rafael Payere became the San Diego Symphony’s thirteenth music director in July of 2019. Payare leads the orchestra’s 82 full-time musicians, graduates of the finest and most celebrated music schools in the United States and abroad. The SDSO also serves as the orchestra for the San Diego Opera each season, as well as performing at several regional performing arts centers. For over 30 years, the San Diego Symphony has provided comprehensive music education and community engagement programs reaching more than 65,000 students annually and bringing innovative programming to San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and schools.

WITH GRATITUDE
to our valued supporters

$100,000 +

Hermann Foundation

$50,000 +

Dr. Francis & Amy Hsu, John Stubbs & Denise Dabrowski

$10,000 +

Patrick & Sherry Huang

$5,000 +

Jeff & Lisa Jenkins, Joey Tran

$1,000 +

Christopher Eddy, Eight Degrees South, Paul & Jessica Estrada, David & Mariann Giles, Jessica Kim, JeanCarlo Mendez, Monica & David Shapiro, Esq., Christopher Wixom, Susan Zale, Katherine Zhang & Paul Krajicek

$500 +

Jack Dundon, Amy Greenwaldt, Nicole Irmer, Lane Mashal, Karen Wood

$200 +

Zachary Arner, Debbie Bigornia, Marshall Boline, Gloria Colby, Katherine Cullen, Norman & Sarah Dahlgren, Donna Dotson, Lawrence Fulton, Michael McMaster, Xavier Mendoza, Lauren Sedlak, Spinnaker Investment Group

Our generous friends of the company

Jennifer Barnes, Robert & Deborah Cook, Caroline Dupont, Lucy Bustamante Rasco, Roger Chang, Kristin & Mike Dillane, Keith Elliott, Arleene Estrada, Dawn Estrada, Pamela Fullerton, Daniel Goldzband, Rita Gura, Frederick Howden, Amelia Kenner, Kathleen Muir, Adam Raby, Patricia Rice, Peter Rofe, William Schneider, John Shireling, Gerald Swanson, Elizabeth Thompson, Pamela Ventura, Joan Williams, Stacey Williams, Josie Wintch

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SPECIAL THANKS

to our community who have helped us bring The Nutcracker to life!

Jennifer Abramson, Cassandra Allison, Jennifer Craw, Molly Crawford, Rigoberto Cruz & Aleksandra Vukojicic, Yang Dai & Lin Liu, Lizzette De Anda, Sherri Dimmick, Diane Durant, Gina Erdahl, Kimberly Feilen, Alicia Flynn, Misha Giardina, Lei Gu, Teri James, Miki Jennings, Ally Kasik, Frank Kephart & Huu Hoang, Alex Kuty, Melissa Lorenzo, Ashley Ludwig, Adrienne Magcalas, Lenya McGrath, Gloria Monroe, Erika Montandon, Katie Morone, Lisa Muñoz, John Perea, Annemarie Pferdekamper, David Pless, Leila Welton & Niccolo Punelli, Lisa Ramos, Ashley Rodriguez, Malissa Sanfilippo, Liz Santamaria, Megan Scollay-Casillas, Dena Shamoo, Hilary Sprinkle, Shannon Stein, Kristi Tague, Shelby Tierney, Ginny Veverka, Monica Villavicencio, Jenn Viora, Allison Wardrip, Aurore Watts, Karen Welch

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