Family Traditions

Enjoying the Classic Ballet “The Nutcracker”

By Karen Conley

When the Thanksgiving leftovers have been turned into sandwiches and soup, we know that it is time to unpack the Christmas decorations. Soon houses will be dripping with icicle lights, and sparkly reindeer and snowmen will move into front yards all over town. Ornaments, wreaths, and mistletoe will be hung, and holiday music will drift through the stores. Along with all of the tinsel and glitter, December is also a time when we unpack our Christmas traditions.

One local holiday tradition is families coming together to experience Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s stunning production of “The Nutcracker.” But there is another family custom that few people outside of the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre family know about. It is the tradition of parents and children performing in “The Nutcracker” together. This year, there are seven families who are performing in “The Nutcracker.”

Although they are not dancers, several members of the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Board of Directors will join the ballet cast to share the stage with their children. Shannon Bane, a professor at Santa Clara University by day, will play the part of Frau Stahlbaum in the opening party scene, while her young daughter, Tabitha, will dance across the stage as both a Page and a Snap. George Hood holds the post of the Secretary of the Board, and is also a member of the party scene corps. Marisol Hood, “The Nutcracker’s” talented head costumer prefers to stay backstage, while their daughter, Lauren, one of the company’s featured dancers, captivates the audience with her stunning performance as half of the Arabian Coffee pas de duex.

The part of Chancellor Stahlbaum, the host of “The Nutcracker’s” grand party scene, will be played by Board Vice President Tony Crane, whose daughter is an SCBT alum. Kelly and Rod Caborn are two more alum parents in the cast.

Kelly will play the maid in the party scene, while Rod will reprise his role as Herr Drosselmeyer, the character who presents Clara with the nutcracker.

Parent, Linda Swan tackles her job as the president of the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Guild with efficiency and grace, but audiences can also find her onstage as a guest in the opulent party scene. Her daughter, Lily, is an accomplished dancer who has been cast as the Marzipan Lead and a Snowflake in the 2016 production.

Jeremy Chatwin will waltz through the party scene as his daughter, Flora, dances with the Snowflakes, and Flowers. She also plays the Dewdrop Fairy in several performances. Izabella Hartman will accompany her mother on stage as a Snap, while Katie Hartman plays the part of Mother Ginger. Cevin O’Hagan will join his daughters, Ceinna and Kaila, as a party dad, while they are busy dancing as soldiers. Of course we cannot forget that the 50-piece live orchestra is an integral and vital part of “The Nutcracker” experience. It also embraces the family Nutcracker tradition.

Local musician Jeremy Cushing will join the orchestra to accompany his daughter, Abigail, while she is dancing onstage.

There is nothing new about the tradition of attending “The Nutcracker” together each year. Families have been enjoying the holiday classic for generations.

But Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre has a special family tradition … parents and children performing on stage together to give the community a present as magical as the nutcracker Herr Drosselmeyer gives to a little girl named Clara at a family Christmas party.

Share in the SCBT Nutcracker tradition at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, December 16, 17, and 18. Tickets can be purchased online at the ballet’s website, scbt.org or through the Santa Cruz Civic box office.