THE NUTCRACKER
In Montreal, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without The Nutcracker. This timeless classic created by Fernand Nault is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year! Cherished by generations of children, this two-act ballet based on Hoffmann’s classic tale is set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score and brings together over one hundred dancers.
Follow the charming Clara and treat yourself to a getaway to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Shimmering sets and costumes, comical turns and exquisite pas de deux are all in store. The Nutcracker is a moment of eternity where dreams miraculously come true and where magic becomes real. A fabulous adventure to warm the hearts of the young and the not-so-young!
This ensemble comprises 43 highly skilled musicians and soloists. Our orchestra, under the direction of Dina Gilbert, has been playing a major role in the success of Les Grands Ballets for over 30 years.
Prologue
In front of Councillor von Stahlbaum’s house.
ACT I
It is Christmas Eve and Councillor von Stahlbaum is giving a party for his children, Clara and Fritz, and their friends. Among the guests is Clara’s godfather, Doctor Drosselmeyer, who is said to have magical powers. He gives Clara a nutcracker as a present. Clara also receives a pair of magical shoes from her grandparents. Jealous, Fritz breaks his sister’s nutcracker, which is hastily repaired by Doctor Drosselmeyer. Everybody dances around the Christmas tree and the nutcracker, and the evening ends on a happy note. When the party is over and everyone has gone to sleep, Clara goes downstairs to the living room and falls asleep with the nutcracker. Mice and rats invade the room and engage in a battle against tin soldiers. Suddenly, Clara is overpowered by the rodents but the Nutcracker, brought to life by Doctor Drosselmeyer, comes to her rescue.
The Nutcracker is almost killed by the King of the Rats in the ensuing duel but Clara ends the battle when she throws her magic shoe at the King of the Rats and hits him on the head. As a reward for Clara’s courage, Doctor Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into a handsome Prince, who takes Clara to the Land of Snow. There, she dances with the Snowflakes, and the Prince then takes her to visit the Kingdom of Sweets.
ACT II
In this magical kingdom, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cotton Candy Angels dance while awaiting the couple's arrival. Clara and the Prince are greeted by the King of Sweets, who holds a large sugar cane in his hand. The Prince tells everyone how Clara saved his life.
A big party is held in her honour. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince perform a dance to welcome them, and the three Chefs from the sweet kitchen arrive as well. The Prince recounts to the King of Sweets and to the whole court how Clara saved his life by throwing her shoe at the Rat King's head. After the telling of this great tale, a celebration is held in Clara’s honor.
The three Chefs bring out their finest cakes for Clara and the Prince, who attend a series of fabulous themed dances: Chocolate from Spain, Coffee from Arabia, Tea from China, Trepak from Russia, and more! Then follow the dance of the Dewdrops, that of the Shepherd and his Sheep, and the great Waltz of the Flowers. Clara, proudly seated next to the Prince, is dazzled! The Sugar Plum Fairy herself takes a big pas de deux with her Prince and all join them to dance one last time for their special guests.
Unfortunately, the party has to come to an end. The Sugar Plum Fairy picks up Clara to remind her that it's time to go home. Clara bids farewell to the King of Sweets, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince who brought her to this beautiful land. Clara sets off in a large coach pulled by swans. On Christmas morning, she wakes up in her bed, her Nutcracker snuggled in her arms. She returns to a world where magic is not always visible at first glance, and you must keep your eyes open to see it... She will never forget that wonderful night!
“I think the success of The Nutcracker is due to a combination of things: the children’s charm, a feeling of nostalgia for a more peaceful time, the innocence of young Clara, and finally the marvellous classical dancing set to the famous Tchaikovsky score.”
— Fernand Nault
Committed to the democratization of ballet and making art accessible to all, the Nutcracker Fund has been offering a range of initiatives for over 25 years, enabling children to fully immerse themselves in the world of The Nutcracker, through educational workshops and free performances.
Latest update on December 2, 2024. Cast is subject to change up until the start of the performance.
M = matinée
S = soirée
FIRST SCENE
Fritz
Thomas Lortie (12S, 14M, 15M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
Elias Shanski (13S, 14S, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
Clara
Maïté Ribeiro Vargas (12S, 14M, 15M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
Maxime Coulombe (13S, 14S, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
Councillor Von Stahlbaum
Felixovich Morante (12S, 20S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
James Lyttle (13S, 14S, 15M, 17M, 21S, 23M, 30M)
Étienne Delorme (14M, 19S, 21M, 26M, 28M, 28S)
Madame Von Stahlbaum
Tetyana Martyanova (12S, 23M, 30M)
Tatiana Lerebours (13S, 17M, 20S, 22M, 27M)
Claudia Colonna (14M, 14S, 15M, 19S, 21M, 21S, 26M, 28M, 28S, 29M)
The Ladies
Calista Shepheard, Kiara Flavin, Tatiana Lerebours, Laura Vande Zande, Élodie Scholtes-Labrecque, Éliane Jacques, Laure Billeau, Catherine Toupin, Carrigan MacDonald, Anaïs Roy, Claudia Colonna, Maude Fleury, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Katrina Lungu
The Gentlemen
Elias Shanski, Oscar Lambert, Bernard Dubois II, Louis-Philippe Laurendeau, Sebastian Bravo, François Gagné, Théodore Poubeau, Bernardo Betancor, Thomas Leprohon, Léo Lussier, Nickolas Anderson, Daniel Leger, Arnaud Mongeon, Benjamin Poirier
Clara's Grandmother
Alexane Dépelteau Lacassagne (12S, 14M, 19S, 21M, 23M, 26M, 28M, 28S, 29M, 30M)
Laura Vande Zande (13S, 14S, 15M, 17M, 20S, 21S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Clara's Grandfather
Andrew Giday (12S, 13S, 14S, 15M, 17M, 20S, 21S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Sebastian Bravo (14M, 19S, 21M, 23M, 26M, 28M, 28S, 30M)
The Children
Gabriel Beaupré ou Benjamin Scurti, Alice Clement ou Marianne Fau, Roxane Daudet ou Jade Bui, Léo Desbois, Clara Esteves ou Vivien Baer, Lauriane Gallagher ou Clémence Aubry, Chloé Heininen ou Jasmine Bort, Diane Jaimes ou Lyne Guessous, Nathan Migault, Milan Rochon ou Emmerich Chenonceaux-Morin, Leonel Alexander Rodríguez Pérez ou Beren Wesley, Lou Stewart ou Maïa Mahutte, Lidia Weichenthal ou Laura Ruas Pereira, Si Quan (Nicolas) Zhang
The Maids
Tuesday Rain Leduc (12S, 19S, 21M, 23M, 26M, 28M, 28S, 30M)
Anaïs Roy (12S, 19S, 21M, 26M, 28M, 28S)
Rose Trahan (13S, 14S, 15M, 17M, 21S, 27M, 29M)
Anaelle Carette (14M, 20S, 22M)
Maude Fleury (13S, 17M, 20S, 22M, 23M, 30M)
Cassandre Leroux (14M, 14S, 15M, 21S, 27M, 29M)
Doctor Drosselmeyer
James Lyttle (12S, 20S, 22M, 28S)
Felixovich Morante (13S, 17M, 23M, 30M)
Antoine Benjamin Bertran (14M, 19S, 21M, 26M, 28M)
The Mechanical Columbine
Carrigan MacDonald (12S, 14S, 15M, 21S)
Kiara Flavin (13S, 17M, 26M)
Rose Trahan (14M, 20S, 22M, 23M, 30M)
Maude Fleury (19S, 21M, 27M, 28S, 29M)
The Mechanical Harlequin
Angel Vizcaíno (12M, 14S, 15M, 21S)
Bernard Dubois II (13S, 17M, 26M, 28M)
Théodore Poubeau (14M, 20S, 22M, 23M 30M)
Bernardo Betancor (19S, 21M, 27M, 28S, 29M)
The Mechanical Soldier
Bernardo Betancor (12S, 26M, 28M)
Antoine Poubeau (13S, 17M, 20S, 22M)
Oscar Lambert (14M, 19S, 21M, 28S)
Daniel Leger (14S, 15M, 21S, 27M, 29M)
The Nutcracker
Oscar Lambert (12S, 20S, 22M, 26M, 28M, 28S)
Théodore Poubeau (13S, 17M, 23M, 30M)
Benjamin Poirier (14M, 14S, 15M, 21S)
François Gagné (19S, 21M, 27M, 29M)
The King of the Rats
Benjamin Poirier (12S, 20S, 22M)
Thomas Leprohon (13S, 17M, 19S, 21M, 26M, 28S)
James Lyttle (14M, 23M, 30M)
Oscar Lambert (14S, 15M, 21S, 27M, 29M)
The Prince
François Gagné (12S, 23M, 30M)
Daniel Leger (13S, 17M, 26M)
Bernard Dubois II (14M, 19S, 21S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Théodore Poubeau (14S, 15M, 21M, 28S)
The Platoon of Toy Soldiers
Léo Lussier, Élias Roldan, Arnaud Mongeon, François Gagné, Nolan Fanhey, Sebastian Bravo, Daniel Leger, Benjamin Poirier, Nickolas Anderson, Louis-Philippe Laurendeau
The Regiment of Rats
Éloïse Déraspe, Sofia Chiosa Faguy, Adriano Kiev Diaz Alvarez, Amelia Domenchini, Bianca Gourdeau, Valentine Le Foll, Kyan Mari, Momoko Taira (12S, 14M, 15M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
Maia Antoniewicz, Sandra Catana, Rosie Maheu, Xenia Moca, Eva Nadjar, Auguste Thellen-Tremblay, Hannah Valente McMullin, Marie-Hélène Yang (13S, 14S, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
The Nurse
Anastasiia Prokhorenko (12S, 14M, 15M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
Fleur Szymanski (13S, 14S, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
The Wee Mice
Céleste Demers, Edmond Ethier, Gemma Giday, Romane Guillon, Clotilde Lasalle, Anna Rose Lizotte, Aaliyah Vargas-Mendez (12S, 14M, 15M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
Eve Bouchard Guillermo, Megan Cimon, Ariana Gonzalez Montenegro, Eva MacDuff Yacoub, Bella Ruas Pereira, Jeanie Shen, Meara Wang (13S, 14S, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
SECOND SCENE - THE LAND OF SNOW
The Snow Queen and Her Cavalier
Mai Kono and Raphaël Bouchard (12S)
Aurora De Mori and Étienne Delorme (13S, 17M, 23M, 30M)
Catherine Toupin and Marcel Gutiérrez (14M, 29M)
Anna Ishii and Raphaël Bouchard (14S, 15M)
Tetyana Martyanova and Felixovich Morante (19S, 21M)
Anya Nesvitaylo and Thomas Leprohon (20S, 21S, 22M)
Sofía González and Célestin Boutin (26M, 28M)
Yui Sugawara and Graeme Fuhrman (27M, 28S)
The Snowflakes
Tetyana Martyanova, Tatiana Lerebours, Carrigan MacDonald, Kiara DeNae Felder (12S, 23M, 30M)
Anaïs Roy, Maude Fleury, Rose Trahan, Catherine Toupin (13S, 17M)
Anaïs Roy, Tatiana Lerebours, Carrigan MacDonald, Kiara DeNae Felder (19S, 21M)
Calista Shepheard, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Sarah Branch, Sofía González (14M, 15M)
Calista Shepheard, Tatiana Lerebours, Sarah Branch, Kiara DeNae Felder (14S)
Calista Shepheard, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Kiara Flavin, Catherine Toupin (20S, 28M)
Calista Shepheard, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Kiara Flavin, Sofía González (21S, 22M)
Calista Shepheard, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Sarah Branch, Catherine Toupin (26M, 28M)
Anaïs Roy, Aurora De Mori, Rose Trahan, Catherine Toupin (27M, 28S)
Calista Shepheard, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Sarah Branch, Kiara DeNae Felder (29M)
With
Maeva Marcolini-Bowes, Éliane Jacques, Maude Fleury, Sofía González, Catherine Toupin, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Claudia Colonna, Calista Shepheard, Sarah Branch, Rose Trahan, Laura Vande Zande, Katrina Lungu, Tetyana Martyanova, Élodie Scholtes-Labrecque, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Alexane Dépelteau Lacassagne, Kiara Flavin, Carrigan MacDonald, Cassandre Leroux, Tatiana Lerebours, Laure Billeau, Anaelle Carette, Kiara DeNae Felder, Victoria Villegas Azuaje, Anaïs Roy, Héloïse Lévéillé, Ariane Pejot Charrost, Emma Perron, Janna Matoussova, Sarah Branch
The Reindeer
Mathilde Do Dang, Eva Grant Chaloux, Fleur Szymanski, Mina Wei, Charlotte Drouin, Cotone Kitano, Anastasiia Prokhorenko, Alicia Zhao
The Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier
Rachele Buriassi and Esnel Ramos (12S)
Anna Ishii and Raphaël Bouchard (13S, 20S, 22M)
Anya Nesvitaylo and Graeme Fuhrman (14M, 17M, 21M)
Maude Sabourin and Felixovich Morante (14S, 15M)
Aurora De Mori and Roddy Doble (19S, 21S)
Anaïs Roy and Antoine Benjamin Bertran (23M, 30M)
Mai Kono and Angel Vizcaíno (26M, 28M, 28S)
Sofía González and Célestin Boutin (27M, 29M)
The King of Sweets
Chantal Dauphinais (13S, 14S, 15M, 17M, 20S, 21S, 23M, 27M, 28S, 30M)
Andrew Giday (12S, 14M, 19S, 21M, 22M, 26M, 28M, 29M)
The Chefs
Anaelle Carette, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Laura Vande Zande (12S, 22M)
Katrina Lungu, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Laure Billeau (13S, 17M, 21S, 23M, 28S, 30M)
Héloïse Lévéillé, Victoria Villegas Azuaje, Janna Matoussova (14M, 15M, 21M, 26M, 29M)
Anaelle Carette, Victoria Villegas Azuaje, Janna Matoussova (14S, 28M)
Anaelle Carette, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Laure Billeau (19S)
Héloïse Lévéillé, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Laura Vande Zande (27M)
Cotton-Candy Angels
Sofia Chiosa Faguy, Helena de Morais Paris Marcondes, Éloïse Déraspe, Cassandra Deschamps, Amelia Domenchini, Elisabeth Gallagher, Cotone Kitano, Valentine Le Foll, Youran Meng, Anastasiia Prokhorenko, Momoko Taira
or
Danaée Anctil, Maia Antoniewicz, Daphné Bieuzen, Elisa Brinant, Sandra Catana, Mathilde Do Dang, Léonore Genois, Eva Grant Chaloux, Xenia Moca, Eva Nadjar, Heloísa Silveira Portella, Fleur Szymanski
Chocolate
Kiara Felder, Thomas Leprohon, Marcel Gutiérrez (12S)
Calista Shepheard, Benjamin Poirier, James Lyttle (13S, 17M)
Vanesa G.-R. Montoya, Bernardo Betancor, Daniel Leger (14M)
Sarah Branch, Thomas Leprohon, Antoine Benjamin Bertran (14S, 15M)
Kiara Felder, Thomas Leprohon, Antoine Benjamin Bertran (21M)
Kiara Felder, Thomas Leprohon, Daniel Leger (29M, 29M)
Vanesa G.-R. Montoya, Thomas Leprohon, Daniel Leger (19S, 21S)
Tatiana Lerebours, Bernardo Betancor, Oscar Lambert (20S, 22M, 27M, 28S)
Kiara Felder, Thomas Leprohon, Antoine Benjamin Bertran (21M)
Carrigan MacDonald, Théodore Poubeau, Bernard Dubois II (23M, 30M)
Vanesa G.-R. Montoya, Benjamin Poirier, James Lyttle (26M, 28M)
Coffee
Yui Sugawara (12S, 26M)
Vanesa G.-R. Montoya (13S, 14S, 15M, 21M)
Tetyana Martyanova (14M, 17M, 20S, 22M, 28M)
Calista Shepheard (23M, 30M)
Anya Nesvitaylo (27M, 28S)
With
Chloé Deslandes, Berna Nida Gokkaya, Meghan Lehmann, Clémence Madore, Valentina Báez Ortega, Chloë Stirrup, Florence Tarlton
or
Sophia Almeida Ribeiro, Émilie Delisle, Marie-Chantale Gauthier, Zoé Harvey, Natalia Mandri Lugo, Tayler Parkinson-Massey, Leilani Shanski
Tea
Rose Trahan, Étienne Delorme, James Lyttle (12S)
Catherine Toupin, Thomas Leprohon, Oscar Lambert (13S, 17M)
Kiara Flavin, Étienne Delorme, Théodore Poubeau (14M)
Kiara Flavin, Daniel Leger, Bernardo Betancor (14S, 15M, 21M)
Carrigan MacDonald, Benjamin Poirier, James Lyttle (19S, 21S, 29M)
Kiara Flavin, Antoine Benjamin Bertran, James Lyttle (20S, 22M, 27M)
Sarah Branch, Thomas Leprohon, Bernardo Betancor (23M, 30M)
Catherine Toupin, Antoine Benjamin Bertran, Oscar Lambert (26M, 28M)
Rose Trahan, Benjamin Poirier, James Lyttle (28S)
Trepak
Angel Vizcaíno (12S, 20S, 22M)
Felixovich Morante (13S, 17M, 23M, 30M)
François Gagné (14M, 19S, 21S, 27M, 29M)
Étienne Delorme (14S, 15M, 21M, 26M, 28M)
Bernard Dubois II (28S)
The Matryochka Dolls
Sarah Bernard, Ana Louisa Collazo Kelly (12S, 14S, 19S, 21S, 26M, 28S)
Maëlys Dauplet Lalaus, Femka Murphy Vormer (13S, 15M, 20S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Alicia Grégoire, Valéria Matte-Milosserdov (14M, 17M, 21M, 23M, 28M, 30M)
The Dewdrops
Aurora De Mori (12S, 27M, 29M)
Tetyana Nesvitaylo (12S, 27M, 29M)
Calista Shepheard (12S, 27M, 29M)
Sarah Branch (13S, 20S, 22M, 28M)
Tatiana Lerebours (13S, 14M, 15M)
Anaïs Roy (13S, 14M, 19S, 21S)
Sofía González (14M, 17M, 19S, 21M, 21S)
Kiara DeNae Felder (14S, 15M, 23M, 28S, 30M)
Tuesday Rain Leduc (14S, 21M)
Maude Fleury (14S, 15M, 21M)
Éliane Jacques (19S)
Carrigan MacDonald (20S, 22M)
Rose Trahan (20S, 26M, 28M)
Kiara Flavin (17M, 23M, 28S, 30M)
Catherine Toupin (23M, 28S, 30M)
The Marzipan Shepherd
Antoine Benjamin Bertran (12S)
Théodore Poubeau (13S, 17M, 19S, 21S)
Angel Vizcaíno (14M, 27M, 29M)
Bernard Dubois II (14S, 15M, 21M)
Daniel Leger (20S, 22M, 23M, 28S, 30M)
François Gagné (26M, 28M)
The Black Sheep
Rosemarie Brousseau (12S, 14S, 19S, 21S, 26M, 28S)
Alice Fortin (13S, 15M, 20S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Nahla Desrosiers-Ouassif (14M, 17M, 21M, 23M, 28M, 30M)
The White Sheep
Alice Clement, Clara Esteves, Lou Stewart (12S, 14S, 19S, 21S, 26M, 28S)
Jasmine Bort, Marine Claveau, Jeanne Vigneau (13S, 15M, 20S, 22M, 27M, 29M)
Vivien Baer, Marianne Fau, Maïa Mahutte (14M, 17M, 21M, 23M, 28M, 30M)
The Waltz of the Flowers
Vanesa G.-R. Montoya and Étienne Delorme (12S, 21M, 27M, 28S, 29M)
Maude Sabourin and Graeme Fuhrman (13S, 20S, 22M, 23M)
Sarah and Antoine (14M, 17M, 19S, 21S)
Yui Sugawara and Marcel Guttiérez (14S, 15M, 28M, 30M)
Kiara DeNae Felder and Raphaël Bouchard (26M)
With
Tatiana Lerebours, Élodie Scholtes-Labrecque, Éliane Jacques, Maude Fleury, Anaelle Carette, Sofía González, Cassandre Leroux, Sarah Branch, Kiara Flavin, Katrina Lungu, Carrigan MacDonald, Catherine Toupin, Benjamin Poirier, Théodore Poubeau, Sebastian Bravo, Oscar Lambert, Léo Lussier, Ariane Pejot Charrost, Tetyana Martyanova, Claudia Garcia, Claudia Colonna, Rose Trahan, Tuesday Rain Leduc, Aurora De Mori, Ana Sofia Natera Marquez, Alexane Dépelteau Lacassagne, Laura Vande Zande, Laure Billeau, Élias Roldan, Nickolas Anderson, François Gagné, Bernardo Betancor, Calista Shepheard, Élodie Scholtes-Labrecque, Maude Fleury, Janna Matoussova, Victoria Villegas Azuaje, Emma Perron, Héloïse Lévéillé, Louis-Philippe Laurendeau, Nolan Fanhey, Maeva Marcolini-Bowes, Arnaud Mongeon
ABOUT THE SHOW
Duration:
Act I: 54 minutes
Intermission: 20 minutes
Act II: 46 minutes
Conductors: Dina Gilbert and Dmitri Zrajevski
With the permission of Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault
LES GRANDS BALLETS
Children's Rehearsal Master: André Laprise, fiduciary of the Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault
Rehearsal Coordinator: Justine Brousseau
Costume Workshop
Head of Wardrobe: Mélanie Ferrero
Assistant Head of Wardrobe: Louisanne Lamarre
Wardrobe Clerk: Christelle Deforceville
Buyer: Julie Pelletier
Project Manager - Wardrobe: Marie-Hélène Gravel
Wardrobe Assistant: Joel Boudreault
Assistant to Head of Makeup: Janie Drouin and Véronique St-Germain
Shoe Assistant: Ange Bledja Kouassi
Main Cutters: Keli Alexandre (on maternity leave) and Jessica Meghan Marcotte, substitute
First Assistant Cutter: Jessica Meghan Marcotte, Anne-Marie Rostaing, substitute
Cutter: Pamela Masseport
Wardrobe Assistant: Eve Plamondon
Cutter: Sebastian Bravo
Seamsters: Ariane Forest, Camille Beauchesne-Lefebvre, Marie-Eve Journeault, Camille Lefresne, Renée Gagné, Philippe Gaona, Olena Schkoda, Agathe Baudry, Eve Boisvert, Cecilia Meza, Isabelle St-Gelais, Hélène Falardeau, Mari-Philippe Comeau, Yeelen Stanislas, Emma Demesure, Morgane Richard, Sahra Maira, Emilie Martineau
