Page 18 - The NOISE December 2015

ACTING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet takes
to the Coconino High School Main Auditorium
Stage this December. CLAIR ANNA ROSE
STORY BY
A FLAGSTAFF TRADITION
The story of The Nutcracker will be brought to life in Canyon Movement Company’s 12th Annual Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet this December. This year’s cast of over 70 dancers illustrate the dream Clara has when she falls asleep after her new gift from her Godfather, a beautifully carved nutcracker, is broken by her brother Fritz. As she dreams, dancers from all over the world perform for her.
What makes this performance of The Nutcracker so special are the dance groups that work together to bring authentic dance traditions to the stage. Canyon Movement Company partners with Al Rakasaat, Velocity Dance Company and Flagstaff Aerial Arts.
New costumes, new routines and contemporary music, as well as the traditional compositions by Tchaikovsky, make this year’s performance an entirely new show.
“This year, as we do every year, we try to mix things up a bit,” producer Gina Darlington tells me. “We have some new music for our boys’ party dance where they are teasing the girls and showing off. We also have a new choreographer, Eric Walden, for that scene. We have new dancers join us every year, and the continuing dancers are assigned new roles so the dancing and performing is fresh and exciting for them. Our “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and “Waltz of the Flowers” have large numbers of dancers in them, more than ever before. We have a large stage and want to fill it for those beautiful production numbers. We have some surprises for our life-size dolls as well.”
The new collaboration with Flagstaff Aerial Arts changes the street performance scene. “It is a scene reminiscent of street performers in Paris,” says Ms. Darlington. “We feel like it adds an exciting element to a traditional show. We have been working jointly with Joanie (Garcia) from FAA for the past two years in various ways, and this is just another way for us to work collaboratively with other organizations in our community.”
Cori Wall will be directing the show for the second year. “She was my assistant director for several years and has taken over the reigns as I move on to other projects,” Ms. Darlington tells me of the director. “I, and Canyon Movement Company
continue to produce the show, advise, and help where needed, but Cori’s fresh perspective and youthful enthusiasm keeps things exciting. As we continue this Flagstaff tradition, now in its 12th year, more and more community members want to participate in it, and we do our best to accommodate them.”
The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet goes beyond including the rising numbers of dancers in the community who want to be involved, in addition Canyon Movement Company and the cast have a community outreach program. They will be doing an invitation-only dress rehearsal for disadvantaged youth and adults, and will bring The Nutcracker to the schools. “The school outreach program includes performing three lecture/demonstrations for various schools in Flagstaff as well as a full performance for the Thunderbird Boarding School in Tuba City,” explains Ms. Darlington. “This year, participating schools include Mountain School and Coconino High School, as well as a performance for seniors at
the Peaks Senior Living Community. In past years, we have included almost all schools in the Flagstaff area. The lecture/ demonstration program is funded by grants and donors.”
The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet — A 21st Century Interpretation of the Holiday Classic can be seen on Friday, December 11 at 7:30PM and Saturday, December 12 at 11AM and 7:30PM. This year’s performance will be held at the Coconino High School Main Auditorium. The generosity of private donors, the City of Flagstaff, Flagstaff Arts Council, the Arizona Commission for the Arts, and the Arizona Community Foundation help to fund this event, which is the longest running performance of The Nutcracker in Flagstaff history. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/2420250. 928/774-3937, canyonmovementcompany.org
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Behind the Peregrine Book Store on Cortez Street in Prescott is a 50-seat black box theater dedicated to bringing lesser-known, edgy and original plays to the local theater scene. Stage Too first opened in 2012 thanks to the generosity of Judith Hardes. Frank Malle, director of Stage Too’s latest production Sylvia says, “It’s a very intimate space where cast sizes are smaller and sets are kept to an absolute minimum. I like to refer to it as ‘theatre in your lap.’”
Mr. Malle first became involved with the Prescott Arts Center when he moved to Prescott from Ojai, California in May 2013. Immediately after arriving, he became absorbed in PCA’s theater community and was cast in Burt Bacarach’s musical Promises, Promises. “Shortly after that, I joined the Production Committee, the Artistic Development and Play Selection Committee, and the Marketing Committee,” he tells me. “I submitted a play by an actress/playwright friend from California that I directed, which had a very successful run at Stage Too. It was then selected to enter the AACT Festival (American Association of Theatres) at Theatrikos in Flagstaff. Now I am also overseeing PCA’s Director Mentorship Program.”
Now Mr. Malle is readying the cast for their December run of Sylvia, by A.R. Gurney. “Sylvia is the name of a stray dog brought home one day by a disillusioned businessman who finds her in a New York City park,” Mr. Malle describes.
“When he brings her home, she immediately becomes a bone of contention between he and his wife, who wants no part of her. The play examines all the little details in a canine/ human relationship and expands them to the highest levels of absurdity in an almost scandalous comic romp.”
While still living in Ojai, California Mr. Malle produced Sylvia. He thought it would be a suitable play for the audiences at Stage Too and submitted the play to the Play Reading Committee.
The cast for Sylvia is made up of both new and seasoned actors. “I’m thrilled with my cast of Daria Chelebeck as Sylvia, Nathan Wiggins as the husband Greg, Layla Tenney as the wife Kate and Alastair Macdonald playing the triple roles of a NYC socialite, a Robert De Niro-like dog owner, and an androgynous psychiatrist,” Mr. Malle says of his cast.
“I’ve been very impressed with everyone’s commitment and dedication to their craft. A director is always hoping to work with actors who are hard workers, have great natural instincts and take direction well. Such is the case with all four actors.”
Sylvia opens December 3 and will be preformed Thursday- Saturday at 7:30PM and Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM through December 20 at Stage Too, down the alley behind Peregrine Bookstore, 219 N. Cortez. More detailed directions of how to find the tucked away theater are on the PCA website. Pfaa. net/stage-too.html
ONE ACT WONDERS
Northern Arizona University’s Theatre Department
will be showing 13 one-act plays over a four-day period this month in their One Act Festival. 35 students have been cast in 55 roles in plays that showcase their acting and directing skills. Plays by Neil LaBute, David Ives and Steve Martin will be performed during the festival, as well as the debut of two original one-act plays written by NAU students.
The One Act Festival is free and open to the public and will take place December 2-5 at 7PM. There is free parking in lot P13 after 4:30PM and on weekends. Nau.edu
THEATRIKOS’ WINTER WONDERLAND
Theatrikos presents a fresh interpretation of Charles Dickens,’ A Christmas Carol, by Michael Paller, and directed by Scott Ballou this December.
The story takes place on Christmas Eve, when Mr. Dickens is surrounded by family and friends who ask him to tell them a story. He refuses to work on Christmas Eve, and insists if a story is to be told, everyone must take part in the telling. Over 40 parts are played by the cast of ten who brings the story to life.
Adding to the magic of the holiday play, Theatrikos is creating a Winter Wonderland in their lobby beginning two hours before each show at 5:30PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12PM on Sundays. Hot cocoa, cider and treats will be available. There is even the opportunity to have your photograph taken with Santa. The photography of Tom Alexander will be on display, and on select days Charly Spining will play the piano. This fun pre-show event is free to all, although any donations are appreciated.
A Christmas Carol will be preformed through December 20, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 2PM at the Doris Harper-White Community Playhouse, 11 W. Cherry Ave. 928/774-1662
Also this month at the Doris Harper-White Community Playhouse is a staged reading of Joseph Sebastian’s Identity Gift, directed by Darby Sue Winterhalter Lofstrand, on Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30PM. This event is free and open to the public. theatrikos.com
| Clair Anna Rose likes to go walking in a winter wonderland. arts@thenoise.us
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