Artistic Directors
Jamie A. Johnson and Christa St. John
Lighting Designer
Peter Leonard
Stage Manager
Aja Vogelman
The performance you are about to see involves collaborators from UVU’s Department of Dance, Department of Art & Design, and Department of Theatre along with substantial contributions from community members, CVWmedia (an Oklahoma-based media company), composer Dr. Brian St. John, and the Western Kentucky University Symphony based in Bowling Green, KY. This interdisciplinary, cross-departmental, cross-university narrative ballet is the first of its kind for the School of the Arts.
We, RBE Artistic Directors, Jamie A. Johnson and Christa St. John, saw the need for a large-scale, collaborative project to build community. Working as a choreographic team, we sought to expose students to diverse artists and community members, foster cross-disciplinary relationships, and enhance students’ professional skills. Through community engagement and the project's interdisciplinary nature, we are working to strengthen bonds within the university and community.
Art does not exist in a vacuum. It is a product of its current place and time. We were influenced by the events happening in Ukraine which informed the artistic direction of Hansel & Gretel. Close observers will notice subtle nods to Ukraine in the costuming and movement of the characters of Hansel and Gretel as well as references to Russia within the costuming and movement of the Witch. Co-Artistic Director Jamie A. Johnson drew from her experience performing with a Ukrainian dance ensemble when developing movement in collaboration with Co-Artistic Director Christa St. John. The costuming and scenic influences were researched by Art & Design Assistant Professor Amber Tutwiler, supported by costume design student, Madison Halverstadt, and furthered by fellow costume stitcher, Veronica Clark, a native of Ukraine.
Many thanks to the School of the Arts for their support in this endeavor and to the numerous collaborators whose contributions to the production helped create an inimitable final product. Enjoy the show!
-Jamie A. Johnson and Christa St. John
ACT I
(Act I will not be performed at the 45-Minute, Family Matinee on Feb 18)
DIVERTIMENTO
Choreographer: Christa St. John
Composer: Brian St. John
Musicians: Brian St. John & Josh Propst
Projection Design: CVWmedia
Dancers: Tiffany Asay, Keagan Bartlett, Brante Copling/Laurie Wilson, Samantha Marx, Olivia Perry, Bailey Phillips, Hannah Roberts, Andy Sefcik, Madelyn Smith, Kenady Vereen, Maren Wood, Danielle Zarate
Lead with Grace*
Choreographer: Corinne Wallentine
Music: Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi the Four Seasons: Spring I
Dancers: Ella Brucker, Ana Halliday, Abby Lindley, Ashlyn Nettesheim, Alice Porter, Riley Weber, Emerie Willardson
*Courtesy of The Dance Conservatory
Intermission
10 minutes
Act II
Hansel & Gretel
Artistic Direction and Choreography: Jamie A. Johnson & Christa St. John
Composer: Brian St. John
Conductor: Brian St. John
Orchestra: Western Kentucky University Symphony
Recording Engineer: Brian St. John
Costume, Prop, and Scenic Design: Amber Tutwiler
Assistant Costume Design: Madison Halverstadt
Technical Direction: Nat Reed
Prop and Scenic Fabrication: Jason Lanegan
Projection Design Coordinator: Olivia Dailey
Projection Design: CVWmedia
Pre-Collegiate Dance Coordinator: Corrine Wallentine
Pre-Collegiate Dance Assistant Coordinator: Olivia Perry
Ballet synopsis adapted by Jamie A. Johnson, Brian St. John, and Christa St. John from Hansel & Gretel by the Brothers Grimm
Scene
Scene 1: The Last Bit of Bread
A poor woodcutter lives at the edge of a large forest. He does not have a bite to eat and can barely provide food for his wife and two children, Hansel and Gretel. One day Father arrives home to find his children hungry and chooses to give them his only loaf of bread. Mother returns home and realizes Father gave the children the last bite to eat. She is enraged because she thinks they will starve to death. Mother decides they can no longer feed Hansel and Gretel and convinces Father that they must take the children to the forest and leave them there. The children overhear Mother telling Father her solution, but Hansel hatches a plan of his own. He will leave a trail of breadcrumbs to lead him and his sister back home.
Scene 2: Lost in the Forest
The family heads out into the woods. Along the way, Hansel drops a trail of breadcrumbs. When the family arrives deep in the forest, Mother tells the children they must gather wood for a fire. Hansel and Gretel know it is a ruse but must obey.While Hansel and Gretel are off searching for wood, the parents sneak away, and birds devour the breadcrumb trail. The children’s path home has disappeared. As day turns to night, Hansel and Gretel fall asleep by a fire. Their only company is the twinkling of fireflies.
Scene 3: The Witch and Her Sweets
The next morning, the birds return, hoping for another snack. Hansel and Gretel ask one of the birds, a beautiful dove, for help finding their way home. The Dove remembers seeing a house and points them in that direction. After days of walking, Hansel and Gretel stumble upon a house made of candy. Despite an ominous feeling, they are too hungry to resist nibbling on the treats. The Witch appears and invites them to enjoy the dancing of her sweets - cotton candy, peppermints, and gumdrops.
Little did Hansel and Gretel know the Witch is not as she appears. She is on the lookout for children to eat and built the candy house to lure them to her. The Witch calls for her candy minions to capture Hansel and Gretel so she can cook them in her oven. The Witch makes Gretel fetch another log to heat the oven. In the tussle of adding the log to the fire, Gretel seizes the opportunity to push the Witch into the oven. In a poof of smoke, the spell breaks, and the candies dissolve.
Scene 4: The Return Home
With the Witch gone, Hansel and Gretel decide to find their way home. As they wander through the forest, they encounter the Dove and ask for help. This time the Dove points them in the right direction and Hansel and Gretel find their way back to Father.
Scene 5: Happily Ever After?
As Father, Hansel, and Gretel make their way home, the children tell Father about their adventures. The three of them are overjoyed to be reunited. Mysteriously, Mother has disappeared.
Feb. 16 & Feb. 18 evening/Feb. 17 & Feb 18 matinee
In order of appearance.
Hansel: Tiffany Asay/Keagan Bartlett
Gretel: Danielle Zarate/Madelyn Smith
Father: Bailey Phillips/Andy Sefcik
Mother: Hannah Roberts/Olivia Perry
Dove: Maren Wood/Brante Copling
Birds: Keagan Bartlett/Daisy Jeffers, Abigail Brucker, Laurie Wilson/Maren Wood, Brooklyn Johansen, Samantha Marx, Andy Sefcik/Faith Hortin
Fireflies*: Ella Brucker, Ana Halliday, Abby Lindley, Ashlyn Nettesheim, Alice Porter, Riley Weber, Emerie Willardson
Witch: Hannah Roberts/Olivia Perry
Peppermints: Brante Copling/Bailey Phillips, Madison Foulger, Kenady Vereen, Laurie Wilson
Cotton Candy: Faith Hortin/Maren Wood, Daisy Jeffers/Danielle Zarate, Samantha Marx, Olivia Perry/Hannah Roberts, Madelyn Smith/Tiffany Asay
Gumdrops*: Elly Anderson, Mataya Averett, Emma Burg, Jordan Burns, Amber Finch, Sage Sallenback, Avery Sherratt, Alyssa Smith, Mari Thomas
*Courtesy of The Dance Conservatory
Painting Sculpture
Emily Barber Nic Corry
Melissa Carhuatanta Mariah Hanson
Haley Corbin
Emma Crump
Emilee Hanson
Sophie Hutchison
Isabelle Hyland
Mary Jones
Jessica Moody
Sabrina Nilson
Rachel Pearson
Emma Perry
Michelle Quintero
Lisa Scow
Emmalee Scroggins
Guadalupe (Sol) Uribe
Dr. Brian St. John, Music Director
Abby Propst, Aaron Price, Assistant Conductors
Hansel and Gretel Ballet Orchestra Roster
|
Violin I Srirangan Iyer, Concertmaster
Violin II Aleka Chau, Principal
Viola Chase Winemiller, Principal
Cello Amelia Allen, Co-Principal
Double Bass Alex Miller, Principal
Flutes Juniper Parker, Co-Principal |
Oboes Emily Boyle, Principal Clarinets Noelle Fleek, Principal
Bass Clarinet Hayden Johnson
Bassoons Angus Moore, Co-Principal
Horns Hannah Monteneri, Principal
Trumpets Jillian McLellan, Co-Principal
Trombones Jackson Parker, Principal
Tuba Blake Smith
Timpani & Percussion Gabe Willoughby
Harp Phyllis Sparks |
JAMIE. A. JOHNSON
Jamie A. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Dance at UVU. After earning a BFA in Ballet and a BA
in English, Johnson danced professionally with numerous companies throughout the United
States. Career highlights include performing as a principal dancer with Boulder Ballet
and touring internationally with MOMIX. An in-demand teacher and choreographer, Ms.
Johnson’s work has been presented by Interlochen Center for the Arts, St. Paul Ballet,
Utah Metropolitan Ballet, and West Texas A & M University. She holds an MFA in Dance
from the University of Washington with additional certifications in Autism Movement
Therapy and Yoga.
JASON LANEGAN
Jason Lanegan was born and raised in Washington State and was involved in drawing and other creative
outlets from his earliest memories. With eyes set upon being a high school art teacher,
Jason first attended BYU-Idaho where he obtained an associate degree in the visual
arts. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in sculpture from Northern Arizona
University and then a bachelor’s in art education from Eastern Washington University.
Jason went on to acquire a graduate degree in sculpture with minor in art history
from BYU. Upon completing his education, he used his experience in various capacities.
After twelve years of directing the student galleries at the Harris Fine Arts Center
at BYU, Jason recently accepted the position at Utah Valley University as Assistant
Professor of Sculpture.
Nat Reed
Nat Reed is a technical director and designer. He has designed sets and puppets for UVU, BYU,
Utah Metropolitan Ballet, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Murphy Door, SCERA Center for
the Arts, A Noise Within Theatre, Hale Center Theater Orem, Hale Center Theatre Sandy,
Tuacahn, and others. He has made toys at Mattel, built props for Jim Henson’s Creature
Shop, made Mister Freeze suits at TFX for the Batman and Robin feature film, and has
taught puppetry and stagecraft for 14 years. Nat also designs and builds treehouses,
playhouses, she sheds, little libraries, greenhouses, and other backyard structures
using mostly reclaimed materials. His work can be found on Instagram, @nat.the.maker.
Brian St. John
Christa St. John
Christa St. John is an Assistant Professor of Dance and Co-Artistic Director of Repertory Ballet Ensemble
at UVU. St. John spent her professional performance career dancing with Ballet Austin,
Louisville Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Atlantic City Ballet, and Northwest
Florida Ballet. Throughout her career, she had the opportunity to work with renowned
national and international artists and perform diverse contemporary and classical
repertoire. St. John is a prolific choreographer and has premiered numerous works
for professional and university dancers and frequently collaborates with professional
and university orchestras as well as university theatre, opera, and visual arts programs.
She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma.
Amber Tutwiler
Amber Tutwiler is an artist from South Florida whose hybrid practice expands on figurative oil painting
to describe our relationship to digital spaces. She attended Massachusetts College
of Art and Design for Painting, received her BA in Psychology from Florida Atlantic
University, and received her MFA in Visual Art from Florida Atlantic University (2017).
Amber has a background in dance and has collaborated frequently with Ballet Florida.
She is currently an Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University teaching across
Foundations, Painting, and Drawing.
Our mission is to produce and present artistic excellence, which would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We thank them and express our deep gratitude to all patrons, supporters, and friends of The Noorda.
The arts possess the unparalleled power to inspire, educate, liberate, and transform. They elevate moments, mark milestones, soften edges, and generate profound meaning. Experience the beauty and wonder of the arts with us this season at The Noorda and begin at once to live!
Courtney R. Davis, J.D., M.A.
Dean, School of the Arts
Utah Valley University acknowledges that we gather on land sacred to all Indigenous people who came before us in this vast crossroads region. The University is committed to working in partnership—as enacted through education and community activities—with Utah’s Native Nations comprising: the San Juan Southern Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Uintah & Ouray Reservation of the Northern Ute, Skull Valley Goshute, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute-White Mesa Community, and urban Indian communities. We recognize these Native Nations and their continued connections with traditional homelands, mountains, rivers, and lakes as well as their sovereign relationships with state and federal governments. We honor their collective memory and continued physical and spiritual presence. We revere their resilience and example in preserving their connections to the Creator and to all their relations, now and in the future.
With this statement comes responsibility and accountability. We resolve to follow
up with actionable items to make the School of the Arts at UVU and The Noorda Center
for the Performing Arts an inclusive, equitable, and just space for all. There is
much work to be done, and we are committed to putting these words into practice.
Artwork by Shane Walking Eagle (Sisseton Dakota).
Chair, Associate Professor
Jamie Johnson
Administrative Assistant
LAURAL HILL
Associate Chair
Sarah Donohue
Modern/Contemporary
Dr. Lyndsey Vader
Ballet
Nichole Ortega
Ballroom
Chris Witt
Dance Ed
Amy Markgraf
