Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania
Nittany Ballet’s
The Nutcracker
7 p.m. Saturday, December 13, 2025
4 p.m. Sunday, December 14, 2025
Eisenhower Auditorium
The program runs approximately 2 hours, with a 20-minute intermission.
Presenting sponsor
Sullivan’s Mini Storage
Corporate sponsors
814 Cider Works
ABC Children’s Center
Beck Psychotherapy, LLC
Daniel Vaughn Designs
Growing Tree Toys
Healthy Valley Chiropractic
KB Printing
Kish Bank
Park Home Furniture
Red Oak Foundation
RT Plus
Scholar Hotel
State College Orthodontics
Torron Group
Individual sponsors
Alicia Lombardo
Jerolynn Mcburney-Rogers
Cheryl Pazcoguin
Francia Russell and Kent Stowell
The Program
Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania
Nittany Ballet’s
The Nutcracker
Artistic director
Paul Gibson
Music
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Lighting design
William Kenyon
Costume supervisor
Nina Volshanskaya
Production manager
Marty Tinik
Stage manager
Kasey Ackerman
Choreography
The Faculty of Nittany Ballet
ACT I
The curtain opens as final preparations for the Stahlbaum’s annual Christmas Eve Party are underway. Clara Stahlbaum and her brother, Fritz, impatient for the party to start, take turns peeking at the beautifully decorated parlor of their Victorian home. The guests arrive, the tree is lit, and Clara, Fritz, and their friends are finally allowed to join the festivities. One of the party guests, Drosselmeyer, is a clever toy maker who has brought fabulous gifts to entertain the children.
Drosselmeyer gives Clara the most special present of all, a stately nutcracker. Clara is immediately enchanted by the nutcracker, but Fritz becomes jealous, and he breaks the precious toy. Drosselmeyer gently wraps the nutcracker with his handkerchief and assures Clara that her nutcracker will be fine. After the final dance of the night, the guests depart for the evening, and Clara and Fritz are sent to bed.
When the house has fallen silent, however, Clara sneaks back to the parlor to check on her nutcracker. She accidentally falls asleep in front of the tree, and the night around her grows ever more mysterious and magical. Mischievous mice emerge from hiding, and Drosselmeyer’s lifelike dolls return. A battle breaks out between the mice and an army of toy soldiers, and the Nutcracker comes to life to join the fray. With a little magical help, the Nutcracker defeats the evil Mouse King and transforms into a prince. He leads Clara through a winter wonderland of snow and sends her on a journey to the Nutcracker Kingdom.
ACT II
The Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier arrive from the Land of the Sweets to welcome Clara to the Nutcracker’s Kingdom. They introduce Clara to the dancers from the Land of Sweets, each group representing delights from around the world. The crowd is rapt as Clara tells the story of the Nutcracker’s battle with the evil Mouse King. When they learn of the Nutcracker’s victory, the performers celebrate with an evening of dance. Clara is swept away by the music and enchantment of the night. She awakens with the wonderful sensation of a lingering magical dream.
Guest Artists
YUKI TAKAHASH (Sugarplum Fairy) is from Tokyo. She studied at Ballet Academy of Texas, Mejia Ballet International, Ballet Academy East, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She attended summer courses at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Ballet Academy East, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Takahashi joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2019 and was promoted to corps de ballet later that year; she was promoted to soloist in 2025.
In addition to her Pacific Northwest Ballet repertory, Takahashi performed leading roles in Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations at Ballet Ensemble of Texas; Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, Alan Hineline’s Sans Nuages, and Roger Van Fleteren’s Coppélia at Ballet Academy East; Francis Patrelle’s The Yorkville Nutcracker with Dances Patrelle; and Paul Mejia’s Brahms Waltzes and The Nutcracker at Mejia Ballet International. Takahashi was a 2014 recipient of the Kittie La Pointe Memorial Scholarship provided by the Dance Council of North Texas.
MARK CUDDIHEE (Cavalier) is from Greenville, South Carolina. He studied at Carolina Ballet Theatre, the School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet School, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Cuddihee joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2019 and was promoted to soloist in 2025.
ALEX IOZZIO (Mouse King) is a performer from Maplewood, New Jersey. Regional credits at Music Theatre Wichita include Gypsy, dir. Richard Sabellico (L.A.); 9 to 5 (Ensemble); Frozen, dir. Brian Marcum (Ensemble); Matilda (Rudolpho); Beautiful, dir. Deidre Goodwin (Neil Sedaka/Ensemble); Crazy for You, dir. Angelique Ilo (Pete/Ensemble); Newsies, dir. Chaz Wolcott (Specs); and Something Rotten! dir. Eric Sciotto (Ensemble/US Shakespeare). At Penn State, Iozzio has performed in shows such as Falsettos (Whizzer); How to Succeed, dir. Chris Campbell (Ensemble/DC); Crazy for You, dir. Christine O’Grady (Eugene/DC); and Into the Woods (Jack). Endless love and thanks to their family and friends and to the creative team for this opportunity! alexiozzio.com @alexiozzio
ZACH DORAN (Nutcracker) is so excited to be back with Nittany Ballet! Regionally: The Music Man(Ensemble) and Anything Goes (Ensemble)–Pittsburgh CLO; Newsies (Race), Crazy for You (Billy/Ensemble), and Something Rotten (Ensemble)–MTWichita; and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Berowne) and Urinetown (Old Man Strong/Dance Captain)–Penn State Centre Stage. BFA Penn State ’26. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and girlfriend Ellen! Go Lions! @zacharydoran_