11/15/10 Members of the Marshall County Church Orchestra are in the final week of rehearsals for their annual November concert and dessert. This year they are joined by LifePLex Dance Academy students who will provide the dance as the orchestra provides the music of “The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The program will begin each evening at 7:00 p.m. at Chirsto’s Banquet Center with dessert followed by the concert.
The production involves pre-schoolers through senior adults. The orchestra is under the direction of Don Harness of Plymouth while Marcia Heintzberger of Bremen is the choreographer.
The three main characters in “The Nutcracker” are portrayed by area young people. Portraying Clara Silberhaus is Emily Gadziola the daughter of Bruce and Delia Gadziola. Emily is eighth grader at St. Michaels School. She has studied dance for five years and is enjoying her first “big” part in a performance.
Plymouth High School graduate, Michael Roach brings the toy nutcracker to life during the performance. Michael is the twenty year old son of Robert and Barbara Roach. He is a student at Ancilla College and aspires to be a professional dancer. His favorite dance style is hip-hop but he has enjoyed learning some more traditional dance steps while rehearsing for “The Nutcracker”. This spring he plans to try out for the popular dance so “So You Think You can Dance”.
Kristen Gergely is a freshman at Plymouth High School. She is the daughter of Michael and Kathryn Gergely. At fifteen, Kristen has been studying dance since grade school. She enjoys dance and has been in many dance recitals but this is her first major role. She brings elegance and beauty to her role of the sugar plum fairy.
Other dancers in the performance include: Mewsette Cartwright, Michale Cartwright, Maire Fischer, Cleon Wagoner, Tina Wagoner, Kylee Bradley, Haley Buchanan, Sadie Buchanan, Joey Cartwright, Haylie Cox, Trynitie Cox, Elani Kurtis, Takis Kurtis, Tristan Pearson, Calli Peregrine, Olivia Urban, Elean Wagoner, and Samantha Zechiel.
Musicians include: Saxophone: Annette Ray, Marie Fishburn; Trombone: Brian Gilbert; Percussion Sue Myer; Drums: Brad Beatty; Clarinets: Becky Rowe, Glenda Mechling-Smith, Anne Stoub, Nancy Smiley; Flutes: Judy Harness, Sharon Phillips, Pam Rosebush, Sarah Kauffman; Keyboard, Cindy Taber; Trumpets: Cindy Flagg, Jim Mechling, Elaine Vandall, Mark Reese, John Fishburn; and Strings: Gabriele Hill, Ginger Kizer, Valerie Schafer, Norma Hite, Mike Ray, Katie Culp,Addie Palmer, Karly Gruett, Sarah Tanner, Rebecca Ittel, Gabby Ruiz, Katie Hickman, Leah Smith and Hayden Bardwell.
Seating for the performance is limited on both evenings. Anyone interested in attending the production of “The Nutcracker” should call Don Harness at 574-936-7357.
PHOTO: Leads in the Marshall County Church Orchestra/Lifeplex Dance Academy production of “The Nutcracker” are left-right Kristen Gergely as The Sugar Plum Fairy; Michael Roach as The Nutcracker; and Emily Gadziola as Clara Silberhaus.
