The Great Gatsby, Kansas City Ballet 2025-2026 Season

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

The 2025-2026 season is sponsored in part by:

KANSAS

KANSAS

KANSAS

Hello there, old sport!

It’s my great joy to welcome you to our production of Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby! We’re proud to perform this during the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel The Great Gatsby. The timing of this milestone makes the performance ahead more exciting — a chance to step into the Roaring ‘20s through a ballet that is scenically rich, deeply theatrical, and unlike anything we’ve staged before.

This is a challenging and rewarding work. With four lead male roles and three lead female roles, our artists have extraordinary opportunities to grow into the kind of three-dimensional characterizations that bring Fitzgerald’s iconic figures — Nick, Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan — vividly to life.

What makes this production truly unique is everything that exists beyond our “normal” ballet parameters. You’ll hear (and see) jazz vocalist Eboni Fondren, experience the singing and acting of entertainer Tanner Rose, and witness the astonishing footwork of tap legend Lonnie McFadden — an icon of this city and the dance community — and an honor to have on stage with us. And how often does a company get to dance a full-length ballet accompanied by a live jazz band? For this performance, that band is Billy Novick’s Blues Syncopators – and we can’t wait!

Kansas City is one of the great jazz cities of the world. We had an incredibly vibrant jazz community a century ago, and jazz remains a significant part of our culture to this day. What a fantastic opportunity to honor those roots and to experience a full performance of live jazz accompanying the company dancers. I think you’ll be wonderfully surprised. This isn’t your typical Kansas City Ballet performance, and that’s exactly what I love about it.

I hope you’ll come back and join us again soon. We have so much in store for the 2026-2027 Season — the beloved and magical The Wizard of Oz, the holiday favorite The Nutcracker, and the great romance of Romeo & Juliet — all set to live music. Until then, sit back, raise a glass to the Jazz Age, and enjoy the show.

With gratitude,

Devon Carney, Artistic Director

SUPPORT KANSAS CITY BALLET

Kansas City Ballet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Your contribution is important to our mission. Contribute today at kcballet.org, 816.931.2232, or make checks payable to Kansas City Ballet, Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, 500 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108-2430.

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KANSAS CITY BALLET LEADERSHIP

DEVON CARNEY

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Devon Carney joined Kansas City Ballet for the 2013-2014 season after spending the previous 10 years with Cincinnati Ballet as associate artistic director. His early training was with Harvey Hysell of New Orleans. He moved to Boston and was a Principal dancer with Boston Ballet for 12 of his 20 professional performing years. Carney has performed many leading roles in well-known classical ballets and in 20th century classical works, and in roles by cutting-edge choreographers such as Mark Morris, Maurice Bejart and Merce Cunningham. In addition, he performed a diverse Balanchine repertoire and toured extensively with greats such as Rudolf Nureyev, Fernando Bujones and Cynthia Gregory. With Boston Ballet, he was ballet master and artistic director of their Summer Dance Program for eight years. Carney’s teaching credits include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet, School of American Ballet, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, San Francisco Ballet School, Houston Ballet School and many others. He has choreographed for Boston Ballet, Ballet Met, Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Symphony, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Kansas City Ballet. He has served many years as a judge for the premier dance competition Youth America Grand Prix. In the summer of 2011, Carney choreographed for the Cincinnati Opera for the opera A Flowering Tree by John Adams with a review in Opera News, “Devon Carney’s choreography was both athletic and exquisite.” With Cincinnati Ballet he created over 20 original works including Blue Rondo and World Citizen in March of 2009 with a review stating, “Carney’s work is not only well crafted but moody and intense with a palpable sense of loneliness. His work grows more confident and more skillful with every piece he creates” (David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer). He also created Boot It Up!. This was performed with the live musical accompaniment of rock and roll legend Peter Frampton and his entire band. Additionally, he created a full-length world premiere of Dracula and has created his versions of the great classics of Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and the one-act ballet The Steadfast Tin Solder. He choreographed Die Fledermaus and La Traviata for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City With Kansas City Ballet, he created Opus I in 2013, Giselle in 2014, a brand new world premiere production of The Nutcracker in 2015, his full length Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and his world premiere choreography of Romeo & Juliet in 2017, and his world premiere choreography of Peter Pan in 2018. Additionally his Nutcracker has been performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2017 and 2022. Most recently, he created his world premiere choreography of the full-length Cinderella in 2023.

KEVIN AMEY

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Kevin Amey’s service to Kansas City Ballet exceeds 40 years. He has served as the company and tour booking manager of Kansas City Ballet since 1983. He was promoted to general manager in 1998. Amey has had the pleasure of working extensively with each of the company’s three Artistic Directors — Todd Bolender, William Whitener, and Devon Carney — as well as Executive Directors Michael Kaiser, Martin Cohen, Jeffrey Bentley, and David Gray — in producing more than 300 works. Additionally, he was instrumental in booking and executing the many tours the company embarked upon in the 80s and 90s, as well as the 11-year second-city residency in St. Louis. He counts the opportunity to play a significant role as the company’s project manager in the creation of the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity as his most rewarding achievement. Amey’s background in the arts began as a young performer, actor, singer, and dancer. He is a graduate of Avila College, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting and directing, and in design. He took his design skills into the professional ranks as lighting and sound designer for the Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, CO, as well as production manager, for three seasons. While attending graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Theatre Arts, Amey split his time between the design and scenic shops and as a special graduate assistant to the director, Dr. Patricia McIlrath. He then followed his interest in arts management by acting as company manager for three seasons of touring with the then Missouri Repertory Theatre. He also has served on a variety of local, state and regional panels, including the Missouri Arts Council Tour Advisory Panel and Touring Task Force, as well as the Steering Committee and Grant Awards Panel for the Kansas City Chapter of Young Audiences. He and his wife Mig Lillig have raised five children.

DAVID GRAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

David Gray was raised in Princeton, NJ, and attended Johns Hopkins University. Following graduation, he moved to New York. He worked in the publicity department of Doubleday Publishing before joining the Press Office of New York City Ballet, where he soon became press director. He also met and married New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Kyra Nichols. Upon the birth of their first child, Gray became a full-time parent so that his wife could return to her performing career. He also pursued his passion for writing and published Escape From Verona: Romeo and Juliet Part Two, a novel that required years of research, including visits to Italy. After they moved to the town where he grew up, Gray became the executive director of American Repertory Ballet and their Princeton Ballet School. Gray then opened a consulting firm, Finance Arts LLC, where he combined his interests in finance and nonprofit management. He served as an itinerant interim executive director for several nonprofits, including the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, The New Brunswick Cultural Center (where he was landlord for three theaters), and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching nonprofit management and finance classes, he wrote the Finance Arts Guide to Nonprofit Cash Flow, published in 2010. What began as an interim position with the Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet) became permanent until his wife was offered a tenured faculty position at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Gray returned to full-time parenting as a trailing spouse when they moved to Indiana in 2017. He and his youngest son built a batting cage, and Gray spent many hours throwing baseballs for batting practice (sometimes even hitting the strike zone). One of his screenplays, a romantic comedy, Love Across Time, has been produced, and is available on Amazon Prime and Hulu. Now empty nesters, Gray has embraced the renewed energy and excitement of the ballet world and is thrilled to be part of the Kansas City Ballet.

RAMONA PANSEGRAU MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

Ramona Pansegrau has been music director for Kansas City Ballet for 18 years. She came to Kansas City via the Boston and Tulsa ballet companies. She has been called one of the best ballet pianists in the world. Robert Joffrey said of her ballet class, “The perfect music for every combination.” She was principal pianist/solo pianist for 10 years at Boston Ballet and tenured keyboard for the Boston Ballet Orchestra for 15 years. Pansegrau was on the faculty at Aspen/Snowmass Dance Festival for 11 years and was music director for the ballet school at Jacob’s Pillow for 16 years. She was music director for Tulsa Ballet for nine years, and conductor of the Tulsa Symphony orchestra for ballet performances before coming to Kansas City Ballet. Pansegrau conducted the premiere of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra with a full-length Sleeping Beauty, starring Italian ballerina Viviana Durante. Her performances were hailed as “giving life to the music and energizing the dancers.” Conducting for the Ballet Across America Festival, The Washington Post stated, “There is a delicious tension between the outpouring of the strings conducted by Pansegrau and the hushed anxiety of the dancing.” The Kansas City Star said Pansegrau’s Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler was conducted with “heartrending sensitivity.” The Orlando Sentinel commented regarding Swan Lake, “…Pansegrau, music director for the Kansas City Ballet, helps Tchaikovsky’s music breathe with emotion reflecting what’s onstage….That gorgeous sound is something I’ll remember.”

Regarding Don Quixote, they said, “As conducted by Ramona Pansegrau, the Philharmonic captured each bit of Spanish flair in Ludwig Minkus’ score, as well as the longing in the characters’ hearts. The Phil’s contribution to the electricity in the air can’t be overstated.” As a piano soloist for ballet, she has performed the piano concertos of Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Gottschalk, Hindemith, and Chopin, performing with many symphony orchestras, including the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra. Of her performances, the Boston Phoenix stated, “the music...brought to sublime heights by pianist Ramona Pansegrau, allow[ing] you to experience the music anew each time.” Her arrangements of ballets are in the repertory of Ballet West, Colorado Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Washington Ballet, the San Carlo Opera House in Italy, NBA Ballet in Japan, and the Finnish National Ballet. Her edited and compiled score of Penderecki, Gorecki, and others for Jekyll & Hyde, a ballet by Val Caniparoli, premiered in Finland in 2020 to great acclaim, and she conducted the American premiere in Kansas City in October 2023. In 2025, she conducted her own arrangement of the full-length Don Quixote for Kansas City Ballet. Pansegrau’s other ongoing engagements include collaborating with Val Caniparoli for a new world premiere ballet for National Ballet of Canada in 2027 and returning for the 30th year as music director and conductor for the USA International Ballet Competition in 2027.

KANSAS CITY BALLET BOARD & AUXILIARIES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

Julia Irene Dennie - Kauffman, Chairman Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation

Carolyn W. Parkerson, President Community Leader

Barbara Storm, Immediate Past President Community Leader

Kathleen Nemechek, Esq., Vice President, Governance Berkowitz Oliver LLP

Stephen Doyal, Vice President Hallmark Cards, Retired

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS

Charlotte Kemper Black Commerce Trust Company

Lucy Wells Coulson Community Leader

Kyle Danner EOS Worldwide LLC

Ron Fredman Kansas City Ballet Guild President

John D. Hunkeler, M.D. Community Leader

Linda Lenza Bank of America

KANSAS

Austin Massoth BBN Architects

Steve McDowell BNIM

Rachel Merlo Google Fiber Kansas City

Tracy Musolf Lockton

Sarah Pedraza SS&C

Scott Ramon NBKC Bank

David Harris, Treasurer US Bank

Patricia Macdonald, Secretary HI-IQ – Healthcare Institute for Innovations in Quality

David Gray, Executive Director Kansas City Ballet

Devon Carney, Artistic Director Kansas City Ballet

CiCi Rojas Tico Productions LLC / Tico Sports

Sarah Romine Lockton

G. Mark Sappington, Esq. Community Leader

Suzanne Shank, Esq. Community Leader

Mindy Sosland Community Leader

Kent V. Stallard, Esq. Stinson LLP

CITY BALLET GUILD BOARD • KCBGUILD.ORG

Ron Fredman President

Edie Downing President-Elect

Cindy Wurm Vice President

John Walker Treasurer

Jo Anne Dondlinger Recording Secretary

Carrie Kruse Corresponding Secretary

Jody Stephen Membership Vice President

Eileen Green Membership Data Vice President

Amanda Wagner Special Projects Vice President

Julia Kim Malter Engagement & Education Vice President

Cyndi James Marketing/PR Vice President

Peggy Younger Social Activities Vice President

Lisa Hickok Archives Vice President

Karen Yungmeyer Immediate Past President

Peggy Beal Governance Chairman

Alexis Strauss BARRE KC President

Angela Walker Community Leader

Lorie B. Whitaker, Esq. Bank of America

Nan Lippencott Guild Boutique Vice President

Michele Hamlett-Weith Gala Vice President 2025

Juliette Singer & Cyndi James Gala Vice Presidents 2026

Crystal O’Dea Gala Vice President 2027

Alexis Strauss President

Zakry Akagi-Bustin Vice President

Katie Abbott Secretary

Quinn Harrold Treasurer

Audrey Allen

Morgan Holecek

Allissa Gehring

David Leehy

Madison Moore

Jessica Ritter

Michael Schuckman

Jessica Whalen

Kansas City Ballet thanks our board of directors and leadership teams whose time, energy and generosity enhance our organization and make our performances and community programs possible.

CYRILLE AIMÉE

MARCH 14 • 7:30PM

RUTH MOODY

APRIL 10 • 7:30PM

MAE MARTIN

MAY 9 • 7:00PM

BACK TO THE 80S

MARCH 20, 21 • 7:30PM MARCH 22 • 3:30PM

KCJO PLAYS BENNY GOODMAN LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL FEATURING ANAT COHEN - APRIL 11 • 7:00PM

JK LIVE! MAY 30 • 3:00PM & 7:00PM

UNLIMITED MILES: MILES DAVIS AT 100 MARCH 29 • 3:30PM

ART OF THE PIANO: ALEXANDRE KANTOROW APRIL 14 • 7:00PM

DAVID BRIGHTON’S SPACE ODDITY JUNE 5 • 7:30PM

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

The Kauffman Center is equipped with advanced life-safety early alert systems. Each performance hall is designed with emergency exits in case of an evacuation. In the event of severe weather, shelter in place inside the hall, not in a lobby area, and await further instructions.

In the event of an emergency, the performance will be interrupted. Horns and strobes will sound. Emergency instructions will be delivered from the stage.

Please remain seated as staff use an appropriate amount of investigational time to verify the source of the alarm.* Should an evacuation be necessary, lighted red (Muriel Kauffman Theatre) and green (Helzberg Hall) exit signs will lead patrons to one of eight emergency exit paths.

Patrons with mobility limitations and/or those who are not able to navigate stairs should remain in the venue near one of the marked “Emergency Evacuation Assistance” areas. First responders will evacuate those requiring assistance immediately upon their arrival.

Elevators, primary entrances and the Brandmeyer Great Hall staircase are NOT used in the case of an emergency evacuation.

For more information on emergency evacuation procedures, visit kauffmancenter.org/policies

THEATRE INFORMATION & PATRON SERVICES

CAMERA POLICY

Due to contractual obligations and for the safety of the artists, the use of cameras and recording devices are strictly prohibited. Attendance at a Kansas City Ballet event gives the patron’s consent to be photographed or recorded.

CELL PHONES AND DEVICES

As a courtesy to the artists and audience members, please silence cell phones and other devices and refrain from texting for the duration of the performance.

SEATING POLICY

We know our patrons make every effort to be on time for events; however, traffic or weather problems can cause late arrivals. Latecomers may watch the performance on monitors in our lobby until the theater has re-opened to allow guests into the auditorium. Seating or reseating once a performance has begun will be allowed at the discretion of the house manager as a courtesy to our audience and in consideration of everyone’s safety.

TICKETING POLICY/CHILDREN

At Kansas City Ballet, we encourage young audiences to attend our shows assuming the program content is appropriate. However, it is strongly suggested that no babies or toddlers be in attendance. Many children over the age of 5 can remain happily and quietly seated for a two-hour performance, but you know your child best. Parents will be expected to immediately remove children creating a disturbance during the performance. Patrons may return to their seats during intermission. Please note that all patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. No refunds will be available.

WEATHER POLICY

Kansas City Ballet seldom cancels performances due to inclement weather. An exception to this is an official citywide emergency that requires citizens not be on the streets. In the unlikely chance that Kansas City Ballet cancels a performance, such cancellation will be announced no later than two hours prior to the scheduled start of the show.

REFRESHMENTS

Refreshments are available at bars located throughout Brandmeyer Great Hall. For select events, bar service is also available on levels 5 and 6. Please note, food and beverages are to be enjoyed outside Helzberg Hall and Muriel Kauffman Theatre (with the exception of box seating).

COAT CHECK

Complimentary coat check is available for guests year around. Coat check is located near the restrooms on Level 2 just east of the ticket office.

BOOSTER SEATS

Booster seats are reserved for those who require the use of a four-inch cushion to view the stage and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons may request a booster seat at coat check on the plaza lobby level or connect with a Kauffman Center staff member or volunteer.

ELEVATORS

All levels of the building can be reached by elevator with the exception of Upper Grand Tier (Level 7) in Helzberg Hall. However, elevator access does not guarantee the absence of stairs to a seat. Please contact the Kansas City Ballet Ticket Office for more information.

PARKING

There are 1,000 parking spaces available at a $16 charge in advance or $20 the day of per car. Valet services are also available at $25 in advance or $27 the day of per car. There are three charging stations for electric cars.

RESTROOMS

Kauffman Center restrooms fully comply with disability requirements of both the city of Kansas City, MO, and the ADA. All family restrooms feature infant changing tables. The Mezzanine family restroom features a changing table suitable for children or adults. Patrons needing a universal changing table or an additional private space to tend to medical needs should contact a staff member or volunteer for directions to the First Aid Office.

SPECIAL SERVICES & ACCESSIBILITY

Kansas City Ballet is dedicated to providing an accessible and enjoyable experience to all patrons. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an accessible facility. All performances of Kansas City Ballet are accessible to people with special needs. Adjacent companion seats also are available in the same area. Please consult with Kansas City Ballet Ticket Office at 816.931.8993 to determine your best and most accessible seating options.

SERENITY ROOMS

Patrons who would benefit from the use of a private, relaxing environment are invited to step into one of two serenity rooms. These spaces offer comfortable seating and a monitor to view the live performance, plus sensory items, dimmable lights, and an electrical wall outlet. Patrons may contact a staff member or volunteer to access these spaces.

SENSORY KITS

Patrons who would benefit from comforting sensory resources are invited to exchange an ID card for a complimentary use of a sensory kit from coat check on the Plaza Lobby Level. These kits contain resources such as noise-reducing headphones, weighted lap pads, and handheld sensory items.

LOST AND FOUND

Found items are immediately taken to the Security Console located at the Stage and Performers Entrance near the north entry. Kauffman Center Security will make every effort to identify and contact the owners of lost items. Items unclaimed after 90 days will be donated to a local charity. Cash and items of significant value left over 90 days will be treated as a donation to the Kauffman Center. To inquire about a lost item, contact Kauffman Center Security at 816.994.7222.

KANSAS CITY BALLET HOURS

Kansas City Ballet Ticket Office and administrative hours ware Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket Office hours are extended during performance weeks. To contact us, please call 816.931.8993, fax 816.471.1314, or email patronservices@kcballet.org. For more information, visit kcballet.org.

KAUFFMAN CENTER HOURS

The Kauffman Center Ticket Office opens 90 minutes prior to performances and remains open 30 minutes after Kansas City Ballet performances start.

Premier Senior Living in

the Heart of Kansas City

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For families on the cancer journey

KANSAS CITY BALLET

Devon Carney

Artistic Director

David Gray Executive Director

Kevin Amey Chief Operations Officer

Ramona Pansegrau Music Director & Conductor

COMPANY ARTISTS

Gavin Abercrombie ◊

Isaac Allen

Alladson Barreto

Joseph Boswell

Kaleena Burks §

Angelin Carrant

Liam Colclough *

Aidan Duffy

KCB II

Zander Johnson

Audrey Lynn

TRAINEES

Julia Bellantoni

Payton Boddy

Alessia Braggiato

Maggie De Groote

Luke Eller

Michelangelo Fante

Kristi Capps

Rehearsal Director

Parrish Maynard

Rehearsal Director

Christopher Ruud

Second Company Manager & Rehearsal Director

Amy Taylor Director of Production

Sidney Haefs ‡

Kelsey Ivana Hellebuyck

Amira Hogan

Whitney Huell

Olivia Jacobus

Joshua Kiesel

Keaton Linzau

Celeste Lopez-Keranen

Troy Monger-Levin

Brooke Noska

Laura Krus

Production Stage Manager

Jennifer Carroll Costume Director

Betti Jo Diem Costume Shop Manager

Becci Jo Kelbaugh Costume Shop Assistant

Madeline Brasgalla Stage Manager

Jordan Voth Company Pianist

Mei McArtor *

Amelia Meissner

Maura Moody

Taryn Pachciarz

Elliott Rogers

Noura Sander

Naomi Tanioka

Cameron Thomas

Olivia Pearsall

Owen Watson

Andrew Vecseri

Landen Walker *

Marisa DeEtte Whiteman

Derek Wippel *

Gillian Yoder

Paul Zusi ∞

Ben Workman

Sage Guillot

Madalyn Hesterlee

Jack Hindocha-Daniels

Hiroaki Ikeda

Addison Jankauskas

Gracie Jean Joiner

◊ Sally and Thomas J. Wood Senior Dancer

∞ John Hunkeler Senior Dancer

§ Norman E. Gaar, Esq. Dancer

Camille Jordan

Corabelle Kennedy

Reagan Kinney

Madeleine Lee

Isabella Martino

Maya McDaniels

Blair Mendes

Joseph Moore

Ena Nomoto

Zoey Uhlman

‡ Greg and Barbara Storm Emerging Dancer

* Company Apprentice, supported in part by the Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation

Website Recognition Listing

Behind-the-scenes eNews

Program Recognition Listing

Invitation to Rehearsal Watch

Pre-sale Ticket Access

Ballet Season Welcome Packet

Insider Access and Special Events

Priority Access to Upgrade Subscription Tickets

Reception Suite Access for Subscription Performances

Annual State of the Ballet Luncheon

Insights - Rehearsal Watch and Dinner with Guest Artist

Complimentary Garage Parking at Kauffman Center

Dinner with Devon - Dinner with the Artistic Director and Dress Rehearsal

WAYS TO GIVE TO KANSAS CITY BALLET

There are many meaningful ways to support Kansas City Ballet, tailored to your goals, passions, and financial plans. Options include:

Monthly Giving

Make a lasting impact through manageable, recurring contributions.

Annual Gifts

Offer a one-time or annual contribution, ideal for larger gifts or itemized deductions.

Endowment Gifts

Help ensure the Ballet’s long-term sustainability.

The Tatiana Dokoudovska Legacy Society

Leave a lasting legacy that inspires future generations.

Corporate Supporters

Enhance your company’s social impact while strengthening community ties.

Matching Contributions

Your company may match your charitable contributions.

To explore the giving option that’s most meaningful to you, please contact Kristin Castle, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at 816.216.5585 or kcastle@kcballet.org.

THE COMPANY

GAVIN ABERCROMBIE | JOINED KCB IN 2018, +2 YEARS SECOND COMPANY

Sally & Thomas J. Wood Senior Dancer

Gavin Abercrombie is from Acton, California and began his ballet training at the age of 8 with the Antelope Valley Ballet. He continued his training at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School and the San Francisco Ballet School where he was taught by individuals such as Marjorie Grundvig, Andre Reyes, Patrick Armand, and Parrish Maynard. Since joining Kansas City Ballet in 2016, Abercrombie has had the opportunity to perform leading roles such as Albrecht in Devon Carney’s Giselle, Dr. Jekyll in the North American premiere of Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Jonathan Harker in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Principal in George Balanchine’s Rubies, and Cavalier in Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker. Abercrombie has also had the opportunity to perform in ballets by choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Alexander Ekman, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Septime Webre, Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, and Devon Carney.

ISAAC ALLEN | JOINED KCB IN 2022

Isaac Allen began his ballet training at the age of 8 at Stillpointe Dance Studio in southern Oregon. He spent many of his summers attending intensive training programs across the country including San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theatre. In 2015, Allen joined Oregon Ballet Theatre’s pre-professional program. The next year he was accepted into the HARID Conservatory in Florida where he trained for two years under Meelis Pakri before joining Milwaukee Ballet’s Second Company, performing in ballets such as Michael Pink’s Dracula, Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, Bruce Wells’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream and many more. Allen spent three years in the Second Company before being promoted to Milwaukee Ballet as an apprentice where he danced for two years.

ALLADSON BARRETO | JOINED KCB IN 2022

Alladson Barreto, born in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, began his ballet training in 2015 at the Alberto Maranhão Theater Dance School (EDTAM) in Natal. He trained at the Rock School on full scholarship and danced with Ballet West II from 2019 to 2022, performing in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Chant du Rosignol, Dracula, Romeo and Juliet, Diamonds, Glass Pieces, Raymonda, Don Quixote, Divertimento, and Sleeping Beauty. In 2021, he collaborated with Kathryn Morgan, performing lead roles together in The Nutcracker for three years. Barreto has performed featured roles in The Sandpaper Ballet, Petite Mort, Jewels (Emeralds), Celts, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. Since joining Kansas City Ballet in 2022, he has danced in Jekyll and Hyde, Cacti, Giselle, ALICE (in wonderland), among others. He has served as a So Danca Ambassador from 2018-20 and 2022-25.

JOSEPH

BOSWELL | JOINED KCB IN 2024

Joseph Boswell was born in Spokane, Washington. He started his ballet training at the age of 7 and after five years of training he moved to Houston, Texas to study at the Houston Ballet Academy. He continued his dance training at Boston Ballet School for another three years before being offered a contract for Boston Ballet’s second company. Throughout his career, performed numerous principal roles such as Franz from Coppelia , Conrad from Le Corsaire, La Vivandiere , the Harlequinade pas de deux, and Jorma Elo’s Slice to Sharp . Mr. Boswell also danced alongside Boston Ballet’s main company in works such as Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker as well as Rudolph Nureyev’s Don Quixote.

KALEENA BURKS | JOINED KCB IN 2010 • Norman E. Gaar, Esq. Dancer

Kaleena Burks is from Coral Springs, Florida, where she trained with Magda Auñon and Magaly Suarez. In 2005, she won first place in the pre-professional division of the American Ballet Competition. Burks has danced with Cincinnati Ballet, Columbia Classical Ballet, and Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami. In Kansas City, she has been featured as the title role in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Kitri in Don Quixote, Marguerite in Lady of the Camellias, Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker, along with principal roles in Diamonds, Dracula, Interplay, Petal, and Serenade. In addition to her performing career, Burks has recently been appointed artistic director of Moving Arts, a local summer dance company.

ANGELIN CARRANT | JOINED KCB IN 2018, +1 YEAR SECOND COMPANY

Angelin Carrant, originally from Paris, France, began his training at the age of 6. As a child he was chosen to perform in Le Songe de Médée by Angelin Preljocaj, with the Paris Opera Ballet. In 2013, Carrant was offered a full scholarship with the San Francisco Ballet School, under the leadership of Patrick Armand. He trained there for four years where he danced in productions such as Helgi Tomasson’s The Nutcracker, Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella and John Neumeier’s Yondering. He joined Kansas City Ballet‘s Second Company in 2017 and was promoted to the main company the following year. As a dancer with Kansas City Ballet, Carrant has performed leading roles in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti and Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde. He has also danced in productions such as Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, Edwaard Liang’s Wunderland, Michael Pink’s Dracula and George Balanchine’s Jewels among many others.

AIDAN DUFFY | JOINED KCB IN 2023

Originally from Philadelphia, Aidan Duffy began his training with the School of Pennsylvania Ballet and the Rock School for Dance Education. He then joined Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division as a Pao Scholarship recipient, before being invited into Boston Ballet’s Graduate Program. His training was supplemented by coaching with Chérie Noble and summers at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, and Ellison Ballet. His repertoire with Kansas City Ballet includes Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker (Snow King), George Balanchine’s Jewels (Emeralds pas de trois), Anna-Marie Holme’s Don Quixote (Espada), William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Lila York’s Celts (Red Man). Duffy has also had the privilege of performing alongside the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras.

SIDNEY HAEFS | JOINED KCB IN 2019, +1 YEAR SECOND COMPANY

Greg and Barbara Storm Emerging Dancer

Sidney Haefs was born in Los Angeles, California. She began her training at the Santa Clarita Ballet Academy under the direction of Corinne Glover. Haefs continued her education at the University of Utah where she graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Ballet and a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies. In 2018, She was offered a traineeship with Kansas City Ballet before joining the company as an apprentice in 2019. With Kansas City Ballet, she has performed roles including the Diamonds Principal in Balanchine’s Jewels, Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote, Peasant Pas de deux in Giselle, Emerald Ballerina in Septime Webre’s The Wizard of Oz, and Isabel in In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, as well as roles in Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Balanchine’s Serenade, Jirí Kylián’s Petite Mort, and Alexander Ekman’s Cacti

KELSEY IVANA HELLEBUYCK | JOINED KCB IN 2016

Kelsey Ivana Hellebuyck trained at San Francisco Ballet School for 11 years before joining Boston Ballet at 16, where she performed globally on tour with the company. She later joined Philadelphia Ballet, dancing in works by Forsythe, Kylián, Ratmansky, Robbins, Balanchine and Corella. In 2016, she joined KCB, with favorite roles including Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade, Solo Woman in Balanchine‘s Rubies, and Yoomi in Helen Pickett’s Petal. Other favorites include Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián, Brown Couple in York‘s Celts, and Arabian and Snow Queen in Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Hellebuyck has been featured in Pointe Magazine and The Ballerina Project. Follow her on Instagram (@ IvanaDance) for a behind-the-scenes look at her life.

AMIRA HOGAN | JOINED KCB IN 2023

Texan Amira Hogan began ballet at age 6 at the YMCA and continued training at Robert Underwood’s School for Dance, TKB Center for Ballet & Dance, and Vitacca Vocational School for Dance. She has received awards from Youth America Grand Prix, including the Hope Award, the World Ballet Competition Promise Award, ADC/IBC awards, and the Vitacca Emerging Artist Award. Hogan has performed works by George Balanchine, Devon Carney, Val Caniparoli, Anna-Marie Holmes, Lila York, Caroline Dahm, Haley Kostas, Natasha Adorlee, and Gina Patterson. Her choreographic credits include you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails and Tied In Nots. She is honored and thrilled to return for her third season with Kansas City Ballet.

WHITNEY HUELL | JOINED KCB IN 2014

Whitney Huell trained at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and earned a B.S. in Ballet and Psychology from Indiana University before joining Ballet West, where she performed in Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Petite Mort, and Jewels. She was named one of Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch in 2011 and featured in Pointe Magazine in 2012. With Kansas City Ballet, Huell has performed works by Amy Seiwert, Adam Hougland, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Monique Meunier, Stanton Welch, Edwaard Liang, Val Caniparoli, Helen Pickett, Septime Webre, Mark Morris, Jirí Kylián, and Jerome Robbins. She has been featured in The Man in Black, Giselle, Peter Pan, Don Quixote, Rubies, Serenade, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the first African American to perform the role at KCB. In 2024, she participated in Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center and Jacob’s Pillow and was honored on the Monument to Freedom, Justice & Courage in Jackson County, MO.

OLIVIA JACOBUS | JOINED KCB IN 2022

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Olivia Jacobus discovered her love for ballet at age 9. She trained with Romy and Zippora Karz of New York City Ballet and continues to work with them today, professionally. At age 15, Jacobus was accepted into Colburn Dance Academy’s pre-professional program where she performed works from George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. In 2020, she joined Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division, and soon after joined Kansas City Ballet. Some of her favorite moments from past seasons with Kansas City Ballet are Emeralds Pas de Trois from Jewels, and Tea in The Nutcracker. Jacobus is working towards a degree in business, and in her spare time, enjoys creating ballet-themed social media content that resonates.

JOSHUA KIESEL | JOINED KCB IN 2021, +2 YEARS SECOND COMPANY

Joshua Kiesel is from Hanover Park, Illinois, where he began his training at The Faubourg School of Ballet before continuing on full scholarship at The Washington School of Ballet under Rinat Imaev and Xiomara Reyes. A prizewinner at the 2022 Helsinki International Ballet Competition, he has been a company member of Kansas City Ballet since 2021. His notable roles include Basilio in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Peasant Pas in Devon Carney’s Giselle, Cavalier in  The Nutcracker, Green Man in Lila York’s  Celts, and Third Solo Man in William Forsythe’s  In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. Kiesel has also appeared as a guest artist nationally and internationally.

KEATON LINZAU | JOINED KCB IN 2024

Keaton Linzau is from Washington, D.C. and began his ballet training in 2012 at Maryland Youth Ballet. He joined Houston Ballet Academy in 2021, and was invited to Houston Ballet II in 2023 where he performed corps de ballet roles with Houston Ballet as well as principal roles with the Academy in excerpts from Raymonda, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Stanton Welch’s Paquita, and leading contemporary roles in Stanton Welch’s Clear, Bruiser, Play, and many more. During his time in Houston Ballet II, he established the first Student Council for a ballet academy in North America. Linzau is excited to be entering into his second year at Kansas CIty Ballet after an enjoyable first year.

CELESTE LOPEZ-KERANEN | JOINED KCB IN 2025

Celeste Lopez-Keranen began her training at Grand Rapids Ballet School under Patricia Barker. She attended summer programs including Jacob’s Pillow, Orsolina28, BalletX, and San Francisco Ballet. At 16, she began her career as an apprentice and trainee with Grand Rapids Ballet, later joining Louisville Ballet Studio Company. There, she performed in Robbins’ In G Major and Balanchine’s Emeralds. In 2022, she performed in Jacob’s Pillow’s 90th Anniversary Gala. Lopez-Keranen danced with Ballet Arkansas for three seasons, performing Carmen and Mina in Michael Fothergill’s Carmen and Dracula, and repertoire such as Arpino’s Reflections, Bintley’s Galanteries, Tsai Hsi Hung’s BRUSHSTROKES 2024, and Le Sylphides. She has also worked with choreographers including FLOCK, Jennifer Archibald, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Penny Saunders, and Val Caniparoli.

AMELIA MEISSNER | JOINED KCB IN 2023

Amelia Meissner, born in San Antonio, Texas, began her ballet training with the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas. She attended summer intensives at Houston Ballet Academy and joined its professional training division in 2017 at age 15. She joined Houston Ballet II in 2020 under Claudio Muñoz. During her time there, Meissner performed featured roles, including lead roles in Don Quixote and Raymonda. She was promoted to apprentice with Houston Ballet in 2022 and performed in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. This is her third season with Kansas City Ballet, where she has danced featured roles in The Nutcracker and Emeralds. Outside the studio, Meissner is an avid reader, enjoys traveling, the outdoors and following the PGA Tour. She is also pursuing her bachelor’s degree.

MAURA MOODY | JOINED KCB IN 2025

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Maura Moody began her formal ballet training at the School of Classical Ballet and Dance under Serkan Usta and Lori Grooters. She furthered her training in summer programs at San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. In 2019, she joined Richmond Ballet as a trainee for two seasons before moving to Oklahoma City Ballet in 2021, where she danced with the second company and was promoted to apprentice in 2023. Moody’s favorite repertoire includes Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and Western Symphony, Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, and roles in Oklahoma City Ballet’s Swan Lake and Giselle. Moody has also performed in Ma Cong’s Information and Luscious. Moody is very excited and honored to be joining Kansas City Ballet this season!

TARYN PACHCIARZ | JOINED KCB IN 2012

Taryn Pachciarz was born in Kansas City, Missouri and received her training on full scholarship at the Kansas City Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. Pachciarz was given her corps de ballet contract with New York City Ballet and performed numerous Balanchine and Robbins ballets including, Jewels, Symphony in Three Movements, West Side Story Suite, and The Cage. Pachciarz is in her 14th season with the company and has been featured in numerous roles including Wendy in Peter Pan, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sylvie Pas in William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Myrtha in Giselle, Russian Girl in Serenade and the Principal Girl in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Rubies and Diamonds, as well as roles in The Nutcracker, The Four Temperaments, Petite Mort, In the Upper Room, and The Man in Black.

ELLIOTT ROGERS | JOINED KCB IN 2023

Elliott Rogers, a Chicago native, began dancing at the age of 2. He trained with Chicago Ballet Arts before continuing at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts under the leadership of Victor Alexander and Dolores Long. At 14, he was accepted into Houston Ballet Academy’s Professional Division, where he trained for four years before joining Houston Ballet II under Claudio Muñoz and Kelly Myernick for two seasons. In 2023, Rogers joined Kansas City Ballet as an apprentice, performing the title role in Peter Pan. He has also performed in ALICE (in wonderland), In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Celts, among others. Rogers was honored as the 2024 Greg and Barbara Storm Emerging Dancer.

NOURA SANDER | JOINED KCB IN 2025

Noura Sander, a Northern California native, began serious ballet training at age eight at Franklin School for the Performing Arts in Massachusetts. At 15, she began training at ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and joined The Washington School of Ballet at 16, where she was promoted to trainee and then The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company. In 2022, she joined the main company. Her repertoire includes The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and Balanchine works like Serenade, Concerto Barocco, and Theme and Variations. She has performed works by Ulysses Dove, Choo San Goh, and Edwaard Liang, among others, and has collaborated with choreographers including Jessica Lang, Silas Farley, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Brett Ishida, Mthuthuzeli November, Andile Ndlovu, Dana Genshaft and Chanel DaSilva.

NAOMI TANIOKA | JOINED KCB IN 2019

Naomi Tanioka, originally from Sapporo, Japan, started her training with Chida Toshiko Ballet Studio. Tanioka was accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Canada, where she concluded her six years of professional ballet training, and one year of the Aspirant Program. In 2014, Tanioka joined Ballet Arizona, where she performed ballets by Balanchine and Bournonville. She joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2016, where she was pushed out of her box with a variety of repertoire performed there. With Kansas City Ballet, she has been featured as Cinderella in Devon Carney’s Cinderella, Kitri in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Alice in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland),  Nellie in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Lucy in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Wendy in Devon Carney’s Peter Pan, the pas couple in George Balanchine’s Rubies, and works by Adam Hougland, Alexander Ekman, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Edwaard Liang, Helen Pickett, Jiří Kylián, Lila York, Mark Morris, and William Forsythe.

CAMERON THOMAS | JOINED KCB IN 2017, +1 YEAR SECOND COMPANY

Cameron Thomas began his dance training in his hometown of Rochester, NY. In 2013, he began performing with the Rochester City Ballet. In 2015, Thomas received a full scholarship to attend the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. He then joined KCB II for the 2016-2017 season and was promoted to the company the following season. Thomas has performed major roles in his ten years at Kansas City Ballet including Mr. Hyde in the North American premiere of Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll and Hyde. Thomas has also choreographed for Kansas City Ballet and Creative Intersections. He also performs as a pianist. He has also helped Dr. Greg Sabin teach finance at Harvard since 2022.

ANDREW VECSERI | JOINED KCB IN 2022

Andrew Vecseri was born and raised in Houston, Texas and began his training in 2010 at Houston Repertoire Ballet under the direction of Victoria Vittum before joining the Houston Ballet Academy in 2013. In 2015 he was promoted to Houston Ballet’s Second Company performing ballets such as Yondering, Flower Festival, and Sleeping Beauty. In 2017 he competed in the Prix De Lausanne, where he was offered a contract with the Houston Ballet. While there, he was promoted to Demi Soloist, and performed roles in La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Marie, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker before joining Kansas City Ballet in 2022, performing roles in Giselle, Cinderella, Jekyll & Hyde, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Don Quixote among other ballets.

MARISA DEETTE WHITEMAN | JOINED KCB IN 2018, +4 YEARS SECOND COMPANY

Originally from St. James, New York, Marisa DeEtte Whiteman began classical training at Seiskaya Ballet, until joining Next Generation Ballet in 2010, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Pre-Professional Program in 2012. Whiteman spent a year training privately before joining Kansas City Ballet in 2014. She has moved through the ranks of Trainee, KCB II, and Apprentice, to the Main Company. Some of her favorite roles have included Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, George Balanchine’s Emeralds, William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Alexander Ekman’s Cacti. She has spent summers performing at the Hermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was featured in the Gala Performance at Jacob’s Pillow. She is thrilled to be celebrating her 12th season with Kansas City Ballet.

GILLIAN YODER | JOINED KCB IN 2024, +3 YEARS SECOND COMPANY

Gillian Yoder was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Jupiter, Florida. Early training began at Paris Ballet and Dance before completing her pre-professional training at Next Generation Ballet under Philip Neal and at The Colburn School under Jenifer Ringer and James Fayette. She also attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet School for five summers. In 2021, Yoder joined Kansas City Ballet as a trainee. She advanced to KCB II in 2022, performing in works by George Balanchine, Lila York, Devon Carney, Alexander Ekman, and Val Caniparoli. She became an apprentice in 2024, dancing featured roles in Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Anna-Marie Holmes‘ Don Quixote, and William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. In 2025, she was promoted to the main company.

PAUL ZUSI | JOINED KCB IN 2021 • John Hunkeler Senior Dancer

Paul Zusi began his training at Southold Dance Theater at age 6. In 2019, he joined Boston Ballet’s second company, working with many renowned choreographers and teachers, including Peter Stark, Kathleen Mitchell, Jorma Elo, and Mikko Nissinen. He joined Kansas City Ballet in 2021, where has had the privilege to perform numerous featured roles. Some of his favorites include Dr. Jekyll in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Red Man in Lila York’s Celts, Basilio and Espada in Anne-Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Prince Albrecht in Devon Carney’s Giselle, Peter Pan in Devon Carney’s Peter Pan, and leading roles in George Balanchine’s Emeralds and Diamonds. Zusi would like to thank his loved ones profusely for their support.

LIAM COLCLOUGH | APPRENTICE, JOINED KCB IN 2025

Liam Colclough, originally from Duluth, Minnesota, began his ballet training at age four with Minnesota Ballet School. He attended summer intensives at Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Austin, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and Ellison Ballet NYC. In 2020, he earned first place at Youth America Grand Prix regionals and a full scholarship to the Joffrey Academy of Dance, where he trained from 2020 to 2022 and earned additional top placements before advancing to the finals in Tampa. Colclough danced with Rochester City Ballet in 2022 and Charlotte Ballet II from 2023 to 2025. Notable roles include Soldier Doll and Candy Cane in The Nutcracker, Alejandro Cerrudo’s Lickity Split and the male lead in Balanchine’s Who Cares?. He is honored to join Kansas City Ballet as an apprentice.

MEI MCARTOR | APPRENTICE, JOINED KCB IN 2025, +2 YEARS SECOND COMPANY Mei McArtor grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where she began her training at the Southeastern School of Ballet. She joined Kansas City Ballet as a trainee for the 2023-24 season. During her time as a trainee, McArtor performed numerous roles in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker  and Peter Pan, and George Balanchine’s Jewels. She also danced in Gabriel Lorena’s Under My Skin and Emily Mistretta’s This version of you looking at you you looking back as part of Kansas City Ballet’s New Moves 2024. In her second season, she was promoted to KCB II, performing in Septime Webre‘s ALICE (in wonderland), Anna-Marie Holmes‘ Don Quixote, and Lila York’s Celts. McArtor is entering her third season with Kansas City Ballet as an apprentice for the 2025-26 season.

LANDEN WALKER | APPRENTICE, JOINED KCB IN 2025

Landen Walker began his ballet training at age 15 with his home studio in New York. In 2022, he joined CPYB’s professional division on full scholarship. In 2023, he was invited to train at Cary Ballet Conservatory, where he first competed in Youth American Grand Prix. At YAGP Finals 2024, he received an invitation from Peter Stark to train with The Rock School. Walker has been fortunate to work closely with many excellent teachers and mentors, including Peter Stark, Natalya Zeiger, Etienne Diaz and Christina Johnson. He has had the opportunity to dance in George Balanchine’s Nutcracker and Who Cares? and perform featured roles such as Snow King and Cavalier in The Nutcracker and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

DEREK WIPPEL | APPRENTICE,

JOINED KCB IN 2025

Derek Wippel is a native of Pickerington, Ohio, and began his formal ballet training at the BalletMet Academy. In 2022, he moved to Houston to join the Houston Ballet professional training division, under the direction of Claudio Muñoz. In 2023, Wippel relocated to Chicago to join the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company for two years, working under the guidance of Ogulcan Borova and Raul Casasola. Wippel has had the opportunity to perform in various ballets, including Stanton Welch’s Bruiser, Liam Scarlett’s Frankenstein, Gerald Arpino’s Kettantanz and Reflections, and was a part of the American premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Wippel is incredibly excited for his first season with Kansas City Ballet.

ZANDER JOHNSON

JOINED KCB II IN 2025

BROOKE NOSKA JOINED KCB II IN 2024

KANSAS CITY BALLET SECOND COMPANY

AUDREY LYNN

JOINED KCB II IN 2024

OLIVIA PEARSALL

JOINED KCB II IN 2025

OWEN WATSON JOINED KCB II IN 2024

TROY MONGER-LEVIN

JOINED KCB II IN 2023

BEN WORKMAN JOINED KCB II IN 2024

TRAINEES

Ena Nomoto

Michelangelo Fante

Maggie De Groote

Madeleine Lee

Camille Jordan

Addison Jankauskas

Isabella Martino

Luke Eller

Payton Boddy

*Madalyn Hesterlee not pictured.

Reagan Kinney

Maya McDaniels

Julia Bellantoni

Joseph Moore

Corabelle Kennedy

Blair Mendes

Alessia Braggiato

Gracie Jean Joiner

Hiroaki Ikeda

Zoey Uhlman

Jack Hindocha-Daniels

Sage Guillot

KCB’s Second Company includes KCB II and the Trainee Program, both products of Kansas City Ballet School. These programs are for emerging professionals to give extraordinarily talented young dancers a professional company experience as prelude to their joining a professional company. The Second Company performs throughout the region at public performances, informances, residencies and workshops, enabling the community to experience live dance in a public setting. Those interested in learning more and/or booking them for a performance, email KCBII@kcballet.org.

The Great Gatsby

Choreography by SEPTIME WEBRE

Music composed, compiled and arranged by BILLY NOVICK

Staged by JARED NELSON and KRISTI CAPPS

Set and Costume Design by TIM YIP

Lighting Design by TRAD A BURNS

Video Design by WILLIAM KWOK, TOBIAS GREMMLER

(Visuals for the Buchanan Sunroom and Gatsby’s Act 1 & Act 2 Party)

Vocalist EBONI FONDREN

Tap Dancer LONNIE MCFADDEN

Narrator/Vocalist TANNER ROSE

Live Jazz Accompaniment BILLY NOVICK’S BLUE SYNCOPATORS

Billy Novick, Conductor, clarinet and sax

John Clark, clarinet and sax

Mike Peipman, trumpet

Dan Fox, trombone

Ross Petot, piano

Stu Gunn, tuba and bass

Steve Langoni, drums

Rehearsal Assistants PARRISH MAYNARD, CHRISTOPHER RUUD Children’s Ballet Coach JENNIFER WELCH CUDNIK

All children appearing are students of Kansas City Ballet School

Scenery and Costumes by arrangement with Hong Kong Ballet

World Premiere: February 15, 2019, Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, Hong Kong, China Kansas City Ballet Premiere: May 8, 2026, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Jay Gatsby

Daisy Buchanan

Tom Buchanan

Nick Carraway (as dancer)

Nick Carraway (as narrator)

Jordan Baker

Myrtle Wilson

George Wilson

Pamela Buchanan

Pamela Buchanan’s Nursemaid

Andrew Vecseri

Gavin Abercrombie

Kaleena Burks

Sidney Haefs

Cameron Thomas Alladson Barreto

Joshua Kiesel

Angelin Carrant

Tanner Rose

Taryn Pachciarz

Kelsey Ivana Hellebuyck

Naomi Tanioka

Noura Sander

Paul Zusi

Aidan Duffy

Mabel Phillips (A)

Emi Kawano-Sanchez (B)

Eleanor Golda

Blues Singer

Tap Dancer

The Twins

THE VALLEY OF ASHES

THE CITYSCAPE

Cop

Burglars

Flappers

Sailors

Bankers

Salvation Army

Movie Star

Nun

Millionaire

Rabbi

Baseball Player

Gangster

Newspaper Kids

Eboni Fondren

Lonnie McFadden

Amira Hogan, Mei McArtor

Olivia Jacobus, Amelia Meissner

Isaac Allen, Joseph Boswell, Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Keaton Linzau, Elliott Rogers, Derek Wippel, Ben Workman

Aidan Duffy

Paul Zusi

Joseph Boswell, Elliott Rogers, Derek Wippel

Audrey Lynn, Corabelle Kennedy, Olivia Pearsall

Sage Guillot, Brooke Noska, Zoey Uhlman

Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Troy Monger-Levin, Owen Watson, Ben Workman

Alessia Braggiato, Gracie Jean Joiner, Isabella Martino, Maya McDaniels, Blair Mendes, Ena Nomoto

Luke Eller, Hiroaki Ikeda, Joseph Moore, Landen Walker

Mei McArtor, Addison Jankauskas

Madalyn Hesterlee, Camille Jordan

Whitney Huell

Julia Bellatoni

Payton Boddy

Zander Johnson

Troy Monger-Levin

Joseph Moore

Hiroaki Ikeda

Michelangelo Fante

Luke Eller

Vivian Hudgens, Willa Scheidegger, Abel Shaw

Cohen Stallbaumer, Lily Trum (A)

Genevieve Clymer, Owen Rogers, Jameson Sauser, Claire Thomas, Jubilee Wiens (B)

Students

MYRTLE’S APARTMENT

Myrtle’s Party Guests

Sofia Castagno, Reagan Cheshier, Julissa Kennedy, Claire Pansing, Cecily Stroh (A)

Reagan Cheshier, Inés Nin, Estella Newth, Natalia Powers, Georgia Spears (B)

Amira Hogan, Olivia Jacobus, Celeste Lopez-Keranan, Audrey Lynn, Amelia Meissner, Maura Moody, Marisa DeEtte Whiteman, Gillian Yoder

Isaac Allen, Joseph Boswell, Liam Colclough, Aidan Duffy, Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Keaton Linzau, Elliott Rogers, Ben Workman

GATBSY’S MANSION

Revelers at Gatsby’s Ball

Tight Like That

Julia Bellatoni, Payton Boddy, Alessia Braggiato, Sage Guillot, Corabelle Kennedy, Audrey Lynn, Celeste Lopez-Keranen, Isabella Martino, Maya McDaniels, Blair Mendes, Maura Moody, Brooke Noska, Olivia Pearsall, Zoey Uhlman, Marisa DeEtte Whiteman, Gillian Yoder

Isaac Allen, Joseph Boswell, Liam Colclough, Luke Eller, Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Keaton Linzau, Joseph Moore, Elliott Rogers, Landen Walker, Owen Watson, Derek Wippel, Ben Workman

Isaac Allen, Joseph Boswell, Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Keaton Linzau, Elliott Rogers, Owen Watson, Derek Wippel, Ben Workman

- 20 MIN.

INTERMISSION

-

The Curtain Dance

LOUISVILLE FLASHBACK Debutantes

Young Soldiers

Dancing Maids

Julia Bellatoni, Payton Boddy, Maggie De Groote, Madalyn Hesterlee, Addison Jankauskas, Gracie Jean Joiner, Reagan Kinney, Madeleine Lee, Maya McDaniels, Ena Nomoto Luke Eller, Michelangelo Fante, Jack Hindocha-Daniels, Hiroaki Ikeda, Joseph Moore, Owen Watson

Amira Hogan, Olivia Jacobus, Celeste Lopez-Keranan, Amelia Meissner, Maura Moody, Olivia Pearsall, Marisa DeEtte Whiteman, Gillian Yoder

Isaac Allen, Joseph Boswell, Angelin Carrant, Joshua Kiesel, Keaton Linzau, Elliott Rogers, Derek Wippel, Paul Zusi

Julia Bellatoni, Payton Boddy, Alessia Braggiato, Maggie De Groote, Sage Guillot, Madalyn Hesterlee, Amira Hogan, Olivia Jacobus, Addison Jankauskas, Gracie Jean Joiner, Corabelle Kennedy, Reagan Kinney, Madeleine Lee, Celeste Lopez-Keranan, Audrey Lynn, Isabella Martino, Maya McDaniels, Blair Mendes, Maura Moody, Brooke Noska, Ena Nomoto, Olivia Pearsall, Zoey Uhlman

Butlers

Buchanan Maids

Alladson Barreto, Collin Brooks, Michelangelo Fante, Hiroaki Ikeda, Zander Johnson, Joseph Moore, Jonathan Raymond, Cameron Thomas

Kaelyn Bell, Eleanor Golda Simone Parigo, Anna Young

Scan the QR code for casting by performance dates.

MUSIC

ACT I

SCENE I

What’ll I Do

Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin*

At the Jazz Band Ball

Original Dixieland Jazz Band

SCENE II

Creole Love Call

Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn

I’m Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now

Jesse Greer and Benny Davis

Wobbles

Billy Novick

Wild Man Blues

Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton

SCENE III

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley

Dance of Ashes

Billy Novick

Cityscape

Billy Novick

SCENE IV

Yellow Dog Blues

Louis Armstrong and W.C. Handy

St. Louis Blues

W.C. Handy

He May Be Your Man

Lemuel Fowler

SCENE V

Charleston

James P. Johnson and Cecil Mack

The Sheik of Araby

Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith and Frances Wheeler

It’s Tight Like That

Thomas A. Dorsey and Hudson Whittaker

Charleston Reprise

James P. Johnson and Cecil Mack

SCENE VI

What’ll I Do

Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin*

Ain’t We Got Fun?

Richard Whiting, Raymond Egan and Gus Kahn

ACT II

SCENE I

Jazz Me Blues

Tom Delaney

Swipesy Cakewalk

Scott Joplin and Arthur Marshall

SCENE II

We’re All Going Calling on the Kaiser

James A. Brennan and Jack Caddigan

I’ll See You In My Dreams

Isham Jones and Gus Kahn

SCENE III

Happy Feet

Milton Ager and Jack Yeller

I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl

Written by J. Tim Brymn, Dally Small and Clarence Williams

A Night For Love

Billy Novick

Skip Dat Pop Dat

Billy Novick and Paul Lenart

SCENE IV

Maid to Order

Billy Novick

Saturday Night Function

Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard

Broadway Tango at the Plaza

Billy Novick and Paul Lenart

SCENE V

Exotique

Billy Novick and Paul Lenart

George’s Grief

Billy Novick and Bill Reynolds

SCENE VI

What’ll I Do

Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin*

* This selection is used by special arrangement with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on behalf of the Estate of Irving Berlin, www. irvingberlin.com. All Rights Reserved

ACT I

SCENE I – OUTSIDE GATSBY’S MANSION ON LONG ISLAND’S WEST EGG

Jay Gatsby gazes longingly across the bay at the flashing green light which marks Daisy Buchanan’s home, yearning for the love they once shared. Nick Carraway arrives at his rented bungalow on the rambling Gatsby estate as one of Gatsby’s raucous parties spills across the lawn.

SCENE II – DAISY AND TOM BUCHANAN’S HOME ON EAST EGG

Nick has been invited to his cousin Daisy’s house. He renews his acquaintance with her husband, Tom, whom he knew briefly at Yale, and meets their friend Jordan Baker, a noted professional golfer. Their merriment is interrupted by a phone call from Tom’s mistress, Myrtle.

SCENE III – THE VALLEY OF ASHES

On a trip to New York City, Tom and Nick stop in the squalid Valley of Ashes, a desolate strip of land between West Egg and New York. There, Nick meets Tom’s mistress Myrtle and her unsuspecting husband, George Wilson. Tom and Myrtle arrange a secret rendezvous in the city.

SCENE IV – MYRTLE’S NEW YORK APARTMENT

Still accompanied by Nick, Tom and Myrtle arrive at the garish apartment Tom keeps for her in New York. Nick discreetly leaves them alone to enjoy their clandestine affair, and Myrtle’s friends gather for a party.

SCENE V – THE GATSBY MANSION

Revelers gather at another of Gatsby’s all night summer parties. Jordan and Nick arrive. Jordan introduces Nick to their host, and Gatsby asks Nick to arrange for an afternoon tea with Daisy.

SCENE VI – NICK’S COTTAGE

The next day, Daisy is expected for tea, and Gatsby’s staff invades Nick’s home to make preparations for her arrival. Gatsby has lived for this moment. He waits tensely. When Daisy finally arrives, Gatsby makes a desperate bid to revive their love by sharing his treasures with her. He has collected the trappings of wealth for one reason—to win her love. As Daisy departs, Gatsby, in his own dream, believes he has recaptured their love.

ACT II

SCENE I – THE STORY OF DAISY AND GATSBY

During a golf date, Jordan tells Nick of how, five years earlier in Louisville, Daisy met and fell in love with a young soldier named Jay Gatsby. But ‘rich girls don’t marry poor boys’ and when Gatsby went off to war, she married the wealthy playboy Tom Buchanan. But Gatsby never stopped loving Daisy.

SCENE II – THE GATSBY MANSION

Tom and Daisy, accompanied by Jordan and Nick, attend one of Gatsby’s revelries. Tom, absorbed in his flirtations with the lively girls present, does not see Daisy and Gatsby steal a rapturous moment.

SCENE III – TOM AND DAISY’S HOME

Gatsby, Nick and Jordan have been invited to the house where Gatsby discovers that Daisy and Tom have a child. To relieve tension, Daisy proposes an excursion to New York.

SCENE IV – THE PLAZA HOTEL, NEW YORK

In a heated moment, Gatsby confronts Tom with his and Daisy’s affair. Gatsby pleads with Daisy to say she never loved Tom, but he asks too much of her, and Daisy cannot bring herself to do that. Triumphant, Tom insists that Gatsby drive Daisy home.

SCENE V – THAT NIGHT, IN THE VALLEY OF ASHES

George overhears Myrtle telephoning a man he suspects to be her lover. In the ensuing quarrel, he threatens to lock her up. She escapes into the road and is killed by Gatsby’s speeding car, driven by Daisy. George sees Gatsby and assumes he killed Myrtle. In his desperate grief, George loses his mind.

SCENE VI – THE GATSBY MANSION

Gatsby resolutely still believes Daisy will come to him. As he prepares for a swim, George enters the estate and kills Gatsby.

FINIS

Kansas City Ballet extends its deepest gratitude to VanBrock for their longstanding support and generous sponsorship of The Great Gatsby

The City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF) program, established in 1989, helps promote Kansas City’s distinct and diverse neighborhoods. Through cultural, social, ethnic, historic, educational, and recreational activities, NTDF promotes the city as a premier convention, visitor and tourist center. Kansas City Ballet is grateful for NTDF’s support of this production.

NOTEWORTHY

RAMONA PANSEGRAU MUSIC DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR

Kansas City Ballet is delighted to welcome Billy Novick‘s Blue Syncopators for our performances of The Great Gatsby. Novick created the score for Gatsby, and the entire ensemble has toured with it internationally. He will play and conduct the performance which not only includes his ensemble, but our local guests as well. Eboni Fondren, famed jazz vocalist, born in Chicago but currently residing in Kansas City, will sing both on stage and in the pit. Known in the music world as a jazz powerhouse, Fondren represented America as a jazz ambassador at the G20 Summit in 2023.

MEET THE ARTISTS

SEPTIME WEBRE CHOREOGRAPHER

Septime Webre is an internationally recognised ballet director, choreographer, educator and advocate. He joined Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) as its artistic director in July 2017 after 17 years as artistic director of The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C., US. Previously he served as Artistic Director of the American Repertory Ballet, based in Princeton, New Jersey, US for six years. In addition, Webre has served as the artistic director of Halcyon, a Washington D.C.–based foundation standing at the intersection of creativity and social impact. Webre’s tenure at The Washington Ballet ushered in a period of unprecedented growth in the quality and breadth of its work—both onstage and in its engagement and educational initiatives, with its annual budget growing over 500% during that time. In Hong Kong, Webre recently staged a pair of new productions for HKB: a Romeo + Juliet set in early 1960s Hong Kong, and The Nutcracker set in Hong Kong in the early 20th century. In addition, he has staged a number of additional productions for HKB, including new productions of Giselle, ALICE (in wonderland), The Great Gatsby and Peter Pan. As a dancer, Webre was featured in solo and principal roles from the classical repertoire as well as in contemporary works by choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham. He has served on the juries of a number of international ballet competitions, including those in Varna, Bulgaria, Istanbul, Cape Town, New York, Seoul, and elsewhere. He has served on the board of Dance/USA and his work has received numerous honors, grants and awards. He holds a degree in History/Pre-Law from the University of Texas at Austin, and is the seventh son in a large, boisterous Cuban-American family.

BILLY NOVICK

COMPOSER AND ARRANGER

Billy Novick has had a whirlwind career in music for more than 50 years as a performer, composer, arranger and studio musician. He has impressed audiences and critics throughout the world with his soulful, lyrical jazz

Our singing narrator is an actor and vocalist currently residing in Kansas City—Tanner Rose. Rose narrates the Gatsby story in word and song. Tanner has extensive acting credits – and also a wonderful job taking care of the elephants at Kansas City Zoo. We can’t forget the star turn with Lonnie McFadden, midway through the ballet, as he amazes us with his legendary tap skills. This is an evening of music not to be missed!

clarinet and sax playing. His long-time collaborations with guitar wizard Guy Van Duser and the internationally acclaimed New Black Eagle Jazz Band have resulted in countless North American and European tours, frequent appearances on the Prairie Home Companion radio show, a thirty- minute feature interview on NPR’s All Things Considered, and more than 40 recordings, including 17 under his own name. Novick’s musical versatility has enabled him to become a highly sought-after studio musician, appearing as a sideman on more than 300 recordings in a wide variety of genres. His compositions have appeared in more than 1,000 film and television soundtracks and his concert works have been performed on four continents. Novick’s jugband adaptation of Peter and the Wolf for Dave Van Ronk premiered in New York’s Lincoln Center. Utilizing his experience in performing 1920s jazz, film scoring and composing for dance (12 scores for modern dance), Novick created period musical scores for The Washington Ballet’s original full-length ballets of The Great Gatsby and Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises. Both ballets were premiered at the Kennedy Center to sold-out houses, and The Great Gatsby ballet score has now been performed over 60 times, most recently with Cincinatti Ballet in 2025.

JARED NELSON STAGER

Jared Nelson has been a repetiteur of Septime Webre’s works for many years. Nelson began dancing professionally at the age of 14 with the Sacramento Music Circus and the Sacramento Ballet where Artistic Director Ron Cunningham choreographed over a dozen original works on him. Nelson went on to dance for the Boston Ballet and The Washington Ballet for almost two decades. He has danced works by Nacho Duato, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Choo San Goh, Jiří Kylián, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille, Antony Tudor, and many more. Septime Webre created many of his original works on Nelson including The Great Gatsby, ALICE (in wonderland), Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleepy Hollow, and Hemmingway: The Sun Also Rises. After retiring from dancing in 2016 he became the Associate Director of

JARED NELSON cont.

from dancing in 2016 he became the Associate Director of California Ballet and then the Artistic Director from 2018 to 2020. Nelson is currently a ballet teacher for Golden State Ballet Company and School in San Diego.

TIM YIP SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER

Tim Yip, Academy Award Winner for Best Art Direction for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001, is a world-renowned art director for stage and film, as well as a visual artist. Yip has collaborated with internationally acclaimed film directors including John Woo, Ang Lee, and Tsai Ming Liang, and theatrical icons Akram Khan, Robert Wilson, and Franco Dragone, as well as major international companies such as the English National Ballet, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, San Francisco Opera House, Palais de Chaillot, Opera-Comique Paris, Graz Opera House Austria, and the Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts, among many others. His works have been presented at prestigious arts festivals, museums, and cultural venues worldwide.

TRAD A BURNS LIGHTING DESIGNER

Trad A Burns has been designing scenery and lighting professionally since 1989 for theatre, dance, and amusement parks. Recent dance credits include the world premiere of What’s Going On, choreographed by Val Caniparoli for Richmond Ballet, Soar!, choreographed by Jennifer Archibald, Hearts, choreographed by Julia Feldman for Sacramento Ballet, Romeo & Juliet, choreographed by Malcom Burn for Richmond Ballet, Tulsa Ballet’s world premiere Nutcracker, choreographed by Val Caniparoli and Ma Cong, and the world premiere of Sacramento Ballet’s new Nutcracker, choreographed by Colby Damon, Julia Feldman, and Nicole Haskins. Recent theatre designs include Gloria, directed by Jess Fiene at Texas State University, Assasins, directed by Dr. Martin Friedman at Lakeland Theatre, and The Ballad of Georgia McBride, directed by Eric Schmiedl at the Beck Center for the Arts. Burns has had the privilege of designing world premiere ballets for such notable choreographers as Trey McIntyre, Val Caniparoli, James Kudelka, Edwaard Liang, Matthew Neenan, Adam Hougland, Garrett Smith, Jessica Lang, Alejandro Cerrudo, Kirk Peterson, Donald Byrd, Jodie Gates, Gina Patterson, Amy Seiwert, Ma Cong, Andrea Schermoly, Jennifer Archibald, Penny Saunders, Septime Webre, Devon Carney, Victoria Morgan, Robert Curran, and Sarah Slipper. Over the years his dance lighting has been seen at American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Ballet X, BalletMet, Louisville Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Grand Rapids Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Hubbard Street, and 21 seasons with Cincinnati Ballet. As a theatre designer, Burns’ designs have been seen at New York Theatre Workshop (NYC), The Public Theatre (NYC), La Mama ETC (NYC), HERE (NYC), Classic Stage Company

(NYC), North Shore Music Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cain Park, Beck Center for the Arts, Dobama, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cedar Point, Valleyfair, Knott’s Berry Farm, Kings Island, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Japan, Disney Sea, Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Universal Studios Florida and Japan, Woodstock Ice Productions and The Family of Charles M. Schulz.

EBONI FONDREN VOCALIST

Eboni Fondren is a nationally recognized jazz vocalist, bandleader, actress, and creative executive, making her Kansas City Ballet debut in The Great Gatsby. A veteran of Kansas City stages, her career spans jazz, theatre, voiceover, and arts leadership. In January 2026, Fondren was selected as an artist-in-residence at the Escape to Create Residency in Seaside, Florida, and in March 2026 she presented her a two-week run of her acclaimed fulllength theatrical concert Jazz: The Women Who Shaped Me at Quality Hill Playhouse. In addition to her performance work, Fondren is a successful professional voiceover artist, with clients including AMC Theatres, the Kansas City Royals, and Wendy’s. She currently serves as president of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors and as vice president of artist management at Jukeboxx Media, where she is also a featured bandleader with Lost Wax. Wearing many hats, Fondren remains first and foremost a performer and entertainer, deeply committed to giving back to the community that has nurtured her artistry in every facet.

LONNIE McFADDEN TAP DANCER

Lonnie McFadden is an American entertainer, singer, songwriter, tap dancer, and musician known for his joyful, emotionally rich performances and smooth, unmistakable voice. He has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan, including a 2004 USO tour with Wayne Newton. Now based in Kansas City, McFadden performs weekly at the upscale jazz supper club bearing his name, Lonnie’s Reno Club, and was the producer and featured artist for the 2018 citywide Charlie Parker Festival. For more than 15 years, McFadden became a Kansas City icon through performances at venues such as The Phoenix, Black Dolphin, Kauffman Center, Starlight Theatre, and Sprint Center. He has shared the stage with legendary artists including Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando, Ben Vereen, Herb Alpert, and the Count Basie Orchestra. His performances have also drawn sold-out crowds at Jazz Texas, Feinstein’s, Parker’s Jazz Club, and Blue Strawberry. McFadden has received numerous honors, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Jazz Museum (2016) and Tapology (2017), and was repeatedly named Kansas City’s Best Entertainer by local publications. In 2022, McFadden and his brother Ronald were inducted into the Jazz Walk of Fame in Kansas City’s Historic Jazz District.

MEET THE ARTISTS

TANNER ROSE NARRATOR/VOCALIST

Tanner Rose, Off-Broadway: Bells Are Ringing (The Lion Theatre, NYC). International: Vi Lieb Musikaler (Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway).

Local: A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan and Wendy, Smoke (KCRep); The Inheritance (Unicorn Theatre); Cabaret, Godspell (Music Theatre Heritage), Justice at War, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (The Coterie), Grand Horizons (Kansas City Actors Theatre). Regional: Pryor Rendering (Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Portland OR); La Cage aux Folles, The Rocky Horror Show (Weitzenhoffer Theatre); The Beth Leavel Christmas Show (Oklahoma City Philharmonic).

Television: The Deuce (HBO – streaming now). Rose is an animal care specialist at the Kansas City Zoo caring for the city’s eight African Elephants. This is his debut performance both at the Kauffman Center and with Kansas City Ballet. @thattannerrose.

KRISTI CAPPS REHEARSAL DIRECTOR & STAGER

Kristi Capps accepted the position of rehearsal director for the 2014-2015 season after serving as a rehearsal director in residence for the 20132014 season during the company’s production of Dracula as well as a repetiteur for its spring production of Cinderella. Capps began her professional career with the Atlanta Ballet and then joined Cincinnati Ballet. Rising quickly through the ranks to principal, Capps delighted audiences in leading roles in many major classical and contemporary ballets both within the company and abroad as a guest artist. With Kansas City Ballet, Capps has been given the opportunity to be the répétiteur for many of the company’s productions, including Devon Carney’s Sleeping Beauty for Ballet Hawaii, Cincinnati Ballet and Grand Rapids Ballet, Victoria Morgan’s Cinderella, Edwaard Liang’s Wunderland and Helen Pickett’s Petal. Additionally, she has staged Septime Webre’s The Wizard of Oz for Kansas City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Nevada Ballet, and most recently Hong Kong Ballet

PARRISH MAYNARD REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Parrish Maynard danced with American Ballet Theatre, where he was invited to join by Mikhail Baryshnikov. He rose through the ranks to become a Principal Dancer before joining San Francisco Ballet. In addition to being a recipient of the Princess Grace Award and the Presidential Scholar Award, he was a silver medalist in the International Ballet Competition. Maynard has performed in Dance in America’s American Ballet Theatre Now, danced Nacho Duato’s Romanso, and danced in Lar Lubovich’s Othello at San Francisco Ballet in the role of Iago which was created on him. In 2005, Maynard joined the faculty of San Francisco Ballet School. In his 10 years at San Francisco Ballet, Maynard choreographed more than

20 ballets for the San Francisco Ballet School, some of which have been danced by companies around the world including American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Royal Ballet School, and Royal New Zealand Ballet. Maynard is well versed in the classical full-length repertoire as well as neoclassical works such as Lar Lubovich’s Othello, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid, and Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde. Throughout his career, Maynard has worked with many of the leading choreographers of our time, including George Balanchine, Jorma Elo, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Yuri Possokhov, Wayne McGregor, Mark Morris, Alexei Ratmansky, Twyla Tharp, Helgi Tómasson, Paul Taylor, Antony Tudor, and Liam Scarlett. Maynard specializes in male classical technique and coaching and currently serves as Rehearsal Director for Kansas City Ballet under Artistic Director Devon Carney.

CHRISTOPHER RUUD

SECOND COMPANY MANAGER & REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

Growing up backstage at the San Francisco Ballet, Ruud was immersed in the art of professional dance, performance and stagecraft from the start. Receiving the majority of his dance training at San Francisco Ballet School, Ruud was hired into Ballet West in 1998. Quickly moving through the ranks, he was named Principal Dancer in 2004. He spent 21 years as a leading artist for Ballet West performing a huge range of classical and contemporary repertoire. Ruud is grateful to have performed all over the United States, and internationally most notably in China, Cuba, Scottland, Canada, New York and at the Kennedy Center. In his time with the company, he danced major roles in the great works of Balanchine, Kylián, Tharp, Forsythe, Ashton, Tudor and Cranko to name a few. He has been personally coached by some of the great names in the ballet world such as Sir Anthony Dowell, Cynthia Gregory, Hans Van Mannen, Bruce Marks, and Anna-Marie Holmes. Ruud has seen success as a choreographer having his ballets performed in the Ballet West Innovations program and at their annual gala performance garnering such awards as a New York Choreographic Institute Fellowship as well as several NEA grants. Ruud directed his own small company RUUDDANCES, which was a regular attraction at the annual Utah Arts Festival, and has toured to Jacobs Pillow. Retiring from being a professional dancer in 2019, Ruud joined the artistic team at Kansas City Ballet that same year. Since taking the position of KCB Second Company Manager and Rehearsal Director for the company he has created and ballet-mastered many new and existing works such as George Balanchine’s Rubies, Lila York’s Celts, and Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, while also spending time in the Kansas City community educating children and adults about ballet and live performance.

MEET THE ARTISTS

JENNIFER WELCH CUDNIK PRINCIPAL, DAYTIME PROGRAM & CHILDREN’S COACH

Originally from St. Louis, Jennifer Welch Cudnik trained with Berkeley Evans, Nathalie LeVine, Alexandra Zaharias, Todd Bolender, and Una Kai before moving to New York at age fifteen to study on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet. There she trained with Stanley Williams, Suki Schorer, Kay Mazzo, and others, performing works by George Balanchine, including The Four Temperaments, Rubies, Concerto Barocco, and Bournonville’s Napoli, and originating roles by Christopher Wheeldon and Damian Woetzel. She also studied with Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Wilhelm Burmann, David Howard, and Nancy Bielski. Welch Cudnik danced professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet and Saint Louis Ballet for a decade, performing leading roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Divertimento No. 15, Valse Fantaisie, and The Nutcracker, as well as the title role in Giselle, as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and roles in Swan Lake, Coppélia, and Cinderella. A dance educator for twenty-five years, she most recently served as Principal of the Sarasota Ballet School. She has held faculty positions at Webster University, COCA, and Saint Louis Ballet, co-founded the nonprofit Ballet Initiative, and is an accomplished

AMY TAYLOR

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Amy Taylor’s design credits for Kansas City Ballet include Giselle, Suite Kander, The Scarlatti Dances, Carmina Burana, Coppélia and On the Boulevard. Locally, she has also worked with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company and the Kansas City Symphony. Before joining Kansas City Ballet, Taylor received her M.F.A. from the University of Missouri –Kansas City.

LAURA KRUS

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Laura Krus is a graduate of Oklahoma City University’s Dance Management Program. Krus worked with Adams Davy Media as a Production Intern for productions like Batman Live and Arts for Autism. She also has worked with various professional dance companies as a Production Stage Manager for the American Dance Festival. Krus began working with Kansas City Ballet in 2021. Krus wants to thank her family and friends for always believing in her and helping get her to where she is now.

JENNIFER CARROLL

COSTUME DIRECTOR

Jennifer Carroll came to Kansas City Ballet in 2008 after touring with Broadway Shows for eight years. She toured with shows such as Victor, Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde, Cabaret, Oklahoma!, and Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out. Her design credits for Kansas City

choreographer, adjudicator, curator, and career consultant. Welch Cudnik is ABT® National Training Curriculum certified and holds an MFA in Dance from Hollins University, centering her work on equity, inclusivity, and compassionate artistic excellence.

JORDAN VOTH

COMPANY PIANIST/PRINCIPAL

ACADEMY PIANIST

Kansas native Jordan Voth joined the accompanist staff of the Kansas City Ballet in the summer of 2015. Before arriving in Kansas City for graduate studies at the University of MissouriKansas City in 2013, Voth won the piano division of the 2010 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and studied at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Mannes College in New York City. As a class accompanist, Voth has played for masterclasses taught by Wendy Whelan, Victoria Simon, Robert Garland, Peter Stark, and Daniel Ulbricht. After graduating from UMKC with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in 2020, Voth joined the full-time staff of Kansas City Ballet in 2022, where he accompanies classes, rehearsals, and performances as Company Pianist / Principal Academy Pianist.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Ballet include Concerto Grosso, Mercy of the Elements, Energy Made Visible, Vesna, and Klein Perspectives. Carroll received her M.F.A. in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Arkansas. She is a member of Kansas City’s IATSE Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #810

BETTI JO DIEM

COSTUME SHOP MANAGER

Betti Jo Diem came to Kansas City Ballet in 2013 after touring with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Arena Tour and the First National Tour of Rock of Ages. She is a member of the IATSE Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #810 here in Kansas City. She began her theatrical wardrobe career in Branson, Missouri while working for Silver Dollar City’s Opera House theater and the Radio City Rockettes at the Grand Palace Theater. She feels extremely lucky to have a career she is passionate about and that allows her to learn something new every day!

MADELINE BRASGALLA STAGE MANAGER

Madeline Brasgalla was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She has an M.F.A. in Theatre: Design and Technology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has a B.A. in Dance from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia. Brasgalla has experience stage managing concert dance, ballet, opera, and theatre. She has previously worked with EPIC Arts and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Brasgalla began working with the Kansas City Ballet in 2021 and is grateful to be back for her third season with the company!

BALLET BUSINESS COUNCIL

Kansas City Ballet thanks the following business and corporate foundations for their support.

DIAMOND

($50,000-$99,999)

Bank of America

Hallmark Corporate Foundation

PLATINUM

($25,000-$49,999)

Encore

Performance Rehab

KCOI, the Official Performance

Rehabilitation Provider of Kansas City Ballet

The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, Partner Hotel of Kansas City Ballet

YMCA of Greater Kansas City, Healthy Living Partner of Kansas City Ballet

GOLD

($10,000-$24,999)

Belger Cartage

Service, Inc.

Elevé Dancewear, Kansas City Ballet’s School Uniform Partner

H & R Block Foundation

JE Dunn Construction

Lifted Logic

SS&C Technologies, Inc.

Stepp & Rothwell, Inc.

VanBrock

SILVER

($5,000-$9,999)

Burns & McDonnell

Cboe Global Markets

Commerce Bank

Craig Sole Designs

Dance Shoppe Inc.,

R.O.A.D. Uniform Partner

East Market StudiosBrett Pruitt

Lockton

MetLife

Parisi Coffee, Official Coffee Provider for Kansas City Ballet

Riley ABA & Autism Center

UnitedHealthcare

The Hise Lowry Group -

Merrill Private Wealth

BRONZE

($2,500-$4,999)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City

BlueScope Steel

BNIM

Delta Dental of Kansas Evergy

Garmin

Gill Studios, Inc.

Global Prairie Foundation

Henderson Engineers

Kansas City Foot & Ankle, The Official Podiatry Treatment Provider to Kansas City Ballet

THANK

Lathrop GPM LLP

Maquette Advisors LLC

Mineral Lounge/Tannin

Wine Bar & Kitchen

Panache Chocolatier

Soli Printing

State Street

Tito’s Handmade Vodka -

Fifth Generation, Inc.

US Bank Foundation

OVATION

($1,000-$2,499)

Anderson & Associates

Baseley Law Office

Chevron

Cigna Healthcare

Google Fiber

Kansas City Life

Insurance Company

Knapstein Design

Levity Events

Life UnlimitedJulie Edlund, CEO

Maison by Alexandra

Design + Build

MC Realty Group

Microsoft

Northern Trust

PNC Foundation

John Rufenacht

Associates, Inc.

Sanofi

Strauss Peyton Photography

BRAVO

($500-$999)

Back On Track

Chiropractic + Acupuncture

Federated Rural

Five Elms Capital

HCA Midwest Health System

Kendra Scott

Levy Craig Law Firm

Marsh McLennan Agency

Park UniversityLaure Christensen

Structurflex

Uhl Engineering, Inc.Mr. Terry Uhl

Partner with Kansas City Ballet to inspire our community through the power of dance.

As a partner, you help make dance accessible through our School and community programs while strengthening local culture.

You’ll also enjoy benefits such as:

• enhanced marketing visibility

• exposure to loyal Ballet patrons

• meaningful employee engagement opportunities

Let’s talk about how we can customize a partnership that meets your business goals.

Contact Lacy Gordon, Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager, at 816.451.8757 or lgordon@kcballet.org to get started.

OCT 14-NOV 2

Copaken Stage

When the lines between predator and prey blur, the power of women’s strength rises from the shadows in this fearless adaptation of Bram Stoker’s iconic Dracula.

SEP 2-21

Spencer Theatre

Indulge in a world of soul-stirring music and unyielding hope with this award-winning stage musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- winning novel.

FEB 7-MAR 8

Copaken Stage

The ultimate family showdown is on in this new comedy hailed as “genuinely funny, topical, and heartfelt” by Entertainment Weekly.

Spencer Theatre

Follow the yellow brick road to magic adventure!and MAY 5-24

SPECIAL EVENT! NOV 22-DEC 27

Spencer Theatre

Celebrating Gary Neal Johnson, as he prepares to take his final bow as Ebenezer Scrooge.

KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY

FIRST VIOLINS

Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster

Miller Nichols Chair

Stirling Trent, Associate Concertmaster

Sunho Kim, Assistant Concertmaster

Anne-Marie Brown

Michael Brown

Betty Chen

Anthony DeMarco

Susan Goldenberg*

Tomoko Iguchi

Dorris Dai Janssen

Filip Lazovski∆

Chiafei Lin

Vladimir Rykov

Alex Shum*

SECOND VIOLINS

Tamamo Someya Gibbs, Principal

Carter Coleman, Associate Principal

Kristin Velicer, Assistant Principal

Minhye Helena Choi

Mary Garcia Grant

Kazato Inouye

Rena Ishii

Paul Kim

Stephanie Larsen

Jinyou Lee

Sodam Lim

Ayrton Pisco

VIOLAS

MingYu Hsu, Principal

Duncan Steele, Associate Principal

Jessica Nance, Assistant Principal

Kent Brauninger

Sean Brumble

Marvin Gruenbaum

Jenifer Houck

Duke Lee

Jesse Yukimura

CELLOS

Mark Gibbs, Principal

Robert A. Kipp Chair

Susie Yang, Associate Principal

Richard Hill Chair

Alexander East, Assistant Principal

Maria Crosby

John Eadie

Lawrence Figg

Sally Kim

Meredith McCook

Allen Probus

DOUBLE BASSES

Evan Halloin, Acting Principal

Richard Ryan, Acting Associate Principal

Nils Aardahl

Lena Goodson∆

Joseph Nuñez

Keith Wymer∆

FLUTES

Michael Gordon, Principal Marylou and John Dodds Turner Chair

Shannon Finney, Associate Principal

Liz Teplitsky∆

PICCOLO

Liz Teplitsky∆

OBOES

Kristina Fulton, Principal

Shirley Bush Helzberg Chair

Alison Chung, Associate Principal

Matthew Lengas

ENGLISH HORN

Matthew Lengas

CLARINETS

Javier Morales-Martinez∆, Principal

Bill and Peggy Lyons Chair

Raymond Santos‡

Trevor Stewart∆, Acting Associate Principal

John Klinghammer

E-FLAT CLARINET

Trevor Stewart∆

BASS CLARINET

John Klinghammer

BASSOONS

Ann Bilderback, Principal Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Chair

Thomas DeWitt, Associate Principal

Maxwell Pipinich

CONTRABASSOON

Thomas DeWitt

HORNS

David Sullivan, Acting Principal Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair

Elizabeth Gray, Acting Associate Principal

David Gamble

Stephen Multer, Associate Principal Emeritus

Benjamin Bacni∆

TRUMPETS

Julian Kaplan, Principal James B. and Annabel Nutter Chair

Omri Barak^, Associate Principal

Shea Kelsay∆

TROMBONES

Evelyn Carlson, Principal Porter Wyatt Henderson, Associate Principal

Joseph Maiocco^

BASS TROMBONE

Joseph Maiocco^

TUBA

Joe LeFevre, Principal Frank Byrne Chair

TIMPANI

Timothy Jepson, Principal Michael and Susan Newburger Chair

PERCUSSION

David Yoon, Acting Principal

Justin Ochoa∆, Acting Associate Principal

Adrian and Nancy Kay Hertog Family Chair

HARP

Chai Lee^, Principal

LIBRARIANS

Elena Lence Talley, Principal Fabrice Curtis, Associate Principal

DAVID T. BEALS III ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

Luke Poeppel

Daniel Wiley

Justin White, Director of Orchestra Personnel

Elena Collins, Assistant Personnel Manager

Tyler Miller, Stage Manager

Mark Watson, Asst. Stage Manager

Kristina Banton, Lighting Designer

* Non-Rotating Musician

^ New Member

‡ On Leave of Absence

∆ One-Year Member

inJohnsonCounty,PerformanceRehab offers11convenientlocationstoserve you.ScantheQRcodetorequestan appointmentorfreeconsultationtoday!

•

• Invitation to all BARRE KC events

• BARRE KC Night performance post-parties

•

You can impact future generations through a legacy gift to Kansas City Ballet. Legacy giving does not require a large income or vast estate. Legacy giving only requires a thoughtful intention to make a difference by remembering Kansas City Ballet in your will or estate plans.

Thank you to the following Legacy Society members:

Brad Allen and Gene Cooper

Mary Ann and Bill Allen

The Amelia Fund/ Nancy L. Murdock, Ph.D.

Leslie G. Anderson

Anonymous (4)

Peggy and Andy Beal

Jeffrey J. Bentley

Joe and Claire Brand

Mike and Vicki Bray

Jerry and Meghan

Carpenter Family Trust

Melissa Kelly Cavanaugh

Robert J. Cody

Don and Pat Dagenais

Kyle Danner

Dickerson Family Trust

Vicki Erickson

J. Scott Francis

Dr. Michael Frost

Marilyn A.W. Gaar and Norman E. Gaar, Esq.

Marilu Goodyear

David Gray

Cynthia Hampton

Zack and Susan Hangauer

David and Beth Harris

John and Mary Hunkeler

Dr. Richard Jensen and Gay Dannelly

Estate of Lothar P. Krause

Art Lafex

Estate of Billie Mahoney

Julia Malter

Estate of Hazel Dean McClure P. Alan McDermott

Curt and Deb McWhirt

Lindsay Meyer

Dr. Linda E. Mitchell

Marcy Nelson

Kathy and Justin Nemechek

Bill Pallucca and Kevin Deen

Estate of Marilyn Pierson Patterson

Wendy and George Powell, III

Jean and Jack Rosenfield Trust

Jack and Paula Rowe

G. Mark Sappington

Dr. Richard Schupp

Suzanne Shank

Estate of James E. Taylor

Angela and John Walker

Jacquie and Kyle Ward

Estate of Shirley Weaver

Thomas F. and Loren Whittaker

Estate of Dr. Sonya

Cornell Yarmat

Rebecca Zandarski

Please let us know if you’ve included Kansas City Ballet in your estate plans or if you’re actively considering ways in which to leave your legacy.

KANSAS CITY BALLET CONTRIBUTORS

Thank you to the 2025-2026 Bolender Society members for their dedication and transformational support.

BOLENDER SOCIETY LEADERSHIP

($100,000+)

Anonymous

Julia Irene Dennie - Kauffman

Marilyn A.W. Gaar and Norman E. Gaar, Esq.

John and Mary Hunkeler

Jackson County, Missouri

Kansas City Ballet Guild

Estate of Deana McClure

Missouri Arts Council

Muriel McBrien Kauffman

Family Foundation

Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts - Commerce Bank, Trustee

The Seeley FoundationDana Seeley

William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee

BOLENDER SOCIETY DIAMOND

($50,000-$99,999)

Evelyn R. Craft Belger and C. Richard Belger

Mike and Vicki Bray

City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund

Estelle S. and Robert A. Long

Ellis Foundation

Hall Family Foundation

Dennis and Susan Lordi Marker

National Endowment for the Arts

R and C Charitable Foundation

The Shubert Foundation

BOLENDER SOCIETY PLATINUM

($25,000-$49,999)

Brad Allen and Gene Cooper

Mr. and Mrs. A. Joseph

Brandmeyer

Francis Family FoundationJ. Scott Francis

Michele Hamlett-Weith and Brian Weith

Richard Jensen and Melanie Jones

Linda and Topper Johntz

Timothy C. Liebert

Oppenstein Brothers Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee

Zack and Christina Shafran

Suzanne Shank and John Lohmeyer

SkillBuilders Fund

Greg and Barbara Storm

Mr. and Mrs. William D. Sullivan

Lynne and Carl Weilert

BOLENDER SOCIETY GOLD

($10,000-$24,999)

Americans for the Arts

Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation - UMB Bank, Trustee

Bruce and Vicki Baxter

Mr. Blair Bieser

Carol Blum and Steven Wilson

Joe and Claire Brand

Dorothy Brandt

Janis E. Brewster

Stanley J. Bushman and Ann Canfield

Ms. Lisa Choules

Karen and Stephen Clegg

Fred and Lucy Coulson

Cathy and Steve Doyal

Elsberry Family FoundationAnne and Howard Elsberry

Sue Ann and Richard Fagerberg

Mr. and Mrs. Barnett

C. Helzberg, Jr.

Ms. Joan Horan

Bonne and Clifford W. Illig

Ingram Family Foundation -

Beth Ingram

Jill Ingram Reynolds

J.B. Reynolds Foundation

Dr. Roger and Mrs. Sandy Jackson

Harold and Vicki James

Jerome Robbins Foundation

Kao Family Foundation

Kirk Foundation -

Julie and Mike Kirk

Ms. Victoria Lamkey

The Lighton FundLinda Lighton and Lynn Adkins

Louis & Elizabeth Nave

Flarsheim Charitable Foundation - Bank of America, Trustee

Patricia Martin and Brian Woolley

P. Alan McDermott

Edward P. Milbank

Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation

Dr. Linda E. Mitchell

Carolyn and Bill Parkerson

Ms. Margot Patterson

Leslie A. Pfriem

Ms. Julie Phillips

George and Wendy Powell Fund of The Kuehn Foundation

R.C. Kemper Charitable Trust - UMB Bank, Trustee

Paula and Jack Rowe

Susan and Glen Sands

Bill and Ginny Shackelford

Myron Sildon and Doris Hamilton

Dr. Christopher and Lisa Sirridge

Craig Sole

Sosland Foundation

Mr. Ian Spinks and Ms. Juliette Singer

Jody Shelton Stephen, in memory of Rita Shelton

Ms. Kathy Stepp and Mr. Howard Rothwell

Deb and Tom Swenson

Thomas and Sally Wood

Family Foundation

Angela and John Walker

Mr. Bill Weaver and Ms. Crystal O’Dea

Dr. Loren and Thomas

Whittaker

Sarah Yé

Dr. John and Karen Yungmeyer

BOLENDER SOCIETY

SILVER

($5,000-$9,999)

Andy and Kathy Anderson

Anonymous

Andy and Peggy Beal

Family Fund

Dr. Stephen and Susan Bubb

Dennis and Marilyn Christopher

Vicki and Mark Dickerson

Jo Anne and Bill Dondlinger

Edie and Randy Downing

Ewing Marion

Kauffman Foundation

Carol and Tony Feiock

Mr. Michael D. Fields

Ron and Tricia Fredman

A Friend of Kansas City Ballet

Lisa E. and Steven B. Glassman

Drs. Nicholas and Stephanie Golda

Innes and John Hale

Susan and Zack Hangauer

David and Beth Harris

Haverty Family Foundation -

Michael and Marlys Haverty

Rudy and Deb Herrmann

Brent and Rachelle Hesterlee

Taylor and Samantha Kranzberg

Bill Lindsay and Jan Foletta

Colette and James Majerle

Austin and Kristin Massoth

Bobbie Mathes

Mr. Robert H. Maynard, in memory of Heather Maynard

Mary Anne and Steve McDowell

Teresa and Bruce McKinney

Mike Breedlove Memorial Fund

Kamal and Mary Lynn Mikhail

Ms. Gail B. Morse

Tracy and Jeff Musolf

Barbara Clarke Nash

George and Suzy Pagels

Sarah and Jesse Pedraza

Fred and Jami Pryor

Joe and Sara Romine

Gigi and Gary Rose

Lisa and Charles Schellhorn

Meyer and Mindy Sosland

Bradley and Cynthia Strecker

Jennifer and Bryan Wampler

Lorie Whitaker

Raelee Wright

Dr. Michael J and Cindy S. Wurm

BOLENDER SOCIETY

BRONZE

($2,500-$4,999)

Aviva Ajmera and Wayne Strickland

Anna and John Allen

Anonymous

Dr. Lillard and DeVette Ashley

Marina and Matthew Bell

Sarah Bent and Craig Thompson

Angelo and Joan Brisimitzakis

Lynne and Peter Brown

Devon Carney and Pamela Royal Carney

Dr. Akin and Ms. Ayca Cil

City of Kansas City, MO

Dr. Robert Claassen

Vince and Julie Clark

Robert J. Cody

Craig Coen and Jeffrey Bellamy

Copaken Family Foundation

Gene and Joy Cota

Don and Patricia Dagenais

Kyle Danner

Drs. Charles and Donna Davis

Peggy and Terry Dunn

Julia Kirk and John Duty

Joseph and Diana Eisenach

Vicki Erickson and Ron Keel

Melanie and Mike Fenske

Ms. Virginia Fisher

Ms. Melissa Ford and Dr. Eric Molloy

Mark and Nancy Gilman

Susan Gilmore and Barry Loughrige

Bruce and Kathy Gordon

David Gray and Kyra Nichols

Charles and Eileen Green

Ms. Cynthia L. Hampton

Hank and Mary Beth Hershey

Lisa Merrill Hickok

Kim and Ted Higgins

Robert and Cindy Hisle

Jackson and Gamble Family

Cyndi James

Dr. William and Sheila Jewell

Dr. Karen Jordan

Mr. Steve Joss

Kansas Arts Commission

Donna Kelly

Charlotte Kemper Black

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Kilbride

Dana M. Koehn

Carol and John Kornitzer

Dr. and Mrs. William Kruse

William T. Laaser

Kim and Mike Lorenz

Julia and Greg Malter

Donna and Rex Martin

Mike and Jody McCamon

Carol and Dan McCartney

Siobhan McLaughlin Lesley

Rachel and Matt Merlo

Julia and Dennis Meyer

Chris and Amanda Miller

Miller-Mellor Association -

Mr. JoZach Miller and Mr. Peter Bali

Dr. Dan and Rev. Jeanie Murphy

Kathy and Justin Nemechek

Barbara Nicely

Clayton Percy and Karen Lordi

Drs. Charles and Susan Porter

Joe and Kelly Privitera

R.A. Long Foundation

Kathy and Michael Rainen

Mr. Mark Sappington and Dr. David S. McGee

Mark and Janice Schonwetter

Dr. Richard Schupp and Dr. Marilu Goodyear

Sherman Family FoundationMarny and John Sherman

Mrs. Sunday Siragusa

Marya and Kent Stallard

Michele and Jim Stowers

Stratus Group -

Courtney and Peggy Jones

Suhor Family Foundation -

Joe and Carol Suhor, Trustees

Fr. Paul Turner

Myron and Nicole Wang

James and Michaela Waters

Keith and Margie Weber

Foundation

Linda Weber

Jeff Whitman and Danielle Forpomes

Darlus M. Wolff

Andy Zaborny and

Karyn Clewes Zaborny

KANSAS CITY BALLET CONTRIBUTORS

Many thanks to the following individuals and charitable foundations for their support.

OVATION

($1,000-$2,499)

Adriana Albors and Jarrod Huntley

Anne Allen

Mary Cade Allen

Ms. Leslie G. Anderson

Anonymous

Anthony Iiams Memorial Foundation

Thomas and Karen Badgett

Iván and Karla Batlle

Peter D. Beckett for Beckett

Ministries International

Ms. Kaylee Bergman

John and Karen Binaggio

Ms. Nell M. Blatherwick

Cynthia J. Bleck

Tessa Bodnar

Cindy and Glenn Bowers

Marilyn and Robert Bowser

Diana M. Brady

Cynthia Bray

Dr. Robert and Pam Bruce

Bailey Burt

Mr. Ken Bush, in memory of

Mrs. Victoria Bush

Jerry and Meghan Carpenter

Kirk and Tamara Carson

Linda Clarkson

Steve and Patty Closser

Marcelle Cooper and Roger Arwood

Dale and Loire Cowen

Dr. Susie Cox

Dr. Suzanne C. Crandall

Chuck Cuda

Dao and Amanda Dang

William and Amanda Dugan

Amy and David Embry

Dr. Rachel Engelbarts

Jenny and Warren Erdman

Keelyn and Becky Ericson

William and Michelle Fasel

Bonnie Frederick

John and Sue Furla

Charles and Evelene Gallardo

George W. and Ada Heath Ultch

Memorial Fund - Commerce

Bank, Trustee

Fran and George Gerritz

Ann and Douglas Ghertner

Ellen R. and John R. Goheen

Gayle Gotcher

Ms. Anita Toby Grow and Dr. Jon Scheinman

Joe and Tesa Guevel

Mr. Chris Lee Hafner

Ms. Pamela Hancock

Mr. Kelvin and Dr. Victoria Haynes

- Haynes Health & Wellness

George Helmkamp

Pamela T. Henderson

Henry E. Wurst

Family Foundation

Gary and Liddell Hobin

Sharon and John Hoffman

Lesley and Peter Holt

Richard and Kathleen Honan

Jessica Joseph and Vivek Dubey

Mr. Kurt A. KnapsteinKnapstein Design

Regina and Bill Kort

Thomas Kusnetzky

Art Lafex

Kathy and James Laursen

Benny and Edith Lee

Linda Lenza

Nanette and Ken Lippincott

Louis and Frances Swinken

Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lyon

Patricia Macdonald

Phillip and Connie Mangiaracina

Martha Lee Cain Tranby

Music Enrichment Fund

Andrew P. McDonald

Martina and Patrick McLarney

Wendy and Patrick Melland

Joe and Yvette Miceli

Jackie and John Middelkamp

Denise Minet

Samantha Mockaitis

Troy and Angela Moore

Ms. Kelly L. Muehlberger

Marcy Nelson

Ron and Jane Nesemeyer

Brad and Deirdre Newcomer

Kismet Oettinger and

Susan Neumann

Mr. Joab Ortiz

Jennifer Owen and Brad Cox

Bill Pallucca and Kevin Deen

Michael and Jillian Pence

John Pepper

Laura Ponce

Powell Family Foundation -

Nancy E. Powell

Melissa and Rob Price

Patty and Jerry Reece

Mallory Robins

Connie and David Ross

Chad and Latrica Schnepf

Mrs. Patricia Ann Scott

Veronica and Jere Sellers

Ms. Carol Nelson Shifflett

Vicki Short

Pam and Gary Smedile

Rebecca and Phil Smith

Thomas and Sharon Soetaert

Ms. Colette Sorell

Sara Stipkovits

Ms. Alexis Strauss

Pamela and Terrence Sullivan

The Trudy Foundation

Justin Turner and Wenfei Xie

Ms. Kristi Weaver Rowe

Sandy and Byron Whitaker

Mr. Ronald Wilson, in memory of Barbara Baer, PhD

Thomas and Patty Wood

Mrs. Margaret Wurst

Sophia C. Zetmeir

BRAVO

($500-$999)

Chris Ahrens

Andrew and Jeanne Alingh

Arthur and Laura Allen

Jacob and Catherine Ambrose

Anonymous

Joseph Appelt

Jennifer Artman

Pamela Bachman

Mrs. Tom E. Beal

Cathy Bennett and Mike McGuire

Jeffrey J. Bentley

Dr. Kristi Bernath

William and Terry Biggins

Tom and Judy Bowser

Angelo and Holly Brisimitzakis

Brunfeldt Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation

Jacqueline Buell

Matt Burns

Ms. Norma Butler

Claire Chase

Craig and Jill Connell

Steven S. Conway

Dr. Patricia Cox

Nicole and Bernard Craig

Norman and Rachelle Craig

Kim Crane

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Cusser

Jack and Nida Dillon

Derek Dummermuth and Allison Rank Dummermuth

Laurie Eck

Derek and Jen Elder

Darci Emerson

Dan Flanigan

Dr. John and Julia Fritzlen

Kent Galley

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Gill

Mr. Ervin Gina

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hagen

Quint Hall

Scott and Lisa Hallier

Phyllis Hart

Andy and Melissa Haskins

Teresa Hayes

Julie and Ward Holmquist

Arthur Hoyt

Humboldt Sax

William and Margo Humenczuk

Diana Ice

Mr. Kirk and Mrs. Gretchen Ivy

Denise and Mark Jacobson

Jacqueline and Robert Epsten

Foundation

Christina and Chris Johnson

Robert Kadavy

Abby and Tyler Krampe

Tara LaCoe and Matt Schwartz

Ingrid Larson

Jana LeBaron

Mary Leonida

Margaret L. Lesher

Thomas and Joyce Lohmeyer

Jon and Stephanie Lumpkin

Named for beloved former Artistic Director Todd Bolender, who transformed Kansas City Ballet with his artistry and vision, The Bolender Society is our premiere philanthropic group.

As a member, you’ll get exclusive access to guest artist talks, fun outings around ballet performances, and special social gatherings with the dancers.

Want to learn more or join? Contact Kelly Adrian, Director of Individual Giving, at 816.216.5582 or kadrian@kcballet.org.

Megan Marshall

Jill McCarthy

Courtney and Tim McFadden

Wendy Mendes

Ms. Patricia Miles

Charles Morffi

Stephen and Andrea Morgan

Shannon Murray

Phyllis Naragon

Nicole Nelson

Ronald Newton

Jacque Nordhus

Dr. Robin Onikul

Alex and Holly Pahulu

Jo Beth Paradis

Nisha Patel

Dr. Ron and Donna Patton

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Pinkston

Ms. Lisa Pinsker

Carolyn Price and Lou Ferro

Ms. Joan Priolo

Ms. Rebecca Pycior

Mr. Hal Douglas Quinn

Nicholas and Natalie Riegg

Richard and Sharyl Roady

Gary and Anita Robb

Marsha Schieber

Anastasia and Max Schlesinger

Mr. Alvin J. Schneider

Mrs. Shirley Schoenlaub

Mal Shafran

Ms. Penny Shand and Marissa Lyons

Steve and Joan Sherman

Debbie and Tom Sherrer

Steve Short and Carl Welander

Clarence Simmons, Jr.

Jason and Bethany Sloderbeck

Lora Smith

Barbara Spilker

Sean and Jana Spivey

Melissa Stanfield

Nadia Mikhova and Ronald Stanke

Mr. Chris Stanley

Linda S. Stevens

Will Stroman and Kathryn Clevenger

Sven and Julie Sykes

Ms. Alarie Tennille and Mr. Christopher Purcell

Robert and Sandra Thompson

Marcia and Dennis Tighe

Geoff and Krista Tolsdorf

Dan and Karen Toughey

TJ and Katie Trum

Paul and Loraine Turec

Michele Warnecke

Mrs. Barbara Weary

Lisa Weidmaier

Paul Wickens and Lisa Weixelman

Bero Wiens Legacy Fund, in honor of Jubilee Wiens

Mary Ruud Wood and Lance Wood

Gregory Woodhams and Julia Gargallo

William Yeo

Mrs. Peggy Jean Younger

KANSAS CITY BALLET SCHOOL

OLIVER TILL SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Oliver Till trained at The Royal Ballet School, and danced as a Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet under Sir David Bintley’s directorship. Through his career, he performed diverse roles from repertoires by renowned choreographers such as Peter Wright, David Bintley, Jessica Lang, Stanton Welch, Kenneth MacMillan, Michael Corder, Frederick Ashton, and Ninette de Valois. His performances took him on tours across the UK, Europe, USA, Japan, and China. Parallel to his ballet career, Till pursued a BA in Business with Environment and gained valuable experience interning at an investment bank in New York City. He later founded a video and distance coaching platform based in the US and gained his ABT-NTC Pre-Primary to Level 7 and Partnering certification. Till then transitioned to the role of ballet teacher at the Swedish National Ballet School, where he led the implementation of the ABT National Training Curriculum. As Mentor Team Leader for students aged 8 to 11, he focused on student wellbeing and transition to vocational training as well as supporting fellow teachers in their roles. As manager of the school’s outreach programs, he developed support for young dancers and the school’s teachers. Returning to the US, Oliver joined the Joffrey Ballet as Head of Children’s, Adult, and Adaptive Programs. There, he focused on curriculum development, program structure, and creating performance opportunities, aiming to enhance the student experience and

KANSAS CITY BALLET SCHOOL | STAFF

ARTISTIC

Devon Carney

Artistic Director

Oliver Till School Director

Kimberly Cowen Principal & KCYB Director

Taryn Ouellette, Principal, South Campus at Meadowbrook

Jennifer Welch Cudnik, Principal, Daytime Program

Dmitry Trubchanov

Men’s Program Coordinator & KCYB Associate Director

Jordan Voth

Company Pianist/Principal Academy Pianist

Jacob Thomas Academy and R.O.A.D. Pianist

KANSAS CITY BALLET SCHOOL | FACULTY

Iyonna Barris

Brigitte Benyei

Winston Brown

Tara Burgat

Nora Burkitt-Davis

Christina Burton

Alexis Byerly

Pamela Carney

Tamara Carson

Kimberly Cowen

Jennifer Welch Cudnik

Caroline Dahm

Rachel Grisi Dugan

Olivia Emert

Stephanie Eppler

Tess Gadwood

Kendra Gage

Sidney Haefs

Maureen Hall

Michele Hamlett-Weith

Jeremy Hanson

Jaime Hickey

Lauren Holmes

Anna Hughlett

Debbie Jacobs-Huffaker

Tobin James

Alyssa Jones

Olivia Kalamboukas

Joshua Kiesel

Elaine Kimble

Kramer Kreiling

Hannah Lareau

Susan Lewis

Skyler Linn

Audrey Lynn

Miyesha McGriff

support teacher development. Operationally he has driven efforts to streamline processes and effectively communicate to new and existing audiences. Till believes in making dance accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability, ensuring high-quality support and expertise are available to all. In the pre-professional sphere, he champions a holistic approach to nurturing young students, integrating mental and physical methods to support their development. Till’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and excellence defines his vision for the future of dance education.

KANSAS CITY BALLET SCHOOL

Kansas City Ballet School is the Official School of Kansas City Ballet and offers two tracks of study: the Academy for the career-minded student who aspires to be a professional dancer; and the Open Division for youth and adults who wish to study for recreation. Classes are offered in ballet, pointe, men’s technique, tap, flamenco, modern, jazz and more. All classes are taught by highly-qualified professionals with the experience and dedication to guide, inspire and nurture all students in their dance training. The School uniform partner is Elevé Dancewear. Kansas City Ballet School was named “Outstanding School” by Youth America Grand Prix 2017-2022. There are two convenient locations: the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity in downtown Kansas City and the South Campus at Meadowbrook at 95th and Nall. For more information: call 816.931.2299, email school@kcballet.org or visit our website at kcballet.org/school.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Sherry Urton

School Operations Manager

Miyesha McGriff

R.O.A.D. Program Administrator

Rachel Grisi Dugan Summer Intensive Coordinator

Nora Burkitt-Davis Children’s Program & Adaptive Dance Coordinator

Taryn Ouellette

Monika Overend

Jennifer Owen

Taryn Pachciarz

Andrew Parker

Nadine Price-Rojas

Tina Ray

Megan Robinson

Sam McReynolds

Robert Mills

Linda Mitchell

Melissa Molloy

Erin Muenks

Tempe Ostergren

KANSAS CITY BALLET SCHOOL | ACCOMPANISTS

Brian Bates

Samuel Beckett

Nina Cherry

Catherine Clark

Inna Daniels

Alyssa Murray

Rosie O’Brien

Andrew Ouellette

William Puckett

Angie Roustio

Jaclyn Rylee

RJ Schultze

Elliott Rogers

Suzanne Ryanstrati

Jenny Schmidt

Emily Simpson

Lisa Sirridge

Toinette Tamayo

Cameron Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Jordan Voth

Hyerin Yang

Kira Dimarco Bolender Center Campus Administrator

Adrienne Anderson Data & Process Analyst

Allay Freeman Alisson Gonzalez

Annie Roe Administrative Assistants

Cameron Thomas

Dmitry Trubchanov

Kim Trudell

Laura Vernaci

Lynley Von Engeln

Paula Weber

Marisa Whiteman

Latra Wilson

Susan Williams

Molly Yuelkenbeck

Paul Zusi

Xiangyu Zhao

ARTISTIC

Devon Carney Artistic Director

Kristi Capps Rehearsal Director

Parrish Maynard Rehearsal Director

Christopher Ruud Second Company Manager & Rehearsal Director

Oliver Till School Director

Ramona Pansegrau Music Director & Conductor

Jordan Voth Company Pianist

ADMINISTRATIVE

David Gray

Executive Director

Kevin Amey Chief Operations Officer

George Hans Chief Financial Officer

Gregg Markowski Finance Director

Mary Allen

Office Manager/Executive Assistant

Glenn Lewis Facilities Manager

PHILANTHROPY

Kristin Castle Chief Philanthropy Officer

Kelly Adrian Director of Individual Giving

Lacy Gordon Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager

KANSAS CITY BALLET STAFF

Grace Ingham Manager, Events & Philanthropy

Kelly Leahy Manager, Philanthropic Communications

Natalie Sextro Manager, Philanthropic Operations

Megan Robinson Philanthropy Assistant

MARKETING

& PATRON SERVICES

Karen Badgett Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Savanna Daniels Design & Digital Marketing Manager

Beeh Moynagh Creative Content Producer

Nicole Dolan Social Media Specialist

Ellen McDonald Publicist

Mark Volk Patron Services Manager

Kim Toigo Assistant Patron Services Manager

Alix England Patron Services Associate

PARTNERSHIP

Kim Trudell Manager, Strategic Partnerships

PRODUCTION

Amy Taylor Director of Production

Laura Krus Production Stage Manager

Jennifer Carroll Costume Director

Betti Jo Diem Costume Shop Manager

Becci Jo Kelbaugh Costume Shop Assistant

Madeline Brasgalla Stage Manager

Connor Maloney Assistant Stage Manager

Jessica Tibboles Assistant Stage Manager

IATSE LOCAL #31, STAGE CREW

Josh Beasley Head Carpenter

Dale Klamm Head Properties

Rick Knapp Programmer

Ryan Lewis Steward & Head Flyman

Phil Rebel Audio Engineer

Margaret Spare Head Electrician

Greg Brown Head Electrician Emeritus

IATSE LOCAL #810, WARDROBE ATTENDANTS

Desiree Story Head of Wardrobe

Kansas City Ballet acknowledges the following professional service providers:

Lathrop GPM, Legal

Forvis Mazars, Auditors

Commerce Trust Company

Investment Advisors

AssuredPartners – A Gallagher Company

Insurance

Kansas City Foot & Ankle

Lead Podiatrist – Dr. John Riley

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance

Lead Physicians – Dr. J.P. Halloran, Dr. Michael Khadavi, Dr. Kirk McCullough, Dr. Fermin Santos

Performance Rehab

Lead Physical Therapist –Kendra Gage, DPT, OCS

Extraordinary Machine Massage

Stephen Jacoby, LMT Dr. Nancy Murdock

Psychological Consultant

Lois Kauffman, Kansas City Ballet Archivist

KEVRA: The Culture Company

Dr. Kevin Sansberry,

Human Resources Consultant

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC

UPCOMING CONCERTS

April 17, 2026, 7 P.M.

Park ICM Orchestra Season Finale

Guest Conductor Jason Seber

April 24, 2026, 7 P.M.

ICM String Studios in recital

May 1, 2026, 7 P.M.

Behzod Abduraimov, Piano in concert

GRAHAM TYLER

MEMORIAL CHAPEL

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1900 BUILDING

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