“A Steamed Nutcracker” is an original ballet created by Lari Lawrence-Gist that puts a steampunk spin on a holiday tradition. The story of Sansa is told set to the score of “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky, which is played live by a professional orchestra. This production takes place on the Mendel Main Stage at Lake Michigan College and is staged every other year in rotation with “The Citadel Spectacular”.
Two Performances! Matinee 2pm and Evening 7pm
Sansa’s Tea Party will be held from 12:30-1:30 at the Mendel Center. Tea Party includes punch and cookies, photo opportunities with the cast, fortune telling with The Seer, and a backstage tour! All ages welcome. Admission included with a matinee ticket. Suggested donation $5
Synopsis
It is Christmas Eve. Sansa hosts a party in her grounded zeppelin, and her sister, Fiametta, helps finish decorating. The Seer arrives and greets the girls with warmth and excitement. She “offers” to provide fortune telling for all the guests for the night. Fiametta is very excited, but Sansa tries to object. The Seer will not take no for an answer. Sansa’s best friend, Cora, arrives with a special gift. As the girls prepare to play a game of “battle” with their new toy soldiers, Lawton enters and The Seer begins to have a premonition.
As guests arrive, the two friends are both immediately drawn to Lawton; tension builds. The Seer continues to tell fortunes with her orb. When she reads Cora’s future, a dark prophesy is forseen. Cora doesn’t understand what she has seen and becomes defensive. Sansa, who hasn’t seen the prophesy, defends her friend and refuses to look into the orb. The Seer shows Fiametta instead, and she attacks Cora. Sansa stands in solidarity with her friend. Despite the drama, the party continues, but Cora realizes the attachment growing between Sansa and Lawton. In a fit of confused rage and jealousy, she storms off.
The party continues as Sansa and Lawton fall in love. Fiametta and The Seer try to refocus Sansa’s attention with The Seer’s clock, but Fiametta’s game gets out of hand and it breaks. Lawton distracts her once again and she forgets all about the Seer, and unfortunately, Cora. The Seer tries one more time to get Sansa to see the danger she is in, but Sansa is lost in the daze of new love. The party ends and guests depart. Sansa drifts blissfully to sleep, but The Seer finds a way to haunt her dreams.
The Seer’s birds sound the alarm when Cora, who has come back to have it out with Sansa, breaks in in the middle of the night. Her efforts are broken up by The Seer, and she sends her away. Cora flees, and The Seer begins to enchant the zeppelin to protect Sansa. Sansa, not realizing the real danger she is in, follows The Seer out. The Seer sets the zeppelin off to fly thinking Sansa is safely inside, and surrounds it with an army of Cyborgs. Cora reappears to attack Sansa, and Lawton appears to defend her. Despite all her efforts, The Seer’s prophesy is fulfilled.
The Seer is tortured by her gift of sight. She wants to protect Sansa, but sees now that her actions cannot change the future. She must send Sansa away, but how can she make her listen? Is a small deception worth it in the end if Sansa believes it and moves toward her future with no fear of being visited by The Seer again?