129 South Washington Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, US
Providing High Quality Dance in Green Bay Since 1973
Exclusive Nutcracker Preview & Dancer Photo Experience
Value: Priceless
Step behind the scenes of The Nutcracker and enjoy a rare, private dress rehearsal with premium seating for four (a NEWDO board member will assist with behind-the-scenes experiences).
• Costume Showcase: Peruse a sampling of the more than 100 colorful costumes from the ballet up close and feel the quiet anticipation before the performance. Prop items like the Mouse Queen's papier-mâché head and the Sugar Plum Fairy's wand will be there to examine, as well.
• Snow Scene Experience: Watch the iconic Snow Scene from stage left, seeing the performance from the dancers’ own perspective. • Take-Home Magic: Receive a jar of snow from the scene - a tangible keepsake of the evening.
• Meet the Dancers: Enjoy a special photo session and take home signed programs and posters as lasting mementos.
• Child Policy: Children attending must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Date: 11/25/2026
Bidding closes Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CT. The winning bidder will be contacted using the contact information provided during auction registration.
welcome to the home of the nutcracker at the weidner
Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization is proud to partner with The Weidner Center and The Weidner Philharmonic to provide Green Bay with the only Nutcracker with LIVE music. Use the ticket links below to join us for the magic November 27, 28, and 29. We can't wait to dance for you!
Rehearsals this WeekenD
Rehearsals and Costume Fittings
Saturday October 24th
Excused Crocker Spindler Ziemendorf Dirkman Spellman Flory
12:30-1:00 Angels
1:00-1:45 Night Scene & Battle Scene (Full Cast)
1:45-3:15 Party Scene (Full Cast)
Costume Fitting:
12:00-1:00 Mice (no Little Mice)
1:00-1:45 Tristan Reis, Cecelia Smies, Mady Falk, Alexia McMahon, Katherine Kindt, Natalie Renkas, Savanah Budworth
10:00-12:30 These Angels:
Tomac, Natalya Stein, Josie Zehren, Callie Mattson, Nadia
Melendez, Amara Pfohl, Jane Szkodzinski, Molly Koehler, Gigi DeBaker, Nova
Armitage, Leona Beaudry Meyer, Amelia
Sunday October 25th
Excused: Crocker, Ziemendorf Dirkman, Flory, Falk, Sullivan
11:15-1:00 Snow (Full Cast)
1:00-2:30 Procession, Divertissement, Finale
2:30-4:00 Flowers
Costume Fitting: 9:00am SNOW A, Snow Queen
2:30-3:30 Mother Ginger
The guest artists of the 2026 NUTCRACKER at The Weidner
Meet Our Sugar Plum
Sponsored by The Zehren Family
Currently a principal dancer with Carolina Ballet, Taylor Ayotte began her formal dance training at age 5 at the Green Bay School of Dance. At age 14, she accepted an invitation to study full-time at the School of American Ballet under Kay Mazzo, Suki Schorer, and Susan Pilarre. She attended summer courses
Sponsored by The Zehren Family
Currently a principal dancer with Carolina Ballet, Taylor Ayotte began her formal dance training at age 5 at the Green Bay School of Dance. At age 14, she accepted an invitation to study full-time at the School of American Ballet under Kay Mazzo, Suki Schorer, and Susan Pilarre. She attended summer courses on full scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet and the School of American Ballet. Ms. Ayotte’s featured roles with Carolina Ballet include George Balanchine’s Apollo as Calliope, Rubies as the Tall Girl, and Emeralds as the Principal Woman, as well as the Principal Couple in Zalman Raffael’s Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 1. Her repertoire also includes George Balanchine’s Agon, Zalman Raffael’s In the Gray, Rhapsody in Blue, and Metaphorical Heart, Robert Weiss’ Sleeping Beauty, Lynn Taylor-Corbett’s Chiaroscuro and The Ugly Duckling, among others. She appears in The Nutcracker at The Weidner courtesy of Carolina Ballet.
Meet Our Cavalier
Sponsored by Associated Bank
Currently a principal dancer with Carolina Ballet, Pierson Hall found his love of dance at age four with hip hop, tap and jazz. At age seven he added ballet, joining the boys program at The Joffrey Ballet School. In 2011 he started at The School of American Ballet and trained for six years. Dancing children’
Sponsored by Associated Bank
Currently a principal dancer with Carolina Ballet, Pierson Hall found his love of dance at age four with hip hop, tap and jazz. At age seven he added ballet, joining the boys program at The Joffrey Ballet School. In 2011 he started at The School of American Ballet and trained for six years. Dancing children’s roles with NYC Ballet in productions of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake and Harlequinade. In 2017 he attended ABT’s JKO School on scholarship. In 2018 he was awarded a scholarship at Ballet Academy East where he performed Puss n Boots in Maina Gielgud’s Sleeping Beauty. He was named the 2019-20 David Howard Foundation Scholar. From 2020-2022 he attended the Post Graduate Program at Boston Ballet. He performed with Boston Ballet in The Gift and The Nutcracker and with Boston Ballet II as Drosselmeyer in Nutcracker Suite. He also performed Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante for the Rising Stars showcase. In 2022 Pierson was invited to join Carolina Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet and was promoted to soloist in August of 2025. He appears in The Nutcracker at The Weidner courtesy of Carolina Ballet
Meet Our Elder Clara
Meet Our Elder Clara
Sponsored by The Haddad Family
Alyssa Pilger was born in Rochester, New York, and began her dance training at age four with Performance Plus Dance. At age 15, she continued her studies focusing in ballet with Draper Center for Dance Education. While attending she competed in Youth American Grand Prix Rhode Island, and won 1st place in the
Sponsored by The Haddad Family
Alyssa Pilger was born in Rochester, New York, and began her dance training at age four with Performance Plus Dance. At age 15, she continued her studies focusing in ballet with Draper Center for Dance Education. While attending she competed in Youth American Grand Prix Rhode Island, and won 1st place in the senior classical category along with third in the contemporary. She received additional training at School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet before joining Carolina Ballet in 2012. Alyssa Pilger was promoted to principal dancer with Carolina Ballet in 2019.
She appears in The Nutcracker at The Weidner courtesy of Carolina Ballet
Meet Our Prince
Meet Our Elder Clara
Sponsored by NEWDO
Thomas Kingsbury is from Canton, Ohio, where he began his training with the Canton Ballet at 9 years old. He then joined the Colburn Dance Academy in Los Angeles at 15, and most recently, he was in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division. Thomas has spent summers at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Sch
Sponsored by NEWDO
Thomas Kingsbury is from Canton, Ohio, where he began his training with the Canton Ballet at 9 years old. He then joined the Colburn Dance Academy in Los Angeles at 15, and most recently, he was in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division. Thomas has spent summers at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Chautauqua Institution. Throughout his training he has performed principal roles in George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations and Serenade, along with many ensemble roles in company productions, such as Crystal Pite’s The Seasons’ Canon, and Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake.
He appears in The Nutcracker at The Weidner courtesy of Carolina Ballet
Meet Our Snow Queen
Meet Our Drosselmeyer
Meet Our Drosselmeyer
Eva Chronert, originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to train at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and Darla Hoover. She then joined the trainee program at Oklahoma City Ballet, where she studied for two years with Racheal and Ryan Nye. Following her time in Oklahoma
Eva Chronert, originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to train at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and Darla Hoover. She then joined the trainee program at Oklahoma City Ballet, where she studied for two years with Racheal and Ryan Nye. Following her time in Oklahoma City, she joined Minnesota Ballet as an apprentice, working under Karl von Rabenau and Jennifer Miller. From 2023–2026, Eva was a corps de ballet dancer with Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, Colorado, under the direction of Michael Pappalardo.
Meet Our Drosselmeyer
Meet Our Drosselmeyer
Meet Our Drosselmeyer
Kevin Melendez is delighted to return to the stage as Uncle Drosselmeyer — coaxed out of a long hiatus by a far more persuasive performer: his 4-year-old daughter, also appearing in this production.
His Chicago work includes Destiny of Desire and Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings at the Goodman Theater.
New York credits includ
Kevin Melendez is delighted to return to the stage as Uncle Drosselmeyer — coaxed out of a long hiatus by a far more persuasive performer: his 4-year-old daughter, also appearing in this production.
His Chicago work includes Destiny of Desire and Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings at the Goodman Theater.
New York credits include the U.S. premiere of Ivan and the Dogs at Origin Theatre Company, Brendan at Fat Violet Theater, Midnight Madness as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival, and The East Village Chronicles at the Metropolitan Playhouse.
Regional highlights include LMNOP at Goodspeed Musicals, Around the World in 80 Days at Hangar Theatre, and Jekyll and Hyde at Westchester Broadway Theater.
He is proudest of his work with The CORE Ensemble in Los Valientes and Harvest of Voices, sharing the stories of migrant farm workers with students nationwide.
Kevin is a graduate of Rowan University and a proud member of Actors' Equity.
And our Young artists returning to Green bay...
Lilly Meyer
Megan Szkodzinski
Megan Szkodzinski
Sponsored by WPS Service Foundation
Lilly Meyer grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin where she started her dance training at Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization through her senior year of high school. She has attended summer and winter programs at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet, Centra
Sponsored by WPS Service Foundation
Lilly Meyer grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin where she started her dance training at Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization through her senior year of high school. She has attended summer and winter programs at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Butler Ballet, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance, and Carolina Ballet. This past summer, she had the opportunity to dance and work alongside Raven Squid Ballet Company in Paris, France. Lilly is currently at the University of Missouri - Kansas City as a senior obtaining her B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography. Lilly’s repertoire includes works from Timothy Josephs, Angie Flanagan, Kristen Throne, Diane Danhieux, Gary Abbott, DeeAnna Hiett, Tempe Ostergren, Michael Blake, Christopher Huggins, Christina Burton, Karen Brown, Marin Boieru, Madeline Scott, John Selya, and Zalman Raffael.
Megan Szkodzinski
Megan Szkodzinski
Megan Szkodzinski
Sponsored by Wisconsin Institute of Plastic Surgery
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Megan Szkodzinski began her formal dance training with Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization. She continued her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for her junior year of high school before continui
Sponsored by Wisconsin Institute of Plastic Surgery
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Megan Szkodzinski began her formal dance training with Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization. She continued her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for her junior year of high school before continuing as a pre-professional student with the School of Carolina Ballet. Additionally, Megan has attended summer courses at Carolina Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and has most recently spent 4 weeks with the RavinSquid Ballet Compagnie located in Paris, France. Megan’s repertoire includes works by George Balenchine, Zalman Raffael, Amy Hall Garner, Ilya Kozadayev, Misha Tchoupakov, Philip Broomhead, Timothy Joesphs, Angie Flanagan, and Diane Danhieux.
Fiona Josephs
Megan Szkodzinski
Fiona Josephs
Fiona Josephs grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the age of three, she began her dance training with Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization. She has attended summer programs with Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago and Green Bay School of Dance (Intensives with Randi Osetek, Dameon Nagel and Angie Flanagan)
Fiona Josephs grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the age of three, she began her dance training with Green Bay School of Dance and Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization. She has attended summer programs with Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago and Green Bay School of Dance (Intensives with Randi Osetek, Dameon Nagel and Angie Flanagan). She has performed with Civic Symphony of Green Bay, The Weidner Philharmonic and Holiday Pops. Her favorite Nutcracker roles are Flowers, Fritz, Coffee and Chocolate. Her repertoire includes works from Timothy Josephs, Angie Flanagan, Kristen Throne, Diane Danhieux and Jamie Gissendaner. Fiona is currently attending her second year at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she will earn a minor in Dance
And our local talent...
Scott Ronsmans
Bonnie Kirschman
Bonnie Kirschman
Scott celebrates his 11th year with NEWDO and The Nutcracker! With a degree in Theater and Education, he is a Fine Arts teacher in the Green Bay school system. As a veteran of over 200 productions, his credits include leading roles in "A Chorus Line", "Mame", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Mikado", "You Can't Take It With You", and "Peter Pan"
Scott celebrates his 11th year with NEWDO and The Nutcracker! With a degree in Theater and Education, he is a Fine Arts teacher in the Green Bay school system. As a veteran of over 200 productions, his credits include leading roles in "A Chorus Line", "Mame", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Mikado", "You Can't Take It With You", and "Peter Pan". He enjoys his summers as a Parkee for the Green Bay Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department.
Bonnie Kirschman
Bonnie Kirschman
Bonnie Kirschman
Bonnie grew up on the stage in Pella, Iowa, and went on to earn her degree in Education and Communications. From 1996-2009 she was the morning anchor/reporter for NBC26. After 25 years, she traded the TV studio for her true passion, the theater. Currently, Bonnie is a third grade teacher and drama director with Shiocton School District
Bonnie grew up on the stage in Pella, Iowa, and went on to earn her degree in Education and Communications. From 1996-2009 she was the morning anchor/reporter for NBC26. After 25 years, she traded the TV studio for her true passion, the theater. Currently, Bonnie is a third grade teacher and drama director with Shiocton School District. For the last 10 years, she has been a director/instructor for the young actors summer program with Evergreen Theater, and has been involved for 25 years in community theater in Quincy, Illinois and Green Bay, WI. Her most memorable roles are Rose Mundy in “Dancing at Lughnasa”, M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” and Ellen in “Nightwatch”. This is Bonnie's second year with The Nutcracker at The Weidner.
Kristen Throne
Kristen Throne
Kristen Throne
Kristen trained and performed as a young professional with companies and schools in the midwest. She currently teaches classical ballet and character dance to students at the Green Bay School of Dance. Passionate about sharing her love of ballet, artistry, and expression, Kristen is dedicated to helping dancers grow both technically and
Kristen trained and performed as a young professional with companies and schools in the midwest. She currently teaches classical ballet and character dance to students at the Green Bay School of Dance. Passionate about sharing her love of ballet, artistry, and expression, Kristen is dedicated to helping dancers grow both technically and artistically. Since 2006, Kristen has worked with NEWDO as a performer and rehearsal mistress. She especially enjoys helping cast members bring the annual production of the Nutcracker at The Weidner to life. In addition to this work, she holds a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois and currently teaches 5th grade.
Curt Christnot
Kristen Throne
Kristen Throne
Curt is a graduate of UWGB with a bachelors in theater. He is a member of the Evergreen Theater board where he directs and trains children in Evergreen's young actor's education program. He is a founder and primary instructor for the young actor's summer program and the Artistic Director for the summer show. Some of the shows he has direc
Curt is a graduate of UWGB with a bachelors in theater. He is a member of the Evergreen Theater board where he directs and trains children in Evergreen's young actor's education program. He is a founder and primary instructor for the young actor's summer program and the Artistic Director for the summer show. Some of the shows he has directed are Finding Don Quixote, The Enchanted Bookshop, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Inherit the Wind. He has performed in the Nutcracker as Mother Ginger from the beginning and looks forward to it every year.
About Us
Our Mission
Arts Partnerships
Our Mission
The mission of the Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization, Inc. is to promote and support the art of dance through high quality, professional level productions, education and outreach to the Green Bay community.
Donate
Arts Partnerships
Our Mission
From our list of performers who have gone on to careers in ballet companies to our current resilient cast of young pre-professionals, your investment in our small organization has BIG results. Together, we continue to make Green Bay a place where our children can grow and thrive.
Arts Partnerships
Arts Partnerships
Arts Partnerships
As part of our mission to provide high quality classical dance performance, outreach and education, NEWDO is proud to partner with many great arts organizations in our community. We are better together.