A new holiday tradition is born in Montgomery: SQAD presents 'The NutQracker' this weekend

Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser
·3 min read
Lauren Rudolph as Clara in SQAD's production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre.
Lauren Rudolph as Clara in SQAD's production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre.

Symphony Q Academy of Dance is bringing a traditional "Nutcracker" ballet to Montgomery this weekend, a performance the likes of which the city hasn't seen before.

It's “The NutQracker," which features an all-Black cast.

"It's all classical. We didn't switch up anything. We didn't urbanize anything," said Laquangela “Quan” Littleton, a classically trained ballerina and founder of SQAD. "My whole idea of keeping it classical was to showcase that we are able to put on a full classical ballet here in Montgomery, even with it being an all African-American cast. Typically, that's not something you'll run across in the ballet world."

NutQracker will have five performances in the Leila Barlow Theatre, 915 S. Jackson St., on the campus of Alabama State University. Friday's show is at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will have performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available now for $25 at www.ticketreturn.com. The theater's box office will be open on show dates only. For more information, call 334-239-8516.

Littleton said they started preparing for the production in October. It has a cast of 85, with ages 4 to adults, many of which have never experienced Nutcracker ballet before this.

"It's pretty much to me to showcase that we are able to a classical form ballet, and still accentuate our ethnicity throughout it," said Littleton, who dances the role of Sugar Plum Fairy.

The battle scene from SQAD's production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre.
The battle scene from SQAD's production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre.

The character Clara, who receives a nutcracker doll from her uncle and then sets off on a magical adventure, is played by 16-year-old Lauren Rudolph. She's a senior company dancer in her second year at SQAD.

It also features Damundrick Burell-Franks as the Nutcracker, and Jamod Parham, 16, as the Mouse King.

“There is no double cast, everyone is playing the same character in every show,” Littleton said.

Littleton's son Ryan is also making an appearance as Fritz, Clara's mischievous younger brother.

Joining the lead dancers are other students from Alabama State University's Dance Program.

Trinity Cox, a guest dancer of the Columbia City Ballet, will dance Arabian.

James Atkinson, dance director of ASU’s BFA Dance program, performs as Cavalier.

You will also see Ke’Yana Robinson, CEAM dance director and a graduate of the BFA program of ASU, dancing lead as Marzipan.

SQAD's classical ballet production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre features an all-Black cast.
SQAD's classical ballet production of The NutQracker at ASU's Leila Barlow Theatre features an all-Black cast.

"It's looking great," Littleton said after Tuesday night's rehearsal.

One thing audiences might get a glimpse of are the Q symbols hidden throughout the production.

"The soldiers, you might find the Q on their sashes. Mother Ginger, you'll find a Q in her mirror," Littleton said.

The production features staging and choreography assistance by Jerome Stigler and James Atkinson (both ASU professors of dance), lighting by Lyndell T. McDonald, a University of Alabama professor and technical supervisor, and costumes designed and prepared by Christine Prescott.

So is this going to become an annual tradition for SQAD?

"Oh, absolutely," Littleton said. "I want Montgomery to be able to look forward to seeing this production every year, and making this their holiday tradition."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: SQAD presents 'The NutQracker' this weekend in Montgomery