≈ 2 hours and 4 minutes · With intermission
Last updated: December 2, 2021
It is certainly a joyous occasion to be hosting Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet this week, with its magnificent production of Nutcracker —a wonderful launch to the holiday season! The RWB’s Canadian-themed production of this famous ballet is a fitting way to bring us all together in the nation’s capital. Programming and presenting for our patrons is the raison d’être of NAC Dance, and we can’t thank you enough for sticking with us during these difficult months. At the heart of the Nutcracker are stories of dreams and hopes, and of family and home. Welcome back, and welcome home!
Enjoy!
We would like to recognize the Algonquin Nation, on whose traditional unceded territory the National Arts Centre is located. We gratefully acknowledge them as the past, present and future stewards of this land.
We stand with the Indigenous community and commit to build an ongoing process of reconciliation and collaboration.
Yosuke Mino performed in the first production.
Brian Perchaluk, the scenic designer, was a Gemini Award winner before designing The Nutcracker, his first RWB production.
We have almost 250 costumes for 39 dancers – each dancer has three to eight costumes.
RWB’s Wardrobe Department make each costume in-house, sewing precious details by hand.
Nutcracker has about 35 tutus in the show alone, and it can take up to 50 hours to create just one snowflake tutu.
To transform the Nutcracker stage into a winter wonderland is no small feat. To make Nutcracker happen, 34 stagehands are needed for setup while 26 stagehands are staffed for the duration of the production.
To give an idea of the organized clamor behind the curtain, there are 18 fly cues that move 32 pieces of scenery. With the final minutes of Nutcracker requiring three major scene changes, it is no wonder Nutcracker planning begins in March!
Run time is 2 hours and 4 minutes including intermission.
Christmas 1913, in a large Canadian home. It’s a prosperous time in a prosperous city whose population has swollen with new arrivals. The First World War is still half a year away.
‘Tis the night before Christmas and all through Clara’s house, everything and everyone is stirring – even the mice! The people inside are getting ready for the big Christmas party – cooking and wrapping and dressing and fussing. Outside, neighbourhood boys play hockey on the street while friends and family start to arrive, carrying armloads of presents and anticipating a marvelous event.
Scene I – Clara’s Bedroom
Twelve-year-old Clara is oblivious to all the noise and confusion. She’s dreaming in front of the mirror in her bedroom, practicing her ballet steps. She wants to be perfect when she dances for her glamourous Aunt Josephine, a singer who has traveled all the way from Montreal on the train. Mama interrupts. “Where is the bow that I made for your hair?” she demands. “And where is Dieter?”
Clara’s younger brother leaps out of a large armoire, brandishing a toy sword. Grandmother Marguerite finds her way to the bedroom and manages to calm everyone down. Things aren’t turning out the way Mama has planned; not even the Christmas tree has been delivered. “But Mr. Drosselmeier promised to bring a tree!” She runs off to check on things downstairs while Grandmother shows the children some favourite photographs of Christmas past.
Scene II – The Christmas Party
Mama, Papa and the butler are looking at the empty space in the big living room where the tree should be. What kind of a Christmas party is this going to be? Among the guests filling the room is Aunt Josephine. Resplendent in furs, she makes a grand entrance with her fiance, Edouard, dashing in his military uniform.
At last! Mr. Drosselmeier carries in a tree. Clara suddenly feels shy when he introduces her to his grandnephew, Julien. In no time at all, the tree is decorated and Clara has the honour of putting the star on the very top. Suddenly, the first-ever electric Christmas lights illuminate the tree!
Mr. Drosselmeier hands out his presents, all enchanting. Dieter’s army of toy soldiers has now been augmented by Mounted Police. Mr. Drosselmeier’s masterpiece goes to Clara – a beautifully hand-crafted Nutcracker. During Christmas dinner, Clara slips away to admire her Nutcracker and imagines that he comes alive to dance with her. The doorbell rings and a bear scurries in, admires the tree and dances happily with the Christmas toys. The party breaks up in a flurry of dancing and silliness and romance. “Good night Everyone! Merry Christmas!”
Scene III – Bedtime
Clara falls asleep but is soon awakened by the terrifying Mouse King who is about to steal her beloved Nutcracker. The clock strikes midnight.
Scene IV – The Living Room
Moonlight shimmers through the window and the room starts to change into something strange and new. Clara finds Mr. Drosselmeier who tries to convince her that she has nothing to fear. Suddenly, before her very eyes, the room and the Christmas tree begin to grow. Clara is attacked by scurrying mice while trying to save her Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker comes alive and chases the mice away. Dieter’s squadron of toy soldiers and Mounted Police are now a living regiment and battle fiercely against the menacing mice with cannons, swords and every ounce of cleverness they can muster. The battle takes a turn for the worse when Fritz is wounded and the Nutcracker is shot by the Mouse King while attempting to help Dieter.
Scene V – A Magical Forest
Finally, Clara defeats the Mouse King and begs Mr. Drosselmeier to help her wounded Nutcracker. It’s only after Clara professes her love for Nutcracker that Mr. Drosselmeier can bring him to life again. The Nutcracker was Julien all along and he is now a handsome prince. They walk hand in hand into a magical pine forest, dancing under a sky filled with stars and the Northern Lights.
Snow begins to fall. As the snow falls, polar bear cubs and one big bear playfully wander into the forest. The polar bears are happy to find Clara and the Nutcracker Prince there, and bid them farewell as the Nutcracker Prince and Clara depart to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s kingdom.
Scene I – The Kingdom
The Nutcracker Prince and Clara travel to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s kingdom, where adorable little angels along with Mr. Drosselmeier help with the preparations for their arrival. The Sugar Plum Fairy gives Clara and Prince Julien a very warm welcome and an elaborate ceremony ensues to honour them. Wonderful dances from many different lands and many more delights are performed, reminding Clara of all the people arriving every day to their country.
In a beautiful pas de deux, the prince has the great honour of dancing with Clara. She simply floats in time to the music. In a grand farewell gesture, all the inhabitants of the magical land gather to bid Clara a happy journey home.
Scene II – Early Morning
When Clara wakes up, she is happy to be in her own bedroom. The Nutcracker stands proudly next to her. Remembering her dream, she’s relived to see her big brother Fritz striding into the room, alive and well, and announcing, “It’s snowing!” They bundle up, go outside and watch the snow fluttering down. It was the best Christmas ever!
Founded in 1939, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada’s premier ballet company and one of the oldest ballet companies in North America. Under the artistic direction of André Lewis, versatility, technical excellence and a captivating style are the trademarks of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. The RWB’s superlative standards keep the Company in demand across North America. In addition to the Company, the RWB is home to the RWB School, consisting of both a Professional Division which trains young artists for a professional career in dance, and a Recreational Division which provides classes to over 1,500 students each week.
Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet is thrilled to offer limited edition Nutcracker merchandise for the ballet enthusiast in your life, and we’ve got a garment style for everyone. In addition, we are excited to share our theme for the season as we Reignite the Stage designed to let the world know how happy we are to be back performing for you.
Store is open until midnight CST, December 5, 2021. Products will be delivered by Canada Post.
ACT I: THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Clara
Elizabeth Lamont (3 eve, 5 mat)
Chenxin Liu (4 mat, 5 eve)
Alanna McAdie (4 eve)
Victoria Noisette*
Clara’s parents
Elena Dobrowna (3 eve, 5 mat)
Jami Deleau (4 mat, 5 eve)
Katie Bonnell (4 eve)
---
Stephan Azulay (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Caines (4 mat, 5 eve)
Clara's grandmother
Chenxin Liu (3 eve, 5 mat)
Alanna McAdie (4 mat, 5 eve)
Elizabeth Lamont (4 eve)
Dieter
Emily Davis*
Fritz
Liam Saito (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Parker Long (4 mat, 5 eve)
Josephine, Clara’s Aunt
Jaimi Deleau (3 eve, 5 mat)
Katie Bonnell (4 mat, 5 eve)
Elena Dowbrowna (4 eve)
Edouard, Josephine’s fiancé
Michel Lavoie (3 eve, 5 mat)
Joshua Hindson (4 mat, 5 eve)
Logan Savard (4 eve)
Drosselmeier, Clara’s Godfather
Liam Caines (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Stephan Azulay (4 mat, 5 eve)
Julien, Drosselmeier’s Grandnephew
Findlay Davies*
The Nutcracker Prince
Yue Shi (3 eve, 5 mat)
Michel Lavoie (4 mat, 5 eve)
Peter Lancksweerdt (4 eve)
Clara’s Friends
Emilie Lewis (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Elizabeth Lamont (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Alanna McAdie (3 eve, 5 mat)
Jenna Burns (4 mat, 5 eve)
Chenxin Liu (4 eve)
---
Amanda Solheim (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Brooke Thomas (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Parker Long (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Saito (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Joshua Hindson (3 eve, 5 mat)
Logan Savard (4 mat, 5 eve)
Michel Lavoie (4 eve)
Their Parents
Kyra Soo (3 eve, 5 mat)
Katie Simpson (4, 5 eve)
---
Katie Bonnell (3 eve, 5 mat)
Elena Dowbrowna (4 mat, 5 eve)
Jaimi Deleau (4 eve)
---
Priscilla Gubiotti
Julianne Chartier
Myles Mackesy
Tymin Keown
---
Logan Savard (3 eve, 5 mat)
Yue Shi (4 mat, 5 eve)
Joshua Hindson (4 eve)
---
William Hrivnak
* Young dancer from the Ottawa-Gatineau region featured in this production
Bear
Katie Simpson (3 eve, 5 mat)
Kyra Soo (4, 5 eve)
Butler
Cleighden Butler-Racine
Maids
Maggie Weatherdon
Julianna Generoux
Fairy Tale Characters
Clara, the Prince
Evil sorcerer
Parker Long (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Saito (4 mat, 5 eve)
Bats
Emma Curtis
Emma Duncan
Sarah Zaugg
Tess Pepetone
THE BATTLE
Clara, Dieter, The Nutcracker Prince and
The Mouse King
Parker Long (3 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Saito (4 mat, 5 eve)
Tymin Keown (4 eve)
His army of Mice
Kyra Soo, Emilie Lewis, Brooke Thomas, Priscilla Gubiotti, Julianna Generoux, Maggie Weatherdon, Emma Duncan, Julianne Chartier
Soldiers & Mounted Police
Michel Lavoie (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Peter Lancksweerdt (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Stephan Azulay (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Caines (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Joshua Hindson
---
Tymin Keown (3 eve, 4 mat, 5)
Parker Long (4 eve)
---
Logan Savard
Myles Mackesy
Cleighden Butler-Racine
William Hrivnak
THE MAGICAL FOREST
Clara, The Nutcracker Prince and
Snowflakes
Alanna McAdie (3 eve, 5 mat)
Elizabeth Lamont (4, 5 eve)
---
Jaimi Deleau (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Katie Bonnell (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Elena Dobrowna, Emilie Lewis, Amanda Solheim, Jenna Burns, Katie Simpson, Brooke Thomas, Kyra Soo, Julianne Chartier, Emma Curtis, Emma Duncan, Julianna Generoux, Priscilla Gubiotti, Sarah Zaugg, Maggie Weatherdon, Tess Pepetone
ACT II: THE KINGDOM
Clara, The Nutcracker Prince, Drosselmeier with
Sugar Plum Fairy
Jaimi Deleau (3 eve, 5 mat)
Elena Dobrowna (4 mat, 5 eve)
Amanda Solheim (4 eve)
WALTZ OF FLOWERS ENSEMBLE & PAS DE QUATRE
Katie Simpson (3 eve, 5 mat)
Emilie Lewis (4, 5 eve)
Michel Lavoie (3 eve, 5 mat)
Parker Long (4 mat, 5 eve)
Liam Saito (4 eve)
---
Jenna Burns
Peter Lancksweerdt (3 eve, 4 mat, 5)
Yue Shi (4 eve)
---
Elena Dobrowna (3 eve, 5 mat)
Brooke Thomas (4 mat, 5 eve)
Katie Bonnell (4 eve)
Joshua Hindson
---
Kyra Soo
Logan Savard (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Tymin Keown (4 mat, 5 eve)
---
Julianne Chartier, Emma Curtis, Emma Duncan, Julianna Generoux, Priscilla Gubiotti, Sarah Zaugg, Maggie Weatherdon, Tess Pepetone
SPANISH
Drosselmeier with
Amanda Solheim (3 eve, 5 mat)
Jami Deleau (4 mat, 5 eve)
Elena Dobrowna (4 eve)
Brooke Thomas (3 eve, 5 mat)
Katie Bonnell (4 mat, 5 eve)
Katie Simpson (4 eve)
ARABIAN
Katie Bonnell (3 eve, 5 mat)
Katie Simpson (4 mat, 5 eve)
Brooke Thomas (4 eve)
Stephan Azulay (3 eve, 5 mat)
Liam Caines (4 mat, 5 eve)
Tymin Keown (4 eve)
CHINESE
Drosselmeier with
Alanna McAdie (3 eve, 5 mat)
Elizabeth Lamont (4 mat, 5 eve)
Chenxin Liu (4 eve)
RUSSIAN
Emilie Lewis (3 eve, 5 mat)
Amanda Solheim (4 mat, 5 eve)
Jaimi Deleau (4 eve)
Parker Long (3 eve, 4 eve, 5 mat)
Logan Savard (4 mat, 5 eve)
Liam Saito (3 eve, 4 mat, 5)
Michel Lavoie (4 eve)
GIGUE
Drosselmeier with Sugar Plum Fairy
GRAND PAS
Clara & The Nutcracker Prince
ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET
Founders: Gweneth Lloyd & Betty Farrally
Artistic Director Emeritus: Arnold Spohr, C.C., O.M.
Founding Director, School Recreational Division: Jean Mackenzie
Founding Director, School Professional Division: David Moroni, C.M., O.M., D.Litt, (h.c.)
Artistic Director & CEO: André Lewis
ARTISTS
Chenxin Liu, Alanna McAdie
Yue Shi
---
Yayoi Ban, Elizabeth Lamont
Yosuke Mino
---
Katie Bonnell, Jaimi Deleau
Stephan Azulay, Liam Caines, Peter Lancksweerdt
---
Jenna Burns, Elena Dobrowna, Emilie Lewis, Katie Simpson, Amanda Solheim, Brooke Thomas
Joshua Hidson, Tymin Keown, Michel Lavoie, Parker Long, Liam Saito
---
Kyra Soo
Logan Savard
Associate Artistic Director: Tara Birtwhistle
Senior Ballet Master: Johnny W. Chang
Ballet Masters: Caroline Gruber, Jaime Vargas
School Director: Stéphane Léonard
Recreational Division Principal: Nicole Kepp
Professional Division Principal: Suzanne André
Teacher Training Program Director: Johanne Gingras
Stage Manager: Candace Maxwell
Assistant Stage Manager: Paige Lewis
NAC DANCE TEAM
Executive Producer: Cathy Levy
Associate Producer: Tina Legari
Special Projects Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Producer: Mireille Nicholas
Company Manager: Sophie Anka
Education Associate and Teaching Artist: Siôned Watkins
Technical Director: Brian Britton
Communications Strategist: Livia Belcea
Marketing Strategist: Chatelaine Rindorindo
In 2025, André Lewis will celebrate 50 years with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Under his dynamic leadership, the RWB has secured a place among the world’s premiere dance companies and its School has established an equally respected international reputation. Lewis has become the face of the RWB, its inspirational guide, and its conscience.
Born in Gatineau, Québec, Lewis began ballet training at the Classical Ballet Studio in Ottawa. In 1975, he was accepted into the Professional Division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. After completing his training under the direction of David Moroni he joined the Company as a Corps de Ballet member and was promoted to Soloist in 1982. During his career, Lewis worked with many eminent teachers, coaches and choreographers including Galina Yordanova, Rudi Van Dantzig, Jiří Kylián and Agnes de Mille. As a dancer, Lewis was well known for his strength as a soloist and as a partner. He has said that partnering with the inspiring Evelyn Hart was a career highlight.
During his tenure with the Company, under the mentorship of then Artistic Director Arnold Spohr, Lewis was identified by RWB leadership as an exceptional individual whose passion for the art form, commitment to excellence and bold artistic vision could provide strong, dedicated leadership to an organization as prestigious as the RWB. On his retirement from dance in 1990, he was welcomed into the position of Associate Artistic Director before assuming the role of Artistic Director in 1996. From the moment he became Artistic Director, Lewis has been the driving force behind innovative works and classical recreations. He has commissioned both new and experienced choreographers to create original works, while maintaining a distinct Canadian identity, which have been shared with generations of dance enthusiasts in Manitoba, across our country and around the globe. In 2018, Lewis was also appointed the RWB’s Chief Executive Officer.
The late Galina Yordanova trained for nine years at Baku in the USSR and for five years with the Bolshoi Ballet where she received her teacher’s diploma in 1960. She held diplomas in Choreography and Teacher Training from the G.I.T.S. in Moscow. In 1960, Madame Yordanova was Ballet Mistress of the Varna Norodna Opera in Bulgaria where she staged a number of classics including Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, Le Corsaire, Coppélia, Les Sylphides, Giselle and Nutcracker. She has also worked extensively with the Ballet der Deutschen Oper, Berlin and with companies in Madrid and Valencia, Spain and in Nagoya and Kyoto, Japan.
In 1980, Yordanova began to spend a portion of each year in Winnipeg, teaching at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division Summer Session. Her expert teaching of the Russian style was an important component of the development of the teaching style of the school.
In 1995, she joined the artistic faculty as resident Guest Teacher. She worked extensively with the RWB dancers to prepare them for the Company’s 1987 premiere of Swan Lake, which she staged in the Russian style. In 1990, Yordanova shared her expertise and talent in the staging of the RWB’s premiere of La Bayadère, Act II, featuring members of the Company together with young artists from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the RWB School in 1996, she staged Don Quixote, with the School’s entire student body performing alongside Company members who were school graduates in the lead roles.
For the RWB’s 1999–2000 season, Galina Yordanova, along with Nina Menon, choreographed a new version of Nutcracker for the Company which premiered in Ottawa at the NAC on December 2, 1999.
Nina Menon joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet after graduating from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division. As a member of the corps de ballet, she danced numerous soloist roles and, in 1990, she made her choreographic debut at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s choreographic workshop. The success of this ballet and others, plus the commissioning by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet of her popular ballet La Soif, led Artistic Director André Lewis to appoint Nina Menon Resident Choreographer.
Highlights of Menon’s residency include Drunken Butterflies, a ballet choreographed to polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki. This ballet explores the life of an immigrant family through dance and film. In 1999, she collaborated with Galina Yordanova on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s new version of Nutcracker which premiered in Ottawa at the NAC. In the same season, Menon shared with the world her East Indian ancestral roots by creating a ballet to The Gita Govinda. Collaborating with composer Mychael Danna (Felicia’s Journey, Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair), Menon’s ballet, The Gitagovinda, told an ancient story from her personal connection with the poem. The sacred poem was passed down to the choreographer by her grandmother.
During her residency, Nina Menon choreographed several ballets for the Professional Division students and taught dance at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Recreational Division. She now lives in Montreal with life partner Mark Godden and their two sons. She teaches ballet at Sheila Parkins Dance Academy and several Montessori schools. In her spare time, she loves to garden.
Paul Daigle has a first-hand understanding of the intricacies of designing for dance. A graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Daigle went on to perform for two seasons with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet before leaving in 1988 to pursue a career in design.
Daigle has established a very creative and productive relationship with choreographer Mark Godden. Together they have collaborated on a variety of creations for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, including sets and costumes for Sequoia, Godden’s 1989 Clifford E. Lee Choreographic Award winning ballet, Godden’s two award-winning pas de deux, Myth and La Princesse et le Soldat, as well as Forms of Distinction, Rapsodie espagnole, and seven one-act Godden ballets: Symphony No. 1, Angels in the Architecture, Dame aux Fruits, La Folía, A Darkness Between Us, Shepherd’s Wake and Miroirs.
During the 1997–1998 RWB season, he redesigned the sets for Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading and the costumes for Paquita. He also collaborated with Mark Godden on two new works, The Rite of Spring and Anywhere But London.
During the 1998–1999 season, Daigle designed the scenery and costumes for Mark Godden’s first full-length ballet, Dracula. In 2003, he went on to win the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association Blizzard Award for best costume design for Guy Maddin’s film adaptation of Godden’s Dracula.
Daigle designed the costumes for the RWB’s Nutcracker, which premiered at Ottawa’s NAC on December 2, 1999. In 2003, he was reunited with Mark Godden to create the scenery and costume design for Godden’s full-length creation The Magic Flute, which premiered in Winnipeg.
Daigle has created set and costume designs for numerous ballet and theatre companies including Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Jörgen, Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, Alberta Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Kiev Ballet, Compañía Nacional de Danza (Mexico City), Theatre New Brunswick (Fredericton), Neptune Theatre (Halifax) and Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton). Daigle has had the honour to design new creations for world renowned choreographers Mark Morris, Kevin O’Day and Alexei Ratmansky.
Paul Daigle’s most recent work includes costume designs for Mark Godden’s Svengalli and costume designs for Michael Pink’s critically acclaimed full-length production of La Boheme for Milwaukee Ballet which premiered in October 2012.
Brian Perchaluk is a set and costume designer based in Winnipeg. Born and raised in rural Manitoba, Perchaluk graduated from the University of Winnipeg and the National Theatre School of Canada and later went on to apprentice at the Banff Centre. His designs have been featured on stages across the country including the Neptune Theatre, Atlantic Ballet Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Passe Muraille, the Grand Theatre, the Blyth Festival, the National Arts Centre, Persephone Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, the Citadel Theatre, The Vancouver Playhouse, the Arts Club Theatre, the Belfry Theatre and two seasons each at the Stratford and Shaw Festivals.
In Winnipeg, he has often worked for Prairie Theatre Exchange, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Rainbow Stage, Le Cercle Molière, Manitoba Opera and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, where he has designed more than 40 productions.
Among his favourite credits are M. Butterfly for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the National Arts Centre, Les Misérables for the Neptune Theatre, Time and the Conways for the Shaw Festival, Nutcracker for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hay Fever for Theatre Calgary.
In 1999, Brian Perchaluk received a Gemini Award for outstanding production design for his work on Journey and in 2003 a Jessie Richardson Award for outstanding set design for Mary’s Wedding.
Michael J. Whitfield has an extensive background in lighting design for theatre, ballet and opera.
A native of Victoria, B.C., Whitfield received his training in theatre at the University of Victoria, Villanova University and the University of Illinois. In 1974, he began a long association with the Stratford Festival, where he was for many years the Resident Lighting Designer and was responsible for the lighting design of a great variety of plays and musicals, including The Mikado, Amadeus and King Lear. He has worked extensively in Canadian regional theatre and his work is often seen at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
Whitfield is also much in demand as a lighting designer for opera and his designs have been featured at the San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera Company, Houston Grand Opera, the Minnesota Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Welsh National Opera and for Canadian companies in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, Banff and Vancouver. His lighting has been featured at the Canadian Opera Company for over 30 years, where designs included Wozzeck and Madama Butterfly.
In the world of ballet, Brian Whitfield’s work has been represented by Alice and The Nutcracker at the National Ballet of Canada, The Merry Widow for the American Ballet Theatre and Romeo & Juliet at the Finnish National Ballet.
For Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, his lighting design has also been seen in The Sleeping Beauty and Anne of Green Gables.
Founded in 1939, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada’s premier ballet company and one of the oldest ballet companies in North America. Under the artistic direction of André Lewis, O.M., versatility, technical excellence and a captivating style are the trademarks of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. RWB’s superlative standards keep the Company in demand across North America. In addition to the Company, the RWB is home to the RWB School, consisting of both a professional division which trains young artists for a professional career in dance, and a recreational division which provides classes to over 1000 students each week.
Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) Orchestra is praised for the passion and clarity of its performances, its visionary learning and engagement programs, and its unwavering support of Canadian creativity. The NAC Orchestra is based in Ottawa, Canada’s national capital, and has grown into one of the country’s most acclaimed and dynamic ensembles since its founding in 1969. Under the leadership of Music Director Alexander Shelley, the NAC Orchestra reflects the fabric and values of Canada, engaging communities from coast to coast to coast through inclusive programming, compelling storytelling, and innovative partnerships.
Since taking the helm in 2015, Shelley has shaped the Orchestra’s artistic vision, building on the legacy of his predecessor, Pinchas Zukerman, who led the ensemble for 16 seasons. Shelley’s influence extends beyond the NAC. He serves as Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the UK and Artistic and Music Director of Artis—Naples and the Naples Philharmonic in the United States. In addition to his other conducting roles, the Pacific Symphony in Los Angeles’s Orange County announced Shelley’s appointment as its next Artistic and Music Director. The initial five-year term begins in the 2026-2027 season, with Shelley serving as Music Director-Designate from September 2025. Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds and Principal Youth Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser complement Shelley’s leadership. In 2024, the Orchestra marked a new chapter with the appointment of Henry Kennedy as its first-ever Resident Conductor.
The Orchestra has a rich history of partnerships with renowned artists such as James Ehnes, Angela Hewitt, Renée Fleming, Hilary Hahn, Jeremy Dutcher, Jan Lisiecki, Ray Chen, and Yeol Eum Son, underscoring its reputation as a destination for world-class talent. As one of the most accessible, inclusive and collaborative orchestras in the world, the NAC Orchestra uses music as a universal language to communicate the deepest of human emotions and connect people through shared experiences.
A hallmark of the NAC Orchestra is its national and international tours. The Orchestra has performed concerts in every Canadian province and territory and earned frequent invitations to perform abroad. These tours spotlight Canadian composers and artists, bringing their voices to stages across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees