Meet the Narrator

Don Moon is seen throughout the region in a variety of fantastic fiction characters like tonight’s Cowboy Don and non-fiction characters like Teddy Roosevelt.  Don is     president of Red Herring Production and participates in the writing, directing, staging, costuming and prop making for Red Herring. Don is married, with two daughters. In his day job, he's a consulting engineer for municipal power and lighting.  

Meet the Ballet Society of Colorado Springs 

Founded in 1997 by Patricia Hoffman, Ballet Society of Colorado Springs has a mission to provide superior training for dancers ages 3½ and up in an environment that encourages community, cooperation, and camaraderie. Classes are offered in classical ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary dance, musical theatre dance, hip hop, Pilates, and worship dance in a custom-designed facility in northeastern Colorado Springs.  Ballet Society dancers have been guest artists or artistic partners with regional.  Numerous state and regional awards are also regularly earned by the studio’s dancers.  Call 719-272-7078, email info@danceinthesprings.com, or visit www.danceinthesprings.com and www.coloradoyouthballet.com.

Charlotte Coltrin (Lil’ Pete) is 16 and has danced for 13 years. This is her eighth year with the Youth Ballet.  Her favorite roles have included Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, a fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and the Cinderella. She received awards in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Denver Ballet Guild competitions as well as the 2010 Esther Geoffrey Young Dancers Competition. Charlotte  attended an advanced ballet intensive at Interlochen Arts Academy on scholarship this summer. She has enjoyed   being a teaching assistant at Ballet Society and teaching worship dance to young children at her church.  Her passion in life is dance and she aspires to dance professionally.

Kira Walton (The Magpie) is 13 and has been dancing for 11 years.  She is a member of the Colorado Youth Ballet. This is her third year at Ballet Society of Colorado Springs.  She has performed in Sleeping Beauty, The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker, Cinderella and others. She also is looking forward to upcoming performances, giving her the         experience to pursue her dream career of dance. Lil' Pete and the Coyote will be one of the many exciting ballets she will be performing.

Natatia Warzabluk (The Barn Cat) is 12 and has been dancing for 9 years; the past four years with Colorado Youth Ballet. Natatia was thrilled to perform her first solo as a Ballerina Doll in the Youth Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. Natatia was honored to be cast as Clara with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic production of The     Nutcracker ballet featuring the Idaho Ballet.  She loves to read Nancy Drew and play with her cat.  Natatia is an honor roll student with Branson School Online.

MeiLyn Kennedy (The Duck) is 12 years old and has been dancing for 8 years. This is her first year at Ballet Society. Before dancing in Colorado Springs she trained with her mother, Stacy Smith, at Cresson Dance in Cripple Creek. She is very excited to be dancing the role of Clara with Ballet Idaho in the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s production of The Nutcracker Thanksgiving weekend. Some of MeiLyn’s favorite roles from past productions are Spanish in The Nutcracker and Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty.

Mariah Plutt (The Coyote) is 16 and a Junior Honor Student at Liberty High School.  She has danced for thirteen years, with the past seven with Ballet Society. Her favorite past roles include the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker and Cinderella. She also was a part of the Denver Thorn Tour 2011. Mariah enjoys being a teaching assistant at the Ballet Society and also being a mentor to the younger girls. She has placed twice in the Denver Ballet Guild competitions, in 2009 and 2011. Ballet, Jazz, and Worship dance are just a few of the styles that Mariah excels in. She loves her family and friends and feels so incredibly blessed to be a part of such an amazing dance school. Her passion in life is dance and Mariah hopes to someday dance professionally.

Ford Tackett (The Ranch Foreman) has been a student at the Ballet Society of Colorado Springs since February 2011. He has performed in various community theatre productions and enjoys competitive ballroom dancing.

Jason Lupo (Ranch Hand) is 20 years old and from Anaheim, CA. He has been dancing with the Ballet Society for about a year and is currently studying Sports Management and Sports Conditioning at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. When not in school or dancing, he trains for triathlons and speed-skating. 

Meet the Colorado Springs Philharmonic

The Philharmonic strives to infuse our community with an enthusiasm for the great orchestral music. During the 2011-12 season, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic will present 22 distinct programs during thirty-four performances. The musical selections are designed to appeal to a wide audience with masterworks of Tchaikovsky and Beethoven to entertaining Broadway hits and performances for children that will help supplement local schools music education. From canonical classics to contemporary favorites, the Philharmonic displays a breadth of musical expertise unparalleled in the region.

Meet Thomas Wilson 

Thomas Wilson is currently Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Associate Conductor of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Cover Conductor for the New-York based pops show Symphonic Night at the Oscars, serves on the music faculties at Colorado College and the Colorado Springs Conservatory, and maintains an active guest conducting schedule.  Thomas began studying piano at the age of four.  Later instrumental studies included trumpet, percussion, string bass and voice, before concentrating his efforts on trumpet, conducting and composition. Thomas graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado, receiving the School of Music’s highest honor—the Departmental Scholar Award—and pursued additional studies in Germany.

Meet the Cowboy Musicians

With over 30 years of professional experience behind him, Lewis Mock is well known in the Pikes Peak Region.  He is the leader and musical director for the Broadmoor’s Tavern Orchestra.  Lewis has been performing throughout the country as a headliner, as well as opening for numerous major artists including the Kingston Trio, Reba McIntyre, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Asleep at the Wheel, The Temptations, Bernadette Peters, The Drifters, Barbara Mandrell, Michael Martin Murphy, and Pure Prairie League.  He is an award winning songwriter, receiving recognition in both the American and Music City Song Festivals and his guitar playing has appeared in national, regional, and local television and radio commercials, on albums and CDs by numerous regional artists, and several motion picture soundtracks.  Besides mastering many styles of guitar playing, he is a  multi-instrumentalist - fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo, harmonica, bass, and pedal-steel guitar.  

Ben Lewis is a versatile fiddler, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Manitou Springs.  Watch for him locally with Grass It Up at Front Range BBQ and a variety of other locations.  CD - “Blackbeard’s Dream”.

Isaac and Mitchel Morse, the twin musicians known as “Six Minutes Apart” attend school in District 11.

Meet the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony

The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association was founded in 1980.  Today, the Youth Symphony Association is comprised of seven auditioned groups as well as several chamber groups and the beginning string program Mozart String Project in local schools. The educational program of the organization features music camps, performing tours, leadership classes, a solo competition, exposure to all forms of orchestral literature, chamber music ensembles, and community collaborations.  The groups present more than 60 performances each year in concert and as they tour locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.  

The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony musicians are performing this production for school children.  Featured solo artists include:

Krystal Brice (Flute-Magpie) is currently a Junior at Mesa Ridge High School.  She is a 2-time letterman in academics and Marching Band.  Krystal has been playing flute for 7 years and is coached by Karen Morsch. Krystal has been in numerous Honor Bands 

including Pikes Peak Honor Band, Adams State College Honor Band and Colorado Springs All-City Honor Band.  Along with Honors courses, Krystal is looking forward to joining tennis and photography club this year.  Krystal’s interests include writing 

music, photography, piano, astronomy, and journalism.  Krystal is currently looking into various colleges on the west coast which include University of Oregon, UCLA, and University of Washington, majoring in one of the above interests.

Jeffrey Reinsch (Bassoon-Old Ranch Foreman) is a Junior at Palmer High School.  He is in his sixth year with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony.  His private teacher is Mr. Greg Brown.  Jeffrey is a member of the Magnus Virga bassoon quartet.  Jeffrey is also an avid tennis player and skier and is involved in a political action group at his school.  In the past few years he has won a Reflections Art Award, attended Interlochen 

Summer Music Institute, participated in honor orchestras/bands and All City Boys Choir.  Jeffrey has had the opportunity to play at the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.  He plans to continue in performance after high school.

Kelsey Stewart (Oboe-Duck) has loved music for as long as she can remember. Her delight was first expressed through singing and humming and then later by playing the piano and oboe.  A senior in the International Baccalaureate Programme at Rampart High School, Kelsey keeps busy with academics, but what gives her life meaning is making music and sharing it with others. Over the course of her high school experience, she has performed in wind ensemble, jazz band, pit orchestra, and marching band, discovering new facets of music with each new opportunity. Colorado All-State Orchestra, All-State Band, and other honor ensembles have also challenged her to grow musically. Kelsey loves teaching her oboe students and accompanying young musicians on the piano. Singing and playing in praise band at church gives her joy as well.  

Rebekah Gohl (Clarinet-Barn Cat) a native of Colorado Springs, is a sophomore at St. Mary’s High School.  Bekah has played piano since the age of five and has studied with Rochelle Stokka and Judith Wish.  She was a finalist for the 2008 Colorado Springs Sonatina Festival and a participant in the Pikes Peak Piano Guild.  Bekah was a member of the Pikes Peak Middle School Honor Band, the 2011 CU Boulder High School Honor Band, and a participant in the Pikes Peak Solo and Ensemble contest.  She is a clarinet student of Laura Bardill. Bekah was a member of the Pikes Peak Winds  and is currently principal clarinetist with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony.