Choreography by Robert Curran, Louisville Ballet Artistic Director
Music: Original Score by Scott Moore / The Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius
Cinematography by KERTIS
Scenic Design Projections by Clovehitch Productions
Costume Design by Alex Ludwig
Lighting Design by Jesse AlFord
Story Co-Creators: Robert Curran + Natalie Harris
Focused on “uncommon stories of the Commonwealth,” Kentucky! Volume 1 is the cinematic first installment of a three-part ballet cycle. Rooted in history, and leaning towards the romantic, this new ballet art film explores human connection and resilience through the lens of the people who make it a place. Weaving together the state’s present with its past, and told in a non-linear style, with one dancer as the central character and thread that connects it all. This ballet invites viewers into an immersive ballet experience led by a Kentucky-based team of creators and filmed inside the Louisville Ballet studios. Featuring guest spoken word artist, Hannah Drake.
Special thanks to Blue Grass Motorsport + The Glenview Trust Company
for their support of this production.
SCENE 1
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
*
SCENE 2
1784 / Pine Mountain in Virginia (later Kentucky)
Patrick McHenry
JOHN BREWER
Michael Holliday
ALEXANDR SCHROEDER
John
TREVOR WILLIAMS
Jane McHenry
LEIGH ANNE ALBRECHTA
Elizabeth McHenry
BRIENNE WILTSIE
*
SCENE 3
1985 / Louisville, Kentucky
Ghost Light Ballroom
Momma McHenry
BRANDON RAGLAND
Graeme Smith
JUSTIN MICHAEL HOGAN
Marshall “Marsie” Kenton
SAVANNA AIREE
Emma Kremer Kenton
LEXA DANIELS
People at The Club
ELIZABETH ABBICK, LEIGH ANNE ALBRECHTA, EMMAROSE ATWOOD,
JOHN BREWER, ALLISON HAAN, TRISTAN HANSON,
TYLER FERRARO, SANJAY SAVERIMUTTU, ALEXANDR SCHROEDER,
RYO SUZUKI, ASHLEY THURSBY, TREVOR WILLIAMS, BRIENNE WILTSIE
*
SCENE 4
1855 / Paducah, Kentucky
The Kremer Family Home
Elijah Kremer (Bar Mitzvah Boy)
KIERAN NUSS
Eliana Kremer
SHELBY SHENKMAN
Golda Kremer
KATERYNA SELLERS
Hans Kremer
PHILLIP VELINOV
Friends + Family
OWEN BAKULA, NICHOLAS BENTZ, CHRISTIAN CHESTER,
GRIFFIN GREENE, DAVID SENTI, KELSEY CORDER,
ANNA FORD, ISABELLE HILTON, HANNAH PIDGEON, MADELINE SKAGGS
*
SCENE 5
1861 / Lexington, Kentucky
Hopeton Farm
Gloria Kenton
ASHLEY THURSBY
Farm Women
ELIZABETH ABBICK, LEIGH ANNE ALBRECHTA, EMMAROSE ATWOOD,
TYLER FERRARO, ALLISON HAAN, BRIENNE WILTSIE
Farmers / Union Soldiers
JOHN BREWER, TRISTAN HANSON, JUSTIN MICHAEL HOGAN,
ALEKSANDR SCHROEDER, SANJAY SAVERIMUTTU, RYO SUZUKI
*
SCENE 6
1865 / Lexington, Kentucky
Hopeton Farm
Gloria Kenton
ASHLEY THURSBY
Marshall Kenton
HARALD UWE KERN
Emily Bates
HANNAH DRAKE
Josiah Bates
BRANDON RAGLAND
Farm Women
ELIZABETH ABBICK, LEIGH ANNE ALBRECHTA, EMMAROSE ATWOOD,
TYLER FERRARO, ALLISON HAAN, BRIENNE WILTSIE
Returning Soldiers
JOHN BREWER, TRISTAN HANSON, JUSTIN MICHAEL HOGAN,
ALEKSANDR SCHROEDER, SANJAY SAVERIMUTTU, RYO SUZUKI
SCENE 1
1932 / Paducah, Kentucky
Kremer & Co, Department Store
Max Kremer
MARK KRIEGER
Miriam Golding
ERIN LANGSTON EVANS
Store Mannequins
SAVANNA AIREE, SARAH BRADLEY, EMMA DELANEY,
EMMA FRIDENMAKER, CAITLIN KOWALSKI, KINSEY LOVE,
NATALIE ORMS, COURTNEY RAMIREZ, SARAH RAY,
ISABELLA SUMERA, KAYLEIGH WESTERN, AMBER WICKEY
*
SCENE 2
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
*
SCENE 3
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Hannah
HANNAH L. DRAKE
Performing her poem, “Till, Plant, Wait”
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
*
SCENE 4
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
Kat
KATERYNA SELLERS
Lexa
LEXA DANIELS
Phillip
PHILLIP VELINOV
Minty
MINH-TUAN NGUYEN
*
SCENE 5
1917 / Louisville, Kentucky
The Courier-Journal
Max Kremer
Mark Krieger
Helen Gray
Natalia Ashikhmina
WWI Soldiers
OWEN BAKULA, NICHOLAS BENTZ, ANTHONY CEFALU,
CHRISTIAN CHESTER, REECE CONRAD, GRIFFIN GREENE,
JAKE MINGUS, DAVID SENTI
SCENE 1
1792 / Frankfort, now in Kentucky
The Founding of the Commonwealth
*
SCENE 2
Then + Now
Voice
NATALIE HARRIS
Performing her poem, “could be ears ringing”
*
SCENE 3
1957 / Lexington, Kentucky
Hopeton Farm
Nora Kenton
ASHLEY THURSBY
Marshall Kenton Jr.
HARALD UWE KERN
Max Kremer
MARK KRIEGER
Emma Kremer
LEXA DANIELS
Michael “Mickey” Kenton
TRISTAN HANSON
Paul McHenry
JOHN BREWER
Lucy Bates
VERONICA HIGGINS
Father Benjamin
GRIFFIN GREENE
Wedding Guests
ELIZABETH ABBICK, LEIGH ANNE ALBRECHTA,
EMMAROSE ATWOOD, TYLER FERRARO,
ALLISON HAAN, BRIENNE WILTSIE
JUSTIN MICHAEL HOGAN, SANJAY SAVERIMUTTU,
ALEKSANDR SCHROEDER, RYO SUZUKI, TREVOR WILLIAMS
SCENE 4
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
*
SCENE 5
Kentucky
Epilogue
*
SCENE 6
2020 / Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Ballet Studios
Brandon
BRANDON RAGLAND
Kat
KATERYNA SELLERS
Lexa
LEXA DANIELS
Phillip
PHILLIP VELINOV
Minty
MINH-TUAN NGUYEN
