We that are true lovers run into strange capers.
Artists of Ballet Fantastique |
Bob Williams Photography
Ballet Fantastique would like to recognize that our ballet theatre production is being held on the traditional lands of the Kalapuya People. We offer respectful recognition to the Native communities in our region.
We honor their enduring connection to the land, and acknowledge the contributions Indigenous people have, and continue to make to our region and beyond.
Letter
from the
President
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the culminating production of our record-setting 25th Anniversary season (2025-26): As You Like It: A Wild West Ballet. This story marks BFan’s first full-length story ballet “with a twist,” which premiered at the Soreng Theater in 2012 during BFan’s multi-year endeavor to become a Resident Company of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. In many ways, it was the beginning of what is now BFan’s trademark: A classic story, reimagined, with incredible collaborators and show-stopping creativity—against all the odds.
We are honored to welcome several distinguished guests for this encore production, including a unique collaboration with the UO English Department’s Shakespeare program as well as Grammy®-nominated composer and musician Juan Luqui and Mauve Robichez, a composer and arranger from France (also performing live in Eugene on the violin/fiddle); returning guest dancers Patricio di Stabile (BFan’s Aladdin) portraying Ollie; Kevin Murdock-Waters (BFan’s Mr. Van Tassel and more) as Sheriff Fredrick; videographer Jeremy Bronson of Bronson Studios, BFan’s Emmy®-nominated video collaborator; and many local musicians and artisans.
This 25th Anniversary season brings achievements for Ballet Fantastique that would be impossible without you:
Record-breaking attendance and youth outreach impact
Most successful Gala to date
Academy attendance up +50% over Summer 2026 after new studio expansion
Our inaugural world premiere created specifically for the Silva Concert Hall, Little Mermaid: The 80's Pop Ballet
Employment of over 100 artists, with the majority of artistic funds supporting Eugene’s local creative community
Doubling our season subscribers(!) and welcoming many brand new patrons and donors
We remain committed to advancing our mission and are not complacent. During these challenging times for performing arts organizations, your continued support through donations and ticket purchases is absolutely essential and deeply appreciated. Your contributions are vital to sustaining the growth and development of this incredibly dance and ballet theater company—on the frontiers of innovating what ballet theater is, and rooted here in our city.
Lastly, I want to highlight some notable dancer moments: Izzy Overstreet, our principal dancer who joined BFan during the Covid-19 pandemic, is celebrating her retirement as a professional dancer before joining our Board of Directors next season. Jenavieve Hernandez, recently promoted to principal dancer, stars as Cupid; her first BFan performance was as an Apprentice with our company in As You Like It, on this stage in 2018.
At its core, As You Like It explores the redemptive power of love—in all its forms, including family, friendship, and community—as well as the importance of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. Please, enjoy the power of Ballet Fantastique and the timeless stories we need this company to bring us.
PHILIP PIELE
BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear BFans,
Welcome to the magic of Ballet Fantastique’s 2025–26 VENTURE 25th Anniversary Season!
This year, we’re diving headfirst into the unexpected. From haunted forests and toyshop magic, to deep-sea kingdoms and the Wild West frontier, each ballet in this season dares to push storytelling further bringing iconic tales to life with the imagination, live music, and daring that defines BFan.
We’re so excited to close our season with the wild, wild (west) ride that is Shakespeare’s seminal classic, As You Like It. Of course, with the classic BFan twist — like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Thank you for being here!
YOUR NEW ART IS HERE
DONNA MARISA BONTRAGER
& HANNAH BONTRAGER
FOUNDING CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS
People
Donna Bontrager, Founding Artistic Director
Hannah Bontrager, Founding Executive Director
BOARD PRESIDENT
Philip Piele
SECRETARY
Dianna Pounder
BOARD MEMBERS
Donna Marisa Bontrager
Hannah Bontrager
Kate Eitenmiller
Robb Evans
Stephen Webster
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Darby Giannone
Isabelle Bloodgood / Dancer Representative
Board of Directors
Mary Spilde
Matthew King
Emily Dew
Thea Vandervoort
Amy Stoddart
Gina Bolles Sorenson
Steve Robinson
Advisory Board
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Donna Marisa Bontrager, Founding Artistic Director, Costume Design/Vision
Allison Ditson, Costume Design & Production
Debora Peña, Set Design & Construction, Custom Paintings
Sydney Elise Miller-Peterson, Stage Manager
Gustavo Ramirez, Hannah Bontrager, Production Managers
Lance Deal, Jeff Faust, Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Carl Peterson, Sets Design, Construction, Properties Masters
JP Durand, Music Director
Gerry Rempel, Resident Composer & Arranger
Elizabeth Roberts, Costume Construction, Wardrobe Support
Mitra Gruwell, Headpieces
Deborah Speer, Libretto, Historical, Music Research, Creative Team
Genevieve Speer, Artistic Associate; Libretto, Historical, Music Research Support
Rebecca Welch, Wardrobe Support
Sara Stewart, Academy Costumes -
Ashley Bontrager, Development Director
Emily Knowles, Administrative Support
Rebecca Welch, Director of Community Engagement
Elizabeth Chapa, Academy Coordinator, Administration Support
Sara Stewart, Academy Relations Manager & Youth Backstage Coordinator, Academy Costumes
Lucy Pearce, Academy Program Director
Genevieve Speer, Finance Manager
Dianna Pounder, Academy Billing
Jeff Mecredy, Leadership & Growth -
Isabelle Overstreet, Marketing Coordinator
Elizabeth Chapa, Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Emily Knowles, Marketing Support
Jeremy Bronson, Film, Audio, Marketing
Gustavo Ramirez, Film, Audio, Marketing
Hannah Bontrager, Graphic Design, Program Magazine Design -
Lucy Pearce, Academy Program Director, Youth Cast Lead
Amanda Kay Arens, Young Dancer Division, Youth Cast Lead
Sara Stewart, Youth Cast Costumes, Academy Manager
Ashley Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Hannah Bontrager, Professional Division, Company
Brianne Falanga, Professional Division, Young Dancer Division
Brooke Geffrey-Bowler, Professional Division
Tavari Groesbeck, Professional Division
Jenavieve Hernandez, Professional Division,Teen/Adult Division
Preston Andrew Patterson, Teen/Adult Divison
Gustavo Ramirez, Company Rehearsal Director
Hadassah Slater, Young Dancer Division, Professional Division, Adult/Teen Division -
Attic Media
Bronson Studios
Eddie Bruning
Miki Markovitch
Chappel Miller
Gustavo Ramirez
Bob Williams -
Dianna Pounder, Angel
Jitendra Joshi, Web
Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Sets, Dancer PT
Lance Deal, Sets, Welding
Carl Peterson, Sets, Engineering
Tessa Richards, Theater PT
Barbara Mossberg, Resident Historian
Elizabeth Roberts, Costumes
Erin Whitaker, Costumes, Art
Halie Henderson, Costumes
Christie Rodewald, Costumes
Kate & Bill Eintenmiller, Angels
BFan’s Academy Families
BFan’s Board of Directors
& many, many more -
Nils & Jewel Hult Endowment Fund
of the Oregon Community FoundationPhilip and Sandra Piele
Debora Basler & John Tamulonis, Guest Artist Sponsors
Linda Lawrence & Robert Canaga, Guest Artist Sponsors
Debra Peña, Jeff Faust, Lance Deal, for their incredible set work
Our amazing Academy of Ballet Fantastique Families
BFan Events Calendar
MEET THE MAKERS
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Choreographer - Producer
Founding Artistic Director
Costume Design DirectorBallet Fantastique's Canadian-born Artistic Director, Donna, is a choreographer, designer, and expert master teacher in the Vaganova Syllabus. Ms. Bontrager's performance résumé embraces work with New York companies, including Empire State Ballet, Buffalo City Ballet, Royale Dance Theatre New York, and Festival Choir Ballet. She was one of ten dancers invited to perform as part of the international Feast of the Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Israel, and has been invited to join the World Congress on Dance. Ms. Bontrager has overseen Ballet Fantastique repertoire and productions involving partnerships with choirs, opera, and soloist vocalists, symphony and chamber orchestras, literary and visual artists, and composers. Ms. Bontrager has visioned, choreographed, produced, and staged the entire critically acclaimed all-original Ballet Fantastique repertoire of over 92 original works since 2000—including 26 full-length contemporary narrative ballets, and 25 consecutive productions with live music, including creating new work during the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown. She has also led BFan commissions for Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, and many others. Under Donna's leadership, Ballet Fantastique has toured across the NW. Donna also oversaw BFan's sold out, critically-acclaimed international debut at the Palariviera Theater as the first US dance company invited to perform in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Donna's love of the arts also extends to her design work as an alumna of the University of Oregon's School of Architecture and in the design of BFan's critically-acclaimed costumes. Donna has also developed the complete Academy of Ballet Fantastique curriculum.
-
Choreographer-Producer
Founding Executive DirectorHannah is Ballet Fantastique's Executive Director, Co-Choreographer Producer, and lead grant writer. Hannah graduated at the top of her class (summa cum laude and phi beta kappa) from the Robert D. Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon where, as a full scholarship student, she earned concurrent degrees in Dance and English Literature and a minor in Arts Administration, as well as the American Association of University Women Award, the Dance Achievement Award, and the Dean's Award for Service, and was the invited Honors College graduation speaker. Under Hannah’s leadership, Ballet Fantastique has earned touring invitations on behalf of Ballet Fantastique nationally and internationally; grant awards from major foundations; and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind corporate and individual support.
Hannah is listed among the international Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, is a Comcast Newsmaker, and Blue Chip "20 under 40" award recipient. Hannah also leads a number of educational initiatives for Ballet Fantastique, including Passport to Dance and The EXPERIENCE DANCE! Project, which have brought innovative dance experiences to thousands of schoolchildren across Oregon ever year for the past 20+ years.
Also a trained professional dancer and performer, Hannah studied Vaganova pedagogy with her mother, Donna Marisa Bontrager. She also trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. Hannah spent a season with Colorado Ballet Company and subsequently with Manassas Ballet Theatre in the Washington, DC metro area (where she performed leading roles including Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker and the lead in Vivandière/ Markitenka). Donna and Hannah have collaborated to produce bold cross-disciplinary Ballet Fantastique contemporary ballet premieres and collaborations at home and on tour, including the entire body of Ballet Fantastique's work. As a founding principal dancer with Ballet Fantastique, Hannah has earned rave critical reviews in myriad soloist roles.
Hannah is proud mom to Finn (age three) and Liam (age one), and is thrilled to be back on stage with her BFan family.
This season is made possible thanks to the generosity of our 2025–2026 season title sponsor
Season 25-26 Sponsors:
25–26 LADIES’ NIGHT SERIES SPONSOR
Summit Bank
LIGHTING DESIGN SPONSORS
Philip & Sandra Piele
OFFICIAL WINERY OF BALLET FANTASTIQUE
Silvan Ridge Winery
OFFICIAL PHYSICAL THERAPISTS & TRAINERS OF BALLET FANTASTIQUE
Staszak Physical Therapy
Recharge Therapeutics
OFFICIAL WORKOUT CLUB OF THE
BALLET FANTASTIQUE COMPANY
The Downtown Athletic Club
25-26 GUEST ARTIST SPONSORS
John Tamulinis & Deborah Basler
OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER
Bicoastal Media
25-26 POINTE SHOE SPONSOR FOR
THE WOMEN OF BALLET FANTASTIQUE
Dianna Pounder
OTHER MAJOR SUPPORT
Academy of Ballet Fantastique
CLASSES FOR YOUNG DANCERS
AGES 2-7
OPEN CLASSES FOR TEENS/ADULTS
AGES 13+
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION
Ages 7+
CONTACT US TO AUDITION
Ballet Fantastique
Secret Society
We would like to recognize the incredible generosity of the individuals, foundations, and businesses who support Ballet Fantastique’s mission and programs. Pledges and contributions received between 7/1/24–PRESENT
Juliet Bender
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
Kate & Bill Eitenmiller
Carla Hoeger
Matthew Johns
Darby Giannone & Marvin Re'Voal
Jillyn & Graham Kaiser
Dave & Sherrie Kammerer
Andrea Kingsley
Nancy Nathanson & Steve Robinson
Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Susan & Arthur Palsbo
Debra Peña
Philip & Sandra Piele
Helmut Plant (in memory of Carol Hamrick Plant)
Dianna Pounder
Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal
Steven Webster
2025-26 Director’s Circle
Join our Director’s Circle today by making a gift to Ballet Fantastique of $1,000 or more. Please denote “Director’s Circle” on your gift.
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A. L. Kingsley Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Clement Family Charitable Fund gratitude to Judy Clement, who contributed in honor of McKenna Morrigan
Dorothea M. Lensch Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Ellen Glendel Hyman Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Fidelity Charitable
Givinga Foundation
Herbert J. Merker Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Hult Endowment Fund of the Western Oregon Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation
Marie Lamfrom Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
Neil Chinn Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Arts Commission
Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Cultural Trust
Percent Impact Foundation
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Ronald W. Naito Foundation
SHO — Support Hult Operations
Silva Endowment Fund of the Western Oregon Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Tamolitch Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Walker Charitable Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Woodard Family Foundation
-
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
-
Alpha IT
Bicoastal Media
-
Anonymous Angel
Dianna Pounder
Dr. Averno & Wendlyn Rempel
-
Sandra Wright Piele & Philip K. Piele PhD
Dianna Pounder
-
Oaktree Residential Living, Elman Babayev
Stephanie & Ted Coopman
Nancy Deal-Whitacre & Lance Deal
Summit Funding, Sherrie & David Kammerer
Judy Grubbs & Barry Polonsky
Andrea Kingsley
Vicky Mello
Debra Peña
Volt Strategies, Brandy Rodtsbrooks
Downtown Athletic Club
Staszak Physical Therapy
Summit Bank
-
Deborah Basler & John Tamulonis
Merritt Bennett
Tirzah & Ravi Brounstein
Kate & Bill Eitenmiller
Shirley & Michael Hull
Matthew Johns
Attic Media
Natalie & Joe Sheild
Mary & Mike Staszak
Sara Stewart
Steven Webster
Silvan Ridge Winery
Bob Williams Photography
-
Martha & Ken Alderfer
Juliet Bender
Sharlen Bennett
Zack Blalack
Mary Bruskotter & John Thompson
Rachel & Piotrek Buciarski
Jackie & Gregory Chase
Robert Cummings
Charlcie Kaylor & Charles Crawford
Kay Crider & Patrick Phillips
Robert Cummings
Gottlieb Tayler Davis
Recharge Therapeutics, Shelli Gramz
Carla Hoeger
Geoff & Therese Hughes
Jillyn & Graham Kaiser
Linda Lawrence & Robert Canaga
Laura Lee
Ernest Lessenger
Eileen Loritsch & Irving Weiner
Aubrey Lyche & Carlos Real
Sue McClelland
Cindy & Fred Meier
Nancy Nathanson & Steve Robinson
Gordon Tavern
Marcy Hammock & Herbert Merker
Gordon Hotel, Brian Obie
Susan & Arthur Palsbo
Tessa Richards
Nicole & Daniel Roselio
Elizabeth Shultz & Scot Riddell
Kristopher Stewart
Susan & Bahram Tavakolian
Converted Kitchen
Barbara & James Walker
Christy Waters
-
Patricia Ahlen
Gregory Ahlijian
Irene & Kevin Alltucker
Annette Briggs & Scott South
Polly & Brian Caughey
Elizabeth Bates & John Coit
Cindy Bedell & Rich Blanton
Judy Clement
Tabantha & JR Davis
Heritage Distillery
Robb Evans
Margaret Hallock
Laurie & Shaun Hyland
Anna Lagattuta & Zach Batt
Sarah Maggio
Steven Milosevich
Debby & John Phillips
Helmut Plant
Michelle & Dave Reid
Patricia Thomas & Russell Mecredy
Jaclyn & Rick Scarbrough
Sarah Sweet
Gayle Truax
Clare & Alex Vonderhaar
Solid Ground Foundation
Margie & Bill Van Dorn
Eugene Symphony
Beth & Pat Walsh
-
Margie & Logan Anderson
Tara Aarnio
Polly Ashworth & Robert Horner
Sylvia Bende
Jenny & Rob Bennett
Janet & Philip Bruen
Gayle & Jeff Faust
Laura & Darvin Fowler
Christina & John Gilbert
Danny Havel
Jill Hendrickson & Nathan Markowitz
Christina Hula
Patricia & Dennis Hyatt
Shelly Kane
Leslie Lessenger
Kelly Makinson
Charles & Merissa Merritt
Barbara Morris
Linda & David Nelkin
Susan Ordonez
Sally & Eric Overstreet
Diane Horvath-Pearson
Jennifer Pfeifer
Molly Renne & Tom Burton
Mike Shrum
Sandra & Jerry South
David Taylor
Vanessa Toney
Dana Turell
Wallpaper Northwest
Jennifer Webster
Rachel & Bob Williams
Katheryn & George Wood
-
Erika Backstrom
Lizbeth & Thomas Ball
Elizabeth Bates & John Hughes
Olivia Batt
Rose Marie & Mike Barber
Sierra Bayer
Beaudet Jewelry, Charles Beaudet
Louise & James Earl Bishop
Vicki Blackman
Mike Blevins
Tyler Bradley
Jeremy Bronson
Anton Bommersbach
Margaret Bostrom
Melva Bowler
Alice Burke & George Recker
Deborah Carver & John Pegg
Jennifer Clark
Andrew Clark
John Craig
Arty Coppes
Coastline Housekeeping
Alandra & Steven Duncan
Mike Floretta
Peggy Frandsen
Dustin Free
Patty Ferguson
John Friess
Bradley Garrigus
Erin Geiser
Michelle Graham
Sylvia Hartman
Nicholas Hedden
Mark Heerema
Susan Hekimoglu
Michele Henney
Peter Hollens
Judith Horstmann & Howard Bonnett
Elizabeth Hughes
Neil Halttunen
James Johnson
Reida & Charles Kimmel
Corinne & Greg Klein
Jason Krakow
Anna Lagattuta
Lynn & Tom Lamoree
Shannon Primm-Lente
John Li, Spice N Steam
Lighten Up with Jill
Tim MacBean
Kathy Magnusson
Jayme & Luke McAllister
James Meadows
Jeff Mecredy
Julie Moffenbier
Vicki Morgan and Mike Duran
David Nordenson
Elsie & Mike Nordtvedt
Kate & Dave Moss
New Twist
Kimberly O'Brien & Steven Hecker
Colin Overstreet
Elizabeth Ovitt
Kristy Pitkin
Nancy & Jin Plummer
Laci & La-Quan Pope
Carolyn Rasche
Dixie Reed
Kathleen Remington &
Dustin Remington
Leigh Rieder
Kevin Riley
Jeanette & Judson Roberts
Colette Ramirez & Dustin Locke
Cynthia Secrest & Douglas Pierce
Bailee Seeley
Jaimi & Ben Shirk
Dana Smith
Shauna Stec & Corey Harmon
David Stright
Andrew Sonabend
Barbara & Brent Stone
Jennifer Ulum & Tim Gleason
Tanya Villegas
Shirley Vinson
Josephine & Peter von Hippel
Adele Walter
Wendy Westcott
Kimberly Wilbur & Dennis Fisher
Cynthia & Stephen Wright
Kim Young
THE CHARACTERS
Photos by Jeremy Bronson,
Eddie Bruning
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Hannah Bontrager as
Rosalind (Rosie)
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Gustavo Ramirez as
Orlando (Lando)
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Isabelle Overstreet as
Cecilia (CeCe)
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Patricio DiStabile as
Oliver (Ollie)
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Ashley Bontrager as
Annie Oakley
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Preston Andrew Patterson as
Touchstone (and Narrator)
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Jenavieve Hernandez as
Cupid
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Lucy Pearce as
Audrey, Saloon Girl
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Brooke Geffrey-Bowler as
Milkmaid, Saloon Girl
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Jacob Amey as
Calamity Jim, Silas the Cowherd
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Hadassah Slater as
LaBelle, Saloon Owner
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Brianne Falanga as
Diamond Lil
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Jasmine Gilbert as
Saloon Girl
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Aliyah Casper as
Saloon Girl
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Kevin Murdock-Waters as
CeCe’s Dad & Rosie’s Uncle
THE STORY
Photos by Jeremy Bronson & Eddie Bruning
Academy Youth Cast
-
Penelope Chase
Meridian Hula
Bella Preston
Emelia Stewart
Ruth Tanner -
Minna Eitenmiller
Hazel Henderson
Mirabel Poppy Lewis
Aviana Marie Rodewald
Louisa Stewart
SPECIAL THANKS
Nils & Jewel Hult Endowment Fund
of the Oregon Community Foundation
Philip and Sandra Piele
Deborah Basler & John Tamulonis, Guest Artist Sponsors
Linda Lawrence & Robert Canaga, Guest Artist Sponsors
Debra Peña, Jeff Faust, Lance Deal, for their incredible set work
Our amazing Academy of Ballet Fantastique Families
FOLLOW ALONG THE NARRATION
Narration by Hannah and Donna Bontrager
with Lynn Freitas & Rachel Hanan (UO SHAKESPEARE PROGRAM)
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Ah. A gentle street side,
Alike in order and prosperity,
In Western Territr’y, where we lay our scene,
From peaceful settl’ment breaks new mutiny
Where rule of law falls fast to greed unclean.
The townspeople have, by common voice, elected
The noble Duke, (surnamed Senior), sheriff;
For many good and great deserts to the land.
A nobler man, a braver warr-i-or,
Lives not this day within these city walls.
But old Duke is banished by his younger brother,
Ambitious Frederick, envious emulator,
A villainous contriver ‘gainst his kin!
Good Duke Senior flees to open range!
Where he and many merry men, like Robin
Hood of old, do fleet the time as carefree
As in Paradise, “–heigh-ho the holly!”
Envious Frederick doth seize his brother’s lands,
His office, and his title, and dare appoint
Himself and his band, the new “law of the land”.
The brothers’ daughters, cousins –more like sisters,
Who grew up, learned, played, and ate together.
Wheresoe’r they went, like Juno’s swans
Still went they, coupled and inseparable.
Now Rosie, sore distressed at father's exile,
Asks CeCe how to forget a banished father!?
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rederick’s man, hight Ollie, emboldened by the charge,
Stakes his own claim ‘gainst his brother Lando,
Whom Ollie has kept rustically at home,
And trained him like a peasant, never schooled.
Ollie hopes to see an end to him he hates,
Who holds the people’s hearts; –himself de-spised.
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Rosie and Lando fall into strong liking,
A thunderbolt of love aflash in their eyes.
At the saloon, Calamity Jim's spirits… are bold!
He mocks young Lando, (cruel proof of this man’s strength).
Doubtless Sheriff Fred will back his strong man
In hopes the wrestler shall clear all.
Lando will have to leave, though he deserves
High commendation, true applause and love.
Thus will he, from smoke into the smother,
Escape from tyrant Frederick and tyrant brother -
Of late Sheriff Frederick, has ta’en displeasure
’Gainst his gentle niece. Jealous Frederick
Hath also banished Rosie, that his own daughter
CeCe would show more bright and virtuous with
Her cousin gone. Effective immediately:
If Rosie be found so near the public square
As twenty miles, she surely diest for it.
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The girls will not be sundered, and so devise to fly!
But whither to go, and what to bear with them? Or who?
...They’ll seek Rosie’s father, on Ardenne Range.
For safety, CeCe will don poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of coal smirch on her face.
Rosie will suit herself in all points like a man,
A gallant six-gun on her side, and rope
In her hand.
Now off they go! in mutual content
To liberty, and not to banishment.
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Ah yes. All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And we all in our time play many parts.
We now present for your kind approval
A new scene on the range, and new players:
A cowherd, Silas, comes to languish and mourn.
To heave forth such groans as lovers are wont,
Never did man so love, or be so moved
With passion cries out "Phebe, Phebe, Phebe!"
Meanwhile, amongst the cacti and the scrub
Dejected and weary,
wander Sweet Rosie and CeCe.
The wide ranging range, is lamentable home
To many weary lost and wandering souls,
Our Lando, Rosie’s love, among the rest.
Who else is here? Why, brother Oliver,
Pricked on by conscience for failing to defend
His brother from the evil sheriff’s ire,
Seeks Lando, but who knows what he’ll find?
For anything can hap here on the range.
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How now? Who is this sprightly country lass?
Oh, she doth teach the campfires to burn bright!
The painted, perfumed ladies of the town
Did never merit second look from me.
But from this wench, so lively and so fair,
I cannot take my eyes. E’er till now,
When men were fond, I smiled, and wondered how.
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But here is Lando, sad and all alone.
He’s longing for his new-met, new-lost love,
Weary with travel, he lays him down to sleep.
Under the stars, asleep and deep dreaming
Cupid brings Lando, full of love seeming,
A vision of dancing with his lovely Rosie,
A dream that compels our Lando, to poesy.
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Elsewhere upon the range does CeCe watch,
An honest spy, to keep her cousin safe.
She never could have dreamed who love and fate
Would bring to her on this magical night:
The unkind brother of her cousin’s love!!!!!!
Her gentle heart shall be the guiding light,
To one who still has much to learn of love.
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Along comes Rosie, still in man’s attire.
She hesitates, then lights upon a thought:
To test his love and for a merry jest,
She’ll play the boy, a saucy lackey, still,
And chiding Lando for his foolish love
And silly poems hung on all the trees,
She offers him a “cure” for his “disease,”
For love is merely madness, so she claims.
She’ll play the part of Rosie (that’s herself),
But like a peevish, fickle, coy coquette
She’ll show poor Lando what folly ‘tis to love
That he might so be cured and so forget.
And so they woo in jest—
…and not in jest.
But soon will come another loving pair,
And Rosie’s game becomes a coil indeed!
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At length, the game well played, does Rosie halt,
And promising to all to do her best
To get for each, the one their heart desires.
Upon the nuptial morn there’s much ado:
The brothers meet and are made friends again.
And Rosie to her lovers will appear,
As lovely BRIDE and not a handsome boy!
To her, both Phebe and Lando have laid claim.
Now you shall see who wins her in the end.
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All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And we all in our time play many parts.
And now you’ve seen how these parts —and these hearts—
Have come to love and joy in the end.
Proceed, proceed. We will begin these rites,
As we do trust they’ll end in true delights!
AS YOU LIKE IT
PRODUCTION TEAM
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, VISIONARY
Donna Marisa Bontrager
CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS
Donna Marisa Bontrager, Hannah Bontrager
with Gustavo Ramirez
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Gustavo Ramirez
ORIGINAL MUSIC AND ARRANGEMENTS
Mauve Robichez (Lyon, France)
Grammy-Nominated Juan Luqui
generously sponsored by the Hult Endowment Fund
MUSIC
Mauve Robichez (violin)
Gerry Rempel (guitars)
John Polese (piano, trumpet)
Rick Carter (bass)
NARRATION
written by Hannah and Donna Bontrager
with Lynn Freitas & Rachel Hanan
special thanks to Jeany Van Meltebeke for storytelling and theatrical coaching and Barbara Mossberg, BFan’s resident historian, international Fulbright Scholar, and University of Oregon Professor
SOUND ENGINEERING
Jameson Tabor
RESEARCH, LIBRETTO TEAM
Donna & Hannah Bontrager,
Deborah & Genevieve Speer
ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCERS
Emily Knowles, Elizabeth Chapa
COSTUME DESIGN/VISION
Donna Marisa Bontrager
COSTUME DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Allison Ditson - Design, Construction (Portland)
Elizabeth Roberts - Design, Construction (Eugene)
Primadonna Tutus - Design, Construction (LA)
WARDROBE SUPPORT
Julissa Favela, Erin Whitaker, Jasmine Gilbert,
Jenavieve Hernandez
HEADPIECES
Mitra Gruwell with Rebecca Welch
YOUTH CAST COSTUMES
Sara Stewart
with Kate Eitenmiller, Erin Whitaker
SET/PROPERTIES MASTER
Debra Peña
SETS DESIGN & VISION & CONSTRUCTION
Debra Peña
with Lance Deal Whitacre, Jeff Faust
SETS SUPPORT
Lance Deal, Nancy Deal-Whitacre, Jeff Faust,
Sydney Miller-Peterson, Carl Peterson
LIGHT DESIGNER
Hannah Bontrager
with Jeff Forbes
PROJECTION DESIGN
Gustavo Ramirez
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Hannah Bontrager, Gustavo Ramirez
STAGE MANAGER
Sydney-Elise Miller-Peterson
SPECIAL EFFECTS/ENGINEERING
Carl Peterson
ACADEMY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Lucy Pearce
YOUTH CAST LEADS/CHOREOGRAPHY
Lucy Pearce
YOUTH CAST COACHES
Amanda Kay Arens, Ashley Bontrager,
Brianne Falanga, Brooke Geffrey-Bowler,
Lucy Pearce, Hadassah Slater
YOUTH CAST COORDINATOR
Sara Stewart
with Kate Eitenmiller, Halie Henderson,
Jenn Pfeifer, Sarah Preston, Christie Rodewald
and our Academy of Ballet Fantastique Families
PROMO VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson
special thanks to Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
PROMO PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Williams, Jeremy Bronson, Eddie Bruning,
Erin Whitaker
PERFORMANCE VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson
OUTREACH & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Rebecca Welch, Emily Knowles
MARKETING
Hannah Bontrager, Isabelle Overstreet,
Elizabeth Chapa, Emily Knowles
DIGITAL PROGRAM DESIGN
Elizabeth Chapa
FRONT OF HOUSE
Emily Knowles with Rebecca Welch
Meet the Musicians
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COMPOSITIONS & ARRANGEMENTS
Argentine composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles.
Best known for his decade-long collaboration with two-time Academy Award-winner Gustavo Santaolalla, Juan has contributed to Emmy and BAFTA-nominated scores for film, TV, and video games, including The Last of Us, Dear Child (Netflix), and Wild Life (National Geographic).He specializes in dramatic storytelling, injecting high levels of emotion into his music — ideal for dramas, thrillers, suspense, and mind-expanding films. He also leads two personal projects: Cacique Torcido, a shamanic audiovisual experience, and Juan X Luqui, his rock/pop project with the album Escombros (Nov 2025).
Juan is also the founder of Art Mystery School, an avant-garde educational institute focusing on helping artists of all kinds to develop and strengthen their creative identity. Through online courses, artist circles, in person workshops and retreats, masterclasses and invitation-only events, AMS guides creators worldwide to empower their unique artistic voice.
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GUITARS
Guitarist, performer, composer/arranger, music director, session musician, teacher, and recording artist Gerry Rempel has served as resident composer and music director for Ballet Fantastique for the last 12 years. He has performed, recorded, and composed with numerous Jazz, fusion, soul/funk, Rock, and Blues ensembles throughout the Pacific Northwest, also including work in Los Angeles and Los Vegas. He continues to perform and compose with his contemporary jazz-fusion group The Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate, Soulstruck, Anya Lecuyer and Friends, the Gerry Rempel Jazz Trio, and other collectives. He also performed in Beijing and Qingdao China on a 9 day tour with the University of Oregon Gospel choir in 2014.
As resident composer, performer and musical director for Ballet Fantastique, Mr Rempel has been a collaborative force in a number of their productions. He served as music director and composed several pieces for Ballet Fantastique’s roaring 20’s Parisian Pride and Prejudice (2013, 2016), the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (“Fantasia” and “Fugue For Katrina”) in collaboration with Dreos (2017), and Dragon & the Night Queen: Celtic Stories (collaboration with Eliot Grasso) (premier 2016) He also composed pieces for Ballet Fantastique's the Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel Ballet (2014), and String theory (2010). Compositions combine elements of jazz, classical, rock, and a variety of global music influences.
He has a Masters in Music degree from the University of Oregon and a degree from the Music Institute of Technology (Los Angeles) . Gerry is also a music instructor at Bushnell University, Guitar Center, and has his own private teaching studio.
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PIANO, TRUMPET
John has been part of the vibrant local music community for the past 25 years. As a frequent performer on keyboard, trumpet, and accordion, his experience has encompassed styles ranging from Argentine tango to Zydeco, and original music for modern dance. He has also worked as an arranger, director, and sound engineer.
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BASS
In addition to performing with the Eugene symphony for over 30 years, Rick Carter has performed on electric and acoustic bass with the Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate and many different ensembles, in styles ranging from jazz to folk, rock, and fusion.
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VIOLIN, ARRANGMENTS
Mauve Robichez is a film score composer. In 2025, she scored her first feature film in Los Angeles with Juan Luqui and continues her work in Montreal. Her music was awarded in many international film festivals.
Artists of Ballet Fantastique
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Ashley Bontrager
PRINCIPAL
sponsored by Dave & Sherrie Kammerer
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Hannah Bontrager
PRINCIPAL
sponsored by Andrea Kingsley Foundation
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Isabelle Overstreet
PRINCIPAL
sponsored by The Bennett-Hooper Family
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Gustavo Ramirez
PRINCIPAL
sponsored by Philip & Sandra Piele
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Preston Andrew Patterson
PRINCIPAL
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Jacob Amey
ARTIST
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Jenavieve Hernandez
SOLOIST
sponsored by Dianna Pounder
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Brooke Geffrey-Bowler
SOLOIST
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Tavari Groesbeck
SOLOIST
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Lucy Pearce
ARTIST
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Hadassah Slater
ARTIST
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Jasmine Gilbert
ARTIST CORPS
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Brianne Falanga
ARTIST CORPS
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Aliyah Casper
CORPS DE BALLET
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Meridian Hula
FELLOWSHIP APPRENTICE
Dancer Portraits by Bob Williams Photography
Guest Artists
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Patricio Di Stabile
HOMETOWN: Buenos Aires, Argentina
TRAINING & PERFORMANCE:
The School of Teatro Colón, Ballet Academy East, Wonderbound, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, and Canyon Concert Ballet, San Jose Dance Theatre, Sierra Nevada Ballet, and Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance
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Kevin Murdock-Waters
HOMETOWN: Roseville, CA
TRAINING & PERFORMANCE:
San Francisco Ballet School,
Ballet Austin, Performa/Dance, Ventana Ballet
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