As a member of the Sacramento Ballet for 8 years, there are so many fond Nutcracker memories I can recall; it’s hard to pick just one that sticks out as my favorite! I was a part of the first Nutty Nut (I think I was pulled onstage on a Razor scooter by my Cavalier for the Sugar Plum Fairy entrance in Flowers). I remember my fellow Sugar Plum Fairies rallying around me, giving me tissues to wipe away sweat and water to drink as I completed my first ever Sugar Plum, and I learned Spanish, Demi’s, Snow, Marzipan, and Party Scene all in one day (I was the only “new girl” the first year I participated in Sacramento Ballet’s Nutcracker-WHEW!!!).
However, my favorite memory had to take place outside the theatre...I lived in the infamous D-Street house, that had been passed along year after year to Sacramento Ballet dancers. This particular year, my roommates, Whitney Popp (Whitney Simler) and Michael Separovich and I had a visit from our own “Mouse King.” We had a rat (or maybe more?) living in our house, and we affectionately named him “Lester.” Lester liked to torture us by running the halls at night, eating the food in our pantry, and occasionally checking in on us while we were sleeping. As any dancer can attest, Nutcracker season is very tiring and trying on the mind and body, and all you want to do when you get home after a performance is have a quick meal, shower, and go to bed. Well, Lester made sure we had none of that. One particular evening, I made my way to the precious bed, but soon after I fell asleep, I felt a rush over my head and frantically woke up and screamed out to Michael. He entered my room half asleep, with a end-table leg in hand (you do what you have to ward off the rats!!!). I explained to him that I had just felt Lester run over my head and that he had to be hiding somewhere in my room. Michael sat down on my bed reassured me that I was probably just tired and that there was no way Lester was in my room. Perfectly on cue, Lester leapt from his hiding spot in the blinds next to my bed between Michael and I, and after a few attempts, made it out of my room. Michael and I just looked at each other in disbelief, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t sleep the rest of the night!!! Lester left me alone after that evening, but the thought of him getting his revenge for all of the Mouse King’s out there still makes me laugh!
However, my favorite memory had to take place outside the theatre...I lived in the infamous D-Street house, that had been passed along year after year to Sacramento Ballet dancers. This particular year, my roommates, Whitney Popp (Whitney Simler) and Michael Separovich and I had a visit from our own “Mouse King.” We had a rat (or maybe more?) living in our house, and we affectionately named him “Lester.” Lester liked to torture us by running the halls at night, eating the food in our pantry, and occasionally checking in on us while we were sleeping. As any dancer can attest, Nutcracker season is very tiring and trying on the mind and body, and all you want to do when you get home after a performance is have a quick meal, shower, and go to bed. Well, Lester made sure we had none of that. One particular evening, I made my way to the precious bed, but soon after I fell asleep, I felt a rush over my head and frantically woke up and screamed out to Michael. He entered my room half asleep, with a end-table leg in hand (you do what you have to ward off the rats!!!). I explained to him that I had just felt Lester run over my head and that he had to be hiding somewhere in my room. Michael sat down on my bed reassured me that I was probably just tired and that there was no way Lester was in my room. Perfectly on cue, Lester leapt from his hiding spot in the blinds next to my bed between Michael and I, and after a few attempts, made it out of my room. Michael and I just looked at each other in disbelief, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t sleep the rest of the night!!! Lester left me alone after that evening, but the thought of him getting his revenge for all of the Mouse King’s out there still makes me laugh!
Sarah (Hinman) Wilson
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