Prairie Nutcracker Featured Artists

Betsie Andrews (Executive Director of Prairie Nutcracker Foundation, Inc. & Director of Prairie Nutcracker) was raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and trained with Christine DeLazzaro White and Ronn Daniels in ballet, pointe, tap, and jazz from the age of six. In her teens, she was a charter performing member of the Ft. Lauderdale Civic Ballet Company. After graduating from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, she danced professionally as a Rockette in New York's Radio City Music Hall, flew for Eastern airlines, and taught school in Boston and Rome (Italy). Marriage brought her to Kansas in 1975 where she taught fourth grade, initiated "ArtWorks" for schools, choreographed for local theatre groups, directed Toddler Tree Preschool and Studio 3100. In 1998, she founded ArtisTree to further integration of the arts in business, schools and community life. She volunteers as Fox Theatre's Arts & Education Coordinator, designing and directing their By the Bus Informance series for surrounding school districts. Betsie is married to George Andrews, a native Californian, and is the proud mother of two adult daughters who lend their incredible talents to the mission of Prairie Nutcracker Foundation, Inc.

Rick Kuethe (pronounced Keeth-ee) (Composer of the original music for Prairie Nutcracker) grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and was competing in international piano competitions by the age of 12. An Emmy-nominated composer, Kuethe has 10 CDs of original music to his credit, drawing on his memories of growing up on the great plains. After graduating from Grinnell College in Iowa, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, he embarked on a rewarding musical career including performing throughout the US and abroad and scoring for film and television. Rick lives in Boston with his wife Florri. His music is available through his website: www.peaceandquiet.com.

Josh Davies (Technical Director of Prairie Nutcracker and Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre) entered the world of theatre at a young age in his home town of Hutchinson, Kansas, which eventually led to his love for production work. Currently the Technical Director of Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, he has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over a decade, taking on several different roles including Technical Director, Sound Engineer, Lighting Designer, Set Designer, Producer, Promoter, Projection Technician, Musician, Radio Voice Talent, System Designer, Equipment Installer and a myriad of other roles both on and back stage. Josh has been the technical director for Prairie Nutcracker since its debut in 2000 and was one of its creative collaborators. The director and dancers owe a huge debt of gratitude for the golden warmth and glow which Josh continues to create each season for Prairie Nutcracker.

Katie Flindall (Commanding Officer's Daughter/Prairie Doll/Pioneer Bride/'Dream Scene Pas de Deux' 'Church Pas de Deux' and 'Finale Pas de Deux') grew up in rural central Kansas, studied with Studio 3100/ArtisTree, The National Ballet School of Canada and Virginia School of the Arts. Katie, her husband Sandy, and their infant son Luca live in Waterbury, Vermont where she teaches dance and is the owner of Moon House Art Gallery where she is an artist and illustrator. Katie feels so blessed to be back with her Kansas roots and dancing again with her ArtisTree dance family!

Matt Barnes (Frontier Soldier/Church Groom) is proud to have been a part of Prairie Nutcracker since 2003 when he filled in at the last minute.  He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied History and Dance.  He has continued to keep dance as a part of his life by teaching ballroom dance, and he is thrilled to be performing again.  He would like to thank his beautiful wife, Kelly, for her continued encouragement.  He would also like to thank Miss Betsie for asking him back and Katie for dancing with him once again.  Finally, he thanks all of you for your ongoing support of dance.

Kathy Zongker (Costume Mistress/Assistant to the Director) began sewing at the age of seven. After completing a degree in Home Economics at Panhandle State University, she taught high school home economics at Cunningham, KS. She has spent the last twenty years doing what she considers her most important work; raising her and her husband's six children. She continues sewing almost daily and teaches sewing in the 4-H program. Kathy has been on both sides of the stage for Prairie Nutcracker - dancing as an officer's wife and being parent to four Prairie Nutcracker dancers. In addition to maintaining over 100 costumes in performance condition, she lends her many talents to the many tasks of administration and production work for both ArtisTree and Prairie Nutcracker.

Mike Williamson (Backstage Crew Chief) has had more good fortune and loving family than anyone could ask for! He grew up in Lyons, KS, received his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Kansas, and his Masters in Biology at Middlebury College in Vermont. He married his high school sweetheart, Elaine, and together they have 5 lovely children who were all home schooled. Or, was it Mike and Elaine were home schooled by their children?! Whatever. And starting in 1984, he discovered his other great love, software development with FileMaker Pro. This last discovery has allowed Mike and Elaine to feed their kids while working for many top notch companies around the country. What else could anyone ask for? The director is most grateful for Mike's creative collaboration since Prairie Nutcracker's debut and for his tireless and patient work directing all the backstage choreography.

Also featuring:

• 55 area dancers ages 7-70
• Live Musicians
  • Ray Nicodemus, Hesston, balladeer, guitar & fife
  • Lisa Mitchell, Hutchinson, violin
  • Doug Mitchell, Hutchinson, guitar
• 20 Community Adult Dignitaries including
  • Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff
  • Hutchinson Downtown Development Director Jim Seitnader
  • Downtown Revitalization Director Emeritus Ron Kelley
• Cast from 7 Kansas communities and 5 States
  • Buhler
  • Hesston
  • Hutchinson
  • Lyons
  • Marquette
  • McPherson
  • South Hutchinson
  • Iowa
  • Los Angeles
  • Nebraska
  • Seattle
  • Vermont