Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesOlivia Kramer and Aaron Thomas Moore play Aurora and the Prince in 'Sleeping Beauty,' a scholarship benefit show produced by Valdosta School of Ballet and Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance. 

VALDOSTA – Olivia Kramer recalls being a small child refusing to leave the car going to dance classes.

She’s attended Valdosta School of Ballet since the age of 3. Now, a 17-year-old Lowndes High School senior, she leads the dance company’s annual Princess Ballet Series.

Kramer plays Aurora, the title character in “Sleeping Beauty.”

For about a dozen years, Valdosta School of Ballet owner Brandi Roberts has partnered with Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance to raise scholarship funds for the university program.

The partnership alternates between productions of “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella,” which was the ballet performed last year.

The Princess Ballet Series has raised nearly $100,000 in scholarship funds for VSU Theatre & Dance students.

Aaron Thomas Moore is one of the recipients of scholarship funds. He plays the Prince and Roberts said it marks the first time the male lead has been a scholarship recipient.

Moore looks far different from his last role, the title character in the VSU Theatre & Dance production of Moliere’s “Imaginary Invalid” last fall. Moore played a spry but aged hypochondriac in the show.

He compared the elderly imaginary invalid to the dashing, young prince as both being physically strenuous in different ways. Though, as the prince, it’s a physical role “with a lot less wrinkles,” Moore said.

Several of the performers are VSU Theatre & Dance scholarship recipients, working with the young dancers of Valdosta School of Ballet.

Roberts has been committed for years to raising scholarship funds for VSU Theatre & Dance.

Years ago, Roberts led the annual production of “The Little Match Girl” to benefit VSU Theatre.

After several years hiatus, she returned with “Cinderella” to raise money for university scholarships. Roberts and her Valdosta School of Ballet keep none of the proceeds. All of the money goes to VSU Theatre & Dance.

“For my students, they are learning a good lesson of giving back to the community,” Roberts said.

The 2018 “Sleeping Beauty” has some new touches since it last played two years ago, Roberts said.

The show features new sets; new costumes; a chandelier courtesy of Lighting Concepts; additional princesses, such as Mulan, added to the court of fairy-tale princesses; the Crow is played by a dancer instead of being a puppet.

As for next year, will the partnership present “Sleeping Beauty” again? Or “Cinderella”? Or something completely different?

Roberts isn’t saying. But if residents want to see “Sleeping Beauty,” she said come this weekend, it could be a while before it returns.

THE CAST: Olivia Kramer, Aaron Thomas Moore, Lauren Lindsey Sirmans, Joe Mason, Brooke Butler, Emma Paulk, Dan Costello, Hope Hathcock, Katie Rothenhofer, Annie Eilders, Evans George, Ashlyn Winegarner, Brandon Chandler, Joshua Joyce, Daniel Lennox Jr., Terrance Searcy, Drew Chunn, Haley Aguero, Hannah Findlay, Ashley Hartwig, Stephanie Stanley, Jordan Van Dyke, Alexandria Joy, Perry Kate Freeman, Aleena Holley, Megan Foose, Anna Kathryn Gardner, Sammye Hamilton, Faith Johnson, Blythe Lindsey, Crystal Wang, Olivia Rosenthal, Meredith Reitz, Daniel Lennox Jr., Blythe Lindsey, Ursula Trasorras, Corey Coadou, Sammye Hamilton, Marcus Godwin, Rebecca Walker, Lauren Bass, Morgan Bass, Madelyn Burnam, Kaitlyn Butler, Anna Clark, Delancey Hsu, Kherington Malone, Aubrey Register, Charlie Wisenbaker, Christan Wright, Taylor Barrett, Eva Branch, Jaycee Carter, Ella Godwin, Ansley Howell, Annellisa Odell, Ellie Panizzi, Raeley Parker, Ann Seredni, Diana Seredni, Hailey Sheaks, Niyla Smith, Alexis Spuler, Riley Wright, Jade Zick, Charlee Rae Brown, Keegan Brown, Haley Carpenter, Kathryn Conger, Kayleigh Dasher, Caroline Lambert, Lexi Lowry, Kennedy Newman, Alice Reynolds, Emily Roberts, Alyx Robinson, Genivive Rogge, Aleena Safis, Kaylee Smith, Ansley Thomas, Rylee Washington, Lilah Davis, Paisley Glass, Channing Edwards, Hailey Foster, Maggie Hathcock, Bryn Heatherly, Anna Lynn Hornbuckle, Caitlyn Hudson, Rosemary McGee, Ansley Millsapp, Sophie O’Kane, Brianna Oritz, Elizabeth Smith, Anslee Tomlinson, Kamryn Washington, Ka’Niyah Washington, Evelyn Zick, Gabriella Blume, Isla Brown, Greta Carter, Jade Emerson, Josie Mayne, Delilah Morris, Alysa Safis, Haylee Wall, Layla Waldon, Karleigh Alderman, Avie Andrews, Matlyn Forehand, Lillian Ray, Kathleen Spraggins, Jayden Gilbert, Emily Kate Hiers, Emma Hornbuckle, Hudson Hsu, Caitlin Johnson, Karli Malone, Sadie Mason, Ella Grace Neal, Mallory Rogers, Aldyn Stewart, Lauren Alden Studstill, Carly Warren, Erin Weeks, Catherine Zakar, Adair Carter, Sarah Davis, Maggie Jo Hamitlon, Morgan Mackey, Lillabeth Mason, Alaina Moon, Elle Scruggs, Maggie Stewart, Baileigh Rowland, Taylor Bennett, Thaisia Jones, Mia Meli, Madison Miller, Madison Ply, Taunya Thompson, Nicole Zhao, Mabry Hart Depta, Claire Green, Kaitlin Hurst, Ginsey Lawlor, Harley McGee, Anna Pate, Kamden Register, Riley Futch, Philela Jackson, Kaitlyn McDonald, Ava O’Brien, Claire Rothenhofer, Anslee Staten, Ariana Williams, Taylor Bennett, Chloe Hewes, Thaisia Jones, Abi King, Alden McDonald, Mia Meli, Madison Miller, Madison Ply, Zayne Ridge, Taunya Thompson, Nicole Zhao, Adair Carter, Sarah Davis, Maggie Jo Hamilton, Chloe Hewes, Abi King, Morgan Mackey, Lillabeth Mason, Alden McDonald, Alaina Moon, Zayne Ridge, Elle Scruggs, Maggie Stewart, Baileigh Rowland, Kinslee Bolton, Molly Eilders, Riley Futch, Philela Jackson, Kaitlyn McDonald, Ava O’Brien, Claire Rothenhofer, Anslee Staten, Sadie Tomlinson, Ariana Williams, Kinslee Bolton, Mabry Hart Depta, Molly Eilders, Claire Green, Kaitlin Hurst,  Ginsey Lawlor, Harley McGee, Anna Pate, Kamden Register, Sadie Tomlinson

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Jacque Wheeler, stage director; Brandi Roberts, artistic director; Brooke Butler, assistant director; Brandi Roberts, Jacque Wheeler, Brooke Butler, Gaye George, and Lauren Lindsey Sirmans, choreographers; R. Keith Pugh, scenic art; Emma Marsico, stage manager, sound board operator; Robert Burks, assistant stage manager, fly operator; Ruth Brandvik, light designer; Noah E. Dalton, lightboard operator; Dakota Glass, Sarah King, spotlight operators; Belinda Eilders, Jeanette Dukes, Doris Michel, Dorothy Barnes, Esther Iverson, Hanna Everitt, Joan Everitt, Michelle R. B. Everitt, Mary Lindsey, costume designers; Tsung-Ju Clark Yang, Erika Moore, costume crew; Bill Malone, logo design; Ashley Green, props; Reagan Baldwin, box office.

SHOWTIME

Valdosta School of Ballet and Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance present “Sleeping Beauty.”

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21.

Where: Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St.

Tickets: Tickets available at the door, or at advanced outlets of City Market, Steel’s Jewelry, The Scoop.