Sedona Red Rock News
Miquel Jose “M.J.” Maldonado Chapman Jr. plays “Fritz” in Phoenix Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” in 2019. In earlier years, he played a mouse and a “party boy” in the ballet. This year, at age 13, Maldonado Chapman has been promoted to the Nutcracker Prince. Photo courtesy Staci Schonbrun
Miquel Jose “M.J.” Maldonado Chapman Jr. may only be 13 years old, but he has already been promoted thrice in the Phoenix Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” starting with a small role as a mouse at the age of 9, and rising through the ranks to play a party boy, then Fritz and now the coveted role of Nutcracker Prince.