Congratulations on being offered Preliminary Casting in an Advanced role in “the San Jose Nutcracker.”

Please check the preliminary casting grid linked below to find your casting. Schedules for each scene are detailed below.

PRELIMINARY CASTING REFERS TO WHAT ROLES YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO LEARN. Who is understudying a role and who will be performing a role will be decided as rehearsals progress and announced with performance casting on November 1.

Please note: all casting schedules are subject to change. Families will be notified of these changes via email.

In-Studio Rehearsal Schedule

Party Scene (ACT 1) - includes Party Scene Characters, Clara and Fritz
Saturdays: 3:00–4:15 PM; October 3–December 12 (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–2:15 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-12:15: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Battle (ACT 2) - includes Clara, The Nutcracker, Mousima, Toy Soldiers, Racoon, Skunk
Saturdays: 1:45–2:45 PM; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-12:15: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Flowers/Flower Understudies, Snow Snow/Understudies
Tuesdays:  6:00-7:00; September 22–December 8 (No rehearsal November 24)
Saturdays: 12:30-1:30; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Clara, Nutcracker, Woodland Guardians other Soloist Roles as Cast
Saturdays: 12:00-4:15; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Lady Dragonfly
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Theatre Rehearsal Schedule - Mandatory Availability

Levels 4, 5 and 6 students will be called to participate in the following rehearsals. Snow, Flowers, Principal and Soloist roles will be called to all theater rehearsals, whether or not they are cast to be onstage, to watch rehearsal and be on site in case of emergency replacements, unless you have opted for Minimal Casting, in which case they will only be called to the theatre on days when they are cast to be on stage. Students in Level 4A who are cast as Flower Understudies and Toy Soldiers only will be called to the theatre only when they are cast to be onstage. Who is a Flower and who is a flower understudy will be determined closer to the performance date. Final Theater Rehearsal dates for when each student will be onstage will be released by November 1st with performance casting. More details will be sent closer to theater week. 

Tech rehearsal: Wednesday, December 16th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.) Toy Soldiers and Flower Understudies arrive at 5pm
Tech rehearsal: Thursday, December 17th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.) Toy Soldiers and Flower Understudies arrive at 5pm
Dress rehearsal: Friday, December 18th, 4:30-9:15pm. Toy Soldiers and Flower Understudies arrive at 6pm.

Performance Schedule: MANDATORY AVAILABILITY

We may have multiple casts, so students may not be scheduled to perform in every performance listed below. However, students in Levels 5 and 6 and Studio Company Apprentices who select Regular Casting are expected to be on site at the theatre for all performances, even when they are not scheduled to perform. Students may be needed for emergency coverage, and some students may be cast to perform in all performances. Level 4 students who are cast as Toy Soldiers and Flower Understudies are only called to the theatre when they are scheduled to perform, but they should be available to understudy if needed.

Students selecting Minimal Casting will have a reduced performance commitment and will generally be required to be at the theatre only for performances in which they are cast to perform or specifically called to provide coverage.

As noted in the main registration information, we will not limit Performance conflicts on December 26 and 27. This exception also applies to students selecting Regular Casting who would otherwise be expected to remain on site for all performances. Please list all conflicts on December 26 and 27 on your registration form and make every effort to prioritize participation when possible. Please email us at school@newballet.com if you have any questions about this, even if you think your conflicts may disqualify you, as your goal is to cast as many students as possible.

Individual Performance Casting will be released by November 1.

Please note that the times listed below are estimated performer drop-off and pick-up times, not the actual performance times. Final call times and additional details will be posted closer to Theatre Week.

Saturday, December 19 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 19 — 5:15–9:10 PM
Sunday, December 20 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Sunday, December 20 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Tuesday, December 22 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Tuesday, December 22 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Wednesday, December 23 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Wednesday, December 23 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 26 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 26 — 5:15–9:10 PM
Sunday, December 27 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Sunday, December 27 — 12:15–4:10 PM