“The San Jose Nutcracker” - 2025
congratulations on receiving preliminary casting as a toy soldier.

Toy Soldiers appear in Act 1 of “The San Jose Nutcracker” as cast. Toy Soldiers are a complex dance role inspired by the New York City Rockettes. Toy Soldiers will need to purchase tan character shoes and a flesh toned liner leotard. You can perform as both a Toy Soldier and a Flower in the same performance if you are selected to perform both roles. All Toy Soldiers are also cast as to learn flowers as well, so the flower rehearsal schedule is included below. Students in Levels 4 and 5 should also consult the Advanced Casting Page for their full set of responsibilities and rehearsals.

In-Studio Rehearsal Schedule

Saturdays - Flowers/Flower Understudies 12:30-1:30; October 16 - December 6 (no rehearsal October 25 and November 29)
Saturdays - Toy Soldiers:  1:45-2:45; October 4 - December 6 (no rehearsal October 25 and November 29)
Tuesdays - Flowers/Flower Understudies  6:00-7:00; October 21 or when needed (Students will be called out of Contemporary for this rehearsal when we are ready to start working with their role) through December 2
Sundays both roles: 12:00-3:30; November 2nd, November 16th, November 23rd, December 7th (optional for minimal casting students)

Theatre Rehearsal Schedule - Mandatory Availability

Level 4A and 4B MUST BE AVAILABLE for the following in-theater rehearsals. We plan to have multiple casts, so students may not be called to every rehearsal listed below, but students must be available for all the rehearsals listed below and there is a possibility they will be cast for all rehearsals and performances. Specific schedules for each student will be released by November 1st with Performance Casting. More details will be sent closer to theater week. Students in 5A must attend all theatre rehearsals and performances unless they opted for minimal casting.

Toy Soldiers (Act 1):
Tech rehearsal: Wednesday, December 10th, 5:00-7:15pm
Tech rehearsal: Thursday, December 11 5:30-7:30pm
Dress rehearsal: Friday, December 12th, 6:15-8:20pm

Flower/Flower Understudy (Act 2): Those dancers cast to perform flowers are expected to attend all in-theatre rehearsals, whether or not they are on the floor so that they can watch the spacing rehearsals, unless they have signed up for minimal casting.
Tech rehearsal: Wednesday, December 10th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.)
Tech rehearsal: Thursday, December 11th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.)
Dress rehearsal: Friday, December 12th, 4:30-9:15pm

Performance Schedule: MANDATORY AVAILABILITY

For some soldier spots, students who did not opt for minimal casting may be in BOTH groups, so select students will perform in every performance listed below. Some students may perform in only some of the performances listed below. Students MUST BE AVAILABLE for all the performances listed below unless you opted for minimal casting and submitted a conflict with your registration. Students MAY be cast to perform in all performances, or may be cast to perform only in select performances. Performance dates for each student will be released November 1st. Please note that the times listed below are performer drop off and pick up times, not the actual show times. More details will be posted closer to theater week. 

Toy Soldiers
Saturday, December 13th: 1:15-3:00 pm
Saturday, December 13th: 6:15-8:00 pm
Sunday, December 14th: 10:15 am-12:00 pm
Sunday, December 14th: 1:15-3:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th: 1:50-3:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th: 6:50-8:00 pm
Sunday, December 21st: 10:15 am-12:00 pm
Sunday, December 21st: 1:15-3:00 pm
Monday, December 22nd: 10-15 am-12:00pm
Monday, December 22nd: 1:15-3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 23rd: 1:50-3:00 pm

NOTE: 3:00 PM and 8:00PM pick up times are at intermission. If you have tickets to one of these shows and would like your student performer to join you in the audience for the second half, they must also have a ticket. You may exit via the Market St. door to pick up your student and escort them back through that same door to have your tickets scanned and return to your seats.

Flowers: (Flowers should be at all theatre rehearsals and performances in case emergency casting is needed)
Saturday, December 13th: 12:15-4:00 pm
Saturday, December 13th: 5:15-9:00 pm
Sunday, December 14th: 12:15-4:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th: 12:15-4:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th: 5:15-9:00 pm
Sunday, December 21st: 12:15-4:00 pm
Monday, December 22nd: 12:15-4:00 pm
Tuesday, December 23rd: 12:15-4:00 pm