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Nutcracker Musical

Nutcracker Cast & Parent Information 2023-2024

Costume Requirements

Weekly Rehearsal Schedule

9/26/23 update

We want to thank all the students who came to the Nutcracker Auditions.  We enjoyed your enthusiasm and willingness to try out regardless of the outcome!  Monday, September 25th letters to the students who we have cast in the show.   

The commitment forms are required for participating in the Nutcracker.  Please complete and return both sides of the form, along with a $15 suggested donation per child (cash preferred or PayPal: paypal.me/lwnutcracker).  This is due by Friday, September 29, 2023.

IMPORTANT NUTCRACKER DATES:

  • Monday, Sept. 25:  Cast announced; letter will be sent home at the END of the day

  • Friday, Sept. 29:  Child Commitment form due and collection of $15 suggested donation per child

  • Week of Monday, Oct. 2:  Rehearsals begin

  • Week of Nov. 27 - Dec. 1: Possible additional afternoon practices (as needed)

  • Monday, Dec. 4, 2:35 – 3:45pm:  Finale rehearsal (& Chorus rehearsal). 3:45 – 4:30pm: Actor and Stage Crew rehearsal

  • Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1:20pm – 4:30pm: Full cast and chorus rehearsal

  • Friday, Dec. 8, 2:35pm – 5:30pm:  Full cast and chorus dress rehearsal

  • Monday, Dec. 11, 1:00 pm:  Nutcracker performance for students at Laurelwood

  • Monday, Dec. 11, 7:00pm: Nutcracker performance for families at Laurelwood

  • Tuesday, Dec. 12, 1:00 pm:  Nutcracker performance for students at Laurelwood

  • Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7:00pm:  Nutcracker performance for families at Laurelwood

TEACHER APPROVAL: All participants are expected to behave in class, complete homework, stay on task, have the ability to focus, be respectful and follow school rules. As this is a school sponsored event, teachers have the discretion to decline student participation.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: The Nutcracker is NOT a PTA-sponsored event. We do not have a large number of PTA volunteers to complete the production.  The families of ALL children involved in the Nutcracker will be required to help. Thank you!

One other reminder, please keep sick children home, and please call/email your child's director as soon as possible. The office does not inform us of absences. This is a school event, the same rules regarding illness and school apply. Please contact your director if you child will miss their weekly rehearsal.

9/12/23 update-

Laurelwood Elementary School:  The Nutcracker Musical Audition Form 2023: We will be accepting audition forms through Friday, September 1st.
Link: https://tinyurl.com/NutcrackerForm23

Laurelwood School children in grades 3-5 who are interested in singing, dancing, or acting can audition to perform in The Nutcracker Musical.  

Participation in The Nutcracker Musical is a privilege and requires a significant commitment on the part of the children AND parents. Auditions and rehearsals can not be missed except for illness.  

  • All students must attend DANCING & SINGING AUDITIONS, including ANY part that is performed on stage: Chorus, Actor, Dancer, Mouse King, Shepherd and Sheep.

  • Students who ONLY want STAGE CREW (5th graders only) are exempt from dancing and singing auditions. 

  • Third graders can only audition for a dancing or singing part.  

  • There is a $15 suggested donation per child to cover production costs, which will be collected at the time each child accepts their part.  This donation does not include costume requirements.

  • All participants are expected to behave in class, complete homework, stay on task, have the ability to focus, be respectful, and follow school rules. As this is a school sponsored event, teachers have the discretion to decline student participation.

  • Parental participation is required.

  • Late submissions may not be considered. 

We will try to cast every child who auditions and place them in a part that we feel suits the child’s talents and production needs.  However, not all who audition will receive a part.  

MANDATORY AUDITIONS will be held after school PROMPTLY as follows:

  • Wed., Sept. 13: 1:20-3:30 pm in Room 28 -- 5th Grade Actors; in the Cafeteria -- 3rd Grade Dancing and Singing

  • Thurs., Sept. 14:  2:35-4:30 pm in  Room 28 -- 4th Grade Actors; in the Cafeteria -- 4th & 5th Grade Dancing and Singing

  • Fri., Sept. 15:  2:35-3:30 pm in Room 28 -- 4th & 5th Grade Actors; in the Cafeteria -- Stage Crew (5th grade only)

TEACHER APPROVAL: All participants are expected to behave in class, complete homework, stay on task, have the ability to focus, be respectful and follow school rules. As this is a school sponsored event, teachers have the discretion to decline student participation.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: The Nutcracker is NOT a PTA-sponsored event. We do not have a large number of PTA volunteers to complete the production.  The families of ALL children involved in the Nutcracker will be required to help. Thank you!

IMPORTANT NUTCRACKER DATES:

  • Friday, Sept. 1:  Last day to complete ONLINE audition form

  • Wednesday, Sept. 13, Thursday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 15:  Auditions after school

  • Monday, Sept. 25:  Cast announced; letter will be sent home at the END of the day

  • Friday, Sept. 29:  Child Commitment form due and collection of $15 suggested donation per child

  • Week of Monday, Oct. 2:  Rehearsals begin

  • Monday, Dec. 4, 2:35 – 3:45pm:  Finale rehearsal (no chorus). 3:45 – 4:30pm: Actor and Stage Crew rehearsal

  • Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1:20pm – 4:30pm: Full cast and chorus rehearsal

  • Friday, Dec. 8, 2:35pm – 5:30pm:  Full cast and chorus dress rehearsal

  • Monday, Dec. 11, 1:00 pm:  Nutcracker performance for students at Laurelwood

  • Monday, Dec. 11, 7:00pm: Nutcracker performance for families at Laurelwood

  • Tuesday, Dec. 12, 1:00 pm:  Nutcracker performance for students at Laurelwood

  • Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7:00pm:  Nutcracker performance for families at Laurelwood

NUTCRACKER PART DESCRIPTIONS:

  • Nutcracker (4th/5th grade only) - Magical Doll that comes to Life (main character)

  • Marie (4th/5th grade only) - Young, adventurous, sweet girl (main character)

  • Fritz (4th/5th grade only) - Marie’s rambunctious younger brother

  • Mrs. White (4th/5th grade only) - Housekeeper for Marie & Fritz’s family

  • Mother (4th/5th grade only) - Mother to Elizabeth, Jane & James

  • Elizabeth (4th/5th grade only) - Marie’s best friend

  • Jane (4th/5th grade only) - Elizabeth’s younger sister

  • James (4th/5th grade only) - Twin brother of Jane

  • Judge (4th/5th grade only) - Regal, kind Godfather to Marie

  • Footman (4th/5th grade only) - Attends to the Judge

  • Governess (4th/5th grade only) - Governess to Clara and Beatrice

  • Clara (4th/5th grade only) - Friend at the party

  • Beatrice (4th/5th grade only) - Friend at the party

  • Sheep and Shepherds -  Sheep and shepherds actors

  • Sugar Plum Fairy dancers - Ballet style dance

  • Flower dancers - Ballet style dance

  • Candy Flute dancers - Tap style dance

  • Candy Flute Prince - Part of the dance with the Candy Flute dancers

  • Arabian dancers -  Acrobatic style dance

  • Chinese Tea dancers - A combination of ballet and acrobatic style dance

  • Toy Soldier dancers -  A dance about the battle between toy and mouse soldiers

  • Mouse Soldier dancers - A dance about the battle between toy and mouse soldiers

  • Mouse King - A dance about the battle between toy and mouse soldiers

  • Russian Baker dancers - Bakers dancing about making sweets some acrobatic style

  • Stage Crew (5th grade only) - NOTE:  This must be selected as Preference #1.  Then select other parts as preference #2-5.

  • Chorus - Sings songs throughout the performance. NOTE: If you only want to be in the Chorus only select as your Preference #1 (leave #2-#5 blank)

This website will be updated throughout the next few months. Please remember to check back frequently. 

Please email lwnutcracker@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Mandatory all cast rehearsals and performances:

Rehearsals (please have your child bring a snack to all rehearsals):

Please pick up on time! All rehearsals are for children only, no parents. If you arrive to pick up your child and the rehearsal is not yet over, please wait outside the cafeteria for your child. Do not enter the Cafeteria, HUB, Learning Center, or Classrooms. This is a very large cast and more parents in those areas create confusion and crowding. Thank you!

If your child has Safety Patrol after school, please make arrangements for a replacement. 

Costumes are to remain at school at all times. Do not take your costume home!

Performances (no food is available, please remember to feed your child before evening performances):

Please note that the cast designations are for the actors only. All dancers, chorus, stage crew, and sheep/shepherds are in all four shows. 

Reporting times for evening performances: Your child’s group director will let you know what time to report for the 7:00 p.m. performances.  

Parents, please no videotaping, flash photography, iPads, tablets, or tripods during the evening performances. We have a professional videographer recording the evening performances and DVD's of each show are available for purchase using an order form.  Please be considerate of the other guests seated near/behind you so their view is not blocked by recording devices during the performances. Also, the held up devices, screen light, and photography flashes interfere with the professional recording. If you insist on videotaping yourself, you may do so from the rear of the cafeteria at the 1:00 p.m. performances only. Thank you!

During the performances, only children in the cast and parent volunteers working in makeup and costuming will be allowed in the dressing areas (the HUB, Learning Center, and Classrooms). Please wait outside for your child, do not enter these areas.

One other reminder, please keep sick children home, and please call/email your child's director as soon as possible. The office does not inform us of absences. This is a school event, the same rules regarding illness and school apply. 

Please do not send a child who has had a temperature of 100 degrees or above or who has vomited or had diarrhea within the past 24 hours; who has frequent coughing, a very runny nose, sore throat or earache; skin rash; open sores; head lice or nits. Please do not allow your child to return until his/her temperature has been normal while un-medicated for 24 hours.

If your child is too sick to come to school during the day, they cannot come to the performance that evening.  Rehearsals may only be missed for illness or pre-authorized circumstances. Failure to attend rehearsals, failure to come to performances on time, or disrespectful behavior, will result in the child's removal from the production.