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2017–2018 AUDITION GUIDEFOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
Dear Parents and Guardians,Welcome to a new Boston Ballet School year and I hope everyone has enjoyed awonderful summer. We are already preparing for Boston Ballet’s annual holidayclassic, The Nutcracker. I am also pleased to welcome Miranda Weese to theorganization, as our Children’s Ballet Mistress. Our Nutcracker production, withbeautiful sets and costumes by Robert Perdziola and re-envisioned choreographypremiered in 2012 and continues to be a holiday highlight for the community andbeyond. Our Boston Ballet School students’ participation is a major part of TheNutcracker and I am pleased you are considering having your child audition for theopportunity to take part this year.Each student performer and their family play a very significant role in thisproduction, and we greatly value the time and energy of everyone involved inauditions, rehearsals and performances. Communication with you, the parentsand guardians of these student performers is extremely important to the entireNutcracker experience, beginning with registration for the auditions and continuingthroughout all performances.This guide is designed to inform you and your child about the audition process andthe experience of participating in a professional production. Auditioning for andperforming in The Nutcracker is not necessarily for everyone. It is important to beaware of the substantial time commitment for your child and your entire family ata very busy time of year. Maturity and a sense of responsibility are essential andexpected of all students.I ask that you review this guide with your child before deciding to audition. If yourchild would like to audition, please complete the online registration form and havea Studio Administrator at the Boston, Newton, or North Shore studios measure yourchild’s height. Your registration must be completed by the end of the school day onSunday, September 17.Please remember that we are not able to select all auditioning students to performin The Nutcracker. The audition process is a learning experience in and of itself ifyou prepare your child in advance. Following the auditions, notification regardingselection for The Nutcracker will be sent by Saturday, October 10.I wish your son or daughter a happy and productive year of growth and progress indance education, and thank you for choosing Boston Ballet School for your child.Sincerely,Mikko NissinenArtistic Director, Boston Ballet and Boston Ballet School2 The Nutcracker
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU AUDITIONPerforming in The Nutcracker is a tremendous commitment for students and theirfamilies. As a parent, it means bringing students to numerous rehearsals andperformances during an already busy time of year. For students, it means learningand absorbing a great deal of choreography in a short period of time. Nonetheless,the experience of performing in a professional production is a unique opportunityand one your child will never forget.Please take the time to carefully read over the following considerations before youdecide to audition for The Nutcracker:1.All students cast in The Nutcracker must be available to rehearse and performin any cast for all rehearsals and performances from Tuesday, October 10through Sunday, December 31. No exceptions will be made for students who areunable to commit to the full rehearsal and performance schedule. This includesvacations, holiday plans, school activities, etc. Two or more unexcused absencesmay result in dismissal from the cast and may jeopardize a student’s eligibilityto audition for future Boston Ballet productions. Due to a limited amount oftime, rehearsals and/or performances may be scheduled on Halloween,Veterans Day, the evening before Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving(opening night), Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.*2.Theatre rehearsals will begin Monday, November 20 and will run through toopening night with the exception of Thanksgiving Day. We do not anticipate thatthe students will have to miss their academic school, but please be aware it maybe a possibility.3.Students who audition must be prepared to accept the role and cast to whichthey are assigned. Each role is equally important to the production as a whole.If any student is not ready to accept the part that they are assigned, pleaseconsider not auditioning at all. Failure to accept a particular role or cast afteryour child has auditioned will result in ineligibility to audition for future BostonBallet productions.4.Parents should prepare their child for the possibility that they may not beassigned a role. If you feel your child will have difficulty with the audition processin any way, it is best not to audition at this time.5.Student performers spend a fair amount of time waiting backstage to get intocostume and for their turn on stage. If you anticipate your child having difficultywith this process, it is probably best that they do not audition this year.6.Certain roles will require the purchase of new shoes and/or tights. These will beavailable for purchase through the company.*Please make note of the rehearsal commitment and performance schedule and liston your audition registration form any possible conflicts in the space provided. This isnot to excuse your child from being cast but merely allows the Artistic Staff to planahead and utilize the limited amount of rehearsal time effectively.3The Nutcracker
AUDITION ELIGIBILITYPerforming with Boston Ballet is a privilege extended only to current Boston BalletSchool students. To be eligible to audition for The Nutcracker you must be enrolledin the Classical Ballet Division (excluding Flex students) or Pre-Professional Divisionof the Boston Ballet School. Students with accounts that are not up to date or arein arrears will not be allowed to audition. Participation is mandatory for Traineestudents; however, these students are not required to audition.ARTISTIC DISCRETIONThe Nutcracker is a professional production, designed, managed and performedby Boston Ballet staff and artists. Decisions regarding casting of the professionaldancers as well as of the children are made by the Company’s experiencedArtistic Staff and are final. Please note that the Artistic Staff may go outside theparameters of height, class level, cast size and/or number of casts selected in orderto adequately cast our professional production. These exceptions shall be at the solediscretion of the Artistic Staff.In order to provide a professional experience for students and to work as quickly andefficiently as possible in the short time available, all auditions and rehearsals for TheNutcracker are conducted by Boston Ballet’s Artistic Staff and are closed to parents.POST-AUDITIONSNotificationThis year’s audition results will be available no later than Saturday, September 30.If you have not received notification by this date, please contact the Children’sTheatre Manager.Rehearsal SchedulesNutcracker student rehearsals will begin the week of October 10, following theColumbus Day Holiday. Detailed schedules for each role will be provided along withcasting notification. Most roles will rehearse twice weekly for 1 to 1.5 hours.Additional studio rehearsals at 19 Clarendon Street may be necessary duringthe performance run. Information regarding any additional rehearsals will becommunicated to students and families as soon as possible.4The Nutcracker
2017 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULEM20T21W22TH23FSATNOV 24 25282930DEC 145677:30 pm11121319207:30 pm25261:30 &7:30 pm7:30 pm271:30 &7:30 pm281:30 &7:30 pm17237:30 pm291:30 &7:30 pm1:30 &6 pm1:30 &7:30 pm7:30 pm227:30 pm10167:30 pm1:30 &6 pm1:30 &7:30 pm7:30 pm152131:30 &7:30 pm97:30 pm7:30 pm1881427:30 pm7:30 pm1:30 &6 pm1:30 &7:30 pm7:30 pm27SUN261:30 &6 pm241:30 &7:30 pm301:30 &7:30 pm11 am &3 pm317 pmAVAIL ABLE ROLES AND HEIGHT GUIDELINESBoston Ballet’s The Nutcracker involves approximately 240 students each year tospread across 22 different designated roles. Students’ class level and height arecritical factors in the roles for which they may be eligible. For your reference, thechart below lists all children’s roles and outlines the basic parameters of assignment:Female RolesParty SiblingBaby MouseLambUrchinPageLantern BearerGingerbreadPolichinelleLittle MouseReindeerParty GirlParty BoyClaraSoldierTeaBunnyLead ReindeerSugar Plum AttendantShepherdess5The NutcrackerEligible Class LevelsElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 2 and UpElementary 2 and UpElementary 2 and UpIntermediate 1 and UpIntermediate 1 and UpIntermediate 1 and UpIntermediate 2 and UpIntermediate 2 and UpIntermediate 3 and UpPre-Professional 3 and UpPre-Professional 3 and UpPre-Professional 3 and 3”64”66”58”63”n/an/a64”67”
Male RolesUrchinPageParty SiblingGingerbreadLantern BearerFritzParty BoySoldierBig MouseEligible Class LevelsElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpElementary 1 and UpIntermediate 1 and UpIntermediate 1 and UpIntermediate 2 and UpMen’s 1 and �49”51”50”63”50”63”56”64”n/an/aHOW TO REGISTERInterested students must register for the auditions via the online registration form,the link to which is available via the email sent to families in late August /earlySeptember or by clicking on the link provided on the Boston Ballet website. A uniquecode that is needed at the outset of the online registration is included in the email toeligible families.As a student’s height remains a critical component in role selection, registrationmust be completed in person. After submitting your online registration, your child’sheight needs to be measured by a studio administrator at the front desk of theBoston, Newton, or North Shore studio locations. Please note that the registrationis only final when the student has been measured by a Studio Administrator. Youwill receive a confirmation email once this step has been completed and height hasbeen added to your child’s registration record.Audition registrations must be completed – including height measurement – no laterthan the end of the school day on Sunday, September 17, 2017. No registrations willbe accepted after this date nor will students be able to register during the auditionweekend of September 23–24, 2017. Please note that Sunday hours for Boston BalletSchool are: Boston 9 am–2 pm Newton 9 am–1 pm North Shore closed.6The Nutcracker
2017 NUTCRACKER AUDITION SCHEDULEStudents are expected to attend each audition session for which their level is called,including callbacks, unless otherwise instructed. Sunday of the audition weekend isdesignated for all callbacks and students so chosen must attend both days.DateSat, Sept 23GroupElem2&3: Girls OnlyElem1: Boys and GirlsInt 1: Girls OnlyInt 2&3: Girls onlyAdv 1–4, PrePro 1&2: Girls onlyPrePro 3&4: Girls OnlyCheck-in time9–9:55 am11–11:45 am12–12:45 pm1:30–2:15 pm2:45–3:30 pm4–4:30 pmAudition Time10 am–12 pm12–1 pm1:15–2:15 pm2:45–4 pm4–5 pm5–6 pmSun, Sept 24All boys (no Elem 1)Blue CallbacksOrange CallbacksGreen CallbacksRed Callbacks8:25-8:55 am9-9:45 am10-10:45 am12-12:30 pm1:30-2:00 pm9-10 am10-11:15 am11:15 am-12:30 pm1-2:30 pm2:30-3:30 pmTHE AUDITION WEEKENDWe continue to refine the audition process to make it as efficient and pleasant aspossible for everyone involved. The following procedures and policies are outlined toprovide you and your student with a better idea of what to expect at the auditions.AttireStudents should wear their class dress code to the auditions. Please have yourstudent arrive at the 19 Clarendon Street studios dressed in his or her uniform.Female PrePro students should bring both their ballet slippers as well as pointe shoes.Hair should be pulled neatly back from the face. No skirts or other accessories shouldbe worn to the audition.Arrival and Check-inOn Saturday, September 23, check-in will be located on the third floor of the BostonStudios at 19 Clarendon Street. Call times are set with the expectation that studentsshould plan to arrive approximately 1 hour prior to the scheduled audition time aslisted above. Students should check-in and pick-up his or her assigned number atthe registration desk. Please keep the audition number and wear it again on Sundayif called back. Unfortunately, students who arrive after their scheduled check-intime will not be able to attend the audition and therefore will be ineligiblefor casting.CallbacksSome students auditioning on Saturday will receive a colored callback slip askingthem to return on Sunday. A callback slip means the artistic staff needs to see astudent again; it is not a guarantee of being cast in a role. Please make allowancesfor any callbacks. On Sunday, September 24, students should again plan to arriveapproximately 1 hour to their slotted callback time in order to check-in.7The Nutcracker
ParentsParents who plan to wait at the studio while their child auditions must wait in thelobby or on the first floor or basement levels. The auditions themselves are closedevents and restricted from observation. Parents who choose to leave and returnshould be available to meet their student promptly; we will adhere to the auditionschedule strictly.Please Note: The Saturday class schedule for the Boston Studio is subject to changedue to the audition weekend – please check the school bulletin board and/or with aStudio Administrator for an schedule changes.As per Boston Ballet policy, we ask that you do not double park alongClarendon Street; cars may run the risk of being towed.8The Nutcracker
Thank you for your interest in Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker.We hope to see you at the auditions onSaturday–Sunday, September 23–24!9The Nutcracker
BOSTON BALLET19 CLARENDON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116TEL 617.695.6950FAX 617.695.6995bostonballet.orgFront cover: Eris Nezha and students of Boston Ballet School in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker by Liza Voll Photography
organization, as our Children’s Ballet Mistress. Our Nutcracker production, with beautiful sets and costumes by Robert Perdziola and re-envisioned choreography premiered in 2012 and continues to be a holiday highlight for the community and beyond. Our Boston Ballet
