Let’s Make Magic.

Read below to learn more about the Nutcracker experience and commitment.

Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy offers local dance students the extraordinary opportunity to perform for an audience of thousands and share the historic State Theatre stage with a cast of local and guest professional dancers and a live 44-piece orchestra. We consider participation to be a great honor.

Beyond the performances, the Nutcracker experience fosters friendship and community among dancers from across the Twin Cities while also supporting the development of dancers’ technique and artistry. Our Artistic Team includes respected regular and guest instructors from a range of Twin Cities dance organizations. 

Our rehearsal schedule is designed to complement dancers’ ongoing training at their primary dance schools, and our team is committed to respecting each dancer’s existing affiliations. Rehearsals will focus solely on Nutcracker preparation.

There is no fee to participate aside from workshop and audition registration fees, but all dancers and families must sign a commitment form upon accepting any roles offered. Dancers will be asked to provide tights, shoes, and basic hair/makeup supplies. All costumes will be provided.

More details on the required Nutcracker commitment are outlined below. We will make every effort to minimize changes and confirm any adjustments before the first audition.

Auditions

All dancers–including dancers who have participated in previous Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy productions–must audition to be considered for performing and/or understudy roles in the 2026 production.

Dancers will also be asked to share information about their weekly training during the fall 2026 semester. This will help us to cast dancers in roles that are well-aligned with the frequency and rigor of their classical training,

All local dance students ages 6+ are welcome to audition, regardless of dance school affiliation.

All dancers must audition for Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy on one of the below audition dates to be considered for the 2026 production:

  • Friday, August 21 for enrolled Nutcracker Workshop students only

  • Sunday, August 16 OR Sunday, August 23 (time TBD)

Use these links for more information about Nutcracker Workshops and Auditions. These pages will become available on Monday, March 16.

Casting

Casting decisions will be shared by Monday, August 31. Dancers will have the opportunity to review and formally accept their roles at this time.

Dancers may be cast in performing and/or understudy roles:

  • 2026 performers will be cast in all performances. Some dancers may alternate into different roles on specific dates, but will still appear in all performances. Some performers may also be offered optional understudy roles.

  • Understudies will be invited to attend all rehearsals to learn and practice choreography but are not guaranteed a performing role. Understudies may be asked to perform in the event of a necessary casting change.

While we do our best to create as many opportunities as possible, we cannot guarantee a performing and/or understudy role for every dancer who auditions.

As we strive to honor the quality and integrity of this beloved production, we are guided by the following values:

  • Opportunity: We welcome dancers from many local schools and remain committed to keeping this production open to our local dance community.

  • Individual Growth: Each dancer’s journey through Nutcracker years and roles will be unique. Our rehearsal process is rigorous, and we will challenge participants to make meaningful progress in their dancing. We hope the reward for dancers’ hard work is a sense of empowerment and accomplishment at season’s end.

  • Group Commitment: Every role is essential to the production and an important part of the story we tell. We aim to create a space where dancers inspire one another, build lasting friendships, and learn the value of contributing to a group of artists creating something together.

Nutcracker 2026 Performances

Venue: State Theatre, Minneapolis

Public Performances:

Saturday, December 12, 2026 | 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 3:00pm

Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 20, 2026 | 3:00pm

School Matinee (to be confirmed): Thursday or Friday, December 10 or 11, daytime TBD

Open Dress Rehearsal/Community Event*: Friday, December 18, evening time TBD

*Performers will not be required to miss school on this date.

Dancers must be available for all performances.

Fall Rehearsals

Rehearsals will take place at Lundstrum Performing Arts (1617 N 2nd St) or another Minneapolis location.

Rehearsal Windows: Saturdays (4:00pm – 6:00pm) & Sundays (1:00pm – 6:00pm).

Anticipated rehearsal commitment:

  • Young dancer roles (Toys, Young Cousins) - Sunday only

    • 2-3 hours beginning Sept 13

    • Dancers cast as Mice will begin rehearsing Oct 11 

  • Corps de ballet roles (Rat Brigade, Snow, Flowers, Four Princesses) - Saturday + Sunday 

    • 2 hours on Saturdays ONLY beginning Sept 12

    • Additional 2-3 hours on Sundays (in addition to Saturday rehearsals) beginning Oct 10 

  • Dancers learning soloist and principal roles may be called for additional hours on select weekends (within the rehearsal time frame specified above)

  • Dancers should expect longer rehearsal days in late November/early December as we approach tech week (within the rehearsal time frame specified above)

Updated rehearsal schedules will be distributed with casting on Aug 31.

Rehearsal Weekends

  • Sept 12 & 13 

  • Sept 19 & 20 

  • Sept 26 & 27

  • Oct 3 & 4

  • Oct 10 & 11 

  • Oct 17 & 18 (NO REHEARSALS - MEA weekend)

  • Oct 24 & 25

  • Oct 31 & Nov 1

  • Nov 7 & 8

  • Nov 14 & 15

  • Nov 21 & 22

  • *Nov 28 & 29 – Thanksgiving weekend – see below 

  • *Dec 5 & 6 – Full cast rehearsals 

  • *Dec 8 - 11 – Tech week – see below

Thanksgiving Week Rehearsals

  • Friday, Nov 27: 5:00pm - 8:00pm (corps de ballet, soloists, and principals)

  • Saturday, Nov 28 & Sunday, Nov 29: 1:00pm - 6:00pm (Full cast)

Tech Week (Dec 8 - 11 at the State Theatre)

Tech week is the most important (and exciting!) phase of rehearsal, where we assemble the full production, including dancers, orchestra, costumes, sets, lights, and crew.

  • Tue, Dec 8 & Wed, Dec 9: Afternoon/evening rehearsals

  • Thu, Dec 10 & Fri, Dec 11: Daytime rehearsals*: tech, dress, and orchestra rehearsals; school matinee (TBD)

  • Wed, Dec 16 & Thu, Dec 17: Additional afternoon rehearsals as needed (5:00pm - 8:00pm)

  • Friday, Dec 18 : Full cast rehearsal and community event w/ relevant cast changes (afternoon/evening)

*Daytime rehearsals may require students to miss part of the school day. We do our best to minimize these occurrences and will provide support for securing excused absences. 

Attendance Expectations

Our schedule is designed to be compatible with dancers’ ongoing training at their primary dance schools. To accommodate unexpected or necessary absences, we allow for occasional missed rehearsals but will expect 80% attendance throughout the fall rehearsal period.

Students who are absent during any mandatory rehearsals or exceed absences allowed by the attendance policy may be replaced by an understudy or asked to share performances with an alternate. 

Frequent absences during the rehearsal process will impact dancers’ preparedness for the stage and may impact casting decisions for future productions.

MANDATORY REHEARSALS:

  • Fri, Nov 27 - Sun, Nov 29 (Thanksgiving/Holiday Weekend – see hours above)

  • Sat, Dec 5 & Sun, Dec 6 (1:00pm - 6:00pm)

  • All Tech Week Rehearsals (Dec 8-11 and Dec 17-18) – Any known OR potential conflicts (e.g. school concerts, exams) must be communicated BEFORE the rehearsal period begins in September. We will address these absences on a case by case basis.