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 10,000+ while sharing the historic State Theatre stage with a full cast of esteemed professional dancers and a live 44-piece orchestra. 

All dancers, including dancers who have participated in previous Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy productions, must audition for performing and/or understudy roles in the 2025 production.

We consider participation to be a great honor.

Beyond the performances, the Nutcracker experience fosters friendship and community among a cast of dancers from all over the Twin Cities - all while strengthening dancers’ technique and artistry with dedicated attention from our Artistic Team, which includes expert coaches from various Twin Cities dance organizations.

Our rehearsal schedule is designed to complement dancers’ ongoing training at their “home” 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 do our best to minimize changes and confirm any adjustments before the first audition.

Auditions

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

All dancers must audition for Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy on one of the below audition dates to be considered for the 2025 production:

  • Friday, August 15 - 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | ages 12+ (for enrolled workshop students only)

  • Friday, August 22 - 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | ages 6 - 11 (for enrolled workshop students only)

  • Sunday, August 17 OR  Sunday, August 24

Casting

Casting will be finalized by Wednesday, September 3. Dancers will have the opportunity to review and formally accept their roles at this time.

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

  • Opportunity: We welcome dancers from many local schools and remain committed to keeping this production open to the local community. Your enthusiasm has brought wonderful new energy to this 60-year-old tradition.

  • 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 your hard work is a sense of empowerment and accomplishment at season’s end.

  • Group Commitment: Every role is an essential part of the whole. 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.

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

  • Performers will be cast in all performances. Some dancers may alternate into different roles on specific dates. 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.

Nutcracker 2025 Performances

Venue: State Theatre, Minneapolis

  • Saturday, December 13 - 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM

  • Sunday, December 14 - 3:00 PM

  • Friday, December 19 - 7:30 PM

  • Saturday, December 20 - 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM

  • Sunday, December 21 - 3:00 PM

Dancers must be available for all performances. Latest call times will be one hour before each show.

Fall Rehearsals

Rehearsals will take place at Lundstrum Performing Arts (1617 N 2nd St)

Rehearsal commitment:

  • Young dancer roles (e.g., Toys, Young Cousins): 3 - 4 hours on Sundays

  • Corps de ballet roles (e.g., Rat Brigade, Snow, Flowers, Third Divertissement): 2 hours on Saturdays; 2-3 hours on Sundays

  • Dancers cast as Mice will begin rehearsing in October (2 - 3 hours on Sundays)

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

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

Updated rehearsal schedules will be distributed with casting on September 3.

Rehearsal Weekends

  • Sept 13 & 14

  • Sept 20 & 21

  • Sept 27 & 28

  • Oct 4 & 5

  • Oct 11 & 12

  • No rehearsals Oct 18 & 19 (MEA weekend)

  • Oct 25 & 26

  • Nov 1 & 2

  • Nov 8 & 9

  • Nov 15 & 16

  • Nov 22 & 23

  • Nov 29 & 30 - see below

  • Dec 6 & 7 – Full cast rehearsals

  • Dec 2 through Dec 5 – Select afternoon/evening rehearsals TBD

Thanksgiving Week Rehearsals

  • Friday, Nov 28 – 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (corps de ballet, soloists, and principals)

  • Saturday, Nov 29 & Sunday, Nov 30 – 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Full cast)

Tech Week (Dec 9 – 12 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 9 & Wed, Dec 10: Afternoon/evening rehearsals

  • Thu, Dec 11 & Fri, Dec 12 (earliest dancer start time at 12:00 PM): Tech, dress, and orchestra rehearsals

  • Thu, Dec 18 (5:00 – 8:00 PM): Additional afternoon rehearsal

  • Fri, Dec 19 (earliest dancer start time at 2:00 PM): Full cast rehearsal w/ relevant cast changes (time TBD)

Some 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. A finalized tech schedule will be shared closer to auditions.

Attendance Expectations

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

MANDATORY REHEARSALS:

  • Nov 29 – 30 (Thanksgiving/Holiday Weekend) & Dec 6 – 7 – These final weekends are very important for full cast rehearsals. Any potential conflicts must be communicated before the rehearsal period begins in September.

  • All Tech Week Rehearsals (Dec 9 - 12) – Any potential conflicts (e.g., school concerts, exams) must be communicated as soon as possible. 

Dancers must be available for all performances to be eligible to participate.

Students who are absent during mandatory rehearsals or exceed absences allowed by the  attendance policy may be replaced by an understudy or asked to share performances with an alternate. We will have a conversation with the dancer and their family before making any necessary casting changes.