2017 The Nutcracker INFORMATIONAL PACKET
Nutcracker Frequently Asked Questions What are the requirements to participate? Any dancer ages 5 through adult can participate. You must attend the audition Sunday, September 10th, 2017 to be cast in a role. You will have to sign a contract agreeing to be on time and in attendance of all rehearsals and performances. Do you have to be a student at Midwest Performing Arts to participate? NO!!! We encourage all the students from our school to audition and we welcome any dancer in the community to audition. The only requirement is that you are enrolled in a dance class at a dance school for the school year session. How many dancers will you accept? We will try to cast as many dancers as we have costumes for! This is still a work in progress. If you are not cast this year, try again next year and ask us how you can prepare. We will try to help you meet your goals. Do we have to pre-register to audition? Pre-registration is not required, but it will speed up the check in process if you fill out the Nutcracker Audition Form ahead of time and bring it with you to the audition. This form is available online and at the MPA office. You can also be premeasured, please see Dana at the MPA office to do so the week of Nutcracker Prep classes September 5th and 7th. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your audition time to check in. Audition fee and measurement must be taken at time of registration. What should I wear to auditions? Girls- Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes and hair secured in a bun. Younger dancers from the Pre-Dance Division may wear their pink leotards. Boys- white t-shirt, black pants/ capris/ tights, black ballet shoes. Are the auditions open to be watched? No, this is a closed audition. We want to take the pressure off our brave dancers! How much does it cost to participate? There is a $15 per individual or $25 per family audition fee and a $75 participation fee. This covers the maintenance and tailoring of the costumes and teacher/choreographer expenses. We try to make this an affordable option for all families. How will we be notified after auditions? You will be notified by an email to the address you put on your audition form. This message will be sent no later than Thursday, September 21st. It will include your schedule and participant contract. Please contact the studio if you do not receive an email by Thursday morning or if you have any questions about the schedule. When is my contract and participation fee due? The deadline to turn in your contract and pay the $75 participation fee is 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 21st. If we have not received your contract by 4:00 PM on, Thursday, September 21st, we will assume you have decided not to participate. When will I be given my role? At your first scheduled rehearsal. This is to encourage dancers to accept and perform any part or parts they have been awarded. What if I don t get the part I was hoping for? All the roles in our ballet are good parts and essential to the magic of the production. There are many different factors we must consider when casting roles: age, ability, the size of the costume, and the style of choreography best suited for a dancer. If you had your heart set on a part, remember that there will be future opportunities. Please trust our casting, we know you will have a great time onstage! Are rehearsals mandatory? Yes! Absolutely! Each group has a limited number of rehearsals before we begin to run the entire show, so be sure you can commit to all rehearsals before turning in your contract, this includes the Tech Rehearsals on stage on November 28th and 30 th and Dress Rehearsal on stage on December 1st. If you stated conflicts on your audition form, those conflicts only will be considered as excused absences. Only 1 absence will be considered and all absences must be approved by the director. If you have conflicts beyond those stated on your form and are no longer able to commit to this year s performance, please try out next year. We plan to make this an annual production! What if I know that I am unavailable to rehearse during a certain time frame on Saturdays? Rehearsals take place on Saturdays from 10:00 AM -7:00 PM. Each part will rehearse for 30-90 minutes. Please indicate on your audition form if there is a time within this that you are unavailable to rehearse. Any missed rehearsals must be indicated on the audition form and then approved ahead of time by the Artistic Director. 2
What do I wear? To all rehearsals, dress rehearsals, costume fittings, etc. you should wear pink tights, solid color leotard, ballet shoes, and your hair in a neat, secure bun. Boys need to wear white t-shirts, black tights, and black shoes. Do I get to keep my costume? No. The cost of the elaborate Nutcracker costumes is far too much to ask parents to purchase costumes year after year. Instead, we are assembling a set of high quality costumes that will be carefully cleaned and stored for the following year. Each dancer is responsible for providing their tights, shoes and undergarments that their role requires. Where will the shows be held? The 2017 performance of The Nutcracker is scheduled for December 2nd at the Waunakee High School Performing Arts Center. How many shows will there be? There will be two shows: 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm on Saturday, December 2, 2017. What about volunteering? We require that each family commit to at least one volunteer position. We have made available opportunities that require time but not money, commitments that can be done far before the show, commitments that require time during the show, and opportunities that will put your talents to work! We re sure everyone will find a way to help us put on such a massive production in a way that is fun and comfortable. To sign up for your volunteer position please visit, http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054eaaa82da7f49-nutcracker. How will tickets be sold? Tickets will be for sale online at www.21424.recitalticketing.com and will be available for purchase for cast members on October 28 th at 10:00 AM. Cast members will be emailed a priority code to use on this site one week before ticket sales open. There is no limit to the amount of tickets you can purchase this year. All tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis. The seating will be assigned seating and seating choices will also be given on a first come first serve basis. The sooner you buy your tickets, the more choices you will have in location of your seat! Ticket sales will open to the public and cast members can purchase additional tickets beginning on November 4 th at 10:00 AM. A code is not needed for ticket purchase after this date. Will any professional photographs be available? A professional videographer will be taping at the performances and DVDs will be available for you to purchase. For the safety of the dancers and comfort of other patrons, absolutely no photography or videotaping is allowed, with or without flash. We will also have professional photographer taking action photos at the performance and in studio pictures. Picture day will be Saturday, October 28th. The specific schedule is TBD. Order forms for both photos and DVD s are available on p.11-13 of the Nutcracker Packet. Will Nutcracker T-shirts be offered? Yes. T-shirts, Hoodies, and pants will be available for purchase. These items will be sold online! To purchase your Nutcracker apparel, you can visit www.trendingnowpromotions.com. To enter and purchase on this site the username is: midwestperformingarts@gmail.com and the password is: NUT2017. The online store will open on the first day of rehearsals Saturday, September 23, 2017 and close on Saturday, October 7, 2017. See p. 10 of the packet for more information. Will we be having a cast party? Yes. The cast party will be held on the Saturday immediately after the Nutcracker performance. Please save the date! The cost of this party is $10 per person and $25 per family. This fee helps cover food and beverages as well as the facility rental and janitorial services. A cast party ticket order form is located on p. 9 of the Nutcracker packet. This RSVP form is due with payment to the MPA office by Saturday, November 25th at 4:00 PM. I know someone who likes to donate to the Arts. Do you accept donations? Absolutely! The Nutcracker is a huge production with tremendous expenses. We will gladly accept any donations to help offset the costs of costuming and production. All donors will be recognized in our program. Please contact the director with your questions: mpanutcracker@gmail.com 3
Nutcracker 2017- Dress Rehearsal and Performance Details We have been getting so many great questions about what to expect the day of the Nutcracker show. So, here are ALL the details! Please read carefully! Tech Rehearsals: Tuesday, November 28th & Thursday, November 30th. Please be on time! Allow for traffic, parking etc. If you are late, we start late and the dancers have to stay late!!! Please plan accordingly! Tuesday, November 28th -No costumes, dance rehearsal attire please. 4:30 PM All Act 1: Scene 1 and 2 dancers and parents need to meet in the auditorium for an important meeting detailing the rehearsal and the shows. After the meeting they will be dismissed to dressing rooms. 5:00-7:30 PM Stage rehearsal of ACT 1 Scene 1 and 2: Party Scene- Clara, Louise, Friends of Clara, Party Girls, Parents, Dolls, Soldiers, Drosselmeyer/Battle Scene-Soldiers, Mice, Nutcracker, Clara, Drosselmeyer. 7:30-9:00 PM- Stage rehearsal of Snow Scene. Thursday, November 30th-No costumes, dance rehearsal attire please. 5:00 PM All Act 2: Opening, Divertissements, and Finale dancers and parents need to meet in the auditorium for an important meeting detailing the rehearsal and the shows. 5:30-7:00 PM- Stage rehearsal of ACT 2 OPENING SCENE: Angels, Sugar Fairies/ Spanish/ Arabian/ Marzipan/Chinese/ Bon Bons/ Russian/Clara/Drosselmeyer/Nutcracker. 7:00-8:30 PM- Stage Rehearsal of ACT 2 FINALE: Angels, Sugar Fairies/ Spanish/Arabian/ Marzipan/Chinese/Bon Bons/Russian/Clara/Drosselmeyer/Nutcracker. 8:30-9:30 PM- Stage rehearsal of ACT 2: Spanish/ Arabian/ Marzipan/ Chinese/ Bon Bons and Mother Ginger/ Russians /Arabian/ Clara / Drosselmeyer/ Nutcracker. Dress Rehearsal: Friday, December 1st *Please be on time! Allow for traffic, parking etc. If you are late, we start late and the dancers have to stay late!!! Please plan accordingly! *All dancers must come with hair and make-up completed. Costumes will be worn. 4:00 PM Call to theater 4:00-5:00 PM- Proceed to dressing rooms for hair and make-up touch ups and costumes. 5:00-7:00 PM- Full run through of show top to bottom and notes. All dancers are to remain in dressing rooms just as if it were the real show. 7:00-8:00 PM- All dancers/all casts to stage for notes and final bow rehearsal. All dancers both first and second act are involved in the final bow. 8:00-9:30 PM Rehearsal of anything needing extra attention. Please be prepared to stay, this might involve you. 4
Show Day: Saturday, December 2nd Arrival times: 11:30 AM Call for Waltz, Party Girls, Chinese, Marzipan, Arabian, Clara, Maids, Snow, Spanish, Nutcracker, Sugar Plum, Mouse King. Please arrive with hair and make-up done. 12:00-1:00 PM Advanced dancers warm-up onstage (Waltz, Party Girls, Chinese, Marzipan, Arabian, Clara, Maids, Snow, Spanish, Nutcracker, Sugar Plum, Mouse King) 1:00 pm- Call for all other dancers to theater. Please arrive with hair and make-up done. All dancers are to arrive with hair and make-up ready to go. Proceed to assigned dressing rooms- Helpers- Hair/ make-up/costumes Select parts may be pulled onstage to practice. Only dancers, staff, and parent volunteers are allowed in dressing room areas. A parent may escort younger dancers once they have signed in. 2:00 PM Show: Show will start promptly at 2:00 pm- please tell friends and family not to be late! There will be no exiting/ entering the theatre until intermission 1:30 House opens 1 st Act will be approximately 50 mins Intermission 2:45-3:00 PM 2 nd Act will be approximately 45 mins All dancers are to stay in costume in the backstage area until the final bow. Dancers return backstage immediately after the show HANG COSTUMES UP PLEASE! No costumes are allowed in the lobby areas. You must change before you go to greet friends and family. 4:00-5:00 PM-Dinner break: Dancers are required to stay at the theatre in between shows. Pack dinner/ snacks, or have something brought to your dancer (food is only allowed in the Student Commons and no eating in costume. Friends and family are welcome to visit with dancers in the Student Commons during the dinner break. Visitors are not permitted in back hallway or backstage areas. 6:00 PM Show: 5:00 PM- Dancer call to backstage; Hair and make-up touch ups, stretch, costumes 5:00-5:30 PM- Stage is open for older dancers self warm-up. 5:30 PM- House opens 1 st Act will be approximately 45 mins Intermission 6:45-7:00 PM 2 nd Act will be approximately 45mins All dancers are to stay in costume in the backstage area until the final bow. Dancers return backstage immediately after the show HANG COSTUMES UP PLEASE! No costumes are allowed in the lobby areas. You must change before you go to greet friends and family. Cast Party!!! 8:00-9:30 PM Pizza, refreshments, ice cream and dance party in the Performing Arts Center Commons! Friends and family are welcome as well. See cast party ticket order form on p. 9 for details. We are looking forward to a wonderful day of performances! Thanks again for everyone s participation. -Meghan McDermott and the MPA Nutcracker Staff 5
MPA 2017 Nutcracker Costume/Shoes/Hair/Make-up Role tights/leo shoes hair make-up Clara pink tights/ nude leo Ballet slippers, 2 pairs of pointe shoes rag curls #1 Party Girls pink tights/ nude leo pink Ballet slippers rag curls #2 Louise pink tights/ nude leo pink Ballet slippers rag curls #2 Maids nude tights/ nude leo black 1-2 inch character shoes low bun #1 Clara's Mom Black tights high heel shoe hair done #1 Clara's Dad under shirt black dress shoe with black socks gelled back N/A Drosselmeyer under shirt black dress shoe with black socks gelled back N/A Soldiers pink tights/ nude leo pink Ballet slippers top of head bun #2 with red felt cheeks Solider Doll pink tights/ nude leo pink Pointe shoes top of head bun Harlequin Doll pink tights/ nude leo pink Pointe shoes low bun Mice pink tights/ MPA Leo pink ballet slippers high bun #2 Mouse King Grey t-shirt, grey tights Grey Ballet slippers N/A N/A Nutcracker Black T-shirt,White tights White Ballet slippers N/A N/A Angels pink tights/ nude leo pink Ballet slippers low bun #2 pink tights, no Sugar Fairies undies! pink Ballet slippers low bun #2 Sugar Plum pink tights pink Pointe shoes low bun #1 Spanish pink tights/ nude leo pink Pointe shoes low bun #1 Arabian nude bra bare feet low bun #1 Marzipan pink tights pink Pointe shoes low bun #1 Bon Bons pink tights/nude leo pink Ballet slippers rag curls #2 Russian Ladies pink tights/nude leo black jazz shoe with long black sock low bun #1 Young Russian Girls pink tights/nude leo black jazz shoe with black footed tights low bun #1 white shirt/black ballet tights/dance Young Russian Boy belt black ballet slippers gelled back N/A Waltzing Flowers pink tights pink Ballet shoes low bun #1 Roses pink tights pink Pointe shoes low bun #1 Snowflakes/Queen pink tights pink Pointe shoes low bun #1 Chinese pink tights/nude leo pink Pointe or Ballet shoes low bun #1 #1 with red felt cheeks and extra long fake eye lashes, doll lips #1 with red felt cheeks and extra long fake eye lashe, doll lips 6
NUTCRACKER HAIR GUIDELINES How to make a low Ballet bun with a side part: Things you will need: Water Hair spray or hair gel Bobby pins/hair pins to match color of hair Hair tie to match color of hair Hair net to match color of hair Instructions 1. Wet hair and part on side of choice about ¾ the way to back of head. 2. Slick back smoothly into a ponytail lined up around the top edge of the ears. Gel and hairspray to help get smooth look and secure any fly aways. 3. Twist hair and start to wrap it around the ponytail securing with bobby pins and hair pins as you go around. Note: be sure to get a little bit of hair from head and a little from the twisted pony into the pin together. This will help secure. Note: for really thick hair, it is helpful to separate hair into two twists, doing one wrap at a time. 4. Take hair net and wrap it around bun to tie in any loose hairs and then bobby pin in the hairnet. 5. Give whole head one final spray. Note: If securing a head piece, use bobby pins to help secure and make sure to send your dancer with extras just in case. Here is a link to a helpful video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kluvaeweq-e&feature=youtu.be How to make rag curls or order wigs: Clara, Party Girls, and Bon Bons Please practice with them. Do not wait until the day of the show to start trying. Start with hair half up leaving the remainder of the hair hanging long. 1. If your child s hair is natural curly, you can use a curling iron. 2. You can use the pink sponge curlers if your child has shorter hair. Be sure hair is wet when you roll them and use a styling gel. 3. Use actual rags For rag curl instructional video click this link https://youtu.be/6jtd-0dtuik 4. To purchase a hairpiece: Pearl Beauty Supply (781) 593-3566 Nutcracker Pony: https://www.cheerswirls.com/products-page/cheerswirls/nutcracker-ponytail/ There will be a sample ring for color match at the front desk. 7
Things You Will Need: NUTCRACKER MAKE-UP GUIDELINES Foundation Concealer (optional) White and brown eye shadows Fluffy eye shadow brush Black pencil eyeliner White pencil eyeliner Eyebrow pencil (color appropriate for your brows) Q-tips Eyelash curler Mascara Fluffy blush brush Pink blush (one darker shade and one brighter) Lip pencil (color corresponding to lipstick color) Lipstick(darker pink or red) Instructions: Apply primer. Dot primer on the forehead, cheeks and chin. Blend out so the entire face is covered with a layer of primer. Allow primer to soak in. Primer creates a barrier that prolongs makeup and makes it appear fresh longer. Apply foundation. Dot foundation in the same areas as Step 1 and blend out. A tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation should do the trick for young girls as they seldom have flawed skin. If there are under-eye circles, pat concealer on them for additional coverage. Apply eye makeup. Eye makeup is one of the most crucial steps in applying stage makeup. The eyes should pop dramatically so the audience can see a dancer's expression from afar. Dust brown shadow from the eyelid up to the eye crease. Color below the eyebrow with white shadow. Line the upper lash line with a black pencil eye liner. Create short strokes and then connect the "dots" for a pristine line. Use white pencil at outer crease of the eye. Curl eyelashes with lash curler. Apply mascara to lashes. If using faux lashes, you may have to cut lashes in half so they fit a young girl's eyes. Apply lash glue to the faux lashes using a Q-tip and allow glue to reach a tacky consistency (which takes about 10 seconds). Gently apply the faux lash to the lash line and press the lash down using the end of a small makeup brush (the end without bristles). Once lash glue has dried, go over faux and natural lashes with mascara to blend hairs together for a flawless look. Apply blush. Swirl the fluffy blush brush in a pink blush and tap onto the apples of the cheeks. Without picking up additional product, buff blush to create a natural- looking flush without any harsh lines. Apply lip products. Line and fill lips with a lip liner. Apply lipstick and blot with a tissue. Finish with lip gloss Videos: #1 Older dancers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee_o7766rke #2 Younger dancers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrrf5fb7nzg&featu 8
2017 Nutcracker Cast Party! The Nutcracker Cast Party! Where When What Cost RSVP You are Invited Waunakee High School Commons December 2nd 8:00pm-9:30pm following the Nutcracker performance. Pizza, Refreshments and a Dance Party! Join us to celebrate everyone s hard work and a show well done! $10 per person/$25 per family Detach and fill in form below and make payment to MPA no later than Saturday, November 25, 2017 2017 Nutcracker Cast Party Ticket Purchase Form Cast Member Name: Number of tickets: Total Payment: Payment Type: Payment Date: 9
2017 Nutcracker Apparel To purchase your Nutcracker apparel, you can visit www.trendingnowpromotions.com. To enter and purchase on this site the username is: midwestperformingarts@gmail.com and the password is: NUT2017. The online store will open on the first day of rehearsals Saturday, September 23, 2017 and close on Saturday, October 7, 2017. See p. 10 of the packet for more information. T-Shirt $20.00 Pant $38.00 Hoodie $44.00 10
2017 DVD Order Form The DVD includes the entire performance, divided into chapters, and is professionally edited. It comes with a color printed DVD as well as a customized case. Shipping will take place about 2-4 weeks after the show date. DVD Options Quantity Price Saturday December 2, 2017-2PM Show $35.00 Saturday December 2, 2017-6PM Show $35.00 Any Two (2) Shows $60.00 Indicate Quantity - (2pm) (6pm) SHIPPING to your home $5.00 Studio Pickup FREE Grand Total 2923 Emslie Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 (262) 44-VIDEO Notes... Please make checks payable to FIRST STAR MEDIA Parents Name Dancers Name 3 Digit CVV Number (Back of card) 4 Digit CVV Number (AMEX) 11
12
13