Nutcracker Cast Page

This page will be updated with all important schedules and documents relating to the youth cast of NOBT’s production of the Nutcracker.

This page is not publicly linked from our main website to keep the privacy of the children’s schedules, but can be found by entering in www.nobt.org/castpage. NOBT emails to cast member families will include the link for easy reference.

Upcoming Events/ Deadlines:

  • September 19th/20th: Rehearsals Begin

  • September 20th: MANDATORY Parent Meeting 12:15-1:00pm

  • September 21st: Participation Contract Due Submit Online (Submit after casting released)

  • September 21st: $150 Participation Fee Due Pay Online (Submit after casting released)

Quick Links: Forms and Information:

General Information:

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS:

  • All rehearsals, besides the mandatory theatre rehearsals in December, will be held at NOBT/Schramel Conservatory Studios. 920 Terpsichore St., NOLA 70130

  • Rehearsals will begin on Friday, Sep. 27th. You will find the anticipated schedule for the entire rehearsal process on the linked above. All scheduled rehearsals are subject to change.  Some roles start later than others, and certain weeks may not have rehearsals for certain roles. We will email out and post any changes to the rehearsal schedule on the bulletin board downstairs at the studio. It is your responsibility to know when rehearsals are.

  • Dancers are allowed a maximum of two (2) misses. Theater rehearsals are mandatory and cannot be missed. Dancers who miss more than two rehearsals or a mandatory theater rehearsal will be replaced and fees will not be returned. Tardiness: two late rehearsal arrivals will count as 1 absence.

  • As a reminder, Act I rehearses Friday evenings, and Act II typically rehearses Saturday afternoons. In the Nutcracker handbook, you'll find a list of “Who’s in What Scene” to see which roles are in each act for clarification if your dancer is in Act 1 or Act 2 of the production.

  • Dancers are expected to be dressed and prepared to start rehearsal at the times indicated.

Rehearsal Attire:

Dancers should wear standard ballet attire for all Nutcracker rehearsals: 

Girls: Black leotard, pink tights with pink ballet slippers or skin-toned tights with skin-toned ballet slippers. Hair in a clean bun.

Boys: White t-shirt, black leggings with black ballet shoes, or grey leggings with white sock and white ballet slippers. Clean hair

Performance Attire:

Look in the handbook to know what costume items you will need to provide.

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CAST DISCOUNTED TICKETS- NOT YET ACTIVE

Cast members will receive a limited time 30% discount on tickets. Please feel free to share with family and friends. Limited time only- we will give at least 1 week notice before the discount expires.

Please double and triple check casting before purchasing tickets. Ticketmaster does not issue any refunds for incorrect purchases, and the NOBT staff has very little ability to request changes from the box office.

Cast Discount: 30% discount

Offer Code: MEMBER

How to use code: Enter the code by the image of the lock BEFORE you select your seats, then continue with check-out as normal. This is not a code to be entered at checkout- it is an offer code entered on the main ticketing page. See images below!

Link to purchase tickets: Go to NOBT’s season page here.

BACKSTAGE AND BOUTIQUE HELPERS

Sign-ups will be available once final casting is determined.

Backstage Helpers

We rely on the help of parents and guardians to help watch children backstage during performances. The sign-up page is now activated. You will receive an email for your sign-ups, and you can change your sign-up online if needed.

We request all backstage helpers to be at the theater early since we need to have helpers available when children are arriving.

     2:00pm Show Helpers: Please arrive at 1:00pm. (Dancers check-in between 1:00-1:30pm)

     7:00pm Show Helpers: Please arrive at 6:00pm. (Dancers check-in between 6:00-6:30pm)

There will be a sign-in sheet by the theater entrance. For performance days, please only backstage helpers in the backstage area. At the theater rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday, dancers will get acclimated to where their dressing rooms are, etc, so they should know where to go.

Duties:

  • Backstage helpers are required to be backstage the entire performance.

  • Backstage helpers will sign up to be with a group or groups of children to watch over during the entire performance. Making sure kids are behaving responsibly and orderly is essential. Excessive noise downstairs is audible from the audience. 

  • You may be asked to assist with helping with hair, make-up, putting on costumes, and attaching headpieces. Kids are requested to come with hair and make-up already done, but there may be touch-ups as needed.

  • It is not the responsibility of the backstage helpers to bring groups of children on and off stage. New Orleans staff will help guide entrances and exits. For a few roles, we may ask a helper to come to the side stage to keep children quiet during the production while they are waiting for their entrance and to guide them back to their dressing area.

  • Backstage helpers will help change dancers back into their normal clothes. After the children’s role is finished, please also help place costumes and accessories back on hangers, etc. exactly how they were initially laid out so that no parts are missing and they are orderly for the next performance.

  • Some children in the first act only may have a ticket for the second act, or some children may be picked up at intermission if they are not in Act 2. Please help any children who are getting picked up early to be changed and ready to make the transition as smooth as possible.

  • Please keep in mind that this is a professional production. Do not bring in any items that would be inappropriate in a work environment, including any alcoholic beverages, etc. You are there to work and help as needed.

Please note for performances that dancers are not allowed into the audience area in costume. Dancers should bring a nice outfit to change into to greet any guests after the performances.

Boutique Helpers

We also look for boutique helpers to sell merchandise in the lobby before the performance, during intermission, and for a short time afterwards. All proceeds from the boutique directly support NOBT.

Duties:

  • Boutique helpers are requested to arrive slightly earlier than 1 hour before the performance, since that is when the lobby opens for patrons.

  • Boutique helpers will help sell merchandise before, during intermission, and after the performance (10-15 minutes). 

  • We plan to have experience boutique helpers at every performance to help guide and direct new helpers and teach them the ropes.

    Note: You can be a boutique helper for a show you have tickets to attend, as long as you can commit to helping during the intervals mentioned. You will not be required to miss any of the performance. If you do not have a ticket to the show you are signed up to help, you can help in the downstairs backstage area with the children, or we appreciate your help to restock/organize the boutique area while the performance is running.

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CAST MERCHANDISE

Updates with 2025 merchandise coming soon!

Nutcracker Cast Member Doll: $30.00

Each year, NOBT selects a special Nutcracker doll only available to cast member families and not sold at the boutique. Many families collect them as a keepsake each year a dancer participates in the production!

Nutcracker Cast T-Shirt: $30.00

Cast members (and families!) are welcome to purchase t-shirts which will display "Cast Member" on front and 2025 Nutcracker advertisement artwork on back. Order deadline Mon, Nov. 17th. This is a pre-order, and we will email once they have arrived and will be ready for pick-up.

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PROGRAM ADS: Support NOBT and advertise your local business!

Advertising in NOBT's printed season programs is a great way to reach thousands of potential customers. Printed ads runs in all of NOBTs 25-26 programs, including Dracula (Oct 25), The Nutcracker (Dec 25), Pill (March 26), and Cinderella (May 26) All advertising proceeds directly support the company. Early enrollment will add on Prodigal Son (Sep 25).

  1. See rates and sizing specifications

  2. Reserve your space (email n.o.ballettheatre@gmail.com)

  3. Submit payment for your ad online here

  4. Reserve your space by Sept. 17th and submit artwork by Sep. 19th to be included in Prodigal Son Programs (Sep. 27/28th).

  5. Reserve your space by Mon, Oct. 13th and submit artwork by Friday, Oct. 17th to be included starting in our Dracula programs and remaining season programming. Submit to n.o.ballettheatre@gmail.com.

Please note: these are for business ads only- not personal notes to cast members, etc.

Nutcracker Contract:

Due September 21st, 2025

Please submit one form per child participating in the production.

This agreement is made by and between New Orleans Ballet Theatre, hereinafter referred to as “The Company” and the dancer named below, hereinafter referred to as the “Dancer”.