Ah, casting… every year there will be tears of joy and tears of sorrow. This is inevitable, and GCB encourages good sportsmanship from dancers and parents alike.
Please understand that casting decisions will be made in order to produce the best show possible. Casting depends on many factors, including the number and skill level of all dancers who audition, our costume inventory, and the types of roles offered by any given Artistic Director.
There is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will receive a part — at the same time, some dancers may be cast in more than one role. There is no automatic progression from one role to another (i.e. a Gingersnap does not always become a Mouse the following year). Seniors are not guaranteed a solo or a spot in the Snow Corps. And, performers may be cast in the same role year after year — because they are needed (i.e. Snow Corps, Flower Corps, Soldiers). The Artistic Director will consider prior roles of each dancer, but it is not always possible to give every dancer a “new” role.
The committee does not assign or guarantee roles based on:
– whether a dancer is a high school senior
– prior roles or understudy roles
– family donations of money and/or volunteer service
– other scheduled activities or commitments that a dancer may have (i.e. my dancer can’t rehearse Saturday 12-2 because of soccer (or) my dancer can only be cast in roles that rehearse on Sunday, etc.)
Unfortunately, there will always be casting disappointment.
- Every reasonable effort will be made to cast all dancers who audition.
- Every reasonable effort will be made to include all abilities.
- There is no guarantee that all dancers who audition will be cast — audition numbers may exceed our costume inventory and available roles.
- The Artistic Director is not required to cast everyone in an equal number of roles.
- The Artistic Director is not required to cast based on age, grade level, length of time in the production, or studio affiliation (i.e. the role of Clara does not formally rotate from one studio to another).
“Helping Dancers Deal with Disappointment” by Nichelle Suzanne (Founder/Editor at Dance Advantage)
If a dancer needs to decline a role (including an understudy role) due to a scheduling conflict, please follow these instructions:
Notify the Artistic Director (director@gardencityballet.org) and Executive Director (caroline@gardencityballet.org) by email stating “Thank you for casting me (or my dancer) in the role of _______________. Unfortunately, I am (or my dancer is) not able to accept this part due to a scheduling conflict.”
If a dancer is not interested in dancing a certain role, please decline the role as follows:
Notify the Artistic Director (director@gardencityballet.org) and Executive Director (caroline@gardencityballet.org) by email stating “Thank you for casting me (or my dancer) in the role of _______________. I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but I am (or my dancer is) not interested in this part and prefer that it be offered to another dancer.”
If a dancer wishes to drop out of Nutcracker altogether due to casting disappointment, please weigh the few minutes of performing on stage against the months of being in rehearsals with fellow dancers, the excitement of tech week, and the camaraderie of being part of the production as a whole. If you are absolutely sure about your decision, please follow these instructions:
Notify the Artistic Director (director@gardencityballet.org) by email stating “I am disappointed in the outcome of casting, and have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the cast. I understand that I will not be considered for other roles that might become available.”
If a dancer and/or parent would like to meet in person with the Artistic Director to discuss any casting concerns, please add:
“I (or we) would like to discuss our concerns, and will contact you to schedule a meeting in January, after the production is over.”
The process of casting is complex and challenging. When roles are declined, it takes significant work to fill vacant spots — this can be a time consuming process to complete before rehearsals begin.
If you are disappointed in your originally assigned role(s), it is possible that additional opportunities will come up as a result of other dancers declining a role — if you stick with the season, you may end up with an unexpected part… you never know!
Even though feelings can be hurt by casting, please keep in mind that if a dancer or parent sends a distressing or disrespectful email that criticizes casting decisions, it can be very damaging to our Artistic Director, Assistant Artistic Director, and choreographers — it also demonstrates unprofessional behavior. Dancers and parents are always welcome to have a conversation about casting, but the appropriate time is after the production is over. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
ALERT: If you intend to decline a role, please follow the instructions and do so by Sunday, Sept 1 at 9:00pm.
ALERT: Casting is not always “fair” in terms of how many roles a dancer receives. When reading the cast list, it is important to carefully check the entire list so you don’t miss the first rehearsal for an assigned role.
All (9-10) have one role (except two dancers have two roles).
Act One: Opening Scene
Mistletoe Vendors (pointe): Lillian Adair, Kaitlyn Reinhardt
Delivery Boy: Rhea Smith
Carolers (pointe): Carmen Cavanaugh, Layla Sevilla, Ruby Wicks
Ice Skaters: Thea Goodwin, Skye Kozlowitz, Maya Leischner, Delilah Nelson
Drosselmeyer: Jeff Medley
Drosselmeyer’s Assistant / Nutcracker Prince: Robbie Gibbons
Act One: Party Scene
Butler: Christopher Kehoe
Maid: Lexie Nichols
Clara (pointe): Kate Reed
Fritz: Asher Eve Brake
Governess: Carolyn Lewis
Mother: Jennifer Barnett
Father: Greg Dillon
Grandmothers: Linda Hightower, Lori Stevens
Clara’s Friends (pointe): Natalie Brandt, Genevieve Hedström
Party Girls: Olive Boettcher, Isis Franczyk, Fia Hammond, Plum Heuwinkel, Pia Koelle, Dana Matteau, Rowen Moore, Aubrie Phillips
Party Boys: Zoey Auch, Sophie Boyle, Edda Corn, Liliana Eirkson, Isla Parker, Lake Sings In The Timber, Zoe Thomasson
Party Guests: Bryan Dady, Dan Haney, Brett Leischner, Judith Mendelsohn, Michelle Scruggs, Emily Weiler, Julian Weiler, Anya Wells
Toy Soldier Doll: Mark Nelson
Ballerina Doll (pointe): Betty Wicks
Act One: The Magical Battle (Fight Scene)
Rat King: Mark Nelson
Hench Mice: Nora Boyle, Aspen Headley
Lead Mice: Maya Anderson, Saoirse Ferriter
Little Mice: Iris Boettcher, Melanie Elkins, Magnolia Engel, Berkeley Eull, Imogen Foley, Hildi Halland, Teressa Hedström, Izabel Meyers, Claire Swartz, Georgiana Taylor, Nellie Sutherland, Samara Van Zant
Ornaments (pointe): Daphne Adams, Maia Haney, Haidyn Kendall
Soldier General: Margot Pence
Soldier Captains: Pia Koelle, Meru Lafata, Cora Miller, Anastasia Potchak
Soldier Corps: Charlotte Angle, Isla Brake, Celeste Farago, Lula Larson, Zeyda McAfee, Juliet Mikael, Jordan Sept, Lake Sings In The Timber
Act One: Snow Scene
Snow King: Tigran Mkrtchyan
Snow Queen (pointe): Wynn Hoffman
Demi-Soloists (pointe): Hazel Black, Maggie Watts
Snowflakes (pointe): Carmen Cavanaugh, Lindley Erickson, Ashley Follett, Skye Kozlowitz, Delilah Nelson, Ellette Whitcomb, Betty Wicks, Ruby Wicks
Act Two: Kingdom of Sweets
Moonflower Fairy (pointe): Layla Sevilla
Angels: Zoey Auch, Sophie Boyle, Liliana Eirkson, Celeste Farago, Hildi Halland, Teressa Hedström, Lula Larson, Zeyda McAfee, Lola Pestel, Sophie Stern
Welcome Garden ~
Butterflies (pointe): Carmen Cavanaugh, Ruby Wicks
Royal Attendants (pointe): Lillian Adair, Rhea Smith
Bluebells (pointe): Daphne Adams, Aspen Headley, Genevieve Hedström, Maya Leischner, Cora Miller, Margot Pence, Olivia Stout, Eva Thurman
Violets: Charlotte Angle, Olive Boettcher, Edda Corn, Saoirse Ferriter, Isis Franczyk, Dana Matteau, Jordan Sept, Zoe Thomasson
Chocolate from Spain ~
Soloist (pointe): Ellette Whitcomb
Corps: Emerson Dady, Thea Goodwin, Maia Haney, Haidyn Kendall
Marzipan from Denmark ~
Shepherdesses (pointe): Skye Kozlowitz, Delilah Nelson, Kaitlyn Reinhardt
Sheep: June Cashman, Ellie Fontaine, Addy Oliver
Tea from China ~
Soloist (pointe): Hazel Black
Corps: Charlotte Angle, Nora Boyle, Isla Brake, Aspen Headley, Pia Koelle, Meru Lafata, Rowen Moore, Aubrie Phillips, Mara Reynoso, Eva Thurman
Lion: Lindley Erickson, Betty Wicks
Nightingale (pointe): Ashley Follett
Corps: Daphne Adams, Genevieve Hedstrom, Cora Miller, Margot Pence, Anastasia Potchak, Olivia Stout
Mother Ginger: Dan Haney
Gingersnaps: Vivian Blackhurst, Annebelle Byrd, Kinsley Cable, Hazel Eirkson, Penelope LaPointe, Emmy Oliver, Freya Radley, Juliette Scruggs
Trepak from Russia ~
Soloist: Wynn Hoffman
Corps: Lillian Adair, Keely Larson
Act Two: Waltz of the Flowers
Rose Queen (pointe): Maggie Watts
Demi-Soloists (pointe): Lindley Erickson, Betty Wicks
Corps (pointe): Natalie Brandt, Emerson Dady, Thea Goodwin, Genevieve Hedström, Skye Kozlowitz, Kaitlyn Reinhardt, Rhea Smith, Ruby Wicks
Rosebuds: Maya Anderson, Plum Heuwinkel, Mara Reynoso, Eva Thurman
With Professional Guests: Hallie Rumsey and Tigran Mkrtchyan
Understudies 2024
Note: All understudies should now attend rehearsals for their additional role(s) below. Please let us know asap if you are unable to accept your understudy role. This list is not final so we will contact any dancer that is added after today, Wed 9/18. Understudies do not need to attend scheduled costume fittings as we don’t know which dancer you will be filling in for (the costume you wear will be altered, as needed, when the time comes). Thank you!
Mistletoe Vendors and Carolers: Haidyn Kendall
Delivery Boy and Ice Skaters: Maia Haney
Butler: Bryan Dady
Maid: Anya Wells
Clara: Natalie Brandt
Fritz: Saoirse Ferriter
Mother: Emily Weiler
Father: Dan Haney
Clara’s Friends: Olivia Stout
Party Guests: Amy Glaspey
Ballerina Doll: Maggie Watts
Rat King: Liana Dillon
Hench and Lead Mice: Aubrie Phillips
Ornaments: Emmie Dady
Soldier General: Lillian Adair
Soldier Captains and Corps: Pia Koelle
Snow Queen: Hallie Rumsey
Snow Demi-soloist: Rhea Smith
Snowflakes: Thea Goodwin
Moonflower Fairy: Lindley Erickson
Angels: Marion Moody
Butterflies: Wynn Hoffman
Royal Attendants: Kaitlyn Reinhardt
Bluebells and Violets: Ana Potchak
Chocolate Soloist: Ashley Follett
Chocolate Corps: Julia Hahn
Shepherdesses: Layla Sevilla
Sheep: Isla Parker
Tea Soloist: Carmen Cavanaugh
Tea Corps: Zoe Thomasson
Nightingale Soloist: Ellette Whitcomb
Nightingale Corps: Genevieve Hedstrom
Mother Ginger: Haley Budge Nord
Trepak Soloist and Corps: Hazel Black
Rose Queen: Betty Wicks
Flower Demi-soloist: Ruby Wicks
Flower Corps: Carmen Cavanaugh
Rosebuds: Nora Boyle