Nutcracker 2017 Information

INTRODUCTION

This booklet has been prepared in an effort to provide all participants of the Nutcracker with the information needed to make this production a success. Nutcracker is made possible only through the dedicated efforts of the cast, parents of cast members, the TCB staff, and many volunteer hours. Our success depends on accurate and timely communication. We intend to get all information to you as soon as possible. It is very important that you continue to check our website for updated information, and respond accordingly. Please check the bulletin boards at the studio and the web site at to be sure you have all current information.

As questions arise we ask that you direct them to a TCB board member or production manager. This will allow Eka, to concentrate on artistic aspects of the production without distraction. If the board member or production member does not have the answer, please allow them to track down the information for you.

Thank you for your time and for participating in this year’s show! We sincerely hope you will enjoy your work with us as much as we enjoy providing this opportunity to the children of our community.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will initially be held on Saturdays. Please check the website and bulletin boards often for any revisions. Also, if you have a child cast member, please be sure to ask if they received any information or handouts during rehearsals. Children and teens may leave notes in their bags and forget to share this important information with you!

The success of a performance of this magnitude and complexity is based on a group of individual performers coming together as one interdependent group. The individual performance of each group member relies on the performances of the rest of the group. When one member of the cast is absent from a rehearsal or performance this impacts other performers. For this reason, it is very important that allcast, no matter the part in the performance, attend all rehearsals. Continued absences could result in dismissal from the cast. Casting decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Artistic Directors and are not subject to discussion.

We greatly appreciate your efforts in bringing and picking up your children on time. We will make every attempt to stay on schedule. Rehearsal scheduling is at the discretion of the Artistic Directors based on their judgment of cast performance.

Cast members, cast parents and support staff must demonstrate courteous and considerate behavior at all times. As the performance dates grow near, it is natural for cast and staff to be under stress as they work to make the production a success. It is important for cast members to support one another and for parents and family members to encourage and support the cast.

Children who are not cast members should not be left unsupervised while family members rehearse or perform. If it is necessary to bring young children to rehearsals they should be supervised by another adult. TCB cannot assume responsibility for supervising unattended children. It is your responsibility to ensure they are safe and supervised!

The Artistic Directors may invite parents and non-cast members to observe the children’s progress from time to time, however, all rehearsals are closed. This ensures the cast members can focus and concentrate on the production without being distracted or injured. Rehearsal notes are also closed to everyone but the cast and stage crew.

TECH WEEK PROCEDURES

The stage crew will ‘load in’ to Braden Auditorium on the Monday of Tech Week prior to the performance. This means that all props and costumes are taken to the Braden stage area. Please review the production regulations required by Braden prior to the start of rehearsals. Each individual must set a positive example by acting in a courteous and considerate manner.

Each year we meet with the Braden Auditorium Staff regarding the use of their facilities for the Nutcracker production. It is an opportunity to review the obligations of both parties as stipulated in the rental agreement between TCB and ISU/Braden. The obligations and rules that apply to you and family or cast members are listed below.

Absolute compliance with the following rules is required in order to maintain our long-term relationship with Braden. For this reason, TCB retains the right to excuse any participant, cast member, or support staff person from the production if they do not abide by these regulations.

Braden Auditorium Regulations:

  1. Children cannot leave the dressing room/stage/wardrobe area to go to other areas in Bone Student Center, or leave Braden Auditorium unless accompanied by an adult.
  2. No one is allowed to sit in the audience during Tech Week rehearsals.
  3. Videotaping and photography of the production are prohibited except by private hire of TCB.
  4. Food can only be consumed in dressing rooms. Absolutely no eating or drinking when participants are in costume.
  5. Participants are asked to remain in their assigned dressing rooms until called to the stage, called to wardrobe or called for “notes”. Parents are asked to be in attendance and supervise younger children in the dressing rooms.
  6. No one is allowed in the “on” or back stage area unless they are wearing a Stage Crew name badge and/or they are called to the stage.
  7. All personal items must be removed from the dressing rooms at the end of each evening. This includes flowers, food, cosmetics, and clothing. Floor and dressing table surfaces must be cleared for housekeeping personnel each night.
  8. Parking is prohibited in the stage door/loading dock area. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at your expense by the ISU staff!
  9. All production participants, their families and support staff must demonstrate considerate and courteous behavior at all times. This includes use of “quiet” voices in the backstage hallways and wings. Loud noises can be heard on stage and in the audience, and can cause cast members to miss their cues!
  10. Absolutely no walking behind the back drops to get to the other side of the stage.
  11. No smoking is allowed in the stage or dressing room areas.
  12. No costume may be removed from the back stage area.
  13. No cast member may leave the dressing room/stage/wardrobe area to go to other areas in Bone Student Center, or leave Braden Auditorium wearing a costume.
  14. The doors to Bone Student Center will be locked during the first rehearsal (Wednesday, November 29th. You will only be able to enter/exit through the loading dock. Do not ask that doors be unlocked.

TECHNICAL REHEARSALS (Tech Week)

Technical rehearsals begin the week of November 26th. Sunday afternoon and Monday evening of “Tech Week” will be at the Twin Cities Ballet studios. Beginning Wednesday, November 29th rehearsals will be at Braden Auditorium on the campus of Illinois State University (ISU). Tech Week is an important time to finalize spacing and rehearse in full costume on the stage in the auditorium where the actual performances will be held. Attendance is mandatory! These rehearsals are important to the entire cast as one missing performer can disrupt the proper spacing of the rest of the cast. The only acceptable absences are illness or family emergency. Please notify TCB studios at (309) 663-9333 and leave a message explaining the absence. The safety and health of all cast performers is a top priority. As a result it is important that no one performs if they are ill or injured. In particular, anyone with a contagious illness (as well as family members of this individual) should not attend rehearsal to avoid infecting others. However, you must call the studio!

COSTUMES

Every cast member will be assigned a specific costume and is responsible for the condition of the costume. Costume cases will be kept locked except during dress rehearsal and performance times. Costumes will be distributed to you in the dressing room you are assigned. Once costumes have been distributed you need to verify all pieces/parts are included. If you have a quick-change, it is the cast member’s responsibility to get his/her costume to the proper quick-change area on stage. It is also the responsibility of the cast member to ensure all costumes are returned to the wardrobe cases from the stage and dressing rooms. When finished with the costume, return it to wardrobe on the original hanger and be sure to include all incidental pieces, hats, wings, petticoats, etc. If you have any problems with your costume please bring it to the wardrobe room (location will be marked).

We take all possible health precautions for people who must share costumes. If a cast member has something contagious please tell the wardrobe personnel. In addition, all females with enclosed costumes (all tutus, soldiers, party girls, and bon bons) REGARDLESS OF AGE must use panty-shields for sanitation.

A few rules to follow in order to keep our costumes in good condition:

  1. No eating or drinking allowed while in costume. This includes water!!
  2. No smoking allowed in the dressing rooms or backstage areas.
  3. Use the restroom BEFORE putting on your costume!
  4. Follow the Artistic Directors’ instructions regarding color of tights, shoes, hair, & make-up.

All costumes are the property of TCB. It is TCB policy that any costume worn on stage during a performance is the property of TCB and must be approved by the Wardrobe Mistress and the Artistic Directors.

Come to Dress Parade, Dress Rehearsals and Performances fully prepared and dressed in the appropriate dance slippers, tights and leotards.

  • Party Girls, Mice, Bon Bons, Sleigh Fairies – pink ballet slippers, pink tights, nude leotard. Party girls must where required hair piece
  • Angel Attendants – pink ballet shoes, pink tights, nude leotard
  • Sleigh Fairies-pink ballet shoes, pink tights, nude leotard
  • Soldiers – black jazz shoes, pink tights, nude leotard
  • Party Boys, Bon Bon boys, and Soldiers (Boys) – White tights and black shoes

DANCE MAKE-UP

Dance make-up is basically a stylized, corrective street make-up that enhances or minimizes one’s facial attributes and accentuates the eye as the focal point of the face.

General considerations:

  1. Become familiar with the bony structure of your face.
  2. Highlighting with a light color makes that area prominent while a dark color will make the area less obvious.
  3. The larger the theater the more exaggerated the make-up needed.
  4. A dancer should have his/her own personal make-up kit containing:
  • Sponge, cotton balls, tissues, scissors, towel, washcloth and mirror
  • Pancake and liquid foundation a shade darker than your natural skin color
  • Eyebrow pencil (black or brown) and pencil sharpener
  • Mascara (black or brown)
  • Liquid eyeliner (black or brown) and eye shadow.
  • Rouge, cream or powder, in a rose color.
  • Lipstick, plum or rose colored.
  • Translucent powder and a brush for application.
  • Eyelashes with surgical adhesive.
  • Cold cream to remove make-up.

DRESSING ROOMS

Dressing room assignments will be posted on the doors of the dressing rooms in the back stage area. TCB is held responsible for the condition of the rooms when we leave and each person is responsible for his/her area. All personal items must be removed from the dressing room at the end of each evening. Floor and dressing table surfaces must be cleared for housekeeping personnel each night. TCB and Braden are not responsible for lost or stolen items. It is imperative that hallways be kept clear and quiet during rehearsals and performances!

Dressing rooms are shared by cast members and may be crowded. They are private areas only for the use of cast members of the Nutcracker production. We request only one parent assist the family cast member in dressing for a rehearsal and/or performance. Other members may wait outside the dressing room so long as hallways are kept clear and quiet.

Cast members will be called to the stage through the intercom system during the rehearsal and performances. It is important that all cast members be on time arriving at Braden and prepared to perform when called. As a general rule, notices for upcoming acts are given at least ten minutes in advance. Keeping the noise to a minimum will help to ensure the cast can hear their cues.

DROP OFF & PICK-UP

The safety of all Nutcracker participants is a top priority. Get to know others involved in the production and make new friends. Immediately report to the Braden staff or TCB Production Manager anyone in the backstage area that is not a family member or member of the production. When arriving or leaving rehearsals and performances, we encourage you to walk with friends to and from the parking areas. Instruct younger children to wait inside the loading dock area until you arrive for them. Do not ask young children to wait outside on the loading dock area!

Drop off and pick up cast members at the loading dock “Stage Door” of Braden Auditorium

(NE Corner of College Avenue and University Street). To avoid being ticketed, please:

  • do not pull into the loading dock parking lot to unload or pick-up
  • do not leave your vehicle unattended
  • do not parking in the loading dock area

PARKING

You have a few parking options for rehearsals and performances. Please observe all ISU parking regulations.

  1. Drop off cast members and accessories along University Street at the Bone Student Center. Do not pull into the loading dock area! Cast members will then walk to the stage door of the southwest Braden loading dock. Free parking is available in the ISU G73 GREEN parking lot at Hancock Stadium (between the football field and Main) between the hours of

5:00 – 10:00 p.m. A pedestrian underpass is provided at the south end of the lot with access to Bone Student Center/Braden.

  1. Nutcracker participants may purchase a one-week parking permit from the ISU Parking Office @ 709 North Main Street in Normal (just south of Fairview Park). Office hours are Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Nutcracker participants will be issued a temporary permit that is valid in the surface RED or GREEN parking lots. Maps of the campus showing these lots are available in the Parking Office at the time the permit is picked up.
  2. The Bone Student Center pay lot will be available at the regular rate.

PICTURES, VIDEOS & T-SHIRTS

A photographer will be at the studio for pictures on November 4th. Pictures are volunteer in any costume of dancer’s part. A photographer will also take live-action shots at the Braden on Wednesday and Thursday evening of tech week. Full Dress and Make-up is required during all dress rehearsals at Braden Auditorium. These pictures will be available online.

The Nutcracker performance will be professionally videotaped. Order forms will be available at the studio, on our website, and outside the dressing rooms at Braden during Tech Week. All tapes must be ordered in advance and paid in full no later than the final performance. Make checks payable to: TWIN CITIES PARENT GUILD. Information on T-Shirt orders will be available soon at the dance studio and on the web-site.

CAST GIFT EXCHANGES

It has become almost traditional for some cast members to exchange Nutcracker gifts. This is a completely voluntary activity. The practice is usually between the individual groupings of dancers such as soldiers, mice, Apprentice, Company members, etc. Most gifts have been Nutcracker or holiday related trinkets like mini nutcrackers, angels, candy canes, chocolate soldiers, flowers, etc. You are under NO obligation to pass out items to other cast members. In the past, newer cast members have indicated they wished they’d known about this tradition ahead of time so we are including this here to give you some time to think about what, if anything, you may like to do.

SCHOOL MATINEES

A school matinee is a special performance for area schools to attend to expose their students to the performing arts. There will be two school matinee performances on Friday, December 1st. The first begins at 10:00 a.m. and the second begins at 12:30 p.m. This will require missing school or work for that day. It is important for those younger cast members missing school to make arrangements with the school well in advance so they may complete any missed assignments. In some cases, the school may not allow an excused absence for this time off. Please work with your school to help encourage them to support the performing arts and their cast members. Following is a sample letter you may use/update when requesting the excused absence for your child:

Dear Mr./Mrs. (insert name of Principal or appropriate school official)

As you may already know, there will be two special matinee performances of The Nutcracker for area school children on Friday, December 1, 2017. . Our son/daughter, (insert child name) is part of the Nutcracker cast and is expected to perform at both the 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. performances. Therefore, (insert name) will not be at school on this date.