Non-Union

Personnel:

Adapted for young audiences by Barbara Zinn Krieger

Featuring the Music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Producer: New York City Children’s Theatre

Artistic Director: Barbara Zinn Krieger

Director/Choreographer: Melissa Riker

Casting Director: Brent Bejsovec

 

MY FIRST NUTCRACKER is an interactive one-hour, updated re-telling of the classic ballet performed by professionals, intended for a young audience. Using contemporary forms and classical moments, Clara-Marie chooses to take an adventure with her new friends, experiencing the sounds of the world along the way. Along with performing a blend of movement styles, the dancers engage in dialogue, telling the story and inviting the young audience to literally dance in aisles.

 

We are looking for a cast that reflects the diversity of New York City and is capable of telling and dancing this very new version of a holiday classic. My First Nutcracker is intentionally casting roles with a BIPOC inclusive approach. We are holding space for culturally diverse dancers to audition for Clara-Marie and the Nutcracker, as well as Mother and Drosselmeyer. We are interested in children who are not used to seeing themselves in Clara, finding themselves reflected on our stage.

 

New York City Children’s Theater is a nonprofit theater company devoted to producing original theater works for families.  The mission of NYCCT is to promote children’s literacy and social development through accessible professional theater productions and arts-in-education programs.

 

We reach children and their communities with a wide range of programming, including full-scale productions, small touring shows, interactive workshops, and in-school residencies, and engage with them in traditional theater spaces, school auditoriums, classrooms, and cultural venues in their neighborhoods.

 

We demonstrate that engaging young people in the arts has a positive impact on their cognitive, emotional, and social development, and furthers a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

 

BREAKDOWN

SEEKING:

Skilled Dancers with the ability to act. All roles will speak lines, dancers will interact with the audience (children) during the performance. The cast is culturally diverse, representing the many backgrounds of New York City to connect with the children who will attend this performance. 

 

[Fritz/Nutcracker/Prince| All Ethnicities]

Clara-Marie’s brother Fritz is a good kid, yet impish, opinionated, and competitive. 

Nutcracker requires dancing in a full-head coverage mask with swordplay. 

Prince and Nutcracker are roles in which a dancer who can cross between street dance styles and learn ballet rep will be successful. 

Skills/styles such as back-flips, head-spins, popping, and kip-ups are welcome and incorporated.

Comfort with weight sharing, learning from a video, and partnering is required.  

 

AUDITION DATES:

Please provide a headshot, resume, and dance reel (showcasing various styles of dance) via an Unlisted YouTube link to the following email address: operations@nycchildrenstheater.org

Dance Reels should not be longer than two minutes and should showcase various genres of dance styles.

 

THEATRE VENUE

Theatre Row, 42nd St., NYC

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE DATES:

First Rehearsal: on/about 11/13/2023

Opening: 12/2/2023

Closing: 12/21/2023

December 2, 3 at 11am and 2pm

December 6, 7, 8 at 11am

December 9, 10 at 11am and 2pm

December 12, 13, 14 at 11am

December 16, 17 at 11am and 2pm

December 19 at 11am and 2pm

December 20 at 11am and 2pm

December 21 at 11am

A two-day workshop is tentatively scheduled for September 2023.  Letters of offer for the workshop will be tendered separately.

 

SALARY

Rate: $750/week (favored nations)

Location: New York, NY; Performers MUST be New York local hires.