Hello! Welcome to The Nutcracker: A Kansas Ballet! We have assembled a truly spectacular cast, and this year s production is sure to be best yet. This performer handbook contains helpful information about our production and your role in it. It includes production staff info, tips for a smooth enrollment, useful vocab for those new to the show, and performer expectations. We hope you find this information useful, whether you re a seasoned Party Scener or a first time performer. Thank you for being a part of this year s production, and welcome to Nutcracker season! Production Information Show Synopsis A winter family favorite, this ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman s original story and set in Kansas during the civil war. Experience the sensation, charm, magic and wonder of this story as Drosselmeyer and Clara defeat the Mouse King and liberate the Nutcracker from his enchanted form. Important Dates: September 20: Cast list announced September 27: Enrollment Due Date October 7: Rehearsals Start November 22-26: No Rehearsals THANKSGIVING BREAK December 2-3 - Main Stage & studio rehearsals (see rehearsal schedule)*** December 4-8: Tech & Dress Rehearsals*** Performance Dates: Dec. 8-9, 7pm Dec. 10, 3pm Dec. 15, 7pm Dec. 16, 2pm & 7pm Dec. 17 3pm Pick up rehearsal on Dec. 16 *** = MANDATORY 1
How to Enroll (Deadline: September 27th) All performers are required to register in our The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet production course by Wednesday, September 27. Students may enroll in a class in person, over the phone through a Front Desk representative, or online at our website. The course code for this production is FA-DYNKB. There is a $145 production fee; there is no fee for Lawrence Ballet Theatre company members, or for performers over 18. The production fee includes all rehearsals and costumes. Financial aid for the production fee is available upon request; if you would like to inquire about Financial Aid, please visit the Front Desk or email Jennifer Donnelly, Office Manager, at jennifer@lawrenceartscenter.org Meet the Production Team Hanan Misko Cynthia Crews Samaria Fleig Olivia Hernández Artistic Director Choreographer Choreographer Artistic Director of LBT Technical Director Stage Manager Production Manager Volunteer Coordinator Tammy Keiser Erin McElroy Elizabeth Kennel Jeff Dearinger Kelly Rodriguez Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Orchestra Conductor Front of House What to Expect During Production Communication Throughout the rehearsal process, performers and parents should anticipate weekly email updates from the Production Manager. Emails contain useful information about the weeks ahead, including when/how to purchase your required dance shoes, volunteering opportunities, and words of encouragement. 2
During Tech Week, performers should anticipate receiving email communication from your Stage Manager, including all notes from the directors. Please read these emails thoroughly and internalize any feedback. Parents and Volunteers will continue to receive emails from the Production Manager/Volunteer Coordinator that are relevant to them. To recap: during Tech Week, performers receive emails from the Stage Manager, and parents/volunteers receive emails from the Production Manager/Volunteer Coordinator. Rehearsals Rehearsals occur at different times for different groups. Please refer to your Rehearsal Schedule for complete dates. We work hard during the pre-production process to ensure that the printed Rehearsal Schedule is perfect, but in the unlikely event that we need to change the Schedule, a new version will be printed and sent out with the date it was updated. Rehearsal schedules are available online, via email, and posted on the Plexiglas board outside the School of Dance studios. Who to Contact All performer conflicts should have already be indicated in the audition application, but we understand that emergencies happen. In the event that you cannot attend your scheduled rehearsal, you must contact the following individuals and make them aware of your situation. Repeated failure to attend may result in the loss of your role. During the rehearsal process, please contact the Production Manager, Olivia Hernández, at olivia@lawrenceartscenter.org with your conflict. During Tech Week, as soon as possible, contact the Stage Manager, Samaria Fleig, at samaria@lawrenceartscenter.org with your conflict. What to Bring All dancers are expected to attend rehearsals wearing proper dance clothing and shoes, with hair pulled securely back. All performers should have their names written in their shoes and in their attire. Performers dancing in female roles should wear any style leotard, pink tights, and ballet shoes; performers dancing in male roles should wear black dance tights, a plain white shirt, black ballet flats, and a dance belt if necessary. Performers who need assistance in procuring dance attire/shoes should contact the Production Manager as soon as possible. Loaner shoes are available on a first come, first serve basis. In early November, interested dancers will be able to purchase new shoes for the December performances. More information about this event will be available through email. Beginning Tech Week, all performers will be required to bring select hair/makeup supplies and undergarments (specific tights, bloomers for ballerinas) to rehearsal. The Lawrence Arts Center is not responsible for providing the following products: 3
shoes, undergarments, makeup, bobby pins, hair ties, combs hair brushes, or hair spray. All performers are responsible for providing their own supplies. A detailed list will be compiled by the Costume Designer and released via email in November. How to Volunteer Parent Volunteers are an incredibly vital part of this production; they are the cosmic glue that keeps the production running smoothly during Tech Week and performances, and work to ensure that the performance and cast party experiences are the best they can possibly be. Anyone interested in volunteering should read the following volunteer descriptions, and email the Production Manager/Volunteer Coordinator who will prompt you to fill out our Digital Volunteer Form. Volunteers can anticipate receiving correspondence directly from their Design Lead, and can always email the Production Manager/Volunteer Coordinator with questions or feedback. Volunteer Descriptions CAST PARTY Help make our cast party the best party ever! Cast Party volunteers work with the Production Coordinator, Security, and each other to create a community building "finish line" for our performers, complete with food/beverages and light decor. Funds for cast party are available. Time commitment: the cast party will commence after the last performance on Sunday, December 17. COSTUME ATTENDANTS Costume attendants work closely with the Costume Designer to construct, tailor, mend, or organize costumes for the production. Time commitment: between October-Final Dress Rehearsal, costume attendants will work with the designer between to complete costumes. HAIR & MAKEUP ATTENDANTS Hair/Makeup attendance work closely with the Costume Designer to style hair and apply makeup to our our performers. Time commitment: Tech Week & all performances; attendants are encouraged to attend our scheduled hair/makeup styling tutorials. TUTORIALS available! ROOM MONITORS During Tech Week/all performances, Room Monitors work closely with Security and the Production Coordinator to ensure that performers and their costumes are checked in and checked out each Tech Rehearsal/performance. Room monitors will ensure that performers are ready for their call in complete costume. Time commitment: Tech Week & all performances you are available for. SECURITY Security staff will work closely with the Production Coordinator to check in all Volunteers and distribute their badges, as well as ensure that any backstage 4
persons are cleared to be there. Security helps deescalate security issues and notifies the Production Coordinator of any emergency. Time commitment: Tech Week & all performances you are available for. Helpful Vocab Call Time - the actual time you are required to be at the theatre or rehearsal studio, ready to start work. Remember, if you re early, you re on time! Rehearsal - a practice of a dance or a play Dress Rehearsal - the final rehearsal of a live show, in which everything is done as it would be in a real performance. Tech Week - the week prior to the opening night of production, in which all the technical elements (such as costumes, lights, sound, set and makeup) are present during rehearsal for the first time Artistic Director - The person with overall responsibility for the selection and interpretation of the works performed by a theatre, ballet, or opera company. Choreographer - a person who composes the sequence of steps and moves for a performance of dance Stage Manager a performer s Boss! Also the person responsible for the lighting and other technical arrangements for a stage play. Parent Volunteer a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task; also the Volunteer Coordinator s best friend! Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer of the romantic period, some of whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire. He is the composer of the famous Nutcracker score. Contact Us! Hanan Misko Artistic Director, Choreographer hanan@lawrenceartscenter.org Cynthia Crews Choreographer cyncrews@gmail.com Samaria Fleig Technical Director samaria@lawrenceartscenter.org Olivia Hernández Production Manager/Volunteer Coordinator olivia@lawrenceartscenter.org Jennifer Donnelly Office Manager jennifer@lawrenceartscenter.org 5