Sept. 03--The Joffrey Ballet has announced its open auditions for the children's cast of "The Nutcracker" this holiday season, an annual invitation that takes on a little extra poignancy this time. This year's "Nutcracker" will be the last for the Joffrey's adaptation by choreographer and ballet company founder Robert Joffrey. In other words, the last with Joffrey's grand party scene with dozens of young dancers assembled under the Christmas tree.
Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is creating a new, world-premiere "Nutcracker" for the Joffrey in 2016 -- though no one has said that version will not audition children. Wheeldon, who won this year's best-choreography Tony for "An American in Paris" on Broadway, is known in Chicago for his reimagined yet faithful "Swan Lake" at the Joffrey in October 2014. He first pitched the idea for a new "Nutcracker" to Joffrey artistic director Ashley Wheater several years ago.
In the meantime, the company's longstanding "Nutcracker," which debuted in 1987 at the University of Iowa while the Joffrey was headquartered in Los Angeles, will have its final performances Dec. 4-27.
Auditions will be held Sept. 20 in the company's downtown studios in Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph St. According to the announcement, all Chicago-area dance students ages 9-14 and between four and five feet tall are welcome. They should bring a 4x6 inch headshot or photo and an audition form; children's cast roles are Party Girls Boys, Polichinelles (Mother Ginger's kids), Battle Mice, Soldiers, Mounted Mice, Snow Tree Angels and Dolls.
For audition forms and more information about audition times, rehearsals and other requirements, go to Joffrey.org/nutcracker-childrens-auditions.
