The Nutcracker
CAPA’s The Nutcracker & Concerto
Dancers who are members of CAPA’s Ballet Companies, Ensembles and Production groups participate in our annual Nutcracker and Concerto shows. The Nutcracker is a two-hour narrated ballet, and after select shows, we follow the Nutcracker with a 45 minute Holiday Concerto. It is a long-standing Lamorinda Holiday tradition - we can’t wait to share the magic with you!!
Dancers who are members of a Ballet Company have group dances in the Nutcracker, and also, only Ballet Company members have the opportunity to audition for a SPECIAL ROLE in the Nutcracker. If a Ballet Company dancer receives an auditioned special role, there are mandatory additional rehearsals called for these dancers. Some select Ensembles have group dances in the Nutcracker, and all Ensembles have group dances in the Concerto. Our Production groups as well as Senior Tap dance in the Concerto. See additional information below.
Auditions 2025
Please read the Audition Letter HERE which explains our Audition policies, and how Auditions are conducted.
8/24/25 Sunday 12PM - QUEEN AUDITIONS (SR Ballet Company ONLY)
9/14/25 Sunday - GENERAL AUDITIONS (Ballet Companies ONLY) for all special parts. A Sign-Up Genius link with details will be distributed via email in advance of this date so that your dancer can sign up to audition for the 2024 Nutcracker. All dancers auditioning will need to register on the day at 10AM to pick up their bibs, and then we will have a call schedule for each part, distributed closer to the day of the audition.
** PLEASE NOTE casting of ALL Special Parts requires attending mandatory extra rehearsals after casting comes out. Cast members are called every Sunday (likely starting 9/28) until shows start. Not every part will be called every Sunday, but the majority will be. We will notify the cast on the Tuesday before the Sunday rehearsals what parts are being called.
NOTE - Some Special Parts require meeting on other days, during the Ensemble or Company class they dance with (ex. Arch Angels meet with Sprouts/Daisy Ensemble class on Tuesdays, Dream Doll Boy will meet with Sylphide class on Saturdays, etc).
Similarly, Aurora Company dancers will need to attend the Coppelia company class on the following dates: (DATES TBD) from 9-11am to practice fight scene.
Please make sure to keep this in mind when you sign up for auditions, so that you are aware of your dancer’s commitment. Repercussions of missing cast member rehearsals may include losing specific shows, losing casted part, and/or not being invited to audition in the future. We consider Nutcracker casting as a privilege - please make sure your dancer is not “overcommitted” with other activities as CAPA Nutcracker is a significant commitment of their time and energies.
Communication with staff (Directors and GM) is essential for any known conflicts BEFORE auditions.
NUTCRACKER & CONCERTO 2025
General Ticket Sales at our Eventbrite link: http://capashows.eventbrite.com
Dates and time for ticket sales forthcoming
2025 Dress Rehearsal Dates (Mandatory)
11/30 Sunday @ CAPA
12/01 Monday @ Campolindo CPAC
12/02 Tuesday @ Campolindo CPAC
See Dress Rehearsal Schedules forthcoming
2025 Nutcracker Show Dates:
Nutcracker Shows @ CAMPOLINDO CPAC:
12/04 Thursday 5:30pm - Green Cast Groups; Green Auditioned Roles & Concerto
12/05 Friday 7pm - Red Cast Groups; Purple Auditioned Roles & Concerto
12/06 Saturday 2pm - Red Cast Groups; Red Auditioned Roles (no concerto)
12/06 Saturday 7pm - Green Cast Groups; Green Auditioned Roles & Concerto
12/07 Sunday 12:30pm - Green Cast Groups; Purple Auditioned Roles (no concerto)
12/07 Sunday 5pm - Red Cast Groups; Red Auditioned Roles Concerto
** SEE SCHEDULE & NOTES BELOW
WHICH ACT & DANCE IS MY ENSEMBLE OR BALLET COMPANY IN?
Sprouts - Act 2 (Angels), no Concerto
Daisy – Act 2 (Angels), and Concerto
Rose – Act 2 (Bon Bons), and Concerto
Poppy – Act 1 (party children), and Concerto
Violet – Act 2 (Candy Canes), and Concerto
Calla – Concerto Only
Lilac – Concerto Only
Iris – Concerto Only
Production Ensembles & SR Tap - Concerto only
Jr. Ensemble – Concerto Only
Sr. Ensemble – Act 1 (Party Parents), Act 2 (Arabian), and Concerto
Junior Maids – Act 1
Handmaidens - Act 2
Aurora – Act 1 (Fight Scene, Mice)
Coppelia – Act 1 (Fight Scene, Soldiers)
Sylphide – Act 1 (Dolls)
Kirov – Act 2 (Chinese Tea)
Paquita – Act 2 (Spanish)
Kitri – Act 2 (Mirlitons)
Jr. Ballet – Act 2 (Waltz of the Flowers)
Sr. Ballet – Act 1 (Snow)
Nutcracker Show Order:
Act 1:
Overture
Party Scene (w/ Party Parents, Party Children, Jr Maids, Sr Maid, Butler, Kitten, Jester, Cats, Doll, Clara’s Friends)
Dream Scene (w/ Dolls, Cats, Clock Mice)
Fight Scene - Mice & Soldiers
Snow
Act 2:
Arch Angels & Angels
Handmaidens
Sugar Plum Entrance
2 x 2s
Spanish
Arabian
Chinese
Candy Canes
Mirlitons
Bon Bons
Waltz of the Flowers
Sugar Plum
Coda
Grand Waltz/2 x 2s/Finale
Concerto Show Order:
2025 TBD
2024
(Production - The Great Gatsby) (Daisy) (Iris) (Sr Tap) (Calla) (Rose) (Production - Alicia) (Poppy) (Jr Ensemble) (Violet) (Lilac) (Sr Ensemble)
IMPORTANT THEATER SHOW NOTES & RULES
- PLEASE read through this with your dancer(s) - if we all are prepared and know the policies, then we will have seamless shows :)
- You will need to know your RED or GREEN cast, and what ACT your dancer's dance is in (EXAMPLE: Green DAISY ACT 2) (Red ROSE: ACT 2), see complete list above in "Which Act & Dance" section - My GREEN cast DAISY will also be at all GREEN cast rehearsals & shows including the GREEN Nutcrackers with GREEN Concertos.
- SCHEDULE: The Theater and Dressing Rooms will not be open until 1 Hour before curtain. If you are in Act 1, arrive 1 hour before curtain. Some groups have special warm-ups called (they know who they are, mostly oldest levels). If you are in Act 2 only, we recommend coming 1 hour before to get ready, so you would come at the beginning of act 1 - each Act is approximately 1 hour long.
- For shows, please come at least 1 hour before the start of your show’s act to set up, locate your costume, dress/makeup/hair etc. Your dancer will need to have full hair and makeup for *ALL* SHOWS that they perform in.
- We will need to clear the theater and dressing rooms as quickly as possible at the end of each show day…pick up all trash, Bobby pins etc. Vacuum or sweep as needed.
1) PARKING:
A reminder to keep the drive-ways clear of cars when dropping off you kids for all shows. PLEASE park your car, and unload your dancer and their dance bag and walk them up to Campolindo Theater / or MUR. Do not double park or idle your car in drive-ways or otherwise block other cars or traffic. THANK YOU!!
AT CAMPOLINDO: please park in the MAIN PARKING LOT (near the STADIUM), which is on Campolindo Drive. NO PARKING behind the theater - that will be reserved for CAPA staff only. Guests with handicap placards or limited mobility can park next to the theater, or in the front of the theater.
2) EATING & DRINKING:
-NO FOOD OR DRINKS anywhere inside the theater, lobby, or green room! NO EATING & DRINKING in costume. You must change out of your costume or bring/wear a cover-all robe. Snacking is allowed in the MUR, but not in costume. NO open containers, no sugary or colored drinks!! PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF (all wrappers, crumbs, etc.) All eating of meals must take place outside and food and waste must be disposed of in the outside garbage cans. Do not place food and drink waste in any of the trash cans inside. Very important that we follow these rules. NO FOOD OR DRINKS, EVEN WRAPPERS AND WASTE, ANYWHERE INSIDE!
-No eating or drinking in costume, except water (change or put a robe over your costume)
WATER ONLY in the Theater.
3) DRESSING ROOMS:
For the younger students, make sure they have a female chaperone at rehearsals (there are always other dance moms in your group willing to help out if you need it, but make sure to arrange it ahead of time). At Shows, please collect your child in front of or from their dressing room once they have finished their dances. The backstage escorts are not responsible for chaperoning through the entire show. No men allowed in any female dressing room / no women allowed in any male dressing rooms. Please contact Cathy if you need any special accommodation or assistance. Please instruct your dancer to clean up after themselves when getting ready as well - tights packaging - bobby pins - safety pins etc need to be picked up properly disposed of, and not discarded on the ground. Please be respectful of our volunteer’s time and help them by not leaving messes or items that will end up in the lost & found.
ASSIGNMENTS during ALL shows @ CAMPO-
GREEN ROOM is for SR Ballet / SR Ensemble, JR Ballet & JR Ensemble (& SR TAP) and CLARAs and Mrs Stahlbaums ONLY. QUICK CHANGES are backstage (STAGE RIGHT in the far back). We will have a sewing station set up in the Green Room.
ALL OTHER DANCERS will get ready in the MUR.
MALE PARTY GUESTS will get ready in the lobby restrooms. MALE DANCERS will get ready in the backstage bathrooms or in the MUR vestibule & bathrooms.
AUDITIONED ROLE COSTUMES will be located in the backstage Green Room, except for Junior Maid and Handmaid costumes, which will be located in the MUR.
4) COSTUMES:
MUST be returned to the correct rack, with the correct tag and hangar, and all accessories to the correct bag or bin when you are finished dancing. Please note that MOST costumes are shared - so if you don't return the costume and all pieces, the next dancer will be understandably VERY upset. THANK YOU! All costumes and accessories must be hung up when not wearing them, and returned to the appropriate dress rack with the correct hangar / tag when you are finished dancing, AND at the end of each rehearsal and show.
PLEASE do not take any costumes or pieces home, or leave costumes on the ground - that is how costumes get lost and ruined.
During shows, no costumes are allowed to be worn in the theater or lobby (except for principal cast members giving autographs during intermission). You must change out of your costume, no cover ups allowed. Just a reminder - no eating or drinking in costumes other than water.