• The Nutcracker 2026 Audition Form

    Audition Date: Pointe Roles - September 10 | All other roles - September 12

  • Audtions are given at no charge and are open to the public ages 4 and up. Anyone who has not participated in an Northern Plains Dance production must attend a mandatory pre-audition meeting on September 12 at 12:30. Attendance at auditions is required to be considered for a role.  

    Rehearsals

    • Cast members are expected to make participation in The Nutcracker a priority and attend all scheduled rehearsals.
    • Rehearsals are held on Thursdays (typically ages 9+ only) and Saturdays (all ages) from September 17 - December 5.
      • Cast members ages 4-6 will not start rehearsal until Saturday, October 10.   
    • Production week is December 7-13 and no absences are allowed. If a cast member is absent from any rehearsal, an understudy will perform in their place. 

    Fees

    • Production Fee: Each cast member is required to pay a non-refundable Production Fee. The Production Fee is structured as follows:
      • First Role: $85 (the cast member will receive 2 Level D tickets for a specific performance)
      • Second Role for the same Cast Member: $15 (no additional tickets)
      • Third Role for the same Cast Member: $10 (no additional tickets)
        • There is no fee for understudy roles
    • Volunteer Deposit: Each family is required to make a Volunteer Deposit. NPD will hold Volunteer Deposit checks until the conclusion of the prodcuction to guarantee each family participates in volunteer activities and cast members' costumes are well-maintained. The Volunteer Deposit is structured as follows:
      • First Cast Member: $75 (a minimum of 3 volunteer hours)
      • Second Cast Member in the same family: $50 (a minimum of 2 volunteer hours)
      • Third Cast Member in the same family: $25 (a minimum of 1 volunteer hour)
    • Advanced Role Fee: Dancers receiving roles en pointe in The Nutcracker are required to take warm-up class each Saturday prior to rehearsal as well as prior to all Production Week rehearsals and performances. Dancers receiving pointe roles are required to pay $299 in addition to other Production Fees. 

    Casting

    • An email with your casting will be sent on Tuesday, September 15 after 4:00pm. Do not call or email to inquire. 
    • Production Fee, Volunteer Deposit, Advanced Role Fee (if applicable), and Casting Agreement are due by 5:00pm Thursday, September 17 to confirm participation. 
    • Casting is subject to change and will not be final until December 13. 

    Availability

    • If your dancer is not available for at least 50% of rehearsals during their rehearsal period, you may be asked not to participate in this performance. 
    • If your dancer is not available for at least three consecutive hours on a rehearsal day, please consider them unavailable. 

    Additional Information

    • Cast members are required to purchase their own performance undergarments, hair kit, and make up kit as outlined by NPD. 
    • A current email must be provided as all production notices will be sent via email. 

     

  • Date of Birth*
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Choose which audition you are attending*

  • Rehearsal Dates

    • Mandatory Dates:
      • Saturday, November 7 - Cast Meeting and Mandatory Rehearsal
      • Saturday, November 21 - Studio Dress Rehearsal
      • Saturday, December 5 - Final Run Through
      • December 7-13 - Production Week: nightly rehearsals at the Belle Mehus Auditorium

    List any specific dates and times you will not be available for rehearsals between September 17 -December 5. Dates listed as mandatory cannot be missed. If the staff determines the number of absences listed will conflict with the progress of the production, you will not be cast. Any absence other than those listed below may result in dismissal from the production. Only dates listed below may be considered an excused absence. Please see the handbook for production policies. 

    Note: if you are not available for at least 3 consecutive hours, please mark yourself as unavailable. 

  • Thursday, November 26 and Saturday, November 28 - No rehearsal (Thanksgiving)

  • Do you currently take class at NPD?*
  • Is this your first time in an NPD production?*

  • * If YES, both the auditioner and a parent are required to attend a Pre-Production meeting September 12 at 12:30PM.

  • Please check the year of any previous NPD productions of The Nutcracker you have participated in.

  • Thank you for your interest in The Nutcracker! Based on your dancer's age, they are not yet eligible to participate in this year's production. We know they'll be ready before you know it, and we look forward to welcoming them to the cast in the years ahead!

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