Welcome to Huntington Dance Theatre’s 46th Anniversary Season of The Nutcracker!!

 We are so happy that you and your dancer are joining us for this wonderful experience.

Parents and Dancers should review the schedule weekly for possible changes. This overview schedule is an attempt to help families plan and also to help HDT maximize rehearsal time. Please be on time and ready to dance.

Dancers are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals – they are considered mandatory. PLEASE NOTE:  Absences and other factors may influence this schedule. Pieces that fall behind could need additional rehearsal time.

The majority of all younger students at HDT will learn choreography in their assigned classes.  Please help this process by keeping regular attendance as well as keeping HDT informed of necessary absences.

****If your dancer is not at the first scheduled rehearsal for each piece they are a part of, they will not be invited to perform in the piece and replaced by an understudy****

November

 MONDAY, November 2nd

7:30-8:00 Marzipan & Cavalier w/Heather

 WEDNESDAY, November 4th

7:30-8:30 Waltz of the Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy w/Jesse

SATURDAY November 7th at 11:30am: Huntington Mall for Santa’s Arrival

Performers needed at 10:40am: Full Outreach Mini-Ballet including Clara, Children’s March and Presents, Dolls: Harlequin by Ellie and Eliana, Ballerina, and Soldier by Madison and Mackenzie, Land of Sweets divertissements: Spanish Chocolate, Mandarins (duet only), Candy Cane, Peppermints Leads and Twists, Marzipan and Lead Candies ONLY, and SPF.

Please arrive no later than 10:40am with costume, hair, and makeup ready. There is not a good place to change at the mall or leave phones/bags/purses, so come into the mall dressed. We will do a quick walk through. Santa arrives at 11:00am, and we perform at 11:30am!

 

SUNDAY, November 8th

12:15 – 1pm Mandatory Warm up Class  (Junior/PreA/App/Company/Adults/Guests)

1:00 – 2:00 Finish Finale and Pantomime w/Kay (upstairs)

2:00 – 4:00 Shopping Scene – Intermediates in Presents, Children’s March, Teen Shoppers, Adult Shoppers, Gallop, Santa, Candy Clerk, Dolls, and Shop Clerks w/Sara (upstairs)

2:00 – 4:00 Arabian Rehearsal: Princess and full corps (downstairs)

4:00 – 5:00 Night Scene & Fight, full run: Clara, Rat and Nutcracker, Ethan, and Zia, Vol. Soldiers and Rats, NO Beginning Ballet Mice yet (upstairs)

 

MONDAY, November 9th

7:30-8:00 Marzipan, Cavalier, Leads, and Candy Sticks w/Heather

 

WEDNESDAY, November 11th

7:30-8:30 Waltz of the Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy w/Jesse

 

FRIDAY, November 13th: Full Outreach Mini-Ballet at the Woodlands: Performers needed at 5:30pm: Full Outreach Mini-Ballet including Clara, Children’s March and Presents, Dolls: Harlequin by Eliana, Ballerina, and Soldier by Mackenzie, Land of Sweets divertissements: Spanish Chocolate, Arabian Princess and full Corps, Mandarins (duet only), Candy Cane, Peppermints Leads and Twists, Marzipan only, Lead Candies, and Candy Sticks, and SPF.

Please arrive no later than 5:30pm with costume, hair, and makeup ready. There is not a good place to change or leave phones/bags/purses, so come into the building dressed and ready to go. We will meet in the library (after you enter at the main entrance, turn to the right and walk down the hallway just a bit). We will start promptly at 6pm. Be prepared for a short meet and greet with the residents following the performance. 

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, November 14th & 15th  – MARK WEBB PHOTOS FOR NUTCRACKER AND CHRISTMAS WITH A CAUSE – downstairs (click here for full schedule)

SUNDAY November 15th

12:15 – 1pm Mandatory Warm up Class  (Junior/PreA/App/Company/Adults/Guests)

12:15 pm   Gumdrops/Gingersnaps/Elves arrive for mandatory Nut meeting in back conference room 

1:00 – 3:00 Snow, then Act II (Gumdrops and Gingersnaps first), w/ALL choreographers

3:00 – 5:00 Act I (Elves first) w/ALL choreographers

 

MONDAY, November 16th

7:30-8:00 Marzipan, Cavalier, Leads, and Candy Sticks w/Heather

 

WEDNESDAY, November 18th 

7:30-8:30 Waltz of the Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy w/Jesse

 

SATURDAY, November 21st from 2-4pm: Nutcracker Tea Party at Community of Grace UMC – 225 28th Street, Huntington, WV

Performers needed at 1:30pm for the entire tea party in character: Clara, Nutcracker Prince, Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Eliana as Harlequin, Billie as Ballerina, and Mackenzie as Soldier, Marzipan, and Sugar Plum

 Outreach Performance: arrive by 2:30 to dress and warm up, performance at 3:15: Full Outreach Mini-Ballet including Clara, Children’s March and Presents, Dolls: Harlequin by Eliana, Ballerina, and Soldier by Mackenzie, Land of Sweets divertissements: Spanish Chocolate, Arabian Princess and full Corps, Mandarins (duet only), Candy Cane, Peppermints Leads and Twists, Marzipan only, Lead Candies, and Candy Sticks, and SPF. **There is a place to stash your purses and costume bags. **

 Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, and Sugar Plum Fairy will lead the dance lesson following the Outreach performance (ladies, please plan this lesson ahead of time!)

 

SUNDAY, November 22nd 

12:15 – 1pm Mandatory Warm up Class  (Junior/PreA/App/Company/Adults/Guests)

1:00 – 2:30 ACT II in order w/ALL Choreographers

2:30 – 4:30 ACT I in order w/ALL Choreographers

4:30 Meeting to review tech/prompt book: Bill, Kay, and Sara

 

MONDAY, November 23rd

7:30-8:00 Marzipan & Cavalier Heather

 

Wednesday November 25 – Saturday November 28th

No classes or rehearsal – Thanksgiving Weekend. ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES!!

November 29th – Load into the Keith and set up dressing rooms!!! Please sign up to help on our Sign Up Genius

NUTCRACKER TECH WEEK SCHEDULE!

 

All rehearsals this week will occur at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center on 4th Avenue. 

 

MONDAY, November 30th – Full Blocking and Technical Rehearsal at the Keith Albee (no costumes)

4:00pm Keith open to set up backstage dressing rooms

5:00 – 6:00pm Warm Up Class on stage for Juniors, Teens, PreA, App, Company, Guests

6:00-8:00pm Full Blocking and Tech of Act I. This process can be tedious – we appreciate your patience as we create our show in this new space for the first time! A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, Dance Fundamentals, and Intermediate dancers will be given to you soon!

8:00-9:30pm Full Blocking and Tech of Act II. This process can be tedious – we appreciate your patience as we create our show in this new space for the first time! A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Dance Fundamentals, and Intermediate dancers will be given to you soon!

 

TUESDAY, December 1st – Full Tech Rehearsal  

4:00pm Keith open

5:00 – 6:00pm Warm Up Class on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

6:15-7:45pm Full Blocking and Tech of Act I with costumes. A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, Dance Fundamentals, and Intermediate dancers will be given to you soon!

7:45-9:00pm Full Blocking and Tech of Act II with costumes. A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, Dance Fundamentals, and Intermediate dancers will be given to you soon!

 

WEDNESDAY, December 2nd – School Show Full Rehearsal

4:30-5:30pm Warm Up Class on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

5:30pm All ACT 1 dancers arrive and get dressed in costume. Set any quick changes.

6 – 9:00pm Full Dress Rehearsal for School Show: Act I and Act II in order –  with makeup, costumes, props, and tech. Families are welcome to watch from the audience. All intermediate, junior, teen, pre-apprentice, apprentice, company, and adult students will remain for the duration of this rehearsal. A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, and Dance Fundamentals dancers will be given to you soon! 

 

THURSDAY, December 3rd – FULL DRESS REHEARSAL for everyone! 

4:30-5:30pm Warmup on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

5:30 All dancers arrive and get dressed in costume.

5:50 2026 Cast Photo on Stage

6:00 – 9:00  Full Dress Rehearsal for Saturday Show: Act I and Act II in order –  with makeup, costumes, props, and tech. Families are welcome to watch from the audience and take non-flash pictures from the audience this evening. All intermediate, junior, teen, pre-apprentice, apprentice, company, and adult students will remain for the duration of this rehearsal. A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, and Dance Fundamentals dancers will be given to you soon!  

 

FRIDAY, December 4th

8 – 9am Warmup on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

8:30am All dancers arrive for school show

9:30am School show begins!

*Directly following curtain we will exchange our gifts for Secret Santa*

 

Rehearsal this evening with our guests from Cincinnati Ballet – time TBA: Sugar Plum Attendants, All Land of Sweets in Pantomime/Finale

Evening Company ONLY Photo Shoot with Mark Webb at the Keith Albee

 

SATURDAY, December 5th

8:30-9:30am Warmup on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

9:30am All dancers must be present and dressed in costume

10:00am Full Dress Rehearsal with Huntington Symphony Orchestra. All families are invited to watch from the audience during this run through. This may be a long rehearsal. Please be patient! All intermediate, junior, teen, pre-apprentice, apprentice, company, and adult students will remain for the duration of this rehearsal. A full detailed schedule with check in and check out times and places for all Creative Movement, Beginning Ballet, and Dance Fundamentals dancers will be given to you soon! 

 

4:30-5:30pm Warmup on stage for Juniors, PreA, App, Company, Guests

5:00 pm ALL PERFORMERS PRESENT BACKSTAGE

6:00 House Opens

7:00 SHOW!!!

 

SUNDAY, December 6th

Load out of the Keith at 1pm. We need all hands on deck to get things back to the studio. Please sign up to help.