Nutcracker 2025 FAQ

  • What are the Port Theatre dates?
    • November 18 – 23, 2025
    • Dress rehearsal day/times TBA.
    • Show dates subject to change:
      • School shows Nov 20 and 21
      • Evening show Nov 21
      • Matinee show Nov 22
      • Evening show Nov 22
      • Matinee show Nov 23
  • When will rehearsals take place?
    • The majority of rehearsals will take place on Sunday mornings from Sept-Nov. Additional times will be added on Saturday afternoons as the production ramps up.
    • There will be afternoon/evening classes Sept 2 – 5, 2025
    • Some senior roles may be rehearsed Saturday evenings
    • Mandatory dress rehearsals Nov 8 and 15
  • Participation requirements:
    • Participate in audition (in studio or video).
    • Production fee due August 1.
      • Anyone who has not paid by August 1 will be removed from the cast list
      • No refunds after cast list is sent
    • Attend all rehearsals Sep-Nov
    • Parents must take an active volunteer role (minimum 6 hours per dancer)
  • Cast list
    • The cast list is chosen by the Kirkwood Faculty and all decisions are final
    • Production fee must be paid prior to release of cast list
    • No refund on production fee once cast list has been released
  • Why is the Cast List sent out after the production fee?
    • As part of a tradition that Carole and Lindsay have upheld for many years, the Nutcracker cast list is not released until after the second week of syllabus classes. This longstanding practice is rooted in the belief that commitment to the production should come from a genuine love of the process, the story, and the opportunity to perform, regardless of the role assigned.

      By waiting until all dancers have officially committed to being part of the production, we are able to approach casting with clarity, creativity, and fairness. It also reinforces one of the most important values we hold at Kirkwood, that every role, from the tiniest mouse to the Sugar Plum Fairy, is part of something magical and meaningful.

      Thank you for trusting in the process, and for continuing to honour a tradition that has helped make Kirkwood’s Nutcracker such a treasured experience for so many years.