2026 Nutcracker Ballet

Twin Cities Ballet Company's

44th Annual

Nutcracker Ballet Weekend

December 4-6, 2026 

Illinois State University

Braden Auditorium

 

*Experience the Nutcracker Tradition*

 

| PERFORMANCES |

| FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE |

| SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE | *coming soon

| TICKETS | *on sale in Oct. TBA

(updated 9/21/26)

| ***Details for Dancers & Dance Families*** | 

 

PERFORMANCES

 

Illinois State University
Braden Auditorium

(Inside the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St., Normal)

  • Friday, Dec. 4, 10:00 a.m. – School/Community Matinee Performance*
  • Friday, Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance
  • Saturday, Dec. 5, 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – Nutcracker Experience (1:00-2:30 p.m.) & Performance (3:00 p.m.)*
  • Sunday, Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance

*Note: Friday morning and Saturday performances are shorter school/family-friendly versions.

Information about tickets, this year’s Nutcracker Experience, and much more will be shared in the coming weeks...

 

FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE PERFORMANCE

 

The Friday School/Community Matinee Performance is designed especially for school children and community groups, offering an excellent opportunity to introduce and experience classical music and dance for young and mature audiences. Students of all ages and nursing home residents across Central Illinois have enjoyed this performance for the past 40+ years.

  • The running length of this year’s production is approximately 90 minutes.
  • Tickets are available now to schools, home-school families, and community groups.
  • See our School Letter and School Ticket Order Form for more details.
    • Note: The same info in the letter and the same order form can be used for any and all community groups.
  • Contact the studio at [email protected] for more details.

This performance is sponsored and made possible by the Town of Normal's Harmon Arts Grant.

 

SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE

 

*Experience this Fun, Family-Friendly Nutcracker event!

More details coming soon...

 

TICKETS

 

***Tickets orders are available now to schools, home-school families, and community groups.***

***Tickets for Friday Evening's Traditional Performance (12/4), Saturday's Nutcracker Experience & Family-Friendly Performance (12/5), and Sunday's Traditional Matinee Performance (12/6) will be onsale at ISU's Braden Box Office and Ticketmaster in mid-October.

More details coming soon...

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***For Dancers & Dance Families***

Keep watching this page for more details...

(updated 10/8/2026)

| 2026 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET | *new

 

| KEY DATES | *updated

| SATURDAY REHEARSALS | *updated

| TECH WEEK REHEARSALS | *new

| PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES | *new

| PROGRAM ADS |

| PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS | 

 | CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP |

 

*Coming Soon...

 | DROP-OFF/PICK-UP @ ISU || HAIR/MAKE-UP || ATTIRE |

| VOLUNTEERS || FLOWERS || PICTURES |

| NUTCRACKER APPAREL |

| ISU HOMECOMING |

 

 KEY DATES
 

(further details about events will be communicated by email and linked below as dates approach, click links to jump to more info)

Check back for more key dates & details as they are available...

 
SATURDAY REHEARSALS
 

Part Rehearsals - October 3, 10, 17, 24

  • 11:30-12:30 - Bon Bons (*no Bon Bons rehearsal on 10/24 due to parade)
  • 1:00-1:45 - Mice and Soldiers (includes Company)
  • 1:15-2:15 - Party Parents
  • 1:45-2:15 - Angels
  • 2:15-3:00 - All Party Girls and Boys (includes Company)

Note: Bon Bons may have a few part rehearsals after Oct. 24, in addition to All-Cast rehearsals in November. *added 10/8

 

All-Cast Rehearsals - October 31 & November 7, 14, 21

These rehearsals are a full run-through of the show with the full cast from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m.

For Company dancers, plan to be available for your parts during the entire rehearsal.

For non-company parts, see your suggested arrival times below.

  • 1:00 - Party Girls and Boys
  • 1:30 - Mice and Soldiers
  • 1:45 - Sleigh Fairies and Angels
  • 2:15 - Bon Bons

*Rehearsal Note: We do our best to remain on schedule during all-cast rehearsals, but certain parts may run a little quicker or longer than expected. With this in mind, please make sure to arrive early to ensure that your dancer does not miss their part.

**Rehearsal Reminder: Tech Week Rehearsals begin for all cast members on Sunday, Nov. 29, through Thursday, Dec. 3.  (see more details online below...)

 

TECH WEEK REHEARSALS
 

Nutcracker Tech Week starts Sunday (11/29) and is our time to refine acts, scenes, and routines during all-cast technical and dress rehearsals.

TECH WEEK REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
  • Sunday, Nov. 29 – Tech Rehearsal (@ Twin Cities Ballet Studios)
    • Company Barre 1:15 p.m. (Junior/Senior Company only)
    • All-Cast Rehearsal 2:00-4:00 p.m.
    • Load-In/Load-Out at 1:30 (*parent help needed in warehouse to load drops, props, costumes, etc. into trucks)
  • Monday, Nov. 30 – Tech Rehearsal (@ Twin Cities Ballet Studios)
    • Company Barre 5:30 p.m. (Junior/Senior Company only)
    • Act I Rehearsal 6:15 p.m.
    • Act II Rehearsal 7:15 p.m.                                       
  • Tuesday, Dec. 1 – No Rehearsal
    • Rest up!
  • Wednesday, Dec. 2 – Dress Rehearsal (@ ISU's Braden Auditorium)
    • Cast Out By 10:00 p.m.
    • Full Dress Rehearsal 6:30 p.m. (full costume & make-up)
    • Cast Call 5:45 p.m.
    • Company Barre 5:00 p.m. (onstage, all companies)
    • Company Call 4:45 p.m.
    • Stage Crew Call 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 4 – Dress Rehearsal (@ ISU's Braden Auditorium)
    • Stage Crew Call 4:00 p.m.
    • Company Call 4:45 p.m.
    • Company Barre 5:00 p.m. (onstage, all companies)
    • Cast Call 5:45 p.m.
    • Full Dress Rehearsal 6:30 p.m. (full costume & make-up)
    • Cast out by 10:00 p.m.
***Reference the 2026 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET for full Tech Week details, Performance Schedules, and more.***
 
 
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES
 
Friday, December 4

School Matinee Performance (10:00 a.m.)

Stage Crew Call 8:00 a.m.

Company Call 8:15 a.m.

Company Barre 8:30 a.m. (on stage)

Cast Call 9:00 a.m.

Performance Curtain 10:00 a.m.

BREAK

Public Evening Performance (7:00 p.m.)

Stage Crew Call 5:00 p.m.

Company Call 5:15 p.m.

Company Barre 5:30 p.m. (on stage)

Cast Call 6:00 p.m.

Performance Curtain 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 5

Nutcracker Experience (1:00 p.m.) &

Matinee Performance (3:00 p.m.)

Stage Crew Call 11:00 a.m.

Company Call 11:30 a.m.

Company Barre 11:45 a.m.

Family Experience 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Cast Call 2:00 p.m.

Performance Curtain 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6

Public Matinee Performance (2:00 p.m.)

Stage Crew Call 12:00 p.m.

Company Call 12:15 p.m.

Company Barre 12:30 p.m.

Cast Call 1:00 p.m.

Performance Curtain 2:00 p.m.

 

***Reference the 2026 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET for full Tech Week details, Performance Schedules, and more.***

 
PROGRAM ADS

The Nutcracker Program will again be provided in a digital format this year, with the option to order custom advertisements and one-line ovation statements.

  • All orders are due by Saturday, October 31, at 12:00 p.m.
  • Click the image below or scan the QR code to place your order.

 
PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS

 

The annual Nutcracker Participation Fee includes benefits for our dancers and our dance school (and will be added directly to accounts this Fall.)

Twin Cities Ballet Company

  • 2026 Fee: n/a (now included in overall Company Wardrobe Fee paid for the full Company Season)
  • What's still included: Nutcracker T-shirt, Nutcracker media access*, and annual costume use and cleaning/maintenance

Non-Company Cast Members

  • 2026 Fee: $120 participation fee, $100 for one part (mouse only)
  • Fee Includes: Nutcracker T-shirt and Nutcracker media access*
  • Fee Also Covers: annual non-company Nutcracker registration fee and Nutcracker costume rental and cleaning/maintenance

*Nutcracker Media Access: As part of these fees, all cast members will receive digital video links to both traditional performances (Friday and Sunday shows), plus access to view an online picture gallery and purchase the pictures taken during dress rehearsal at ISU.

 

CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP

 

General, non-company casting for this year’s Nutcracker will again be a combination of auditions and sign-ups. All current and aspiring TCSD dancers are welcome to audition and sign-up. (Please note not all dancers who audition will be cast, but they will still have the option to sign-up for other parts in the show.)

Auditions & Cast Sign-up Details

  • Party Girl auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 12:15 p.m.
    • Pre-registration online is required. (Register now!)
    • Dancers must be 8 years of age by Sept. 1, and have previous ballet experience.
    • Selections will be communicated by email after the audition.
  • Bon Bon auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1:00 p.m.
    • Pre-registration online is required. (Register now!)
    • Dancers must be 6 years of age by Sept. 1, and able to do a cartwheel.
    • Selections will be communicated by email after the audition.
  • Angels/Mice/Soldiers/Party Boys will be cast via online sign-up starting Sunday, Sept. 27, at 10:00 a.m.
    • Sign-up by registering online beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 9/27.
    • Dancers may sign-up for up to 2 of these roles, unless previously selected for a Party Girl and/or Bon Bon role.
      • Dancers selected for a Party Girl or Bon Bon role may sign-up for 1 of these additional roles.
      • Dancers selected for both a Party Girl and Bon Bon role cannot sign-up for an additional role.

A one-time participation fee will be applied to accounts after casting is complete. (Fee details are available online and included in your casting/sign-up emails.)

 

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Photography credit: Running N Heels Photography.