Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre’s 20th anniversary production of The Nutcracker is coming up this November and December!

The performances are slated to be held at the following dates:

November 28th, 29th and 30th
December 6th and 7th
December 13th and 14th

Venue: Main Street Theatre, in Historic Downtown Conway.

Audition and Rehearsal Information
• Auditions are open to Coastal Dance Centre students who are currently enrolled in 2025-2026 Dance Year, in levels Pre-Primary 1, Pre-Primary 2, Primary, Ballet Levels 1- 5, Intermediate A, Intermediate B, and Advanced Foundation.

• Students should only audition if they are available for all rehearsals and performances. This includes rehearsals and performances that may take place over Thanksgiving holiday.

• Please note that a student who is auditioning must be in good standing and must maintain consistent attendance in all classes in order to participate in The Nutcracker.

Participation in Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker is voluntary.

READY TO AUDITION? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

• Familiarize yourself with all Nutcracker guidelines, requirements, important dates, and fees.
• Pre-registration is required. Sign up ONLINE for auditions, the latest is by Friday, September 5, at 5:00 pm. CLICK HERE to sign up.
• Pay the audition fee of $30.
• Be sure one parent or guardian is available to attend the Parent Meeting via Zoom on Friday, September 19th, at 6:30 PM. The zoom link will be sent prior to the meeting via email.

AUDITION VENUE: Coastal Dance Centre Studio, at 3070 Deville Street, Myrtle Beach.

AUDITION ATTIRE: Have your child wear the RAD uniform for the current dance year; if your child’s uniform has not arrived yet, the uniform from last year or any solid color leotard will do.

CHECK-IN TIME: Arrive promptly at your check-in time to allow for each student to sign in, get ready to dance.

AUDITION TIME:
• Pre-Primary 1, Pre-Primary 2, Primary
Check-in at 2:30 pm | Audition time is at 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

• Ballet Levels 1 – 2
Check-in at 1:30 pm | Audition time is at 2:00 – 3:00 pm.

• Ballet Levels 3 – 4
Check-in at 3:30 PM | Audition time is at 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

• Ballet Levels 5, Intermediate A, Intermediate B, Advanced Foundation
Check-in at 4:30 pm | Audition time is at 5:00 – 6:00 pm.

DROP OFF: Parents/guardians are to drop off the children at the Deville studio.

PICK-UP: Please make sure to pick up your child promptly at the end of the audition in the back parking lot off Johnson St. next to the parking garage. Please Park your car and walk over to the back door of the studio. Do not pull the car up to the back of the studio. We will make every effort to stay on schedule and dismiss students on time, but please be prepared for short delays. THANK YOU!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR CHILD AUDITION:

Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, is a professionally staged production. Performing in The Nutcracker is a significant commitment for students and their families. Dedicated students who fulfill this commitment gain the invaluable experience of performing in production and have a unique and wonderful personal experience. This is one great opportunity that your child will forever cherish as a memorable childhood experience.

Children cast in this production will be expected to follow the rules and etiquette as required for a theater production. Children will be expected to attend all rehearsals and performances as scheduled, and to be focused and attentive in and out of the studio. Children who miss too many rehearsals, for any reason, may lose their opportunity to perform.

For parents, it involves bringing students to numerous rehearsals and performances during an already busy time of year. For students, it involves learning and absorbing a great deal of choreography in a short period of time.

The opportunity to perform in The Nutcracker requires an enormous commitment from families and we encourage everyone to ensure that they can commit to this undertaking. Students and their parents should consider the large time commitment required for rehearsals and performances before auditioning.

A commitment of this level is viewed by our staff as a family commitment. If you are involved in other activities that meet regularly on Saturdays you should reconsider auditioning for The Nutcracker, as the potential for conflict already exists.

CASTING POLICIES

Casting is at the sole discretion of the artistic team. CYBT and its artistic team reserve the right to make revisions or change the casting as deemed necessary. Dancers and their families are not permitted to make suggestions or question the artistic directors regarding any casting decisions.

Please understand that your child will be auditioning to participate in “The Nutcracker” and should not be expecting to be cast for a specific role. Please refrain from requesting your child’s desired role(s).

Roles in The Nutcracker are cast according to current skill level, and technical ability. The artistic team will make every effort to place each dancer into roles most appropriate for both the dancer and the production. It is the Artistic Directors’ job to have all aspects of the ballet production including casting, sets, scenery, costuming, lighting, etc. all come together to deliver a magical storybook experience for both the audience and performers.

Endless amounts of thought and consideration go into each artistic decision and are never taken lightly. The artistic directors make all the FINAL casting and artistic decisions. It is not acceptable to challenge any casting or artistic decision.

Please note: Students who enroll in RAD classes only for the purpose of joining The Nutcracker performances and do not intend to continue with training after the production may not be considered in future years. This policy ensures fairness to all students and protects the integrity of both our ballet training and The Nutcracker production.

Please DO NOT have your child audition if you feel that you are conflicted and may not be willing to accept the role that your child will be given by the artistic directors.

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals for The Nutcracker are generally held on Saturday afternoons. Rehearsals will start on September 20 through to the final production week. The last rehearsal will be held on December 12 before the final performances on December 13 and 14. All students auditioning for the Nutcracker must be available and able to attend all rehearsals*.

*Additional rehearsals for Levels 4, 5, Intermediate A/B, Advanced Foundation level may be required on Friday afternoons/evenings for some cast members based on the role(s) given to them.

Rehearsal schedules will be posted and emailed well in advance to all cast members and families. It is the responsibility of all cast members (and families) to check their email regularly for updates and changes.

Absence from a rehearsal, leaving early, or arriving late are all grounds for dismissal from the production.

The staff of Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre and Coastal Dance Centre reserve the right to dismiss and replace any cast member at any time.

The Nutcracker 2025 Rehearsal Dates:

September:
Week 1 – Saturday, September 20
Week 2 – Saturday, September 27

October:
Week 3 – Saturday, October 4
Week 4 – Saturday, October 11
Week 5 – Saturday, October 18
Week 6 – Saturday, October 25

November:
Week 7 – Saturday, Nov 1
Sunday, Nov 2 – Nutcracker Tea Party – Select higher level students will be asked to perform in this community event. Everyone else is invited to attend.
Week 8 – Saturday, November 8
Week 9 – Saturday, November 15
Week 10 – Saturday, November 22

Week 11 – THEATER REHEARSALS/PRODUCTION WEEK

November 24 – 30:  Thanksgiving Week
Venue: at the Main Street Theatre, Downtown Conway

Monday November 24 – Technical / Dress Rehearsal
Tuesday, November 25 – Technical / Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday, November 26 – Technical / Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day – NO REHEARSALS
Friday, November 28 – Technical and Dress Rehearsal

The Nutcracker 2025 Performance Dates:
at the Main Street Theatre, Historic Downtown Conway

Friday, November 28 –
20th Anniversary Opening Night Performance at 7 PM / 20th Anniversary VIP Reception!
Saturday, November 29 – at 2 PM
Saturday, November 29 – at 7 PM
Sunday, November 30 – at 2 PM

Week 12
Saturday, December 6, at 2 PM
Saturday, December 6, at 7 PM
Sunday, December 7, at 2 PM

Week 13
Saturday, December 13, at 2 PM
Saturday, December 13, at 7 PM
Sunday, December 14, at 2 PM

ABSENCES
Cast members will be replaced if an absence from rehearsal due to illness or emergency is viewed as hindering them from participating in the production.

PARTICIPATION FEES:
The Nutcracker Cast Member’s Participation Fee helps to cover the cost of choreographic sessions and rehearsals, costuming for production, accident and liability insurance for activities associated with rehearsing and performing, administrative support for cast members (such as scheduling arrangements, obtaining excused absence) that help with the production aspects of the performance.

For Female Cast Members: As a Nutcracker Cast member, there is a non-refundable and non-transferable participation fee. The fee is based on the number of roles / costumes / studio rehearsal time:
Pre-Primary 1, Pre-Primary 2, Primary – $200 – $250
Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 students – $250 – $300
Level 5, Intermediate A / B, Advanced Foundation students – $300 – $325

For Male Cast Members: There is a non-refundable and non-transferable Participation Fee of $125.00.

CAST MEMBER’S FAMILY COMMITMENT
As a non-profit organization, Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre relies heavily on volunteers to help the dancers and staff members present a professional, well-organized, and polished production. Each Nutcracker Cast Family is expected to assist with production as a volunteer (which does not include time assisting your own child) and will be responsible for providing volunteer time to help with the production.

After casting has been completed, parents will be contacted regarding volunteer assignments for the production.

AUDITION RESULTS
Audition Results and the Nutcracker Participation Agreement Contract will be emailed to the parents/guardians by the end of the day on Thursday, September 11.

REGISTER

Questions? Call (843) 839-5678 or (843) 839-8006 / email us at info@CYBT.org.