THE NUTCRACKER
APPAREL
Order your Nutcracker Apparel for this season! All item sizes are available to view and try on in our lobby. Options include: Navy Blue Short Sleeve T-Shirt, Navy Blue Crewneck Sweater, Grey Fleece Quarter Zip, Grey Sweatpants, and White Quarter Zip Pullover.
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Online Store is open September 14th - 21st.
NUTCRACKER PRESALE
Due to popular demand, we are now offering Nutcracker Pre-Orders! Submit an Order Request to purchase a Nutcracker during our presale and receive 5% off! Your Nutcracker will be signed by our Mouse King or Nutcracker, individually wrapped, and ready to be picked up at the theater. There will be a limited stock available for purchase at the theater at full cost. To ensure you get your favorite, submit your order and payment by Saturday, September 21st!
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Pre-Sale Link is open September 14th - 21st.
December 7th at 2:00pm & 6:00pm
December 8th at 3:00pm
WAUNAKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
301 COMMUNITY DR., WAUNAKEE, WI 53597
TICKETS
$30 ADULTS | $25 FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 (plus taxes and fees)
THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF TICKETS YOU CAN PURCHASE.
TICKETS WILL BE SOLD ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
PHOTO DAY
November 9th & 10th
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We are excited to welcome back EPS Photography! Schedule to come at a later date. In October, you will receive an email with information on how to sign up for photo days! This email will
come from epsgallery@eps-photo.com.
DRESS REHEARSALS
TECH REHEARSALS: December 4th & 5th
DRESS REHEARSAL: December 6th
AT Waunakee Performing Arts Center
Tech and Dress Rehearsals are mandatory.
Please view the Nutcracker Informational Packet for a detailed schedule.
CAST PARTY
DATE and TIME TBA
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Pizza, refreshments, ice cream, and dance party in the Performing Arts Center Commons! Friends and family are welcome to join. The cost of this party is included in your participation fee this year. Each additional guest you bring will be at the cost of $5 per person. Please fill out the Cast Party form located in the Nutcracker Informational Packet for additional guests.
VIDEOS
A professional videographer will be recording at the performances. All Nutcracker families will be receiving one DVD and a digital copy of the performances! The fee for this is included in your Nutcracker participation fee and there will be no additional video charges. For the safety of the dancers and comfort of other patrons, absolutely no photography or videotaping is allowed, with or without flash during the performances.
PROGRAM ADS
MPA will be providing a program guide during the show, and we would like to offer you an ad space. This advertisement is an inexpensive way to give a “shout out” to your dancer or to help your business with exposure but also help produce MPA’s wonderful show and sponsor the arts in the Waunakee and surrounding communities. This is a great way to get value from your advertising dollars.
Ads will be for sale starting with a 1/4 page for $50 and gradually increase from there. MPA has cover pages available in color starting at $100. Examples can be found in the Nutcracker Packet (coming in September).
We hope you will help us in making this year’s production of The Nutcracker a success. This is a great way to get involved. If you need help creating your ad, all imagery and text must be handed in by November 2nd. If you already have a designed ad with no editing needed, these must be handed in by November 9th. All program ad submissions and any questions can be submitted to Jessica at jessica@mpadance.com.
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MORE INFORMATION AND FORMS ARE LOCATED AT THE END OF THE NUTCRACKER INFORMATIONAL PACKET.
VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering is required! We have made available volunteer opportunities that require time but not money, commitments that can be done far before the show, commitments that require time during the show, and opportunities that definitely put your talents to work! We’re sure everyone will find a way to help us put on such a massive production in a way that is fun and comfortable. We require that each dancer is represented by at least one volunteer position. If you are not able to volunteer for a position there is an opt out fee of $100.00 available to you. All volunteer sign ups or opt out fees are due by Saturday, November 23rd .
The Story of the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a holiday fairy tale about a young girl, Clara, and her special Christmas. Her Uncle, Drosselmeyer, is a magical, mysterious character in her life. This Christmas, he has a special gift for her, a beautiful Nutcracker doll. She receives the present from him at the annual family party. After finding out that it can crack nuts, her sister Louise tries it out and breaks it. Clara is upset and the party halts until Drosselmeyer fixes the Nutcracker.
Clara is excited about the new doll, and she wants to stay up all night with it, but her family sends her off to bed. After everyone has left and the family is asleep, Clara sneaks downstairs to look at her Nutcracker doll. She eventually falls asleep, and with a little help from Drosselmeyer's magic, her dream begins.
Mice suddenly wake her and the Mouse King appears and tries to kidnap her and take her to his kingdom. Drosselmeyer reappears to making everything bigger, the Christmas tree, the toy soldiers and the Nutcracker, all to protect Clara. After some mischief from the Mice and Soldiers, the Mouse King battles with the Nutcracker. With help from the Soldiers and Clara, the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse king and sends him and his mice away.
Drosselmeyer turns the Nutcracker into a prince and presents him to Clara. The Nutcracker Prince sweeps Clara away to his special land and to show her his magnificent palace. Their journey takes them through the Enchanted Land of the Snow and The Land of Sweets, where they meet sweets from around the world.
The Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian dancers, Russian dancers, Chinese dancers, Marizpan, Bon Bons, and the beautiful Waltzing Flowers meet them. The festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court and bids Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won’t for those who have an eye to see it.
Sisters, Clara and Louise, await for their family's annual Christmas party.
During the party, everyone freezes and Clara watches as solider dolls come to life.
Drosselmeyer wakes Clara up from her dream.
Sisters, Clara and Louise, await for their family's annual Christmas party.
Photos from 2023 Dress Rehearsal - Thank You Joe Zitzelsberger!