Gretchen Myers brought the first ever Nutcracker performance to Meadville in 1989. This was a co-production with Lake Erie Ballet where she taught for two years. In 1993, she produced the first Meadville-based production with an incredible creative team that produced lavish costumes and props. Today, the teachers, staff, volunteers, and dancers of Allegro team together to bring this Meadville tradition to life.

The Nutcracker is performed every other year and uses primarily dancers from the ballet department, advanced tumbling and hip hop dancers. We also cast parents and siblings for the Party Scene.

Rehearsals for the Divertissments, Snow, Flowers, Sugar Plum, and Clara begin in August. Other rehearsals begin in September or early October. Rehearsals are 1-2 hours per week per part. The production is over Thanksgiving weekend. Dancers in the second act perform for the schools the Wednesday of that week. Young dancers rehearse on the weekends. Teen dancers can expect to rehearse evenings and weekends. Dancers must have excellent attendance and attitude. Dancers who are involved in fall sports should not participate, unless they can attend 90% of their classes and all rehearsals.

To participate, dancers and actors must register and complete and sign a Nutcracker Application and Agreement (PDF) form