José Mateo Ballet Theatre Holds Auditions for 38th Annual 'The Nutcracker' in Cambridge

Over 100 children from Greater Boston auditioned at José Mateo Ballet Theatre's Cambridge studios for the company's 38th annual production of 'The Nutcracker.' The two-day event split candidates by age, with 6- to 12-year-olds on Saturday and 13- to 18-year-olds on Sunday. Seven-year-old Ava Babbist, a first-time auditioner, described feeling both nervous and excited, noting the difficulty of memorizing positions. Madison Sweeney, the company's director of communications, highlighted the diversity of the cast and the significance of performing at the Strand Theatre in a diverse community, emphasizing Mateo's focus on creating magic for each individual. Cambridge resident and former ballet dancer Jodie Pemberton brought her daughter Aria due to Mateo's positive reputation in the city. Grant Calderwood, another parent, cited the company's varied programming and community integration as reasons for choosing it. Roles range from snowflakes to Mother Ginger's children, but the rat emerged as an unlikely favorite; seven-year-old Quitterie expressed a desire to play one because it makes people laugh. Productions can feature up to 100 child performers alongside professionals, making rehearsals intense and chaotic. Sweeney called the effort a community-building endeavor and encouraged more people to attend. The production runs from Dec. 5-20 at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester. The article was written by Gitana Savage for The Boston Globe.