‘Nutcracker’ auditions on tap Wednesday, Sunday

Area youths have two opportunities to dance in upcoming productions of 'The Nutcracker” ballet.

Joffrey/Hancher

Auditions for the Joffrey's new version of the holiday classic take place from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday at Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Road, Iowa City. Time slots vary for boys and girls ages 7 to 18. Registration is encouraged by Wednesday; details and forms are available at hancher.uiowa.edu/nutcracker-auditions

This new production, set against a backdrop of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, is being staged at Hancher from Dec. 1-4. It features choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, who won a 2015 Tony Award for 'An American in Paris” on Broadway, and an updated story by Brian Selznick, whose book, 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” was turned into the Oscar-winning movie, 'Hugo.”

Moscow Ballet

The Moscow Ballet also is seeking area dance students for its 'Great Russian Nutcracker” on Dec. 2 at the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield.

Cedar Rapids auditions take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Pointe School of Dance, 5331 N. Park Place NE. Boys and girls, ages 7 to 17 years, who have at least one year of ballet training, may audition for a variety of parts. The auditions are free; there may be a casting fee.

For information and registration, go to www.nutcracker.com/youth-auditions.