OMAHA — July 22, 2018 — Nearly 170 student dancers from throughout the community registered for auditions on July 20 and 21 for two American Midwest Ballet productions: the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, and the spring 2019 premiere of The Wizard of Oz.

“This is a fun opportunity for children to audition to be part of a professional production,” says American Midwest Ballet’s artistic director Erika Overturff.

“Not only is it a chance to perform on beautiful stages in two cities [Orpheum in Omaha and the Arts Center in Council Bluffs], it is also a way for them to experience how theater works, and to get a close-up view of our professional dancers‘ dedication and artistry.”

Overturff and several members of the staff and company conducted two days of auditions with students ranging in ages from seven to eighteen.

Cast lists are posted Monday July 23 with costume fittings beginning the same week. Weekly rehearsals begin in late September with productions beginning in November at the Arts Center in Council Bluffs and concluding at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha in December.

In addition to the Council Bluffs/Omaha shows, the company is planning several Nutcracker tours.

“We will be very busy this holiday season,” says Overturff. “And we couldn’t be happier about it!”

The  28-member professional ballet company begins its ninth season on July 31.

View audition photos on facebook.