NARCO — River Region Ballet Company is gearing up for the upcoming production of The Nutcracker.

The dance company is holding open auditions for all roles starting at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 13 at River Region Performing Arts and Cultural Center at 15146 River Road in Norco.

The Nutcracker is one of two productions the dance company does each year.

By participating in the cast of a River Region Ballet’s production, cast members will come away with increased levels of experience, training, appreciation and interest in the art of ballet and will have memories to last a lifetime, organizers said.

The Nutcracker is an adaptation of E.T.A Hoffmann’s story ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.’ In The Nutcracker, it’s Christmas Eve; Clara is given a nutcracker as a gift from her godfather Drosselmeyer. Fritz is jealous of the toy and breaks it, and Clara is heartbroken. During the night when Clara goes to check on her toy, she finds the nutcracker has become life sized, and there is a battle going on between an army of gingerbread soldiers and mice, led by their King.

Heidi Schindler, Katelyn Fitts and new artistic director ToniAnn Chetta are adding a few new things to this year’s production.

“There is new choreography throughout the whole production,” Chetta said. “We are trying to make it fresh and new.”

According to Chettea, choreography isn’t the only change the dance company is making to the ballet.

“We will also have some new scenery changes and new costumes,” Chetta said. “We’re trying to make it a little more exciting for the 2015 year.”

For girls ages 5 to 8 years old, auditions are from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Girls 9 to 12 years old will have auditions from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Boys, men and women interested in theatrical roles will auditions from 1:30 to 2 p.m. All dancers 13 and older audition from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Pointe and non-point roles are available for all ages.  Participants are asked to bring appropriate dance shoes to auditions.  There will be a $15, cash or check, audition fee. All dancers must sign-in a half-hour prior to audition time. Audition forms must be completed and signed by the responsible adult.

“River Region Ballet strives to cast as many dancers as possible, and we look forward to seeing students from throughout Louisiana at auditions,” Chette said.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker