(Parade Role Descriptions)
Maid – Banner Walker 1 -Walk parade route pushing a banner while smiling & greeting audience “Welcome, Merry Christmas”
Maid – Banner Walker 2 – Walk parade route pushing a banner while smiling & greeting audience “Welcome, Merry Christmas”
5 Dance Couples – Partner dance parade route – at a Christmas party, having fun dancing, when song ends, clapping, repeat
2 Dance Single Adults – Partner dance parade route – at a Christmas party, having fun dancing, when song ends, clapping, repeat
4 Children Dancers – Dance parade route w/ adult couples – at a Christmas party, having fun dancing, when song ends, clapping, repeat
Truck Driver 1 – Drive Party Scene Float
Uncle Luke – Sitting in swivel chair on Float 1 Acting (Reading a picture book to children)
6 Party Children – Sitting on Float 1 rocking babies in wrapped in white blankets & listening to story, happy as they listen, looking at their babies & Uncle Luke as he reads, connecting their babies to baby Jesus in the story.
Clara 1 – Sitting on Float 1, receiving Nutcracker (Confused) & listening to story, conflicted as to why she got a nutcracker & not a baby doll & what the Nutcracker has to do with the story Uncle Luke is reading.
Tractor Driver – Driving wagon of mice
Mouse King – Driving Chariot (Scooter), acting like a crazy leader
Lead Mouse – Adult supervising Mice & acting like a commander demanding them what to do.
Mouse 1– Striking match box & lighting cannon, taking turns with other mouse & being mischievous
Mouse 2 – Striking match box & lighting cannon, taking turns with other mouse & being mischievous
Mouse 3 – Holding matchbox & being mischievous in wagon
Mouse 4 – Being mischievous in wagon (Sling Shot) Shooting “Lies” at audience & Clara
Mouse 5 – Being mischievous in wagon (Sling Shot) Shooting “Lies” at audience & Clara
Mouse 6 – Being mischievous in wagon – (Sling Shot)Shooting “Lies” at audience & Clara
Street Mouse 1 – Street Mouse’s performance includes walking, acting & interacting between Mice on Mouse Float, Mouse King, Nutcracker & audience.
Street Mouse 2 – Street Mouse’s performance includes walking, acting & interacting between Mice on Mouse Float, Mouse King, Nutcracker & audience.
Nutcracker 1 (Identity Disguised) – Dancing & Acting on parade route – Protecting warfare of mice
Clara 2 – Laying and sitting in bed, acting – shock & fear to what is happening around her. Happy when she looks at Nutcracker protecting her. Conflicted, confused by the evil mice & Nutcracker and his soldiers who are protecting her
10 Toy Soldiers – Dancing on parade route behind Clara & Nutcracker, focused, stoic/straight faced, peaceful & strong, confident, having Claras back, fighting the mice. Toy Soldier 1 is leader, others take her lead in marching rhythm along the parade route.
Mini Snowflakes – Mini Snowflakes will sit on the Snowflake Float, holding a snowflake prop (studio will provide prop) that they can move around to the music. They will also smile & wave to the people watching. The Snowflake Float will be after the Toy Soldiers and in front of Clara’s Sleigh.
Clara 3 – Sitting in Sleigh acting peaceful & full of wonder, happy, smiling, looking around in wonder (as if she’s seeing a beautiful dreamy snowscape) She can also make eye contact with audience and wave like a princess from time to time.
Nutcracker 2 – Nutcracker has just saved Clara & is now a prince. He’s pushing Clara in the sleigh, peaceful & strong taking Clara on a journey to see where He, Jesus, was born. Focus is straight ahead. He can look from time to time at the audience & peacefully nod as a greeting.
2 – Opening Snowflake Dancers – Opening Snowflakes will have very large snowflakes on their backs, dancing as an opening presenter of the Dancing “Ballerina” Snowflakes.
4 – Snowflake Dancers “Ballerina’s – Dancers will dance in front of, beside and back of Sleign ballet choreography, that will bring a fullness to the winter scene and Clara’s exerience leading her to the Snow Queen.
Truck Driver 2 – Driving large Dream Scene float
SQ Snowflake 1 – Snow Queen Snowflakes will be sitting on float 6 in the Snow Queens section doing simple arm choreography with large snowflake prop(studio will provide). Smiling and waving at audience.
SQ Snowflake 2 – Snow Queen Snowflakes will be sitting on float 6 in the Snow Queens section doing simple arm choreography with large snowflake prop(studio will provide). Smiling & waving at audience.
Snow Queen – Dancing, then bowing to Jesus on Float 6 – will have rails to steady self when needed – peaceful & smiling
Sugar Plum Fairy – Dancing, then bowing to Jesus on Float 6 – will have rails to steady self when needed – peaceful & smiling
Clara 4 – Dancing w/ Nutcracker prince & standing & acting in wonder, peace & delight, bowing to Jesus on Float 6 – railings for safety
Nutcracker 3 – Bracing Clara as she dances & acting in peace & confidence point her to when he was born on Float 6 – railings for safety
Mary – Sitting under manger on Float 6 & holding baby being a mom, happy & peaceful
Joseph – Sitting under manger on Float 6 & helping care for baby being a dad, happy & peaceful
Baby Jesus – Resting in Mary’s arms under the manger on float 6 being a baby
Childrens “Choir” – sitting on float 6 & singing/lip synching the song – happy & smiling
–Angels – sitting on float 6 & singing/lip synching the song – happy & smiling
–Animals – sitting on float 6 & singing/lip synching the song – happy & smiling
–Children – sitting on float 6 & singing/lip synching the song – happy & smiling
“Choir” (Safety sitters) – sitting on float 6 w/children & singing/lip synching the song – happy & smiling
Parade Walkers – Walking along our section of parade, waving to crowd, saying “Merry Christmas” protecting both performers & audience, passing canes/cards
*Parade Performers’ focus is in their scenes, not making eye contact with audience and waving, unless otherwise stated. Stay in character the whole parade route. We want all of the audience to get the best performance you have to give. Note that the judges will be in front of the Franklin Theater, I believe, if it’s like last year.
**Parade walkers are our point of contact with people. We want them to feel seen and loved. We will have bags of candy for you to pass out. We have just over 2,000, and although that seems a lot, it will go pretty fast. Please make sure you hand it to the person & do not throw. Thrown candy can disqualify us. Make it quick as to bring their attention to the story. The cards have a QR code that will take them to a landing page that tells them the story they are seeing & will also connect them to the studio.