Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540272
October/November 2025 | maconmagazine.com 47 the years I've watched generations of dancers grow up through this show—some even from Clara to the wedding aisle. A true treasure." Jim Crisp, Founding Artistic Director, Theatre Macon "One of my favorite parts is the Dream Scene—but here's a tip: watch how the Nutcracker doll moves through the story. From Clara's arms in the party scene, to the tug-of-war with Drosselmeyer, into the chaos of the battle with Rats and Soldiers, its journey ties the whole scene together. And of course, it gets a whole lot easier to follow once the doll turns life-sized." Amy Green, Nutcracker Board Member, 2015–2025 "Load-In Saturday is one of my favorite traditions. Volunteers form an assembly line, unpacking our trucks into The Grand. Props are laid out in precise order: lighted Christmas trees for the Angels, swords for the Soldiers, horns for the Heralds, the Sugar Plum's wand. Backstage waits the Cavalry horses, the Dragon, and Mother Ginger's massive dress, lowered from the rafters onto the gentleman seated on the rolling platform. I've worked the prop table for years, and it's pure joy as kids grab their pieces and professionals mentor the younger dancers. Once, during a lull at tech, I even saw a professional dancer on the floor arm-wrestling with the boys—everyone laughing, no one starstruck for long." Holly Riley, Nutcracker Board Member 2019– Present; President 2022–2024 "For me, The Nutcracker is more than a performance—it's a family reunion. I've worked it for years, made lifelong friends, and watched dancers grow from mice to Clara to remarkable adults. One of my favorite memories is tied to the Rat King's entrance. One year, when we couldn't get the flash pot materials, I was asked to fake the explosion. I went home and layered about 30 different sound effects to make the perfect 'BOOM!' It worked so well it's still in the soundtrack today—so when the Rat King bursts onstage, listen closely. That boom is homemade." Bob Mavity, Senior Technical Director at the Piedmont Grand Opera House, 1994–Present "Being Clara in 2023 came with its own brand of chaos. Between the Party Scene and the Dream Scene, my quick-change helper was a lifesaver— every night she had gummy worms and nuts waiting for me! But not every moment went smoothly. One night, my crown snagged in the netting of a scenic urn. For ten terrifying seconds I was stuck in the dark, knowing I had to be back onstage, asleep on