Nutcracker Auditions 2023 Opening Spread

Setting the Stage

In a rite of passage for throngs of aspiring young dancers, auditions are held each fall for the chance to appear in the Sacramento Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, which has featured thousands of children on stage since debuting in 1968—including one Greta Gerwig—and will take place Dec. 9–23 this year. The latest tryouts for roles like Mice, Candy Canes and Baby Bunnies were held on Sept. 9 at the troupe’s midtown studios, and photojournalist Max Whittaker was there to capture the moments of anticipation, determination and pure joy throughout the day during this storied Sacramento tradition.
Max Whittaker,

In a rite of passage for throngs of aspiring young dancers, auditions are held each fall for the chance to appear in the Sacramento Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, which has featured thousands of children on stage since debuting in 1968—including one Greta Gerwig—and will take place Dec. 9–23 this year. The latest tryouts for roles like Mice, Candy Canes and Baby Bunnies were held on Sept. 9 at the troupe’s midtown studios, and photojournalist Max Whittaker was there to capture the moments of anticipation, determination and pure joy throughout the day during this storied Sacramento tradition.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Made in Sacramento Edition

Region’s greetings! From a mid-century modern birdhouse built in Nevada City to sweet chocolate toffee crafted in Gold River, here are eight locally made presents that are sure to make the holidays merry and bright.
Jessica Rine,

Region’s greetings! From a mid-century modern birdhouse built in Nevada City to sweet chocolate toffee crafted in Gold River, here are eight locally made presents that are sure to make the holidays merry and bright.

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Six Days in Sacramento

Max Whittaker,

This spring, hundreds of people took to the streets to protest the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by police on March 18. Though the rallies were largely peaceful, emotions flooded churches, freeways and City Hall as Sacramento became the latest American community to struggle with a high-profile death of a young, unarmed black man. For six of the days that immediately followed the incident, photojournalist Max Whittaker chronicled the clashes and conversations that unfolded.

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Eyes in the Sky

Photographers Eli Margetich, Mark Newton, Brandon Miyasaki, Anthony Occhipinti & Stephen Leonardi,

This is flight club. More than ever, drone photographers are lighting up Instagram feeds in cities across the globe with seemingly impossible perspectives of landmarks and landscapes. And with their cameras’ unmatched ability to capture “nadir imagery”—looking straight down while hovering in place—from as high as 1,000 feet, even the most familiar sights can be rendered in strangely beautiful ways. Prepare to fly over Sacramento and see it as you’ve never seen it before.

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Troubled Waters

On Feb. 7, following heavy storms, a massive crater was discovered in the main spillway at Oroville Dam, the tallest in the United States, which led to the use of a second, emergency spillway. Days later, over 180,000 people in the region were forced to evacuate amid threats of the emergency spillway’s collapse. Photojournalist Max Whittaker chronicled the crisis as residents fled to seek safety and shelter.
Max Whittaker,

On Feb. 7, following heavy storms, a massive crater was discovered in the main spillway at Oroville Dam, the tallest in the United States, which led to the use of a second, emergency spillway. Days later, over 180,000 people in the region were forced to evacuate amid threats of the emergency spillway’s collapse. Photojournalist Max Whittaker chronicled the crisis as residents fled to seek safety and shelter.

ArtStreet
The City

Color and curiosity: A first look at the striking new ArtStreet exhibit

Sactown Staff,

West Sacramento artist Alex Trujillo’s installation “ZSpace” uses mirrored stainless steel strips hung at an angle, custom LED animations and low-frequency sounds to create an altered, fragmented perception for the viewer. (Photo by Jeremy Sykes)ArtStreet—M5Arts’ highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s popular Art Hotel—opens Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 25 at the Mill at Broadway (301 1st Ave). Before…

Deathstar

Holiday Gift Guide 2016

’Tis the season for giving local. From a mega book on Sacramento to a mini Death Star, here are nine hometown-made gifts that make the perfect presents. Happy holidays, Rebels!
Tori Masucci Cummins, Jessica Rine,

’Tis the season for giving local. From a mega book on Sacramento to a mini Death Star, here are nine hometown-made gifts that make the perfect presents. Happy holidays, Rebels!

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The City

The California Museum presents its newest Hall of Fame exhibit

Jessica Rine, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

This Iron Man suit will be among the personal artifacts featured at the California Museum’s new California Hall of Fame exhibit, which will open on Oct. 29. Inductee Robert Downey Jr. hand-selected the 6-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide metal armor—which the actor wore in the first “Iron Man” film and typically displays in his home office in Venice—to represent him in the show.The…

Hanks Stuart Anchor

Tower of Power

A new documentary about the rise and fall of Tower Records draws a packed house of moviegoers to the Tower Theatre and Verge Center for the Arts during the opening night of the Sacramento International Film Festival
Photos by Marc Thomas Kallweit,

A new documentary about the rise and fall of Tower Records draws a packed house of moviegoers to the Tower Theatre and Verge Center for the Arts during the opening night of the Sacramento International Film Festival.

Dennis Bylo Thumb

The Naked City

Stripped of people, cars and color, Dennis Bylo’s streetscapes tell a story of a Sacramento that we rarely see, even when we are staring right at it.
S.T. VanAirsdale,

Stripped of people, cars and color, Dennis Bylo’s streetscapes tell a story of a Sacramento that we rarely see, even when we are staring right at it.

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Flights of Fancy

This fall, glamour and elegance take off as designers go back to the sexy ’60s for looks that are present perfect
Photographs by Christopher Kern,

This fall, glamour and elegance take off as designers go back to the sexy ’60s for looks that are present perfect

Comiccon Hemsworth Ferr

Cast of Characters

Stars of TV shows like The Walking Dead and cult classics like The Boondock Saints mingle with superheroes and superfans at Sacramento Comic Con.
Photos by Max Whittaker,

Stars of TV shows like The Walking Dead and cult classics like The Boondock Saints mingle with superheroes and superfans at Sacramento Comic Con.

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Isle Style

A private residence on Garden Highway transforms into an island getaway at a luau-themed fundraiser for The Chevo Foundation
Marc Thomas Kallweit,

A private residence on Garden Highway transforms into an island getaway at a luau-themed fundraiser for The Chevo Foundation

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Horse Play

Animal lovers pony up for charity at the SPCA’s Lasher Polo Classic in Wilton.
Marc Thomas Kallweit,

Animal lovers pony up for charity at the SPCA’s Lasher Polo Classic in Wilton.

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Bridge Party

The inaugural Farm-to-Fork Week makes a splash with the ultimate locavore dinner on the Tower Bridge
Jeremy Sykes,

The inaugural Farm-to-Fork Week makes a splash with the ultimate locavore dinner on the Tower Bridge

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Tiny Dancers

With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads, hundreds of nimble little children flock to the Sacramento Ballet studios every fall and audition for choice roles in the Ballet’s most popular production, The Nutcracker. This year was no exception, as 719 hopefuls as young as 6 went toe to toe with each other to score 470 parts, including those as Mother Ginger Children, Teeny Tiny Mice and Baby Bunnies. “We have beautiful professional dancers, but what makes our Nutcracker special is the number of children we use. I believe we have the largest cast of children of any company in America,” says the Ballet’s longtime co-artistic director Ron Cunningham. We were there during the tutu tryouts in September, and we offer you an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes—both at the thrill of victory and, the agony of the feet. Here, more than ever you’ll see that there are no small roles, just small dancers.
Reported by Joanna Corman, Max Whittaker,

The hopping, the hoping. Getting intoThe Nutcracker takes more than fancy footwork.

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“Runway” Success

Coming off his star turn on Project Runway, local designer Richard Hallmarq debuts his 2013 ready-to-wear collection.
Marc Thomas Kallweit,

Coming off his star turn on Project Runway, local designer Richard Hallmarq debuts his 2013 ready-to-wear collection.

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Dressed to Thrill

Local luminaries channel international stars—from Tom Jones to Cher—as they sing (or lip-sync) their hearts out for charity at the Crest Theatre.
Jeremy Sykes,

Local luminaries channel international stars—from Tom Jones to Cher—as they sing (or lip-sync) their hearts out for charity at the Crest Theatre.

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Crowning Glory

Thousands descend on Cesar Chavez Plaza to celebrate the city’s come-from-behind victory to keep the Kings in Sacramento.
Max Whittaker,

Thousands descend on Cesar Chavez Plaza to celebrate the city’s come-from-behind victory to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

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Born to Run

Once a year, Cal Expo features thoroughbred races that coincide with the California State Fair. Horse racing—with centuries of tradition and pageantry behind it—boasts some of the strongest, fastest and most beautiful creatures on earth. We visited the scene on its opening weekend in July to take a closer look at life on and off the track.
Max Whittaker,

Once a year, Cal Expo features thoroughbred races that coincide with the California State Fair. Horse racing—with centuries of tradition and pageantry behind it—boasts some of the strongest, fastest and most beautiful creatures on earth. We visited the scene on its opening weekend in July to take a closer look at life on and off the track.

Pumpkin Opener

Nightmare Before Christmas

Photos by Jeremy Sykes
Tori Masucci Cummins, Stephanie Towne, Jeremy Sykes,

The holiday season is in full swing and, like every year, this one kicked off with one of our favorite days of them all—Halloween. So we set out for Land Park’s Fairytale Town, which plays host—ghost host—to the ultimate costume party each year, drawing thousands of pint-sized pirates, snarling dragons and scary little monsters to its Lilliputian land of make-believe. There, we found, the kids’ tricks were our treats.

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Shopping with the Chef

On any given Sunday morning, Randall Selland of Ella, The Kitchen and Selland’s Market—can be found loading up his van under Hwy 50 with fresh produce from the Sacramento Central Farmers' Market. We shadowed him recently and got a true chef's-eye view.
Tori Masucci Cummins,

On any given Sunday morning, Randall Selland of Ella, The Kitchen and Selland’s Market—can be found loading up his van under Hwy 50 with fresh produce from the Sacramento Central Farmers’ Market. We shadowed him recently and got a true chef’s-eye view.

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City Pickers

As we become more and more distanced from the source of our food, a new crop of urban ranches like Sacramento’s Soil Born Farms are bringing us back to our roots.
Kate Washington,

As we become more and more distanced from the source of our food, a new crop of urban ranches like Sacramento’s Soil Born Farms are bringing us back to our roots.