Highland Park, 11/29/11 Irena Rietveld of Winnetka runs through her scene during rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 Part of the cast of The Nutcracker runs through rehearsal at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Lauren Nesher of Highland Park rehearses with the rest of the cast of The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 Zachary Heller of Chicago and Madeline Gullett of Highland Park run through their dance routine during a rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Jamie Greco of Highland Park reacts to receiving the nutcracker doll during rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 The cast of The Nutcracker rehearses at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 Leah Seidman of Highland Park holds on to a sword and rehearses with the rest of the cast for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Katia Sievert of Northbrook acts out her role durina rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 Grace Mitchell of Lincolnshire plays her role during rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park, 11/29/11 Jamie Greco of Highland Park dances her routine during rehearsal at the North Shore Center for the Dance in Highland Park Nov. 29. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media