For These Two ‘Nutcracker’ Princes, It’s Showtime

This season, two vivacious boys at the School of American Ballet make their princely debuts in New York City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

The hellion of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” is a little boy named Fritz who is as naughty as they come. He fights with his sister, Marie; he convinces the boys at a Christmas Eve party to antagonize the girls. And who breaks the Nutcracker doll? Silly question. Wherever Fritz goes, trouble follows.

For a young dancer, it can be a star turn.

This season at New York City Ballet, two former Fritzes have moved up the casting ladder to play the most coveted male children’s role of all. Hannon Hatchett, 10, and Finlay McCurdy-Van Alstine, 11, both students at the company-affiliated School of American Ballet, will make their debuts as the Prince, a part that demands real acting and dancing chops: A Nutcracker soldier, stiff and robotic, must blossom into a graceful, gentle Prince.

He must be brave. He must have elegance. And he must be able to perform in front of a couple of thousand people. (“The Nutcracker” opens at Lincoln Center on Friday and runs through Jan. 5.)

Hannon and Finlay are stage animals with a zeal for performing full out while keeping their innocence intact. After working with them when they played Fritz, Dena Abergel and Arch Higgins, the children’s repertory director at City Ballet and associate director, knew that they would approach the Prince with a sense of purpose.

“We felt secure that they would both take the role seriously,” Abergel said. “Because they are young boys, and in order to carry the ballet, you have to do your homework. And they’ve been doing their homework.” That means, she added, “Practicing and going through it in your head and being prepared for the rehearsals.”