Media Release
Toronto Raptors Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead Debut as Cannon Dolls in The Nutcracker
December 5, 2025… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today this season’s lineup of Cannon Dolls for James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker. Toronto Raptors Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead will make their debut as Cannon Dolls on December 19.
The holiday favourite celebrates its 30th anniversary this season and to mark this milestone, Rex Harrington, the original Peter/The Nutcracker who created the role 30 years ago, will appear as a Cannon Doll on opening night, December 5.
This season, the Cannon Doll lineup features CBC Q host Tom Power and Arkells frontman Max Kerman, Olympic Ice Dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Wynton McManis and Damonte Coxie of the Toronto Argos, Chris Boushy and Challen Rogers from the Toronto Rock, Toronto AFC’s Victoria Pickett and Sarah Rollins, Canadian Women’s Rugby players Brittany Kassil and Taylor McKnight, Toronto Star reporters Joshua Chong and Victoria Gibson, Sirius XM Radio Hosts Allison Dore and Victor Bibby aka DJ Frank Vinatra, TSN Football Analyst Davis Sanchez and host Kate Beirness and longest running Cannon Doll, Global TV’s Susan Hay, in her 23rd year, who will be appearing with anchor Antony Robart.
In addition to the luminaries listed above, the National Ballet invites colleagues in the Toronto arts and dance community and our community partners to join the company onstage as Cannon Dolls. This season we are thrilled to welcome members of DanceWorks, Hart Dance, dance immersion, Surrey Place, York South Family Network and West Neighbourhood house.
Celebrity walk-on roles are a long-standing tradition with Nutcrackers all over the world. In the National Ballet’s production, the cameo roles are Cannon Dolls, colourfully costumed Petrouchka dolls who shoot a cannon into the audience in Act I. To date, the National Ballet has invited 1,378 Canadian luminaries and personalities to appear onstage in the coveted roles.
Past Cannon Dolls have included former Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry and Matt Thomas, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and former Leafs Winger Mitch Marner, Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Tessa Virtue, Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Summer McIntosh, Actors Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Graham Greene and Sarah Gadon, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Comedian Rick Mercer, Authors Carley Fortune and Emma Donoghue, Musician Brendan Canning and more!
Over its 30-year history, The Nutcracker has captivated audiences of all ages, with over 1.3 million people attending 672 performances since its premiere in 1995. With Kudelka’s imaginative choreography, Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, breathtaking designs by Santo Loquasto and lighting by Jennifer Tipton, this beloved production continues to delight year after year.
Tickets are almost sold out with best availability on December 31.
About The Nutcracker
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2025/26 Season Sponsor: BMO
iA Financial Group Presents The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker (1995) was made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M. and Lawrence & Ann Heisey.
The Nutcracker revitalization (2025) is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, The Arrell Family Foundation and The Henry White Kinnear Foundation.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and Owner
Keira Hunt, Senior Manager of Publicity and Promotions
Chelsea Cabello, Senior Publicist
NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Kate Dresser, Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca