Pennsylvania Ballet: The Nutcracker

A MAGICAL, SNOWY CHRISTMAS TREAT

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker is one of the most treasured holiday treats, and Pennsylvania Ballet's glittering production is one of the best! Back for 2021, join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on their unforgettable journey across the world, and into the realm of fantasy, set to an iconic score.

Let the music of Tchaikovsky guide you through glistening fields of snow, into the midst of grueling battles, and finally the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Spectacular sets and the timeless choreography of George Balanchine mean that this work is as fresh and light as ever, and is sure to be a treat for all ages.

WHAT IS THE NUTCRACKER ABOUT?

Balanchine's version follows closely to the original Petipa libretto. We open on Christmas Eve, in the Stahlbaum house. There's music and presents and food, and the three Stahlbaum children are beside themselves with joy at the wonder of it all. There's danger on the horizon though, heralded by the arrival at the door of local magician Drosselmeyer. He brings bearing gifts for the children, including a wooden nutcracker. This is just the start of an adventure that will lead our characters into a war between mice and gingerbread men and through the Land of Sweets.

WHO WAS GEORGE BALANCHINE?

Hailed as the father of American ballet, George Balanchine fused the techniques taught him at the Imperial Ballet in Moscow to the styles of dance fashionable in Broadway shows and movies of the 40s and 50s. His version of The Nutcracker, which he created in 1955, is the one most commonly known to American audiences. It's performed every year by The Pennsylvania Ballet, which itself was founded by one of Balanchine's students, Barbara Weisberger.