Give the gift of dance this holiday season with two classical story ballets.

Video

Photos

Peter Franc as Cavalier and Kelsie Nobriga as Sugarplum Fairy in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin

OBT School student as an angel in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin.

Twelve Nutcracker performances feature the OBT Orchestra, an experience like no other. Photo by James McGrew.

OBT Company Artist Colby Parons as Drosselmeier in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo James McGrew

Jessica Lind and OBT dancers as snow in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin.

Poison Waters as Mother Ginger in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin

Oregon Ballet Theatre School student as an Angel in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo by James McGrew

Oregon Ballet Theatre Soloist Candace Bouchard as Dew Drop in OBT’s 2017 prduction of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo James McGrew

OBT2 dancer, Zuzu Metzler as Harlequin in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin

OBT company dancers and OBT2 dancers in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin

Peter Franc as Cavalier and Kelsie Nobriga as Sugarplum Fairy in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Photo Yi Yin

OBT Company Artists Jessica Lind and Thomas Baker perform “Coffee” in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2017 production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Photo James McGrew

Previews & Reviews

Hey, Do My Job! Nick Krukpe leaves the sideline to train with the Oregon Ballet Theatre
KPTV | December 13, 2018

Fresh, vibrant, still the ‘Nutcracker’
Oregon ArtsWatch | December 12, 2018

Oregon Mastering the Magic: 5 Dancers On How They Manage The Nutcracker’s More Cumbersome Props and Costumes
Pointe Magazine | December 11, 2018

Oregon Ballet Theatre removes ‘yellowface’ from ‘The Nutcracker’
KATU | December 9, 2018

Oregon Ballet Theatre: Not Just Another Nutcracker
Critical Dance | December 7, 2017

In stride: a tight, bright ‘Nutcracker’
Oregon ArtsWatch | December 14, 2016

Nothing says holiday like ‘Nutcracker’
Portland Tribune | December 8, 2016

7 things to know about Oregon Ballet Theatre’s ‘Nutcracker’
The Oregonian | December 4, 2016

Casting

Subject to Change

Summary

ACT ONE
It is Christmas Eve in Germany 150 years ago: Doctor and Frau Stahlbaum, along with their children Marie and Fritz, are hosting an elegant holiday party. In a festive parlor with a splendid Christmas tree, they entertain friends and relatives with games, dances, and gifts. At the stroke of eight, an owl suddenly flaps its wings over the grandfather clock in the corner of the room; the lights flicker and fail. The party is swept up in a sense of wonder as Marie’s godfather, the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier, makes a dramatic entrance with his young nephew. They have brought life-sized dancing toys that they unveil to the delight of the assembled guests. Drosselmeier then presents Marie with a special gift: a Nutcracker.

Marie proudly shows off her new toy until Fritz, in a jealous tantrum, seizes the doll and breaks it. Drosselmeier mends the Nutcracker with his handkerchief and gives the doll to Marie, who tucks it into a toy bed beneath the Christmas tree. After a final dance, which Marie shares with the nephew, the guests say goodnight and the family goes to bed. At midnight, Marie sneaks back to look for her Nutcracker. She soon falls asleep; the room begins to change.

Giant mice scurry through the shadows while the Christmas tree and the toys beneath it grow bigger and bigger. Under a now-towering tree, the mice, led by their fierce King, do battle with the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers. It seems the mice will be triumphant until, at the very last moment, Marie throws her slipper at the King, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to run him through with his sword and seize victory. Exhausted, Marie falls onto her bed and is magically transported to the Land of Snow. There, where snowflakes dance, she is reunited with the Nutcracker, now transformed into a handsome young Prince.

ACT TWO
The Nutcracker Prince leads Marie on a journey to the Palace of the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns. There, the Prince tells the court how Marie saved him in his battle with the Mouse King. As a reward, the Sugar Plum Fairy seats them both upon a special throne to enjoy the dancing of Spanish Hot Chocolate, Arabian Coffee, and Tea from China. Candy Canes also perform for the two, along with Marzipan Shepherdesses, Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, and the beautiful Dew Drop Fairy and her Flowers. As a final honor, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a majestic pas de deux. Marie and the Nutcracker Prince thank the Sugar Plum Fairy for her grand entertainment. Everyone in the Land of Sweets gathers to bid them farewell.

Run Time

Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes with one 25 minute intermission

Audio Described

OBT offers audio-described performances for patrons with blindness or low vision, or anyone interested in listening to a live narration of select performances.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) will be available for patron use during two performances of December’s run of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Patrons wanting to experience the performance through verbal description of the action on stage, including choreography, story line, scenery and costumes, will be able to pick up a hand-held device on a first-come, first-served basis from the coat check area before both Dec. 16 performances — 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Neck loops for use with hearing aids and cochlear implants with a “T” switch (telecoil) are also available. Please bring ID when checking out a hearing device. Supplies are limited.