The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker Presented by International Ballet

Act I

It’s Christmas Eve in a small German town, and guests are welcomed to the home of Dr. and Mrs. Silberhaus. The beautiful Christmas tree delights all, especially the Silberhaus children, Clara and Fritz, and their young guests. Everyone enjoys the dancing and celebration. Then Herr Drosselmeyer, Clara’s godfather, suddenly appears! He uses his magical powers to entertain the guests. His unusual gifts for the children are dancing mechanical dolls: a Columbine, Harlequin, Drummer Girl, and Toy Soldier! Clara and Fritz plead with Drosselmeyer to give them more gifts, and so he reveals a most intriguing wooden doll – a Nutcracker. After he teaches them how it works, Clara begins to dance with this wonderful new Christmas gift. To her dismay, Fritz naughtily steals the Nutcracker from Clara and accidentally breaks it. After Drosselmeyer fixes the doll, Clara gently cradles the Nutcracker and puts him down to sleep. Dr. Silberhaus invites his guests to join him in the final dance and toast to the evening before they depart.

Young Clara cannot sleep. She quietly returns to the ballroom to find her beloved Nutcracker, who was left alone in the dark room. The ballroom appears strange and mystical. Drosselmeyer’s magical powers transform the room. The tree begins to grow taller, and the room fills with mice, led by the Mouse King. Clara runs to her Nutcracker for comfort. The Nutcracker and toy soldiers come to life and he leads them into a battle against the mice. Although he fights bravely, the mice are winning. Clara, seeing an opportunity to defend her Nutcracker, throws her slipper at the Mouse King. Defeated, the frightened mice scatter, and Clara runs to her Nutcracker, who has been transformed by Drosselmeyer into a magnificent Nutcracker Prince. He gratefully thanks Clara, and they begin a magical journey together to the top of the tree.

Unexpectedly, they find themselves in a winter forest as snow begins to fall. A blizzard ensues, and the snowflakes turn into snow fairies, who present Clara with a beautiful new dress for her journey.

ACT II

Angel ornaments on the tree greet Clara and Her Prince, showing them the way to the Kingdom of the Sweets at the top of the Christmas tree. The mice and their King have followed, and the Nutcracker Prince, once again, bravely battles the mice and is victorious. When they reach the Kingdom of the Sweets the Prince tells all of the dolls about the battle and how Clara bravely defended him. The dolls are grateful to Clara and, in her honor, hold a huge celebration. The dolls dance and present special gifts to their guests, each from a different country: Spanish Hot Chocolate, Arabian Coffee, and Chinese Tea. Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, the Mirlitons, a Russian Trepak (traditional folk dance), and a bouquet of Candy Flowers with their Dewdrop Fairy share in the joyous occasion. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince perform a grand pas de deux to the joy of all. This magical journey ends as Clara awakens on Christmas morning. She is home again, beside her wooden Nutcracker.