The Nutcracker

It’s Christmas Eve and the Stahlbaum family is hosting a grand party. The children, Clara and her little brother Fritz, are celebrating with their parents, family and friends. While the children receive their gifts, Clara’s mysterious Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, arrives. He astonishes the guests with magic tricks, even bringing mechanical dolls to life!

Drosselmeyer produces a beautiful Nutcracker and gives it to Clara. She graciously accepts and begins dancing with it. Fritz becomes jealous of Clara’s new toy, grabs the Nutcracker from her and breaks it. When Clara begins to cry, Drosselmeyer steps in to restore the toy to perfect condition.

As the evening’s festivities come to an end, the family retires, but Clara is unable to sleep. She returns to the parlor to look for her beloved Nutcracker and falls into a deep slumber on the sofa. When the clock strikes midnight, she is suddenly awakened by the pitter-patter of mice scampering on the floor.

As she flees from the mice, Drosselmeyer reappears, casting spells that make the Stahlbaum’s christmas tree grow, and brings the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers to life. A battle ensues between the mice and toy soldiers, led by the Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Clara throws her shoe at the Mouse King, which distracts him from the Nutcracker’s final attack.

As the mourning mice carry their defeated leader, Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into the Snow King, who introduces the Snow Queen and the Snowflakes to Clara and Drosselmeyer, guiding them through the glittering night sky to the Land of the Sweets.

When they arrive, they are greeted by the Dew Drop and are treated to a spectacular festival of colorful dances. Clara meets amazing characters performing Chinese Tea, Arabian Coffee and Russian Trepak dancers. Marzipan dancers play their mirliton flutes, Mother Ginger introduces her children, called Polichinelles, the Dew Drop returns with her retinue of Flowers, and the procession culminates in the elegant and exciting dances of the Sugar Plum Fairy with her Cavalier. With these fantastical sights and sounds swirling around her, Clara wonders if all these amazing events are truly happening, or if she is in the midst of an incredible dream…