The Nutcracker

Live Music Performed by the City Ballet Orchestra John Nettles, Conductor Spreckels Theatre 121 Broadway, Downtown San Diego Driving Directions Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7:30pm Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 1:00pm and 5:00pm Friday, December 21, 2012 at 7:30pm Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 1:00pm and 5:00pm Special Christmas Eve Performance Monday, December 24, 2012 at 1:00pm Tickets: $29 | $39 | $49 | $59 | $69

Upgrade Your Tickets

You deserve the very best this holiday season. Make your Nutcracker one to remember!

• Director's Circle Seats: The absolute best seats in the house, reserved especially for you.
• On-Stage Reception: Exclusive backstage passes to City Ballet Allegro's on-stage holiday party.  Immediately after the performance, meet the cast of The Nutcracker while sipping champagne and enjoying holiday desserts.

Food and Desserts by

Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 7:30pm  ·  Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 7:30pm

Tickets: $89

Join Sugar Plum Fairy for Lunch

Create a lifetime of Nutcracker memories when you join the Sugar Plum Fairy and her friends for a special luncheon.

During lunch, characters from The Nutcracker will go from table to table visiting with children and their parents, answering questions and signing autographs.  This is a great opportunity to photograph your children with characters from City Ballet's The Nutcracker.  Don't forget your camera!

Sugar Plum Luncheon served at

Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 12:00 Noon  ·  Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 12:00 Noon

Learn more about Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon

Tickets: $20 (Adults) | $15 (Children)

Production Information

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission

Music: The Nutcracker by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1892)

Music Performed By: City Ballet Orchestra under the direction of John Nettles

World Premiere: December 18, 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia

Choreographer: Elizabeth Wistrich, after Lev Ivanov, Vassily Vainonen, Rudolph Nureyev and Willam Christensen

Year Choreographed: 1995

City Ballet Premiere: 1995

Costume Design: David Heuvel

Scenery: San Diego Opera Scenic Studios

Lighting Design: Stephen Judson

Performance History: The first performance of the ballet was on December 18, 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.  City Ballet of San Diego's first performance was in 1995, and the production has become an annual holiday tradition ever since.  The San Diego Dance Alliance awarded City Ballet of San Diego's production as The Best Nutcracker in San Diego.

Synopsis

Tchaikovsky's classic ballet about a young girl, Clara, who is given a Nutcracker for Christmas by her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer.  But this is no ordinary Nutcracker as Clara learns that very night.  After a great battle with the Mouse King, the Nutcracker turns into a Prince.  He takes Clara on a magic journey through the Land of the Snow to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy honors the couple with entertainment from around the world.

Programming, musical selections and artists are subject to change.