About The Nutcracker
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is one of the most famous and beloved ballets of all time. In 1816, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was first published by E.T.A. The original release of the book was not intended for children. In fact, it was originally drafted as a horror-style fairytale for adults only. Fortunately, a family-friendly version of The Nutcracker was developed by Alexander Dumas. A ballet was commissioned from the children’s version of the story with music written by Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky. The first ballet production of The Nutcracker story premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in December of 1892.
While The Nutcracker is now well-known around the world, this took some time. George Balanchine, a dancer from Russia, once danced in the original The Nutcracker in 1919 when he was just 15 years old. As an adult, many years later, George Balanchine relocated to New York City, where he began to produce and choreograph his own shows. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® ultimately became his most famous production.
After George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® debuted in New York City in 1954, the production ultimately became an annual tradition.
The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) became the first and only school in the world to license and perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® in 1965. Today, CPYB’s production of The Nutcracker ballet – performed in Harrisburg and Hershey, PA, is one of the most sought-after events during the holidays.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® tells the story of a girl’s whimsical journey to a magical land during Christmas time, most notably on Christmas Eve itself. The girl, known as Marie, finds herself falling fast asleep, only to soon meet a toy Nutcracker who has come to life. Throughout the story, Marie, and the Nutcracker (along with his army of toy soldiers), work to defeat the final enemy, known as the evil Mouse King. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® allows viewers of all ages to suspend their beliefs while immersing themselves in the stunning, glitzy, well-choreographed production.
Watch The Nutcracker at CPYB
If you are in the Baltimore area and considering a family-friendly holiday event this year, join us for CPYB’s own George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. CPYB’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® delivers the very essence of the holiday season while allowing audience members of all ages to experience the magic of the season through colorful characters, dynamic storylines, and beautiful stage effects.
If you are interested in attending The Nutcracker ballet near Baltimore, Our George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® production will be live at Whitaker Center on December 10th, 2022, (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.) as well as Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 2 p.m. Pricing for tickets at the Whitaker Center ranges between $25-$48 per child to $30-$48 per adult.
The George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® production by CPYB will also be live from Hershey Theatre on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.) as well as Sunday, December 18th, 2022, at 2 p.m. Pricing for tickets at the Hershey Theatre ranges between $30-$50 per child to $35-$50 per adult.