A Family Holiday Tradition

Performance Dates:
Friday, December 9 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 10 at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 11 at Noon & 4:00 pm
Morrison Center for the Arts

Boise Philharmonic conducted by Thomas Wilson (Colorado Springs Philharmonic)
Music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Choreography by Peter Anastos
Scenery and Costumes by A. Christina Giannini
Lighting by Burke Brown
Mice Masks by Ralph Lee
Additional costumes executed by Lito-John Demetita

Act 1, Scene 1

It is Christmas Eve and the Stahlbaum family decorates their splendid living room for the annually party. Their children, Clara and Fritz, rush in all aglow at the prospect of toys and magic and sweets. Soon the family is joined by all their friends and their beloved grandparents, who have dressed in Russian style and a wonderful party commences. The children perform a dance with Christmas garlands and their parents follow with a Polka. Suddenly, at the height of the dancing, Herr Drosselmeyer appears. He is a Russian magician, a conjuror, a doll maker and a mysterious man who at first frightens the children, but then enchants them with magic tricks. He brings with him three mechanical dolls who perform for the guests: a Ballerina doll, a mechanical Mouse and a handsome Nutcracker soldier. Little Clara falls in love with the Nutcracker and Drosselmeyer kindly rewards her with the doll as a gift.

While Clara and her Nutcracker doll are dancing a pas de deux the mechanical Mouse suddenly goes out of control. There is a terrible scuffle with the Nutcracker doll, who is suddenly knocked out by the Mouse. He lies broken and lifeless on the floor. As the guests depart the party, Clara mourns her broken doll. Her mother hurries her off to bed.

Late in the night Clara creeps quietly back into the living room to console her poor Nutcracker and falls asleep by his side. Midnight strikes and the mysterious Drosselmeyer appears again. He casts a spell over Clara and puts her in a dream-like trance. Her dream turns into a nightmare as mice begin scurrying all over the living room. Drosselmeyer makes her house disappear and the Christmas tree grows to giant proportions. Clara runs to her Nutcracker doll and pleads with him to save her. He calls forth his army of toy soldiers and a huge battle rages with the mice, led by their Mouse King. The Nutcracker doll is about to be defeated when Clara takes off her shoe and strikes the Mouse King on the shoulder to distract him – just at that moment the Nutcracker runs him through with sword and the battle is won!

Scene 2

For helping him win the battle, the Nutcracker offers to take Clara through the Kingdom of Snow on the way to his home, the Land of Sweets. They encounter the Snow Queen and King and their Court, who dance the Waltz of the Snowflakes in a wintry scene.

Act II

Angels dance at the gates of the Land of Sweets, followed by a team of Bakers who are working on a cake. Clara enters with the Nutcracker and he tells everyone the story of Clara’s adventure. They are then greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy who dances a solo variation.

Various confections then perform their characteristic dances for Clara: Spanish Chocolate, Chinese Tea, Arabian Coffee, French Marzipan, Russian Nougat, Salt Water Taffy Sailors and the Dewdrop Fairy and Flowers. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier then dance a pas de deux. The entire Court all dance together in a spirited final celebrating Clara’s joy and happiness.