ACT I

It’s a snowy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum home and Dr. and Frau Stahlbaum and their children, Clara and Fritz, are welcoming their guests to a holiday party. There are games and gifts for the children, and dancing for everyone. Clara’s beloved godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, gives her the most wonderful present of all; a handsome wooden Nutcracker.

After the party guests have departed, Clara sneaks back into the living room to find her Nutcracker that she left behind. She falls asleep on the couch but is suddenly awoken by the magic Drosselmeyer casts upon the household; a magic that grows the Christmas tree higher and higher until it towers over Clara and giant mice that scurry around the room! Fritz’s toy soldiers, led by Clara’s Nutcracker, come to her aide. The Nutcracker leads the toy soldiers into battle against the mice, going head to head with the fierce Rat King, who the Nutcracker then slays. With the Rat King dead, the ancient spell is broken, and the Nutcracker is transformed back into a handsome prince. He takes Clara into the beautiful Snow Pine Forest where the Snow Queen and King guide them through the flurry of dancing snowflakes.

 

ACT II

Clara arrives in the Land of the Sweets escorted by a chorus of angels. Here, the Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy are reunited, and they introduce Clara to all the wonderful treats of the land. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince tell the story of the battle with the mice and the defeat of the Rat King that broke the ancient spell on the Prince. Everyone is delighted that the Nutcracker Prince and Clara are safe, The Sugarplum Fairy leads Clara to a glittering throne, where she can enjoy sweets and dances from all the lands: Hot Chocolate from Spain, Tea from China, Coffee from Arabia, Russian Ribbon Candy, Italian Marzipan Crystals, and Mother Ginger, with her little Polichinelles. Next comes the Waltz of the Flowers, with a shimmering Dewdrop Fairy dancing among the lovely blooms. Then, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Nutcracker Prince dance a grand pas de deux in honor of their guests. A magnificent grand finale brings the festival to its thrilling conclusion and it is now time for Clara to say goodbye. Everyone returns to bid them farewell, as she rides off into the dawn, waking on the couch she fell asleep on with her Nutcracker in hand.

Was it all a dream or … did it really happen?

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