The Nutcracker

November 29th | 2pm

Community Connections Performance-Tickets not sold

Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts

Hill Performance Hall

The story begins with the Stahlbaum Family preparing for their annual holiday celebration. Clara, the youngest
of the children, admires her Mother and Grandmother’s reflections through an ornate mirror, dreaming of growing up to be beautiful just as they are. Meanwhile, her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, an eccentric toymaker, gathers the many gifts he has made for the children and sets off to the party. Family and friends gather at the Stahlbaum home to celebrate the holiday, and the merriment begins with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Everyone is dancing to the lively music and having fun with their friends. Drosselmeyer arrives bringing presents for all the children, including Clara who is given a wooden Nutcracker. Clara’s brother, the Mischievous Fritz, breaks the Nutcracker, but Herr Drosselmeyer repairs him and Clara and her friends rock their dolls to sleep with a lullaby. He tells Clara of the enchanting dream the Nutcracker will bring to her. With the children tired, the party winds down, and the guests depart. 

The kids are sent to bed, but Clara slips downstairs to check on her wooden Nutcracker. As she drifts off to sleep on the sofa, Clara dreams of mice scurrying away with the gifts. Herr Drosselmeyer appears and shows Clara a vision of her older self in the mirror. Drosselmeyer’s magic envelops the entire Stahlbaum house, and all objects begin to grow. The wooden Nutcracker comes to life and leads the toy soldiers into a battle against the mice and their Rat King and Herr Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into a prince and magically, Clara becomes a version of her older self.

In Clara’s dream, she joins the Nutcracker Prince in the Land of Snow. During the snowstorm, Clara is separated from her Prince. The Snow Queen allows Clara to pass through the Land of Snow and she soon finds her Prince. They happily set off together toward the Kingdom of the Sweets. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier greet Clara, and the Royal Court comes to life to prepare a banquet of sweets in honor of Clara. Nearing the end of her dream, she is guided through a field of flowers where she waltzes with her prince one last time. Clara is then crowned by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara awakes from her dream on the couch to find her home has returned to normal.

Synopsis