Photo Credit: Elle and Arre Photography
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Act I
Scene I
The Stahlbaum home is ready for the Christmas Eve celebration. Guests arrive and the children begin to play. Clara's godfather, the mysterious Drosselmeyer, and his nephew join the festivities by presenting a puppet show in which the dolls are transformed into life-sized dancers. Uncle Drosselmeyer gives Clara a Nutcracker with which she is thrilled, but all too soon, her brother Fritz breaks it. Drosselmeyer repairs the broken gift, and the party ends with the adults and the children joining in a dance. Clara dances with the nephew, hinting at a first romance for the young girl and she dreams later that he becomes her prince. Clara falls asleep that evening in the playroom with her Nutcracker close by. She is led into dreamland by Uncle Drosselmeyer and a vision of miniature Sugar Plum fairies.
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Scene II
At the stroke of midnight, Clara’s dream is invaded by mice who try to ruin the Christmas tree. While Clara tries to save the tree and the candy, the Mouse King appears. The Christmas tree magically begins to grow while the Nutcracker comes to life. With the help of his soldiers, cavaliers, and the cannoneers with their firing cannon, the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King in a great battle. At this point, Clara’s dream takes her into a beautiful Snow Forest.
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Scene III
A beautiful Snow Princess and Prince dance amongst the Snowflakes that twirl and glide through the Snow Forrest. Clara dances merrily with the Snowflakes. She is then swept away in a glittering white swan sleigh, escorted by a throng of Snowbabies to the Land of Sweets.
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Act II
Scene I
Clara’s dream continues in the second act, where she and her Prince enter the Land of the Sweets. Here, the Sugar Plum Fairy brings to life a variety of colorful characters. Performing for the couple's amusement are the Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, and Russian dancers. A joyful dance of Reed Flutes, a gentle Waltz of the Flowers, and a lively Tarantella are enjoyed by Mother Ginger; hiding underneath her dress are the candy and bon-bons who dance merrily, then run quickly back under the enormous skirt. The Sugar Plum Fairy entertains and the beautiful Land of the Sweets Queen and King present a pas de deux. All the characters join together and dance in a lively finale.
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Scene II
Clara awakens from her lovely sleep, once again a young girl holding her cherished Nutcracker, happy with the memory of her wonderful Christmas Eve dream.
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