The Nutcracker - Springfield Ballet
December 11,2022 2:00 PM
The Nutcracker Ballet is based on a story written by E.T.A. Hoffman, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house - a large and grand house with a beautiful Christmas tree. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of family and friends. The party grows festive with music and dance as Herr Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a toymaker and always full of surprises. The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his gift to Clara, a beautiful Nutcracker. Fritz becomes jealous and grabs the Nutcracker from Clara and breaks it. Clara is heartbroken, looking on as Drosselmeyer magically repairs the Nutcracker.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms. As the clock strikes midnight, strange things begin to happen. The beautiful Christmas tree grows high and the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. The Nutcracker leads his army of toy soldiers into battle, and Clara makes a daring charge, pulling the Mouse King’s tail in order to save the Nutcracker from certain death. The Nutcracker magically transforms into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey through the Kingdom of the Snow, an enchanted winter wonderland where they are welcomed by the Snow Queen and her dancing snowflakes.
The Prince escorts Clara to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince and Clara tell the Sugar Plum Fairy of their daring battle with the Mouse King and she commands a celebration of dancing in their honor.
As the celebration comes to an end, Clara and her beloved Prince are joined by Drosselmeyer, who sends them on to other magical adventures so the dream will never end.
