We've seen many different Nutcracker productions over the years, but for our family, the best one is Stapleton Ballet. The ballet can be dry for younger children, but this show seems specially designed to appeal to and engage young children. From the very opulent-looking Party Scene, to the battle of the mice and soldiers, our little ones were on the edge of their seats. Stapleton's advanced dancers do an incredible job with the challenging Snow scene (and yes, it culminates with falling snow, which we all love to see!) and the Act 2 variations (the Russian is always a favorite). We also appreciate that Stapleton Ballet's prices are more economical, which helps when taking a large famly. Make this your family's annual tradition (oh yeah you can get a picture taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy if you go to the 1:00 show)