Your browser is not supported. For the best experience, use any of these supported browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
Skip to main content
PayPal Preferred Payments Partner

Dance

The Nutcracker Tickets

Shows482 Results

Shows in United States

About

The Nutcracker On Tour

Every adaptation of The Nutcracker is the same, yet each The Nutcracker is different from all others. Although it premiered in Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre on December 18, 1892, composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker wouldn't become the dependably magical holiday-season reaffirmation of Christmas joy we know and love until decades later.

Marius Petipa, who commissioned Tchaikovsky's music, and Lev Ivanov originally choreographed the world's most popular ballet. It was loosely based on Alexandre Dumas' The Story of a Nutcracker, the French writer's adaptation of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was a fantastical story by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Mourning the recent death of his sister, Tchaikovsky was often unhappy while composing the work, which he nonetheless imbued with some of his most enduringly gorgeous music. (The descending melody in the adagio section of the "Grand Pas de Deux" is said to reflect his feelings.)

Russian ballet was flourishing at the time The Nutcracker debuted, and no expense was spared. In Petipa's production, 60 snowflakes wore long white tutus and matching crowns adorned with fluff balls. The battle scene's soldiers, meanwhile, were recruited from a military academy rather than ballet school, leading to a less-than-elegant confrontation.

The Nutcracker was fated to become more popular abroad than in its birthplace, and was subsequently tailored to suit its new audiences. Encouraged by local Russian émigrés, Willam Christensen mounted the first full American production in San Francisco in 1944. Ten years later, George Balanchine choreographed a landmark version for the New York City Ballet, imbuing it with what Nutcracker Nation author Jennifer Fisher calls its "familial feeling." Balanchine's version was broadcast on national television a few years later with narration by June Lockhart (of Lassie fame).

While nearly every subsequent version of The Nutcracker contains falling snow, fighting mice, dancing candy, and a growing tree (asked to produce it without the tree, Balanchine reportedly replied, "No, the ballet is the tree"), some intriguing mutations have emerged. These include Nutcrackers on ice, the animated adaptation Walt Disney included in the 1940 movie Fantasia, and The Harlem Nutcracker, a swinging jazz revision by choreographer Donald Byrd. 

A remarkably resilient blend of complex classical ballet, popular imagery, and holiday nostalgia, The Nutcracker has taken on a life of its own since it first appeared one cold Russian winter over 100 years ago.

Reviews

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 based on 4209 reviews
  • Magical night

    by Nene on 12/11/24Beau Rivage Theatre - BiloxiRating: 5 out of 5

    I really enjoyed this performance. The theater was set up so that all the seats were good seats. The performers were excellent! Their skills were amazing. I would definitely attend again.

  • Nutcracker Ballet

    by Liz on 12/11/24Beau Rivage Theatre - BiloxiRating: 5 out of 5

    Beautiful theater and wonderful performance. My daughter and I had a wonderful experience!

  • Enchanted

    by Lee on 12/11/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Beautiful performance! Magical in Sheas!!! Took my four year old granddaughter and she was entertained and loved the performance!!!

  • Perfect date holiday night

    by Jeff G on 12/10/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    It was a wonderful performance. Beautiful music and extremely talented dancers, especially the nutcracker and Clara.

  • Amazing

    by Vex on 12/10/24The Stanley - UticaRating: 5 out of 5

    The whole crew did a phenomenal performance. It was the first time seeing it and will likely now be going every year they have it

  • Thanks to Ticketmaster for an easy way to acquire tickets.

    by puggy on 12/10/24Chrysler Hall - NorfolkRating: 5 out of 5

    Being green in a technical world Ticketmaster was very helpful. Having been scammed and used another site, Ticketmaster , I Thank you!

  • Boring

    by Darleen on 12/10/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 2 out of 5

    First time seeing honestly didn’t know what to expect. Found first half extremely boring. The second half much better . Won’t see again

  • Best performance yet!

    by VB on 12/10/24The Stanley - UticaRating: 5 out of 5

    My niece and I have been going to see this show every year since 2015; It's our little holiday tradition. Every year the performance is amazing. The dancers are well prepared, the costumes and lighting are wonderful, and we always have a good time. This year however, we were in agreement that this was the best it has ever been! There were some production changes that we enjoyed, and as usual, the dancers were amazing. It's wonderful to see a community production of student dancers that is so well done. Clearly, they have rehearsed plenty, and have great instructors. The Mohawk Valley Ballet is a very professional group made up of young, dedicated dancers!

  • Amazing rendition of a classic

    by Natalie on 12/9/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    We loved the Neglia Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker at Shea’s this year! The set was superb, the dancing was incredible, and of course, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra was phenomenal. This is annual tradition that we thoroughly enjoyed again this year.

  • Spectacular!

    by Mary Fetzer on 12/9/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Absolutely perfect combination of gorgeous dancers (Neglia students and pros alike), breathtaking sets, and amazing music from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. We will definitely be back next year.

  • Excellent & perfect kick off for the holidays

    by Nonnie Felt on 12/9/24Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Superb dancing & costumes - from young to old the performers were spot on - having the Orchestra was a huge bonus- let the holidays begin !! A joy to watch

  • Nutcracker

    by It was very amusing experience on 12/8/24Chrysler Hall - NorfolkRating: 5 out of 5

    I recommend to buy tickets through Ticketmaster well ahead of time for a great deal

  • A little Too Professional & No orchestra

    by Phil R. on 12/8/24Chrysler Hall - NorfolkRating: 4 out of 5

    First off the dancers were very professional and very talented. That said, they seem to be just going through the motions. It just seemed to lack joy and heart. The music was canned and it almost seemed like the performance was a bit abbreviated. I wish I had been notified ahead of time that there was no orchestra.

  • Second Rate Experience.. Or Worse

    by Gayle on 12/8/24Chrysler Hall - NorfolkRating: 1 out of 5

    The dancers and the performance were outstanding. Would have enjoyed it more had there been a live orchestra performing the music. I was sitting in the pit on the third row and felt it was completely distracting and disrespectful for people walking to their seats once the performance had started, let alone walking in FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATE!!!! Please do not allow people to walk in once the performance has started! People weren't dressed appropriately to attend the ballet. I might have well just rented The Nutcracker movie with the type of crowd that was be there. Definitely not worth the money paid to watch this. I felt bad for the dancers that worked extremely hard for this performance and had to the experience the unclassy people that were in the audience.

  • First timer

    by Letty on 12/4/24Rialto Square Theatre - JolietRating: 4 out of 5

    My daughters and I went to see it for the first time on Dec 1st at the Rialto and we loved it. It's definitely a great family experience. Can't wait til next year to take my grandkids. I definitely recommend to watch.

  • Just Ok

    by Attendee on 12/4/24Rialto Square Theatre - JolietRating: 3 out of 5

    The show was ok. I expected more but I guess it was ok for a local theater

  • Wonderful Professional Performance

    by Jamboree on 12/4/24Rialto Square Theatre - JolietRating: 5 out of 5

    Using your phone to gain entrance was horrible for many seniors and time consuming for the few providing assistance. Ticketmaster needs to do more to ADVERTISE that you can get a mailed paper ticket for an added cost. One of the ushers told me about that option. Had many grandparents and elderly supporters known this at the time of purchase, they like me would have done so. Additionally, adding chairs in the lobby for the seniors and disabled trying to pull up their tickets would also make the process less painful.

  • Christmas Disappointment

    by LA Kennedy on 1/4/24The Orpheum Theatre Memphis - MemphisRating: 2 out of 5

    The Nutcracker performance retooled by Ballet Memphis was a terrible disappointment to my daughter and me. Without the classic context of the story, the scenes ranged from uninteresting to chaotic to ridiculous. Losing the glamorous holiday party and its story for a trip to the market created an environment that was neither charming nor intelligible. The switching of the exotic and fun cultural dances for the silly candy scenes was a boring mistake. And the male snow flakes - along with other unappealing costume “updates” - were almost laughable. As ever, the dancers delivered impeccable performances, though in many cases, the dances were cut short. And if anyone thought the elaborate scenery from Act II lifted the production, he or she would be sadly mistaken. The “niftier” background did little to make up for this abysmal experiment. If this is the way forward for Ballet Memphis and their Nutcracker, my daughter and I will definitely look for a traveling show featuring the real thing in Memphis or another town. I have been taking my daughter to the Ballet Memphis Nutcracker since she was eight, almost ten years. When she read the program and realized the show we’d been longing for was not to be, I knew she was fighting back the tears. This Nutcracker was no longer a highlight of our Christmas season.

  • A beautiful ballet

    by The raccoon on 12/26/23Meridian Hall - TorontoRating: 5 out of 5

    The experience I had was enjoyable, I felt at ease and relaxed watching, the nutcracker .This ballet brought the Christmas spirit in my kids and me

  • An excellent take on a beloved Christmas story!

    by DJER on 12/26/23San Gabriel Mission Playhouse - San GabrielRating: 5 out of 5

    Wonderful dancing by both children and adults. Superb costumes.