THE NUTCRACKER
Delaware’s Holiday Tradition at The Grand
Join Delaware’s professional ballet company on a magical journey through a swirling snow storm to the Land of Sweets in this sparkling production.
Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 2 pm
Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 2 pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 2 pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 2 pm
Copeland Hall
Tickets: $25-$65
THE NUTCRACKER
Music by PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Choreography by PASHA KAMBALOV and KRISTINA KAMBALOV after LEV IVANOV and MARIUS PETIPA
Premiere: December 18, 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
ACT I
The Stahlbaums and their children Marie and Fritz are hosting their annual Christmas party. The mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer enters and entertains the children. Drosselmeyer later appears disguised as a magician and presents a puppet show, followed by three life-size dancing dolls, to the delight of the guests.
The children begin to open gifts and Drosselmeyer presents his gift of a beautiful nutcracker to Marie. Marie admires it more than all the other toys. Fritz wants to play with the new doll; he pulls it away from Marie and throws it on the floor. Marie is heartbroken, but Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the nutcracker.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Marie comes downstairs to steal one last glance at her nutcracker under the Christmas tree. She falls asleep. In a dream she sees the drawing room. A mouse scurries out of a hole, and then mice scamper out from everywhere. The mice try to take the nutcracker from Marie until the Mouse King enters. Marie is terribly frightened and hides behind a chair. Suddenly her nutcracker appears life-size. Overcoming her fear, she runs up to him. The Nutcracker leads a regiment of soldiers to defend Marie. The Mouse King is defeated and disappears with his army. Drosselmeyer transforms Marie into a lovely maiden and the Nutcracker into a handsome prince. Together, they set off on a journey to the Land of Snow where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
ACT II
Marie and the prince arrive in the Land of Sweets and the festivities begin. First comes Chocolate, then Coffee and Tea, followed by Honey Cake, Marzipan and Gingerbread, Gumdrops and the Waltz of the Flowers. Marie and the prince dance merrily with the rest.
At last the wonderful dream is over and Marie awakens.
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes including one intermission