The Nutcracker is a whimsical holiday tale that has delighted audiences for many years. But it didn’t start out that way. In 1816, German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann published a frightening story called “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” that told of a bloody battle between a nutcracker and a seven-headed mouse. That story was intended for adults, not children. However, in 1844, French author Alexandre Dumas adapted the story for younger audiences. It is about a young girl, a mysterious gift and enchanted dreams.
Almost 50 years after Dumas’ adaptation was released, the composer Tchaikovsky created a concerto, The Nutcracker Suite, to accompany the story. That same year, in 1892, the music premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia. It didn’t gain notoriety, however, until 1954, when the New York City Ballet began performing it. Today, the Nutcracker ballet is performed in cities throughout the world and has become a beloved holiday classic. If you’d like to start or continue a holiday tradition by seeing the ballet, check out these performances in November and December in New Jersey:
Bergen PAC, Englewood

201-227-1030

Dec. 3-4 at 1 and 4:30 pm
$19-49
Performed by the New Jersey Ballet Company
Centenary Stage Company, Hackettstown
908-979-0900
Dec. 16 at 7 pm; Dec. 17 at 2 and 7 pm; Dec. 18 at 3 pm.
$15–28

Performed by NJ Civic Youth Ballet
Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank
732-842-9000

Dec. 10 & 11 at 1 & 5 pm

$20-40
Performed by local dancers from the 
Company of Dance Arts
The Kelsey Theatre at MCCC, West Windsor

609-570-3333

Dec. 16 at 7 pm, Dec. 17 at 1 & 4 pm, Dec. 18 at 1 & 4 pm

$14
-16
Narrated and abridged. Performed by teens and children of New Jersey Youth Ballet, and followed by a meet-and-greet
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
973-539-8008

Dec. 9-24; check website for showtimes.

$29-69; ages 4 and up
Performed by the New Jersey Ballet and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
McCarter Theatre, Princeton

609-258-2787

Nov. 23-26, check website for showtimes
$25-60
American Repertory Ballet performs with more than 100 dancers
SOPAC, South Orange

973-313-ARTS (2787)
Dec. 9-10; check website for showtimes
$25–430
A two-hour performance by the American Repertory Ballet
State Theatre NJ, New Brunswick
732-246-7469

Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm, Dec. 17-18 at 1 and 4:30 pm
$27–52; ages 5 and up

New scenery to be featured in the first act; performed by the American Repertory Ballet
TCNJ Center for the Arts, Ewing
609-771-2775 

Nov. 26-27 at 2 pm, Dec. 3 at 2 (sensory-friendly) and 7 pm, Dec. 4 at 2 pm
Ticket start at $15

In partnership with the Roxey Ballet
The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg
908-526-1200
Dec. 9 at 4 and 8 pm
$40-50
The Great Russian Nutcracker, performed by The Moscow Ballet
