Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Libretto adapted from Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov

Redaction by Alissa Kossov, Albina Ghazaryan, Narek Martirosyan

Costume Design: Alissa Kossov

Repetitors: Alissa Kossov, Albina Ghazaryan, Narek Martirosyan

Act I

Scene 1: The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house -- A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The party grows festive with music and dance as a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.

Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man, used for cracking nuts. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.

Scene 2: The Land of Snow

The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He tells Clara that by swearing that she would love him in spite of his looks, she broke the curse on him and made him human again. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to an enchanted forest wonderland in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them on to his kingdom as the first act ends.

Act II

Scene 1: The Land of Sweets

Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in his place until his return. He recounts for her how he had been saved from the Mouse King by Clara and had been transformed back into his own self.

In honor of the young Clara, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia, mirlitons and kitchen boys all dance for their amusement; A string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.

A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.

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