New Haven Ballet presents The Nutcracker

New Haven Ballet proudly presents Artistic Director Lisa Kim’s full-length production of The Nutcracker, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The Stahlbaum family celebrates the holidays with friends, and Clara’s uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer, arrives to entertain everyone with magical life-sized dolls and a beautiful Nutcracker for Clara. He also brings his handsome nephew, and Clara is delighted to make a new friend. Clara’s brother Fritz, however, feels jealous of her gift.

Late that night, Clara awakens to find her Nutcracker has grown to life-size. When the mischievous Mouse King and his army appear, she helps the Nutcracker defend himself and his soldiers. After a victorious battle, the Nutcracker transforms into a handsome Prince who resembles Herr Drosselmeyer’s nephew. Together, Clara and the Prince travel through the sparkling Land of Snow, where the Snow King and Snow Queen dance among falling snowflakes.

Tiny reindeer then guide Clara and the Prince to the Land of Sweets, where angels, fairies, and the Sugar Plum Fairy greet them. Clara and the Prince enjoy a joyous celebration filled with dazzling dances, including the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, before returning home with gifts and warm wishes from the Sweets.

Founded in 1985, New Haven Ballet is Greater New Haven’s premier classical ballet school, inspiring thousands each year through world-class training, captivating performances, and community programs.

Our students—ages 3 through adult—train in classical ballet, modern, contemporary, Broadway, partnering, pointe, conditioning, and repertory classes, progressing from creative beginner movement to rigorous pre-professional training. Many go on to attend prestigious summer intensives and pursue professional dance careers.

New Haven Ballet dancers bring magic to the stage in professional-level productions, including The Nutcracker at the Shubert Theatre, featuring more than 150 students and guest artists from New York City Ballet. We also offer free and accessible performances throughout the region, sharing the joy of dance with all.

Harrison Coll joined the New York City Ballet as a dancer in 2012 and was promoted to a Soloist with the company in 2018. He has danced numerous featured roles with the company, performing Ballets by choreographers such as: Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and George Balanchine. Harrison worked as a creative collaborator for Justin Peck's 2018 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, and performed with cast for the Tony Awards that year. Harrison is featured as a Jet in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and plays one of the "fancy free" sailors in Bradley Cooper's upcoming film "Maestro."

Sara Adams was born in Dennis, Massachusetts, and began her dance training at the age of six at the Mid-Cape Ballet Academy. She later studied at the Boston Ballet School before taking a summer course at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, during the summer of 2003. She enrolled as a full-time student at SAB from 2003 to 2008. She became an apprentice with NYCB in June 2008 and became a member of the corps de ballet in September 2009. In February 2017, Ms. Adams was promoted to soloist. Ms. Adams was a recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 2007.

The Nutcracker runs approximately 1 hour, 55 minutes including a 20 minute intermission.

Please consider bringing donations non-perishable food items and new, unwrapped toys when you attend events at the theatre through the holidays. Donations will be distributed to New Haven families in need. Thank you!