Houston Ballet Lights up the Holidays with The Nutcracker

From November 28 - December 28, 2008, Houston Ballet will bring Texas its most joyous holiday gift with its beloved production of Ben Stevenson's The Nutcracker. A wonderful ballet for the entire family, The Nutcracker is the perfect way to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical dance. Tchaikovsky's magical score, Desmond Heeley's fairytale scenery, and Ben Stevenson's vibrantly theatrical staging combine to create one of the most visually stunning productions of The Nutcracker in the world today.

The Nutcracker tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful rat king before embarking on a journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the production's many special effects, including the Christmas tree that "grows" to forty feet, 200 pounds of "snow" falling during the snow scene, and the firing of a canon on stage. Molly Glentzer, dance critic for the Houston Chronicle, wrote, "You'd have to be a Scrooge not to surrender to the spirit."

Houston's holiday tradition was seen by over 73,000 Texans in 2007. Over 1,000,000 people have attended this production of The Nutcracker since its premiere. The Nutcracker also plays a key role in Houston Ballet's financial picture, bringing in over $3.4 million revenues in 2007.