Act I

Scene I - The Christmas PartyIt's a cozy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum's house. Their house is decorated with Christmas wreaths, stockings, mistletoe and in the center of it all, a majestic Christmas tree. As the Stahlbaum's prepare for their annual Christmas party, their children, Fritz and Clara, wait anxiously for their family and friends to arrive. When the guests finally appear, the party picks up with dancing and celebration. A mysterious guest arrives dressed in dark clothing, nearly frightening Fritz, but not Clara. Clara knows he is Godfather Drosselmeyer, the toymaker. His surprise arrival is warmly accepted and all the children dance and carry on with laughter. The celebration is interrupted again when Drosselmeyer reveals to the children that he has brought them gifts. - The girls receive beautiful china dolls and the boys receive bugles. Frits is given a beautiful drum, but Clara is given the best gift of all, the Nutcracker. Fritz grows jealous, snatches the Nutcracker from Clara and plays a game of toss with the other boys. It isn't long until the Nutcracker breaks. Clara is upset, but Drosselmeyer fixes it with a hankerchief. Drosselmeyers nephew offers Clara a small make-shift bed under the Christmas tree for her injured Nutcracker. The children then settle to watch Drosselmeyers magic life-size dolls dance for  them.

The party grows late and the children become sleepy. Everyone generously thanks the Stahlbaums before they leave. As Clara's family retires to bed, she checks on her Nutcracker one last time and ends up falling asleep under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker in her arms.

At the stroke of midnight Clara wakes up to a frightening scene. The house, the tree and the toys seem to be getting larger and larger. Out of nowhere mice appear scurring around scaring Clara. And then the Mouse King enters. Clara is really scared now but then the Nutcracker groups the toy soldiers into battle formation and fights the mouse army. The Mouse King traps the Nutcracker in a corner, but the Nutcracker can't overcome the Mouse King strength. Clara makes a desperate move to save her Nutcracker from defeat and throws her slipper at the Mouse King. She hits him and when the Mouse King turns around, the Nutcracker is able to overcome the Mouse King and claims victory. The mice army quickly carries away their king.

Scene II - The Land of SnowClara falls onto the Nutcrackers bed, overwhelmed by the moment. The bed turns into a magical sleigh floating higher and higher as angels dance around them to the sound of beautiful music. The Nutcracker is transformed into a human prince (who looks strikingly similar to Drosselmeyer's nephew). He gets on Clara's sleigh and drives through a snowy forest where the snowflakes turn into dancing maidens.

Act II  - The Land of Sweets

After the magical journey through the snow forest, they come to their destination in the Land of Sweets. Clara can't believe her eyes; ladyfinger mountains topped with whipped cream, sweetly glazed flowers and butter-cream frosting everywhere she looks. Upon their arrival, ther are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. As they reenact the fight between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy becomes impressed with Clara's bravery and throws a lavish festival. They are treated like royalty and presented with every imaginable sweet. Shortly thereafter, the dancing begins.

Spanish dancers represent Hot Chocolate and dance to the lively music of trumpets and castanets; Arabian dancers represent Coffee; Chinese dancers represent Mandarin Tea and Russian dancers leap and turn to an invigorating Russian Trepak.

To Clara's enjoyment, there is still more to be seen. A large woman, known as Mother Ginger, makes her entrance. She waves and smiles at everyone and then opens her skirt and small gingerbread children come out dancing. After their dance the go back into Mother Ginger's skirt and she leaves the room. The Candy Flutes are next and after their dance, the Candy Flowers enter and dance to a beautiful waltz. A Dew Drop Fairy dances with them.

Clara doesn't know what to expect next. A handsome Cavalier enters the scene and escorts the Sugar Plum Fairy to the center of the room. They dance to a beautiful music that most everyone will recognize.  This exquisite dance completes Clara's most perfect evening. The festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court and bids Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won't, for the memories will always be with her.

Clara wakes up the next morning under th Christmas tree, with her Nutcracker still in her arms.