Nutcracker Character Guide

From the Mouse King to Marzipan, PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is full of characters that cheer and delight! If you’re attending the show, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with these enchanting characters before you see them on stage. That way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance without wondering who’s who. Whether it’s your first time seeing The Nutcracker or it’s already a long-standing family tradition, read on for some Nutcracker holiday magic!

A young dancer in a white and red striped dress with a big bow stands full of anticipation.

Clara Stahlbaum

A girl having an eventful holiday

The Nutcracker

Drosselmeier's gift for Clara

Nathaniel/The Prince

Drosselmeier's nephew

A man with poufy white hair, an eyepatch, and a black suit, stands in the middle of a group of children holding a nutcracker.

Drosselmeier

Clara's godfather

A dancer in an elegant green dress and another dance in a blue suit smile smile into the camera.

Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum

Clara and Fritz's parents

Fritz Stahlbaum

Clara's brother

A dancer wearing a cartoonish mouse costume with a red sash brandishes a sword.

Mouse King

Enemy to nutcrackers and toy soldiers alike

🍭The Land of the Sweets🍭

A dancer in a purple sparkly tutu stands in arabesque.

✨ Sugar Plum Fairy ✨

Ruler of the Land of the Sweets

A dancer in a long dress with blue sleeves and frills stands with arms above her ahead and wrists touching.

☕ Hot Chocolate ☕

🦚 Coffee 🦚

A group of four dancers stand on releve wearing red and yellow leotards and frilly white tutus.

🍬 Marzipan 🍬

A dancer in a black unitard with green accents leaps on stage with arms outstretched.

🍵 Green Tea Cricket 🍵

🤍Candy Canes❤️

🫚 Mother Ginger 🫚

A dancer in a green tutu and tiara stands in arabesque.

🌼 Dewdrop 🌼

PNB’s Company dancers and School students are ready to entertain you as this delectable cast of characters! You can purchase tickets at PNB.org/Nutcracker. Already have your tickets? You can learn even more about these characters and the ballet’s story here.

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® plays at McCaw Hall November 24th – December 27th, 2023.  

Photo credits: Featured photo: PNB Company dancers and PNB School Students George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. PNB School student as Clara, photo © Angela Sterling. PNB School student as The Nutcracker, photo © Angela Sterling. Ryan Cardea as Drosselmeier and PNB School Students, photo © Angela Sterling. Ginabel Peterson as Mrs. Stahlbaum and PNB School students in the party scene, photo © Angela Sterling. PNB School student as Nathaniel, photo © Angela Sterling. Dammiel Cruz-Garrido and Ginabel Peterson as Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum, photo © Angela Sterling. Luther DeMyer as the Mouse King, photo © Angela Sterling. Angelica Generosa as the Sugar Plum Fairy, photo © Angela Sterling. Leah Terada as Hot Chocolate, photo © Angela Sterling. Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan as Coffee, photo © Angela Sterling. Luca Anaya as Green Tea, photo © Lindsay Thomas. Noah Martzall and PNB School students as Candy Canes, photo © Lindsay Thomas. PNB Company dancers as Marzipan, photo © Angela Sterling. Miles Pertl as Mother Ginger, photo © Angela Sterling. Ashton Edwards as Dewdrop, photo © Lindsay Thomas. Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust