The Nutcracker

November 28 – December 28, 2025

Her Door to the Sky – Ghost Variations – ZigZag

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® returns to brighten your holidays! Experience the sparkle, dancing, music, and magic that only The Nutcracker can bring. We’ll be decking the halls (McCaw Hall, that is) and putting on the greatest show in town, all you need are your tickets. Gather your friends and family for the Northwest’s favorite holiday tradition, a treat you’ll savor all season long.

Tickets go on sale mid-July.

Sponsors

PNB Sponsor: 4Culture
PNB Sponsor: Arts Fund
PNB Sponsor: Microsoft
PNB Sponsor: The Shubert Foundation

Events

Conversations & Dress Rehearsal

Enjoy an in-depth discussion between PNB artists, from choreographers to costume designers, before attending a dress rehearsal performance with PNB Company dancers and the PNB Orchestra. You’ll get behind-the-scenes perspectives and a sneak peek at the show.

Date

May 28, 2026

Time

5:30pm

Guest Artist

TBD

Where

McCaw Hall

Cost

$25 Suggested Donation

Ballet Talk

Perfect for folks wanting to learn more about ballet and its history, “Ballet Talks” are entertaining half–hour lectures about PNB’s current show given by dance experts. Join us an hour before your performance downstairs in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall!

Date

All Performances

Time

One Hour Before the Start of the Performance

Where

Nesholm Family Lecture Hall

Cost

Free

Meet the Artist

Connect with PNB Company artists in these inspiring Q&A sessions directly following your performance. “Meet the Artist” is an opportunity to discuss how the ballet you just watched impacted you and to learn the performers’ unique insights.

Date

All Performances

Time

Immediately Following the Performance

Where

Nesholm Family Lecture Hall

Cost

Free

Audio Described Performance

This season, Pacific Northwest Ballet offers Audio Dance Description at select performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Giselle!

Date

Coming Soon

Time

Coming Soon

Where

McCaw Hall

Cost

$20

Casting

Friday, March 14
at 7:30pm

Dawn Patrol

Noah Martzall
Christopher D’Ariano
Dylan Wald
Christian Poppe
Kyle Davis
Luther DeMyer

Clara Ruf Maldonado
Elle Macy
Leta Biasucci
Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan

Afternoon of a Faun

Clara Ruf Maldonado*
Lucien Postlewaite*

Mopey

Kuu Sakuragi*

Emergence

Prologue

Leta Biasucci
Mile Pertl*

Grand Pas

Elle Macy*
Dylan Wald*

Pointe Trio

Amanda Morgan
Ashton Edwards*
Madison Rayn Abeo*

Sextet

Price Suddarth
Christopher D’Ariano
Luther DeMyer
Christian Poppe
Noah Martzall
Kuu Sakuragi

Bee Man

Price Suddarth

Quartet

Clara Ruf Maldonado*
Luther DeMyer*
Christopher D’Ariano*
Noah Martzall*

Casting is posted five days in advance.

Casting Subject to Change | *First Time in Role

Program Credits

Music

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (The Nutcracker, Op. 71, 1891-1892, with an excerpt from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, 1889)

Choreography

George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Scenic & Costume Design

Ian Falconer

Lighting Design

James F. Ingalls

PNB Premiere

November 27, 2015

Original Production Premiere

December 6, 1892; Imperial Ballet, St. Petersburg, choreography by Lev Ivanov

Balanchine Production Premiere

February 2, 1954; New York City Ballet

Run Time

2 hours and 3 minutes, including a 25-minute intermission.

Luther DeMyer as Mother Ginger; Zsilas Michael Hughes as Candy Cane; Clara and the Prince; The Nutcracker and Mouse King; Madison Rayn Abeo and Christian Poppe as Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier; Hare Drummer, Mouse King, and The Nutcracker; Polichinelle; Amanda Morgan as Dewdrop; Lily Wills as Coffee in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust. Photos © Lindsay Thomas and Angela Sterling.