OKLAHOMA CITY — There is no shortage of family-friendly activities in Oklahoma City during the holidays. Families seeking indoor arts events that hold up to the bustle of the season while providing quality arts and entertainment should look no further than OKC Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
This event is a long-standing tradition and has become a staple for the holiday season in Oklahoma City. The ballet, which is toured by the company in November, prior to bringing it home to OKC, is one of the finest seasonal events that families look forward to every year.
Based on the 19th century short story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” by ETA Hoffmann, The Nutcracker tells a holiday tale of imagination and wonder.
The dance is flowing and dreamy, with sparkling musical numbers and recognizable compositions by legendary composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The ballet tells this classic Christmas story with movement and emotion, as the audience is taken on a journey into the imagination of a child on Christmas Eve.
OKC Ballet’s production features choreography by OKC Ballet Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. The Nutcracker includes students from the OKC Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School. Over 100 students from the school get the opportunity each year to dance alongside the resident company of principal dancers. The musical score is provided by the OKC Philharmonic and the Canterbury Youth Voices.
An invited media preview on December 7th featured a full house of families, with kids and adults of all ages. The audience was captivated, from the youngest to the oldest, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the beautiful production.
The Nutcracker feels like a fairy tale, and it glistens with all the wintry magic of Christmas. It’s a classic; a story of Christmas and imagination that can hardly be explained in simple terms. It is otherworldly and complex, and it’s a hefty two and a half hours of nonstop movement. It keeps the attention of the audience, however, with even the smallest of patrons sitting absolutely enthralled by the mystical world on stage.
When little Clara receives a toy nutcracker for Christmas, she imagines a scene that only a child could. In her fantasy, the toy comes to life, growing to life-size, and leads a battle against an evil Mouse King. The fantasy also leads into the Land of Sweets, where the Sugarplum Fairy reigns as Queen.
Each scene is more beautiful than the last, with numbers that range from childlike and strange to sensual and evocative. The principal dancers are, as always, second to none in their presentation. The dancers convey a dream world with real-life strength and grace.
The Nutcracker is an experience that families should make a point to see at least once. It appeals to children and adults of all ages and brings us back to the childlike wonder and magical possibilities of Christmas.
OKC Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker runs now through December 18th, 2023 at the Civic Center Music Hall. The closing performance on December 18th is “Sensory-friendly”, and all who benefit from a relaxed environment, including those with sensory sensitivities, are invited to attend. Tickets are available online for all performances and are selling fast.
A special accompanying event, The Nutcracker Tea, occurs on December 16th, 2023. Tickets are $50 each and include a short performance of the ballet, cocoa, tea, treats and crafts, and a meet and greet with the cast. Tickets to this special event are limited. Visit okcballet.org.
Adrienne Proctor is a theater and arts writer in Oklahoma City. She's been contributing to the arts reporting space since 2017.
