A holiday tradition from our family to yours…

Featuring Shumka with guests from the Kyiv Ballet, Virsky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Ukraine, Shumka School of Dance and Clara’s Dream Choir.

Show Synopsis

Act I

Our story takes place one magical Christmas Eve, as the Stahlbaum family busily finishes last minute preparations for a grand party. A tableau is presented and we see a Vertep, a Ukrainian puppet theatre, where Dr. Drosselmeier’s nephew entertains a group of children in the market. They are eagerly anticipating the Christmas Eve celebration about to take place. As the children depart with their gifts, the Vertep reveals itself as a puppet workshop. The mysterious Dr. Drosselmeier is attending to his work.

An enchanting city streetscape sees the guests begin to arrive, dressed in their holiday finery. With a flourish of his great black cape, the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeier appears, greeting joyful Ukrainian carolers.

Dr. Drosselmeier’s arrival to the Stahlbaum party is magical. He brings a doll as a gift, which performs a delightful dance with the children.  A Ukrainian marionette brings yet more joy to the young party guests. However, it is the Nutcracker doll, Drosselmeier’s gift to his goddaughter Clara, that wins her heart. Clara’s brother Fritz teases her by snatching the Nutcracker away from his sister. After some playtime, Drosselmeier urges them to be gentle with the Nutcracker doll before placing it beneath the Christmas tree. He beckons the carollers and their Christmas star.

After the guests leave the party, Clara sneaks back to the darkened parlour to check on her beloved Nutcracker. The clock chimes, striking midnight. As Clara peers into the darkness, she suddenly realizes she isn’t alone, as she is surrounded by an army of menacing mice.

A cannon blast downs a battalion of mice while the Nutcracker, now come to life, leads toy soldiers into battle. The fight rages on until the Mouse King corners the Nutcracker in a duel. Clara comes to the Nutcracker’s aid and defeats the Mouse King by pulling off his tail.

The spell broken, the Nutcracker transforms to a handsome Prince who declares his eternal gratitude to his young heroine, Clara. With the beauty of swirling snowflakes in the winter wonderland around them, the Prince whisks Clara away to his fantasy fairytale kingdom… far from the mischievous mice and Clara’s childhood home.

Act II

Clara and the Prince journey to the magical fairytale kingdom. Upon their arrival at his palace, they are entertained by his friends with a magnificent dance celebrating the Carol of the Bells.

Once inside, their welcome continues as dancers from faraway lands perform for the pair: an energetic Trepak, a merry Chinese trio, elegant Spanish dancers, a graceful Sugarplum Fairy, a dazzling Hopak and more, are presented in a most spectacular fashion. Soon, the Prince asks Clara to join him in a romantic and lyrical pas de deux.

Suddenly, Clara is back in her family’s parlour, cradling her Nutcracker doll. She sighs, realizing her wonderful journey was but a fantasy. Or was it? Dr. Drosselmeier later visits with his young nephew, who bears a striking resemblance to Clara’s beloved Prince….