It is Christmas Eve when families make their way to the celebrated Christmas party of Mrs. Stahlbaum and her children, Marie and Fritz.
The party is already alive with music and dancing when Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives with his magic wand and extraordinary toys. The children gather round as Drosselmeyer stages a puppet show, telling a story of a great battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King. Afterwards, the children watch in awe as his magic wand waves to life mechanical dolls from around the world that dazzle the crowd with their dancing. The children beg Drosselmeyer for one more surprise. Finally, he reveals the most magical wonder yet: the Nutcracker Doll. Most of the children turn away from this odd looking creature. Marie, however, is instantly drawn to it, and as she begins to dance with her new companion, her enchantment grows. Her delight is suddenly interrupted when the Nutcracker slips from her fingers and breaks. Tearfully, she asks Uncle Drosselmeyer to mend it, and soon the Nutcracker is good as new.
At last, the families return to their own homes, tired but happy. Just before midnight, Marie slips back to the place where she left her beloved Nutcracker. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the darkness and creep toward her cherished doll. As Marie tries to protect the Nutcracker, the magic of Drosselmeyer descends, causing the Christmas tree to grow, and the Nutcracker to jump to his feet, prepared for battle. The Nutcracker Prince and his toy soldiers finally triumph over the Mouse King. The old curse is broken, and the Nutcracker is free to become a Prince once more. The Prince and Marie rejoice as the first Christmas snow sweeps them up and carries them to a far-distant land filled with magic.
After traveling through the forest, Marie and the Prince arrive at the magical land ruled by the Rose Queen. Marie is delighted to find Drosselmeyer there, and runs to greet him. Drosselmeyer introduces them to the Rose Queen, and describes the adventures that brought them to this land. Following the tale, the Prince declares his love for Marie. The Queen, charmed by their devotion, asks her flower maidens to bring bridal clothes for their wedding. Marie and the Prince thank her, take the clothes, and return transformed into the very picture of a fairytale Prince and Princess. However, just as the Queen and Drosselmeyer prepare to bless their marriage, a mouse suddenly runs onto the scene and tries to start a fight with the Prince. The Rose Queen breaks up the fight, and settles the matter once and for all by offering the mouse a delicious piece of cheese. The mouse is so overjoyed with his gift that he quite forgets about fighting. With peace restored, the festivities begin as Marie joins her bridesmaids in a joyful dance. Mother Ginger, a favorite inhabitant of the land, summons her cooks to help her make delicious ginger cookies for the occasion. As the wedding draws near, the Rose Queen and her retinue present a beautiful waltz to honor the royal couple. Finally, the moment arrives when, radiant with happiness, the bride and groom express their love for one another before all their guests in a grand wedding dance. Soon, the guests swirl around the pair in one final celebration, before melting into the night. Throughout it all, Drosselmeyer watches with a smile.
The next morning, Marie awakens in her own house, filled with confusion. When her Uncle Drosselmeyer enters the room, she pleads with him for answers. Was it real or was it all a dream? Drosselmeyer returns with the Prince who presents Marie with a crown. As the light fades, the question remains… was it real or a beautiful Christmas dream?
Marie: Jane Weymouth (Friday, Saturday evening), Taylor Pronovost (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Nutcracker Prince: Hector Bligh (Friday, Saturday evening), Mateusz Lojewski (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Drosselmeyer: Guillermo Franco
Mrs. Stahlbaum: Shannon Thurston
Fritz: José Porras (Friday, Saturday evening), Noah Speed (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Maid: Taylor Pronovost (Friday, Saturday evening), Jane Weymouth (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Party Girls: Camille Dizon (Friday, Saturday evening), Jane Mautz (Friday, Saturday evening), Lily Weymouth (Friday, Saturday evening), Sofia Pescador-Lopez, Kokoha Goto (Saturday matinee, Sunday), Maxine Pallante (Saturday matinee, Sunday), Gianna Wilson (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Parents: John Buys, Abigail Jorgensen,Tatiana Kaptan, Dawn Wiers, Greg Wiers, Jak Peters
Russian Dolls: Maxine Pallante (Friday, Saturday evening), Noah Speed (Friday, Saturday evening), Camille Dizon (Saturday matinee, Sunday) Hector Bligh (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Spanish Dolls: Taylor Pronovost (Friday, Saturday night), Mateusz Lojewski (Friday, Saturday night), Jane Weymouth (Saturday matinee, Sunday), José Porras (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Mouse King: Mateusz Lojewski (Friday, Saturday evening), Hector Bligh (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Mice: José Porras, Camille Dizon, Jodi Gahn, Sofia Lopez, Noah Speed
Soldiers: Kokoha Goto, Jane Mautz, Maxine Pallante, Gianna Wilson, Lily Weymouth
Snow Corps: Camille Dizon, Tatiana Kaptan, Abigail Jorgensen, Maxine Pallante, Taylor Pronovost (Friday, Saturday night), Jane Weymouth (Saturday Matinee, Sunday), Kokoha Goto, Jane Mautz, Sofia Lopez, Lily Weymouth, Gianna Wilson
Demi Snow: Madison Fehnel, Maddison Goode, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker
Marie: Jane Weymouth (Friday, Saturday evening), Taylor Pronovost (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Nutcracker Prince: Hector Bligh (Friday, Saturday evening), Mateusz Lojewski (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Drosselmeyer: Guillermo Franco
Rose Queen: Abigail Jorgensen (Friday, Saturday night), Tatiana Kaptan (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Rose Escort: Jane Mautz, Sofia Lopez, Lily Weymouth, Gianna Wilson,
Bridesmaids- Camille Dizon, Kokoha Goto, Maxine Pallante, Taylor Pronovost (Friday, Saturday evening), Jane Weymouth (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Cavaliers- Mateusz Lojewski (Friday, Saturday evening), José Porras (Friday, Saturday evening), Hector Bligh (Saturday matinee, Sunday), Noah Speed (Saturday matinee, Sunday)
Flower Maidens: Madison Fehnel, Maddison Goode, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker
Mother Ginger: John Buys
Cooks: Madison Fehnel, Maddison Goode, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker
Gingerbread Cookies: Charlotte Rolfe Logan True, Sylvie Talty, Maria Parker
Mouse: Jodi Gahn
Baird Foundation, Inc.
N. Blake Bartlett
Mike Fendler & Melinda Loveitt
Eric and Debra Pronovost
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gordon
Peter and Joan Beckerman
Jody and Denise Pallante
Rebecca Kurtz
Bob Potts
Benjamin and Sarina Speed
Maine Community Foundation on behalf of Warren and Brammie Cook
Sergey Chumakov for his help with music editing.
MCI faculty and staff
Bob Sloma and
MCI’s Maintenance Department
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