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.

- INTERMISSION - 

After traveling through the forest, Marie and the Prince arrive at the magical land ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy Queen. Marie is delighted to find Uncle Drosselmeyer there and runs to greet him. Drosselmeyer introduces them to the Sugar Plum 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 fairy tale Prince and Princess.  However, just as the Queen and Drosselmeyer bless their marriage, a mouse suddenly runs onto the scene and tries to start a fight with the Prince. The Sugar Plum 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 its lost tail. 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 Sugar Plum 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 evening, Saturday matinée), Seine Chin (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Nutcracker / Prince – Mateusz Lojewski (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Noah Speed (Friday evening, Saturday matinée)

Uncle Drosselmeyer - Guillermo Franco

Mrs. Stahlbaum (Marie & Fritz' Mom) - Shannon Thurston

Fritz – Montserrat Ruz Cuen

Kissing Doll – Kokoha Goto (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Russian Doll – Elisabeth Welsh

Party Girls – Jane Mautz, Lily Weymouth, Gianna Wilson (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Maxine Pallante (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Anna Myachina (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Kokoha Goto (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Parents – John Buys, Allegra Rebbelmund, Dawn Wiers, Greg Wiers

Maid – Jane Weymouth, Seine Chin, Anna Myachina

Mouse King - Mateusz Lojewski (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Noah Speed (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Mice – Jane Mautz, Maxine Pallante, Gianna Wilson, Madeline Liversidge, Allegra Rebbelmund

Soldiers – Elisabeth Welsh, Maddison Goode, Lily Weymouth, Kokoha Goto, Montserrat Ruz

Snowflakes – Elisabeth Welsh, Gianna Wilson, Maxine Pallante, Jane Mautz, Seine Chin (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Kokoha Goto

Little Snow – Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker

Marie – Jane Weymouth (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Seine Chin (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Nutcracker / Prince – Mateusz Lojewski (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Noah Speed (Friday evening, Saturday matinée)

Uncle Drosselmeyer - Guillermo Franco

Sugar Plum Queen – Anna Myachina (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Elisabeth Welsh (Friday evening, Saturday matinée)

Spanish Variation – Kokoha Goto, Anna Myachina (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Elisabeth Welsh (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Chinese Variation – Jane Mautz (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Maxine Pallante (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Little Chinese – Elena Parker, Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Elsie Gray

Arabian Variation – Jane Weymouth & Noah Speed (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Seine Chin & Mateusz Lojewski (Friday evening, Saturday matinée)

Bridesmaids – Lily Weymouth (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Gianna Wilson (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Kokoha Goto, Maxine Pallante, Jane Mautz

Mother Ginger - John Buys

Cooks – Madison Fehnel, Maddison Goode, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker

Gingerbread Cookies – Maria Parker, Logan True, Tiger Haiss, Sylvie Talty (Friday evening, Saturday evening), Claire Thompson (Saturday matinée, Sunday matinée), Meredith Potvin (Saturday matinée, Sunday matinée), Beatrice Robbins (Friday evening, Saturday evening)

Rose Waltz – Kokoha Goto, Maxine Pallante, Jane Mautz, Anna Myachina (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Elisabeth Welsh (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Jane Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée), Seine Chin (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Gianna Wilson (Friday evening, Saturday matinée), Lily Weymouth (Saturday evening, Sunday matinée)

Sugar Plum Escort – Montserrat Ruz, Allegra Rebbelmund, Madeline Liversidge, Lily Weymouth, Maddison Goode, Madison Fehnel, Elsie Gray, Elena Parker.

Mouse reprise – Gianna Wilson

Our adult performers: Shannon Thurston, Johnny Buys, Dawn and Greg Wiers for sharing the stage with our dancers. 

Michelle Sweet, WOH Executive Director
Erik Thomas, WOH Assistant Executive Director

N. Blake Bartlett

Mike Fendler & Melinda Loveitt

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gordon

Peter and Joan Beckerman

Mr. David Pearson & MCI Staff

Benjamin Speed & Bob Potts

Maine Community Foundation on behalf of Warren and Brammie Cook

Sergey Chumakov for his help with music editing.

Guillermo Franco

Melodie Leighton

Chris Faria

Bob Sloma and MCI’s Maintenance Department 

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