Where to see 'The Nutcracker' ballet in NYC, including performances in Manhattan and Brooklyn this holiday season.
The Nutcracker Performances in Manhattan
The Yorkville Nutcracker
WHEN: Dec. 7-10, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7pm; Saturday, 2pm; Sunday, 12pm, 5pm
WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Lavish sets and costumes take the audience on a tour through Gracie Mansion, the Crystal Palace in the New York Botanical Garden, and skating in Central Park. Young dancers perform alongside professional artists.
WANT TO GO? $65. 212-772-4448. dancespatrelle.org.
'The Hip Hop Nutcracker' with Kurtis Blow
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 14, 7:30-9:30pm
WHERE: United Palace, 4140 Broadway, Washington Heights
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: This modern mash-up takes Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday score and reenvisions it through contemporary hip hop choreography with the help of a dozen all-star dancers, an on-stage DJ, an electric violinist, and digital scenery.
WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 212-568-1157. unitedpalace.org.
'Keith Michael's The Nutcracker'
WHEN: Dec. 15 -17, Check website for times
WHERE: Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., Midtown East
AGES: All
WHAT: From clockwork imps to a luminous owl that flies above the audience, mice dressed in polka dots and dancers dancing with huge chopsticks, this timeless, re-imagined classic performed by the New York Theatre Ballet bursts with energy and excitement.
WANT TO GO? $34; $24 for children 12 and younger. 212-355-6160. nytb.org.
‘The Nutcracker: A Ballet in Two Acts’
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 15, 7:30pm
WHERE: The Schimmel Center, 3 Spruce St., Financial District
AGES: Young elementary, Tween, Teen, Adult, All Ages
WHAT: More than 50 company members from The State Ballet Theatre of Russia are featured in a full-scale production of The Nutcracker, complete with a lavish set, stunning costumes, dancing snowflakes, and marching toy soldiers, telling the classic tale of the nutcracker prince and the young girl who loves him. Choreography by Marius Petipa.
WANT TO GO? $29 and up. 212-346-1715. schimmelcenter.org.
The Knickerbocker Suite
WHEN: Select dates Dec. 8-17; see website for times
WHERE: Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 W. 60th St., Upper West Side
WHAT: A new holiday classic has been brought to the stage by Rose Caiola with the Manhattan Youth Ballet. Based on the jocular story by artist Elliott Arkin, this original ballet is a timely tale of American values and folklore with New York City at the center of attention.
WANT TO GO? $32.50; $22.50 children or students. 212.787.1178. manhattanmovement.com.
'In a Nutshell: Welcome to New York Suite-y'
WHEN: Dec. 29-30, Friday-Saturday, 7pm
WHERE: Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place, East Village
AGES: All
WHAT: In this special version of a Christmas classic, Clara and Fritz visit everyday New York with scenes in the subway, the coffee place on the corner, Wall Street, and ballet class at the local studio.
WANT TO GO? $25; $15 children ages 4-12; free for children younger than 4. 619-655-0056. americanlibertyballet.com.
'George Balanchine's The Nutcracker'
WHEN: Through Dec. 31, Thursday-Sunday, see website for show times
WHERE: David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side
AGES: Young elementary, Tween, Teen, Adult
WHAT: From Swan Lake to sugarplum fairies, the music of Tchaikovsky rings beautiful and clear in New York City thanks to this classic holiday performance. Watch stunning ballerinas flit across the stage in a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of soldiers and a blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets.
WANT TO GO? $40 and up. 212-496-0600. nycballet.com.
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The Nutcracker Performances in Brooklyn
'Nutcracker Sweets'
WHEN: Dec. 7-10, Thursday-Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 2pm
WHERE: GKArts Center, 29 Jay St., DUMBO
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: Enjoy this holiday performance showcasing the Professional Training Program students of Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. The performance includes Act 2 of The Nutcracker and other classical ballet excerpts, including Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Flames of Paris, and more.
WANT TO GO? $25; $10 for children 12 and younger. 212-600-0047. gkartscenter.org.
The Brooklyn Nutcracker
WHEN: Dec. 7-16, Dec 7-9, 11, and 13-16, 3pm and 7pm
WHERE: Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford Street, Fort Greene
AGES: All
WHAT: A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and a myriad of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today’s audience. The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of melting pot Brooklyn. Starting from the point of view of old Dutch Brooklyn and leading to the iconic Flatbush Avenue, the production is fresh and full of virtuosity.
WANT TO GO? Starts at $25. 718-246-0146. brooklynballet.org.
‘The Brooklyn Nutcracker‘
WHEN: Dec. 7-16, see website for times
WHERE: Irondale Center, 85 S. Oxford St., Fort Greene
AGES: All
WHAT: A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and a myriad of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today's audience. The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of melting pot Brooklyn.
WANT TO GO? Balcony tickets start at $15. Main stage tickets start at $27. 718-246-0146. brooklynballet.org.
Moscow Ballet's 'Great Russian Nutcracker'
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 9, 2pm and 7pm
WHERE: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate this Christmas with the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker, featuring over-the-top production values and world class Russian artists. Larger than life puppets and nesting dolls, and gloriously hand-crafted costumes bring the Christmas spirit of life.
WANT TO GO? $45 and up. 718-856-5464. kingstheatre.com.
'The Nutcracker Ballet'
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 9, 2pm
WHERE: Master Theater, 1029 Brighton Beach Ave., Brighton Beach
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: The New York Children's Dance Theater and Nika Ballet Studio present his classic Christmas fairy tale that tells the story of a young girl named Mari, how she dreamed of the brave Nutcracker Prince, their amazing journey to the Kingdom of Sweets, and a fierce battle against the Mouse Queen.
WANT TO GO? $25-$55. 718-732-3838. mastertheater.com.
'Hip Hop Nutcracker'
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 16, 8pm
WHERE: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: The Hip Hop Nutcracker re-imagines Tchaikovsky's classic score through explosive hip-hop choreography. The show features a dozen all-star dancers, DJ, violinist, and vivid digital scenery.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This unusual production brings the traditional Nutcracker story to life with a contemporary urban twist.
WANT TO GO? $29 and up. 718-856-5464. kingstheatre.com.
Excerpts from ‘The Nutcracker’
WHEN: Dec. 16-17, 12pm, 3pm, and 5pm
WHERE: Kumble Theater for Performing Arts – Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, 1 University Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn
AGES: All
WHAT: Performance by the children of Cobble Hill Ballet – from the “Party scene”, to the magical “Land of the Snow”. Clara’s journey to “Candy Land” is a colorful mix of dancers including The Sugar Plum Fairy, Russian Dolls and Waltz of the Flowers. A shortened version of the original Ballet, perfect for children and families.
WANT TO GO? $22; $10 children; free for children younger than 3 on laps. 718-488-1624. kumbletheater.org.
'The Nutcracker'
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 17, 3pm
WHERE: Kingsborough Community College, The Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: The Nutcracker, a perennial holiday favorite, is an enchanting adventure through a little girl’s fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice. Be transported by this full-scale production, with Tchaikovsky's wondrous score, choreography by world-renowned Marius Petipa and The Mariinsky’s Vasily Vainonen, and 40 of Russia’s brightest ballet stars in glorious costumes.
WANT TO GO? $30-$32. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org.
RELATED: Get NYC Holiday Events in Your Inbox
Main photo: The New York City Ballet performs George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
