The Search for America’s Favorite Nutcracker is On

San Francisco Ballet dancers bloom in Waltz of the Flowers. Photo by Erik Tomasson courtesy of KQED.

It’s that time of year: Halls are decked, cider is spiced, gifts—if you don’t shop last minute like I do—are wrapped and Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” is serenading audiences in theaters across the nation. We all have a soft spot for our favorite Nutcracker production. This year, Goldstar—the company that sells discounted tickets to entertainment events across the U.S.—is hosting its ninth annual National Nutcracker Award. The nominated productions range from Balanchine’s classic to urban adaptations and more, with 65 nominees in over 55 cities.

The winning show, chosen by Goldstar members (membership is free), will earn the title of America’s Best-Loved Nutcracker, a commemorative figurine called “The Nutty” and a $2,500 cash reward to be used towards the winning organization’s educational programs.

The winner will be announced on December 21. Can you spot your favorite Nutcracker in the list of nominees below? Happy Nutcracking!

For more news on all things ballet, don’t miss a single issue.

 

The Nutty in all its golden glory.

 

Arizona

Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker at Phoenix Symphony Hall

California

• Inland Empire
  • The Ballet Studio’s The Nutcracker at Old Town Temecula Community Theater
  • Inland Pacific Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside

• Los Angeles
  • Long Beach Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center
  • Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at the Wiltern
  • The Red Chair Children’s Production Company’s The Nutcracker at the Alex Theatre in Glendale
  • Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
  • Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Luckman Fine Arts Complex
  • Inland Pacific Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Arcadia Performing Arts Center and at Claremont’s Bridges Auditorium
  • Westside Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center
  • South Bay Ballet’s The Nutcracker at El Camino College Center for the Arts in Torrance

• Oakland
  • Alameda Civic Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Kofman Theatre in Alameda
  • Berkeley Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker at Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley
  • Contra Costa Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek

• Orange County
  • Anaheim Ballet’s The Nutcracker at City National Grove of Anaheim
  • Coast City Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Huntington Beach Historical Theater
  • Sunrise Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Anaheim’s Servite Theatre
  • Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Irvine Barclay Theatre
  • Orange County Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
  • Ballet Etudes’ The Nutcracker at Huntington Beach High School Historic Auditorium
  • Golden State Dance Foundation and V&T Dance’s The Nutcracker at the Fullerton College Campus Theatre
  • Tustin Dance Center’s The Nutcracker at Alexandra Nechita Center for the Performing Arts in Orange

• San Diego
  • Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Jacobs Music Center
  • San Diego Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Jacobs Music Center
  • New West Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Poway Center for the Performing Arts
  • California Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker at San Diego Civic Theatre

• San Francisco
  • San Francisco Youth Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Mercy High School Theatre
  • San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker at War Memorial Opera House
  • City Ballet School’s The Nutcracker at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
  • Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at The Warfield

• San Jose
  • Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino
  • Silicon Valley Ballet’s The Nutcracker at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
  • San Jose Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Mexican Heritage Plaza
  • Bay Pointe Ballet’s Nutcracker at San Mateo Performing Arts Center
  • Peninsula Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Fox Theatre in Redwood City

Colorado

Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver

Belliston Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Gates Concert Hall at Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts

Florida

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at The Fillmore Miami Beach

Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House

Georgia

Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker
at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre

The Georgia Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at Cobb Civic Center in Marietta

Decadancetheatre’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre

Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Milton Center Theater in Alpharett

Illinois

Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre

Ballet Chicago’s The Nutcracker at Athenaeum Theatre

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Chicago’s Rosemont Theatre

The House Theatre of Chicago’s The Nutcracker at Chopin Theatre

Piccolo Theatre’s Clara & the Nutcracker at Piccolo Theatre in Evanston

State Street Dance Studio’s The Fox Valley Nutcracker at Batavia Fine Arts Centre

Chicago Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker at McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn

Ballet 5:8’s Beyond the Nutcracker at Stagg High School Performing Arts Center in Palos Hills

Maryland

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre

Massachusetts

Tony Williams Dance Center’s Urban Nutcracker at Back Bay Events Center’s John Hancock Hall (Boston)

José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Strand Theatre in Dorchester and at Cutler Majestic Theatre at Boston’s Emerson College

Dance Prism’s The Nutcracker at Jackson Arts Center in Fall River

Minnesota

Minnesota Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker Fantasy at State Theatre in Minneapolis

Metropolitan Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center in Minnetonka

Decadancetheatre’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Saint Paul’s Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

James Sewell Ballet’s Nutcracker (not so) Suite at The Goodale Theater at The Cowles Center

New Jersey

New Jersey Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

Decadancetheatre’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark

New York

Dances Patrelle’s The Yorkville Nutcracker at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College in NYC

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre

Oregon

Oregon Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Portland’s Keller Auditorium

Portland Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Lake Oswego High School Auditorium

Pennsylvania

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Tower Theater in Upper Darby

Texas

MBS Productions’ A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker at Studio Theatre at the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre

Woodlands Ballet Ensemble’s The Nutcracker at The Woodlands College Park High School

Washington

Olympic Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Everett Performing Arts Center and at Edmonds Center for the Arts

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Seattle’s McCaw Hall

Washington, D.C.

The Fairfax Ballet’s The Nutcracker at W.T. Woodson High School

Olney Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Olney Theatre Center

Virginia Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker at Ernst Cultural Center in Annandale, VA

Rockville Civic Ballet’s The Nutcracker at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, MD

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Warner Theatre

Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s The Nutcracker at Bowie Center for the Performing Arts

Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Center Opera House

 

May the best Nutcracker win! Photo courtesy of the Santa Barbara Independent.