Prologue

On Christmas Eve 1956, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a 64-year-old Marie Stahlbaum-Schönfeld and her brother Fritz share a quiet moment with her granddaughter Clara. Clara discovers an antique music box, prompting Grandmother Marie to begin telling her granddaughter a story of the fantastical journey she experienced 50 years earlier.

Act I

In 1906, on a blustery Christmas Eve in Pittsburgh, the Stahlbaum family home bustles with joyful anticipation. Mr. Stahlbaum, his wife, Dr. Stahlbaum, her parents and the Stahlbaum children, Marie and Fritz, make final preparations for their Christmas Eve party. In a tender and private moment, Marie’s grandmother gives her a special dancing ballerina music box. As family and friends arrive, the holiday celebration begins and together they share food, music and dancing. Uncle Drosselmeyer, always full of magic and wonder, swiftly enters the party, bringing with him enchanting gifts, including a state-of-the-art camera and, of course, a Nutcracker doll for Marie. Marie becomes enthralled with the camera and begins to take photographs of holiday gifts, including the Nutcracker doll and ballerina music box, both of which come to life and joyfully dance for Marie alone. As the Christmas Eve party comes to a close, Marie falls asleep in front of the fireplace with the Nutcracker doll.

As the family’s grandfather clock strikes midnight, and the Stahlbaum home unexpectedly begins to break apart. The walls shift, red, beady eyes appear between their slats, and mice begin to appear out of nowhere. Uncle Drosselmeyer enters to weave his magic, as everything in the house begins to grow larger. The evil Rat King of Burrowland directs his squadron of mice and rats to kidnap the Nutcracker, taking him inside the walls of the Stahlbaum home. Marie quickly takes charge and leads a regiment of tin soldiers into the walls to rescue him. An intense battle ensues between Marie’s battalion of soldiers and the villainous Rat King and his rodents. Marie’s ingenuity defeats the Rat King, and the mice and rats scatter away in defeat. Marie’s bravery lifts the curse on the Nutcracker Prince, and he magically transforms from the doll to his human self.

Marie, the Nutcracker Prince and Uncle Drosselmeyer journey into The Land of Snow, where the regal Snow Queen and Snow King greet them with a beautiful Pas de Deux. They are joined by their royal Snow Court of snowflakes and icicles, whose dancing creates a breathtaking blizzard that swirls into a dazzling storm. Marie, the Nutcracker Prince and Uncle Drosselmeyer continue their journey on the Duquesne Incline to The Cloud Kingdom.

Act II

Back in 1956, Great-Uncle Fritz enters, and Grandmother Marie continues recounting her fantastical adventure to her granddaughter Clara.

In 1906, as Marie, the Nutcracker Prince and Uncle Drosselmeyer arrive to the gates of The Cloud Kingdom, they are met by a flock of cherubic angels and fireflies. The beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy, who reigns over the land, greets the trio, and Marie and the Nutcracker Prince begin to tell the story of how they defeated the Rat King.

Uncle Drosselmeyer then leads Marie and the Nutcracker Prince through different neighborhoods of The Cloud Kingdom. Inspired by Pittsburgh’s rich and varied histories, The Cloud Kingdom reminds Marie of her own beloved hometown neighborhoods. In the first dance, inspired by Pittsburgh’s hills and lush greenery, four colorful squirrels scurry in and perform a dance with dramatic flair for Marie. A dance about baseball ensues, inspired by Pittsburgh’s love of sports and baseball. Inspired by Pittsburgh’s steel history, a steel worker makes an entrance atop a steel girder before performing a stunning solo. Marie and the Nutcracker Prince join the fun, and dance a lovely duet. Sparkly Geodes, inspired by Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History, entertain them with a moonlit and elegant Pas de Deux. The Sugar Plum Fairy dazzles the visitors with her dancing, which is lighter than air. Lively Pierogies and their Pierogi Keeper entertain Marie and the Nutcracker Prince with a high-energy and athletic dance. A trio of magnificent Three Sister Bridges, inspired by Pittsburgh’s bridges perform a Pas de Trois. The Dew Drop Fairy leads the spectacular Waltz of the Flowers, inspired by Phipps Conservatory. Lastly, Mother Ginger, a gingerbread house inspired by Pittsburgh architecture, and her gingerbread babies entertain.

The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince perform the Grand Pas de Deux in appreciation and recognition of Marie. And the inhabitants of The Cloud Kingdom join in a triumphant final dance, celebrating Marie’s bravery.

Epilogue

In 1956, Clara and Great-Uncle Fritz intently listen as Grandmother Marie completes the retelling of her exciting journey. She gives Clara the music box, and she and Great Uncle Fritz encourage Clara to embark on her own wondrous adventure. And so, the magic of The Nutcracker lives on, passed from one generation to the next.