Christmas is a magical time throughout California! For many families it is an annual tradition to see The Nutcracker. Do I admit that I have never seen it? Whether this is your first year to see a Nutcracker production or it is a time-honored holiday tradition, we have plenty of choices below to make a Nutcracker production part of your holiday festivities.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2018 • 8:00 pm
Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Tickets start at $25.00
Ring in the Christmas season with beloved carols and musical masterpieces performed by Vanguard University's nationally-known, vocal and instrumental ensembles in the elegance and acoustical perfection of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Proceeds support Vanguard University music students, scholarships and other educational resources.
December 7-31, 2018
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Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
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Presented By Lythgoe Family Panto
To Buy Family 4 Pack Tickets (4-9 tickets in one order) click HERE.
Lythgoe Family Panto returns to Laguna Playhouse for the fourth year with Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose. Presented in the traditional British Panto style, this updated classic fairy tale features magic with a comedic twist, contemporary music, dancing, and audience participation. Add more fun to your holiday festivities this winter and don’t forget to bring the entire family. It’s the best new holiday tradition in town!
Estimated running time is 2 hours with an intermission
December 14-23, 2018
Friday, December 14, 2018 • 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 15, 2018 • 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 16, 2018 • 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 • 7:00 pm
Thursday, December 20, 2018 • 7:00 pm
Friday, December 21, 2018 • 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 22, 2018 • 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 23, 2018 • 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Location: Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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One of the great joys of the holiday season, American Ballet Theatre returns with its critically acclaimed production of The Nutcracker. Travel with curious Clara and her handsome prince as they journey through a kingdom filled with colorful characters and pure holiday magic.
Created by celebrated choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, this beloved classic brings a cast of more than 100 performers to the stage, and features dazzling sets and costumes by Tony-winner Richard Hudson, along with Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed by the Pacific Symphony.
December 23, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018 • 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Location: City National Grove of Anaheim
2200 East Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806
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Anaheim Ballet's The Nutcracker
"The Nutcracker": The Anaheim Ballet's Holiday Treat
City National Grove of Anaheim (Anaheim, CA)
The Anaheim Ballet gets the holiday season off to a sparkling start with its annual production of Tchaikovsky's timeless dance, with live accompaniment by Symphony Irvine. From towering Christmas trees to menacing mice and more, this version of the quintessential family favorite is always updated to bring fresh thrills to audiences at the City National Grove of Anaheim, who can't help but get wrapped up in the magical story of young Clara. She dreams that her new toy nutcracker soldier has come to life, and together they experience a fantastical adventure that leads them through an epic battle with the Mouse King to reach the Sugar Plum Fairy's magical Kingdom of Sweets
Sunday, December 16, 2018 • 4:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University
415 N. Glassel, Orange, CA 92866
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Join us for the second annual tradition as more than 150 performers from across Southern California – musicians, singers, dancers – bring you a holiday spectacular packed full of your favorite carols. From the triumphal tones of a brass fanfare to the thrilling sound of a chorus in full voice and the sugarplum dreams woven by dancers’ feet, there’s something for all ages in this merry delight. It’s a show that’s sure to make your Christmas season glow brightly.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Huntington Beach Historic Theater
1905 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
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Experience the magic of dance at Coast City Ballet's annual production of this famed holiday favorite featuring students, company members and guests artists from throughout California, with dazzling sets, colorful costumes and Tchaikovsky's timeless score. Choreographed and directed by Clara D'Autilia, this glittering tale follows young Clara, who receives the gift of a nutcracker at a festive family Christmas party. That night she dreams of a grand adventure that begins with a handsome prince, continues with an epic battle between mice and toys, and comes to a climax with a magical journey to the Land of Sweets where Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancers from foreign lands.
December 8 - 24, 2018
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Irvine Barclay Theatre
4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612
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Create holiday memories for your family by sharing the magic of The Nutcracker.
Festival Ballet Theatre’s family-friendly breathtaking production features superb colorful scenery and dazzling costumes, which make this age-old tradition sparkle like new. Be swept away by Tchaikovsky’s iconic score as the Sugar Plum Fairy, our heroine Clara, and a cast of hundreds take you on a magical journey to mystical lands. This full-length traditional production is choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director, Salwa Rizkalla, and features world-renowned guest artists, FBT's professional company dancers, and exceptional young talent from across the Southland.
Friday, November 30, 2018 • 5:00 pm
Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Millennial® Choirs & Orchestras proudly presents A Child Is Born. Featuring a stunning musical force of hundreds of musicians, including the remarkable Youth Choirs, the elegant Grand Chorus, and the superb Symphony Orchestra, this Christmas concert will inspire your soul.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 • 7:30 pm
Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Ireland’s Keith and Kristyn Getty, writers of modern hymns and carols, will return to celebrate Christmas with their seventh annual tour of Sing! An Irish Christmas. Presented at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center and many other of North America’s finest concert halls, the Gettys are joined by their band of instrumentalists, fusing Celtic, bluegrass, Americana, and classical music as well as cultural dance and the choral sounds of the holiday. Keith and Kristyn and their special guest friends perform a program that unites tradition and innovation in celebration of the season.
Saturday, December 8, 2018 • 10:00am & 11:30am
Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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TCHAIKOVSKY: Selections from "The Nutcracker"
Visions of sugarplums and beautiful ballerinas will dance in your head after seeing Tchaikovsky’s delightful Christmas ballet, performed in a condensed version created just for kids. This annual favorite finishes with a grand finale sing-along and a jolly visit from Santa himself! Designed for kids ages 5-11.
Join in the fun at the interactive Musical Carnival in the concert hall lobby at 9 a.m. (for 10 a.m. concertgoers) and 12:15 p.m. (for 11:30 concertgoers), where kids can test drive a musical instrument, meet the performers, and enjoy musical arts and crafts activities themed to the morning's concert.
Sunday, December 9, 2018 • 3:00 pm
Location: Segerstrom Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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A beloved holiday tradition, Handel’s celebrated oratorio — with its blazing trumpets, thundering timpani and spectacular “Hallelujah!” chorus — provides a moment during the busy season to experience reflection, renewal and joy.
Saturday, December 8, 2018 • Noon & 4:00pm
Sunday, December 9, 2018 • Noon
ACPA (Servite) Theater
1952 La Palma Avenue, Anaheim CA 92801
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Sunrise Ballet offers the community a series of full-length Nutcracker performances plus contemporary & alternative works.
December 15, 2018 • 3:00 pm 7:30 pm
December 16, 2018 • 2:00 pm
Plummer Auditorium
201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
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Join us this holiday season as the lights fade, the music swells, snowflakes fall, flowers waltz, and a young girl dreams about a magical sweet-filled world in the charming and magical "The Nutcracker". Tustin Dance Center is pleased to delight both young and old again this holiday season with its 15th annual production of this timeless ballet. Dozens of ballerinas and dance students of all ages are sure to entertain you at historic Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton.
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