Nutcracker is a classic Christmas performance that is beloved by audiences all over the world and is the most performed ballet in the country. Every year, the SF Ballet’s Nutcracker draws large crowds who want to partake in the holiday festivities, and you can reserve your tickets now.
The SF Ballet’s production of Nutcracker begins on December 13 and runs through December 30, 2023. The production includes a staggering 150 dancers, and the San Francisco Ballet’s Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s iconic score live.
The iconic ballet is known not just for its story but also for its beautiful production, including decadent costumes and detailed set design. Creating Nutcracker’s world isn’t easy; there are 18 pounds of fabric in just one tutu and 150 pounds of snowballs in each performance. The dancers go through 1,200 pointe shoes just for the Nutcracker season, and it takes a total of 3,700 hours from dedicated volunteers during the season to make the performance possible.
The first performance of Nutcracker in the United States was actually in San Francisco in 1944, so the ballet has a particular significance in San Francisco and a long history of delighting audiences. The ballet is set in 1915 San Francisco, during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The set features classic SF scenery, including painted Victorian houses and windows.
Tickets are on sale now for the San Francisco Ballet’s rendition of Nutcracker. The show runs between December 13 and 30. While the holiday show is popular leading up to the 25th, shows after Christmas tend to be less crowded. The show is kid-friendly, but it is a full 2 hours with an intermission, so the ballet recommends only bringing children who will be comfortable sitting still for a long period of time.
The ballet also offers sensory-friendly performances for children and neurodiverse audiences to enjoy the show comfortably. These performances will have more relaxed and informal theater etiquette, including allowing talking and audiences to leave the theater during performances. Lights will be low, and some loud noises will be removed from the show. Additionally, sensory devices will be allowed in the theater. The ballet also offers sensory-friendly dance workshops if you want to get involved.
See SF Ballet’s Nutcracker at War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue from December 13 to 30, 2023.