Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed The Nutcracker more than 125 years ago, but the magical story of a young girl and her doll who comes to life continues to enchant young and old alike. Our real estate agents share information about the upcoming ballet that has become a holiday tradition in Richmond.

The Nutcracker Comes to Richmond, VA

Historical Background

Tchaikovsky's ballet has a distinguished pedigree:

• The plot of The Nutcracker is based on the 1844 short story of the same name by Alexandre Dumas, author of classic swashbucklers such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.
• For his part, Dumas's work was a retelling of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, a novella by E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Cast of Characters

Even people who have never seen The Nutcracker are familiar with the classic tale of Clara, who embarks on a Christmas Eve journey through a whimsical fantasy land. While minor details may vary from one staging to another, the main characters remain the same:

• Clara Stahlbaum, whose fascination with the titular doll sets the story in motion
• Herr Drosselmeyer, Clara's godfather and a toymaker who brings dolls as gifts for the Stahlbaum children
• The Nutcracker, which transforms into a handsome prince, guiding Clara through his kingdom, the Land of Sweets
• The Mouse King, who leads an ill-fated attack on the Nutcracker and his gingerbread soldiers
• The Sugar Plum Fairy, who presides over the Land of Sweets during the prince's absence

Story of The Nutcracker

The ballet itself is presented in two acts:

Act I

• Act I launches the story with a holiday party at the home of the Silberhaus family. Daughter Clara is immediately drawn to the Nutcracker, a wooden doll among the gifts brought by Herr Drosselmeier, the children's uncle. In a fit of jealousy, Clara's brother Fritz breaks the Nutcracker.
• That night, Clara wakes up to find the house full of mice. Drosselmeier magically fulfills her wish by bringing the Nutcracker to life as a full-size prince, who works with Clara to defeat the Mouse King and his "army." 
• The act closes with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince traveling through the Magical Forest on their way to the prince's Kingdom of the Sweets.

Act II

• At the Kingdom of the Sweets, Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, who has reigned during the prince's absence.
• After the Nutcracker Prince relates the tale of how Clara saved his life during the battle with the Mouse King, the appreciative court presents her with a series of gifts, including chocolate, coffee, tea and marzipan.
• The highlight of the act is the pas de deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince, which features the iconic solo, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."
• Finally, Clara wakes up in her own home, clutching the Nutcracker and wondering if her adventure was real or a dream.

About the Show and the Venue

• The Richmond Ballet stages their production of The Nutcracker at the historic Carpenter Theatre, part of the Dominion Energy Center. The elegant theater is noted for the handmade parrot that presides over the lobby and the four mosaic tile murals that honor the bird.
• The Nutcracker takes place on selected days between Saturday, 12/6 and Tuesday, 12/23. Tickets start at $60. Visit the website for the full schedule and pricing. 

A Richmond Home for the Holidays

You'll be dancing with joy when Joyner Fine Properties helps you achieve the sale or purchase of your Richmond home. Contact us to learn more.