Houston Ballet: The Nutcracker

Visit the ballet performance calendar to view dates of all showings of this program.

THE NUTCRACKER
Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM

◆ Houston Ballet
◆ The Nutcracker

Stanton Welch’s Nutcracker, the fourth version ever performed by Houston Ballet, opens at the end of November for a 33-performance run at Wortham Theater Center and features all members of the company plus over 300 students from the Houston Ballet Academy.

“Julie [Kent] and I are thrilled to be bringing Houston’s ultimate holiday tradition back to the stage this season,” says Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM. “Knowing that The Nutcracker is the start of the holiday season for so many families in our community brings me incredible joy, and we cannot wait to see you in the theater.”

On the eve of opening night, the 33rd Annual Wortham Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the holiday season. Activities include arts and crafts facilitated by Houston Ballet’s Education & Community Engagement department, a reading of Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker book, a pop-up Houston Ballet boutique, photo op with Santa Claus, cookies, live festive music including DACAMERA presents Jalen Baker Trio and Musicians from Mercury Chamber Orchestra, among other fun surprises!

Houston Ballet Soloists Jacquelyn Long as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Naazir Muhammad as the Nutcracker Prince with Artists of Houston Ballet in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker.  Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox (2022). Courtesy of Houston Ballet.