American Repertory Ballet (ARB) invites you to experience The Nutcracker, a timeless story filled with magic, beauty, and the spirit of the season. For more than 60 years, this cherished production has captivated audiences of all ages, enchanting first-time visitors while remaining a treasured holiday tradition for thousands of families. With its breathtaking dancing, unforgettable music, and beloved characters, The Nutcracker continues to create memories that last a lifetime.
"The Nutcracker is such a beloved production in our community," says Julie Diana Hench, Executive Director. "Generations of families make it part of their holiday tradition each year, with longtime alumni from Princeton Ballet School watching and remembering the steps they danced as children in the cast. It's remarkable to see that kind of warmth and attachment, alongside joyful newcomers who might be experiencing The Nutcracker for the first time."
Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, the story follows a young girl named Clara, who receives a mysterious holiday gift and embarks on a wondrous adventure. Guided by her Nutcracker Prince, Clara faces an epic battle against mischievous mice, glides through a snow-filled forest, and arrives in the radiant Land of Sweets. There, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier welcome Clara with a series of dazzling dances before she awakens, uncertain whether her magical journey was real or just a dream.
This season, ARB will unveil new production elements within the iconic Party and Battle Scenes, such as a spectacular magically growing Christmas Tree, and larger-than-life masks for the Rats and young Nutcracker Prince.
Created by scenic designer Howard C. Jones, the new tree features over 150 individually controlled LED fixtures, dozens of unique ornaments, and will reach 18 feet tall when fully grown. This redesigned major set piece will modernize the scenery while maintaining the classic, festive, and polished 19th century atmosphere of the production.
Audiences will also delight in new, larger-than-life Rat head costume pieces and a child-sized Nutcracker mask, the latter of which will enable a young Princeton Ballet School (PBS) student to be cast as The Nutcracker Prince alongside Clara, a role also performed by a PBS student. These whimsical production elements have been created by costume and puppet builder Susan Tolis, with assistance and prop detail work by Gino Costabile. Tolis has decades of experience creating specialty masks for dance, theater, film, and TV, including work for Disney and The Muppets.
Design and construction of the tree and theatrical masks were made possible by grants from The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The E.J. Grassmann Trust, and The John A. and Margaret Post Foundation.
American Repertory Ballet’s sparkling production of The Nutcracker, once again generously sponsored in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, showcases the company's professional artists alongside over 100 talented students and Trainees from Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet.
The performance schedule for American Repertory Ballet’s The Nutcracker is as follows:
McCarter Theatre (91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540)
Friday, November 27, 2026 at 2:00pm
Friday, November 27, 2026 at 7:00pm
Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 1:00pm *
Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 6:00pm
Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 1:00pm
* Cookies & Cocoa, 12:00pm to 12:45pm - Enhance your Nutcracker experience with their Cookies and Cocoa pre-show event! For a $30 add-on per person, enjoy fresh cookies and hot cocoa while spending time with the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy and the mischievous Rat King. Delight in festive activities, magical moments, and family fun before the curtain rises on this holiday classic.
Tickets for The Nutcracker at McCarter Theatre range from $52 to $82.
Two River Theater (21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701)
Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 1:00pm
Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 6:00pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 1:00pm
Tickets for The Nutcracker at Two River Theater range from $51 to $83.
State Theatre New Jersey with Live Orchestra and Choir (15 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901)
Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 7:00pm
Friday, December 18, 2026 at 7:00pm **
Saturday, December 19, 2026 at 2:00pm **
Saturday, December 19, 2026 at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 1:00pm ***
Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 5:00pm
** Audio Description Available, supported in-part by funding through the NJEDA’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program.
*** Beyond the Curtain, 10:30am to 12:00pm - Don't miss this special one-time event when Mrs. Silverhaus steps away from her party and into the studio! Dancers ages 13 and up are invited to spend an inspiring afternoon with American Repertory Ballet Company Artist, Nanako Yamamoto, on the second floor of State Theatre New Jersey. Begin with a ballet based warm-up, followed by an opportunity to learn choreography directly from ARB’s Party Scene and finish with an engaging Q&A session where Ms. Yamamoto will share insights into life as a professional dancer and the art form itself. Whether you dream of a career in dance or simply want to be part of the party, this exciting experience offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of the production’s featured artists before watching the magic unfold onstage. Beginners welcome! Supported in-part by funding through the NJEDA’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program. This workshop is $35 for Princeton Ballet School students and $40 for the General Public.
Tickets for The Nutcracker at State Theatre New Jersey range from $45 to $89.
Runtime for The Nutcracker is 2 hours and 15 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
Back by popular demand! In addition to traditional performances, ARB is hosting its second annual Immersive Nutcracker Tea Party on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 1:00pm at The Peacock Inn, located at 20 Bayard Lane, Princeton, NJ. This delightful experience for all ages will include hors d’oeuvres and delicacies from the Land of Sweets, jolly holiday beverages, live period music, themed characters, a party scene dance lesson, a children’s story time, photo opportunities with dancers, and much more! Guests are welcome to come in Victorian garb or in an outfit inspired by any of the characters in The Nutcracker. Costumes are optional, but festive dress is encouraged.
Individual tickets for the Immersive Nutcracker Party range from $75 to $200 and Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $5,000. Free valet parking is available. All proceeds from the event will support American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School, a non-profit organization providing excellent dance and dance education for over 70 years.
With a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company is a core partner of The Arts Institute of Middlesex County and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance.
Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is the official school of American Repertory Ballet. PBS has gained an international reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey, “New Jersey’s First Lady of Dance,” as credited by The New York Times. At its studio locations in Princeton and New Brunswick, PBS offers classes in ballet, contemporary dance, tap, character, and more. PBS provides opportunities for students ages 2.5 through adult, including its award-winning DANCE POWER program, and performance opportunities, such as the option to participate in American Repertory Ballet’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker.
Visit www.arballet.org or call 609-921-77458 to learn more!
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