About the Play:

The Nutcracker is a full-length comedy adapted for the stage by June Walker Rogers, from the classic story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The famous ballet has been adapted into a stage play, in which Clara's godfather gives her a toy soldier nutcracker at a Christmas Eve party. The nutcracker comes to life, reveals he's a prince in disguise under an enchantment by the Mouse King and takes Clara on a night of adventures.

The Nutcracker is a captivating stage adaptation of the legend of a young girl and her magical toy, the wonderful Nutcracker. At a gala Christmas Eve party, Clara's godfather presents her with an amazing Nutcracker in the form of a wooden soldier. Too excited to sleep, she suddenly finds the Nutcracker brought to life. He tells her he is a prince under the wicked enchantment of the Mouse King, and she joins him in a series of adventures in strange lands as he seeks to regain his throne. When she wakes, she finds the Nutcracker gone. Was it a dream or not? Then her godfather returns with his nephew – who just happens to look exactly like the prince! This charming play may be enhanced with dances to the music of Tchaikovsky.

The Nutcracker ballet premiered in December 1892 at the historic Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, performed by the Moscow Ballet Company. This stage adaptation by June W. Rogers has gained widespread acceptance among leading regional theatres, and has become a popular choice for school and community theatre productions.

Cast: 12 women, 10 men, extras

What people say:

"This show broke records for us. It ran before winter break, and we sold out every performance well in advance. Families were thrilled to see this comprehensible, audience-friendly version of the classic ballet." — Karin Richey, Palo Alto Children's Theatre

"This is a good play for a beginning high school drama class. It is fun and has plenty of opportunity for kids to work on basics." — Joe Mishler, Holly High School

"Fantastic show! Easy costuming and set concepts, story is exciting for casts to perform and memorable for audiences to watch." — AJ Prawitz, St. James High School

About the Playwright:

June Walker Rogers is an American actress, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, and playwright. She was a professional actress at the age of seven, and went on to success as a dancer, singer and comedienne on television and Broadway. Her wealth of theatrical experience is evident in her plays for they're especially easy to stage, often hilariously funny, and always theatrically effective.