The Nutcracker
Accompanied by the West Texas Symphony
Saturday, Dec 12 & Sunday, Dec 13
at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
Epic battles, lands made of sweets, living toys and even fairies, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy!
Sponsored by
By the Community, for the Community. For over 30 years.
Final pose of the Waltz of the Flowers
1994 at Allison Fine Arts Center at Midland College
Final pose of the Waltz of the Flowers
2024 at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
Since 1994, The Nutcracker has been a culmination of the community’s effort and talent. While Midland Festival Ballet (MFB) facilitates and coordinates the production, the cast is comprised of students from dance studios all over West Texas. (Midland, Odessa, Andrews, Greenwood, even Big Spring!) Some of the principal roles are filled by guest artists from premiere professional ballet companies across the country. (New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Louisville Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Joffrey Ballet, and San Antonio Ballet just to name a few.) Their presence provides professional dance exposure and mentorship to our students, and undeniably elevates the quality of the performance. Live orchestral accompaniment also takes the production to another level. We are fortunate to have the West Texas Symphony, who has accompanied the production since 1995. All with the help of a small army of volunteers and lot’s of support from the locals keeps the tradition alive. Support your local arts community, and make Midland Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker a part of you holiday plans.
Guest Artists
To Be Announced
The Story
Clara and Fritz anxiously await the arrival of their godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. Wearing a black eye patch, he is an odd and mysterious man who makes clocks and mechanical toys.
The guests leave, Clara and Peter say goodbye and the Stahlbaum family goes upstairs to bed. Clara cautiously comes back downstairs to look for her beloved Nutcracker and falls asleep in a chair with him in her arms.
At the stroke of midnight, magical things begin to happen! The Christmas tree begins to grow until it fills the room!
A fierce battle breaks out between her Nutcracker with his battalion of soldiers and a Mouse King with his troop of mice!
The Prince takes Clara on an enchanted journey through the Land of Snow where snowflakes dance around them.
Angels lead Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the Kingdom of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy presents her subjects:
and the beautiful Dew Drop Fairy and her entourage of Flowers. They all entertain Clara and the Nutcracker Prince with dancing.
Suddenly, all the Sweets encircles Clara. The Nutcracker Prince and the Kingdom of Sweets fade away.
Clara awakens to her parents around her, her Nutcracker in her arms, and the memory of her wonderful journey.
Program Advertisers
Where is the performance?
The Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center: 1310 Farm to Market 1788, Midland, TX 79707