Entertainment Performing Arts Discover the Many Roles in Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" Share PINTEREST Email Print Kelly/Mooney Photography / Getty Images Performing Arts Ballet Favorite Ballets Gear Singing Acting Musical Theater Dance Stand Up Comedy By Treva Bedinghaus Treva Bedinghaus Treva L. Bedinghaus is a former competitive dancer who has studied ballet, tap, and jazz. She writes about dance styles and practices and the history of dance. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 12/06/18 With its colorful costumes, dreamlike score, and memorable roles, "The Nutcracker" ballet is a Christmas classic. This fantastic tale of a toy soldier come to life has been delighting audiences for more than 125 years. For many youngsters, it is also their first introduction to the world of classical music and ballet. Background "The Nutcracker" ballet was first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. Its score was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the performance choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, three of Russia's greatest artists of their era. The ballet was inspired by "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," published in 1815 by the German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71," as the complete score is known, consists of eight movements, including the memorable dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the march of the Wooden Soldiers. Synopsis To set the scene, a young girl named Clara is hosting a holiday party with her family, including her brother Fritz. Clara's Uncle Drosselmeyer, who is also her godfather, appears late to the party, but to the delight of the children brings gifts for them. He introduces entertainment for the guests including three windup dolls, a ballerina doll, a harlequin, and a soldier doll. He then presents Clara with a toy nutcracker which Fritz promptly breaks during a fit of jealousy. Uncle Drosselmeyer magically repairs the doll to Clara's delight. Later that night, Clara looks for her toy under the Christmas tree. When she finds it, she begins to dream. Mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow. The Nutcracker magically grows to life-size. Enter the Mouse King, who the Nutcracker fights with swords. After the Nutcracker defeats the king, he transforms into a handsome prince. Clara travels with the prince to a place called the Land of the Sweets, where they encounter many new friends, including the Sugar Plum Fairy. The friends entertain Clara and the prince with sweets from around the world including chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia, which all dance for their amusement. Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes, Mother Ginger and her children appear, a group of beautiful flowers perform a waltz and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance together. Cast of Characters The diversity of the cast allows ballet dancers and some non-dancers of all ages the opportunity to participate in the ballet. The Nutcracker is a favorite of many ballet companies because of the number of roles that can be cast. Even though the dancing may be minimal for a few of the roles, dancers of different levels can be cast together. Clara—The eldest child of the Stalhbaum family. In some version, the girl is named Masha or Maria, and her doll is named Clara Herr Stahlbaum, his wife and Fritz and Louise—Clara's family Columbine and Harlequin dolls—a pair of pantomime characters borrowed from Italian commedia dell'arteThe Nutcracker—Hans-Peter, Herr Drosselmeyer's nephew who was turned into the Nutcracker by the evil Mouse King's mother Herr Drosselmeyer—Clara's godfather, Hans-Peter's uncle, and a magicianSnow Flakes—Flakes of snow who dance at the end of Act 1, and sometimes are attended by a Snow Queen and Snow KingSugar Plum Fairy—Ruler of the Kingdom of Sweets who welcomes the Nutcracker and Clara into her kingdom Mouse King—Leader of the army of mice who battle the NutcrackerMother Ginger (La Mère Gigogne) and the Polichinelles—a larger than life fertility figure, sometimes played by a man in drag, whose crinoline dress hides all of her children, the Polichinelles The following list of characters, in order of appearance, varies slightly among ballet companies. Although the overall storyline generally remains the same, directors and choreographers sometimes tweak the cast according to the specific needs of their dance company. Act 1 The first act encompasses the Christmas party, the mice battle scene and the journey on the way to the Land of the Sweets through the Land of Snow. Mr. Stahlbaum, the town mayorMrs. Stahlbaum, the mayor's wifeParty guests, family, and friendsClara and Fritz, the Stahlbaum childrenUncle Drosselmeyer, the godfather of Clara and FritzMechanical dolls, harlequin, and soldierOwl, changing into DrosselmeyerMiceHare-drummersNutcrackerSoldiers of the NutcrackerMouse KingGnomes, with torchesCavelier, Nutcracker PrinceSnowflakesSnow Queen Act Two The second act is set primarily in the Land of the Sweets and culminates with Clara back at home. Sugar Plum FairyClaraCavalier, princePages Spanish dancersArab dancersChinese dancersRussian dancersShepherdessMirliton dancers, reed-flutesMother GingerBuffoonsDew Drop FairyRosebudsFlowers Memorable Performances Although popular at the time of its debut, "The Nutcracker" did not become well known in the U.S. until the San Francisco Ballet began performing it on an annual basis in 1944. Other well-known versions include George Balanchine's performance with the New York City Ballet beginning in 1954. Other famous dancers who have performed include Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Mark Morris. Featured Video