Act I

The story is set in Germany during the 1800s. The hospitable President Silberhaus and his wife, along with his children, Clara and Fritz, celebrate the holiday festivities with their friends and family. During this Christmas Eve night, the guests and their children rejoice in the magical Christmas atmosphere that Dr. Drosselmeyer, the godfather of Clara and Fritz, brings to the Silberhaus home. He fills the festivities with magical entertainment, dancing dolls, and toys for the children. Dr. Drosselmeyer has a special surprise for Fritz—a Nutcracker. When Fritz rejects the toy soldier, Clara, enthralled with this individually special gift, asks if she may have it. Filled with pleasure, Clara dances with her new Nutcracker and her godfather, all the while trying to keep her new toy safe from the mischief of her brother. In the end, Fritz does steal the Nutcracker from Clara and breaks the toy in two! Dr. Drosselmeyer fixes the Nutcracker, but Clara remains worried about her adored Nutcracker throughout the end of the party. Once all the guests leave, Clara is put to bed but cannot sleep without one more dance with her Nutcracker.

Clara falls into a deep sleep and dreams that giant mice led by the King Mouse attack her and her Nutcracker. In response to Clara’s fear, her Nutcracker develops into a life-size general and commands an army of tin soldiers. The King Mouse and the Nutcracker lead a huge battle between the mice and the soldiers. Clara panics when her Nutcracker gets wounded and throws her slipper at the King Mouse to distract him; at that moment, the Nutcracker regains his strength and kills the King Mouse.

Once the King Mouse is dead, Clara is distraught about her wounded Nutcracker. She looks up and sees Father Christmas, whom she pleads with to help her injured Nutcracker. Before her eyes, the Nutcracker becomes a magical Prince! Due to her bravery, the Prince invites Clara to join him through an enchanted Snow Forest filled with dancing snowflakes. At the end of the act, Clara and her Prince journey to the Land of Sweets.

Act II

Clara is still dreaming but is now in the Land of Sweets where she is met by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court of charming angels. The Prince and Clara recount their story of battle with the King Mouse. Due to Clara’s bravery, the Sugar Plum Fairy asks Clara to stay and be entertained by the Divertissements of her kingdom.

After all the Divertissements and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance for Clara, it is morning. Clara awakens from her fantastic dream and presses her Nutcracker to her heart, knowing that he is a very special and magical present.