Tickets now on sale for The Nutcracker, casting announced

Segerstrom Center for the Arts announces the return of SoCal’s favorite holiday tradition – American Ballet Theatre’s captivating production of The Nutcracker coming to Segerstrom Hall stage with 12 performances from December 8 -17. This year marks the eighth season that the Center has presented ABT’s The Nutcracker, Southern California’s grandest production of this beloved holiday ballet, featuring ABT’s international all-star cast and marking the first year of the production under new ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe, who was appointed in 2022.

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Photos courtesy of scfta.org

“The Nutcracker” Princess and Prince with members of the ABT

Co-presented by the Center and American Ballet Theatre with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, The Nutcracker is the beloved holiday story based on The Nutcracker and the King of Mice written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and set to Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s magical score performed live by Pacific Symphony.

Casting for The Nutcracker

ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe has released principal casting which will include Devon Teuscher as Clara, the Princess and Joo Won Ahn as The Nutcracker Prince on Opening Night, Friday, Dec. 8.

–Friday, Dec.8 at 7 p.m. – Devon Teuscher, Joo Won Ahn

–Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. – Hee Seo, Daniel Camargo*

–Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. – Catherine Hurlin, Aran Bell

–Sunday, Dec. 10 at 12:30 p.m. – Skylar Brandt, Herman Cornejo

–Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. – Hee Seo, Daniel Camargo

–Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. – Christine Shevchenko, Thomas Forster

–Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. – Isabella Boylston, James Whiteside

–Friday, Dec.15 at 7 p.m. – Cassandra Trenary, Calvin Royal lll

–Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. – SunMi Park*, Cory Stearns

–Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. – Devon Teuscher, Joo Won Ahn

–Sunday, Dec. 17 at 12:30 p.m. – Catherine Hurlin, Aran Bell

–Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. – Skylar Brandt, Herman Cornejo

*Indicates the first time in the role.

American Ballet Theatre has produced several critically acclaimed productions of this family-friendly classic tale of Clara and the Nutcracker over the years. The Nutcracker, with its timeless music by Tchaikovsky and splendid costumes and scenery, is the perfect way to introduce children to ballet and inspire them to study dance and become a little Clara or Nutcracker Prince themselves. This production, with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, scenery and costumes by Tony Award^® winner Richard Hudson (Disney’s The Lion King), and lighting by Tony Award^® winner Jennifer Tipton, received its World Premiere in 2010.

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Snowflakes in “The Nutcracker”

 According to The New York Times, “Mr. Ratmansky here is an enchanting storyteller, but his is among the most original, fascinating for children and adults alike. A production like no other, made with complete theatrical authority from first to last.”

The American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at the Center offers students unrivaled performing opportunities, master classes, lectures by visiting artists and the highest quality of classical ballet training through the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. Forty students are featured annually in ABT’s production of The Nutcracker; and students have performed alongside ABT dancers in the World Premiere productions of The Sleeping Beauty (2015), Whipped Cream (2017) and the West Coast premiere of ABT’s Harlequinade (2019).

Tickets start at $29 and are available for purchase online at www.scfta.org/events/2022/the-nutcracker, in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, and by phone at 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts of 10 or more, call the Group Services offices at 714.755.0236.

A limited number of exclusive “Sweet Seats” are available for the weekend performances of The Nutcracker. Along with prime Orchestra seating, this ticket also comes with a Segerstrom Center keepsake ornament, The Nutcracker collectible poster and a delicious holiday cookie – all in a Segerstrom Center tote bag.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.scfta.org.