George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at Keller Auditorium

There's something unexpected about Christmas time - picking the perfect tree, the sparkling of beautiful lights at nighttime, the scrumptious meals, the unwrapping of gifts, the music and the spirit of unity. No matter if we're halfway through the year or only getting starting now, this kind of magic is perfect for every month and there is simply no better way to slip into the spirit of the festive season than experiencing the legendary ballet that first captivated the world over a century ago!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nut Cracker!

Legendary Romantic composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the magical two-act ballet 'The Nutcracker' based on Alexandre Dumas' 1844 short story 'The Tale of a Nutcracker' and with original choreography by Marius Petipa, it became one of the world's finest, most famous and most celebrated classical ballets in history.

'The Nutcracker' - featuring beloved tunes such as the gleaming 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', the bouncing 'Russian Dance', the gorgeous 'Waltz of the Flowers' and the epic 'March' - tells the tale of young Clara who receives a curious wooden Nutcracker doll from her eccentric godfather on Christmas Eve. After everyone has gone to bed and much to Clara's delight, the living room transforms into a wonderland where the toys come to life, with whom she embarks on a magical adventure.

Apart from the stunning tale at its core, 'The Nutcracker' also has something quite amazing for the ballet-lover: breathtaking dancing - from perfect lifts and stunning leaps to mega spins and phenomenal, graceful dancing, from exciting choreography and intriguing puppetry to stunning hand-crafted costumes and scenery and of course, Tchaikovsky's EPIC score to underline the on-stage artistry.

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker this winter

To date 'The Nutcracker' has had countless performances around the world - and the masses can't all be wrong! If there's one theatrical experience that you need to treat your loved ones to in 2026, let it be 'The Nutcracker'! Trust us - we've seen 'The Nutcracker' many times and every single time has been EPIC!

This December pure ballet-magic is coming to Oregon's most adored live entertainment venue Keller Auditorium, presented by Oregon Ballet theatre, Portland's premier professional ballet company. Running from December 5-24, 2026, this annual holiday tradition features OBT's talented dancers alongside students from OBT School, bringing Clara's magical journey through the Land of Sweets to life.: the Keller Auditorium boasts cutting edge sound and lighting, pin-drop surround sound, a large capacity seating 2,992, comfortable seating across various levels and fantastic features for your ultimate comfort.

Make your Saturday evening more impressive!

Why not make a whole evening out of it? Have a look at our 'Plan Your Trip' section on the website for a curated list of the best places in Portland for food, drinks and entertainment!

So go ahead - come enjoy a wonderful evening at the ballet this winter with 'The Nutcracker'!