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The Ultimate Kid-Friendly Guide to The Nutcracker in Seattle

The Ultimate Kid-Friendly Guide to The Nutcracker in Seattle

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Are you looking for holiday events in Seattle in December? George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is BACK and full of holiday cheer! Keep scrolling to find out what to expect at the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker in 2023.
This review of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

Are you wondering if your kids are old enough to enjoy George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle at the Pacific Northwest Ballet?

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend it several times throughout the years. It’s the ultimate holiday theatrical production in Seattle, and it’s an integral part of most family’s holiday tradition.

However, I’ve always been hesitant to bring my kids and make it a full family outing. This year, they are 5 years old and almost 8 years old.

While we used to attend a lot of shows at Seattle Children’s Theatre and went to movies in theaters frequently, it’s been almost 2 years since they have done an indoor event. They are chatty kids, and I wasn’t sure they could keep quiet the whole time.

Plus, I was a bit nervous about what they would think of the story of The Nutcracker. And it’s all based on my own experience seeing it as a kid on a field trip in 3rd grade.

So, after careful consideration, I decided to make this a special outing with just my 8-year-old to figure out just how kid-friendly The Nutcracker in Seattle really is.

This post will give tips and tricks for parents who want to bring their kids to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle.

Get my kid-friendly of The Nutcracker in Seattle.

Seattle Nutcracker FAQs

Is there a sensory-friendly Nutcracker performance?

Yes! On December 19, 2023, at 2:00 pm, they offer a sensory-friendly performance. This is a great option for families who are worried their kids might be overwhelmed by the regular performance.

Is Pacific Northwest Ballet offering food/drinks in 2023?

Yes! They have an extensive bar, and they have treats available to purchase before the show and during intermission. You can actually pre-order drinks and treats so they are waiting for you at intermission, and you can avoid the line. Their cafe is also open but has limited hours.

My Memories of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle

Like many of us Seattle kids, we grew up with the Maurice Sendak version of The Nutcracker. Her version was a reimagining of the original Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky choreography.

Actually, I didn’t know any others existed when I was younger.

I remember going to the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 3rd grade on a school field trip. As a dancer myself, I was so excited to see my first real ballet with all the young dancers like me!

However, the only core memory I have from that experience is being confused and bored during the Second Act because of the long run time. I wasn’t sure what was going on, and none of it made sense to me as a kid.

Plus, there were so many mice, and it creeped me out!

This is why I never felt compelled to come back, and I didn’t understand why people returned year after year as a holiday tradition.

But in 2015, Pacific Northwest Ballet debuted a new version of The Nutcracker in Seattle featuring choreography by George Balanchine and set design by Ian Falconer.

There was a lot of buzz about this change, and attendees had a lot of opinions about which one was better.

I’ve seen the new version 3 times now, and I’ll break it down for you.

Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of The Nutcracker in Seattle features sets and costumes designed by Ian Falconer.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production features sets and costumes designed by Ian Falconer and runs from November 24 – December 27, 2023. Photo credit Angela Sterling.

NEW VERSION VS. OLD ONE

When I watched the still-newish Balanchine version for the first time back in 2018, I kept thinking about how almost everything felt different. The mood felt lighter compared to Sendak’s or the original Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky choreography!

I wondered why I was so scared as a child of the Mouse King and his army. And I couldn’t figure out why I was so bored as a kid because this version is very engaging.

That’s when my husband asked if the story changed between this one and the Maurice Sendak version. That hadn’t occurred to me, so I immediately consulted the Internet!

While I was researching, I came across a fascinating post by Zach Barr Reviews comparing this new Balanchine version to the old Sendak one.

To sum it up, YES, the Sendak version is much darker and twisted than this one.

And despite both sets being created by children’s illustrators, Ian Falconer (author/illustrator of the Olivia series) really plays up the happy, whimsical feeling of Christmas and all the festivities.

What to Do Before Attending George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle with Kids

I’m all about maximizing family experiences. For George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, a little prep work can go a long way to really making the most of this family holiday event.

Here’s what I suggest:

1. READ THE BOOK

One of the best ways to fully enjoy George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is to make sure everyone knows the story. Since it’s a ballet, there isn’t any dialogue, and it really helps to have a basic understanding of the story.

I’d suggest this book because it’s the George Balanchine version and has a page of fun facts specific to his production.

A must-red before you watch The Nutcracker in Seattle.

And if you don’t get a chance to read the book, read the story synopsis in the program. My husband didn’t know the story, and if he hadn’t read the synopsis, he would have been really confused.

2. ALSO READ OLIVIA!

The Pacific Northwest Ballet set is designed by Ian Falconer, creator of the Olivia book series. Reading the books will help make the set feel familiar and interesting to kids.

A must-red before you watch The Nutcracker in Seattle.

Plus, there are a few nods to Olivia throughout the production. Clara’s dress has red and white stripes.

And Olivia herself makes a cameo in a painted balcony set to the left of the stage!

These touches make the whole ballet experience more kid-friendly, in my opinion.

3. PLAY THE MUSIC

Music plays an integral part in performances like The Nutcracker, so it’s a great way to acquaint your kids with the production.

While you’re getting dressed in the morning, doing pick-up/drop-off, or while the kids are playing at home, play music from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

It’s an easy way to get kids familiar with the music (plus, you’ll get bonus points for enriching them with classical music!)

We started doing this years ago, and I was impressed that my 4-year-old was already familiar with most of the music thanks to all the TV he watches 🙂

4. DRESS UP A BIT

Since this is Pacific Northwest Ballet’s big holiday season show, you’ll see that most families are dressed up in their holiday outfits.

I think it makes the whole experience a bit more special.

I saw a ton of Christmas plaid, poofy dresses, and bow ties. Wear what you’d wear for Santa photos. Oh, and I saw a lot of girls wearing tiaras.

5. SEATTLE CENTER WINTERFEST

If you have time, head to Seattle Center early so you can check out their annual Winterfest event.

They have ice skating, a winter train and village display (it’s super cool!), and various student and artistic performances throughout the season, and it’s absolutely FREE!

When You Arrive at McCaw Hall

The holiday spirit is alive and well the moment you step into McCaw Hall! You know what to expect at face value because you’ll instantly feel like you are at a royal Christmas party!

PHOTO OPS IN THE LOBBY

Out of all the photo ops I’ve seen at local events, Pacific Northwest Ballet has the liveliest lobby!

So, there’s the big Christmas tree where lots of families take their annual Christmas photos.

But there are a ton of photo-op sets that are beautifully painted, sturdy enough to hold kids and adults, and are so fun for holiday pictures!

The lobby has some great display for photo ops before you watch The Nutcracker in Seattle.
Out of all the amazing photo ops, this one of Mother Ginger was my favorite! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung
The lobby has some great display for photo ops before you watch The Nutcracker in Seattle.
This one looks way cuter when a kid is inside doing the ballet pose! Photo credit: Darren Cheung
The lobby has some great display for photo ops before you watch The Nutcracker in Seattle.
This one is near the Christmas Tree! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

There were several more photo scenes set up, too! These are other reasons I’d suggest having your family dress up a bit!

Insider tip: The lobby opens 2 hours prior to the show, so you have lots of time if you want to take some photos before the show.

CHECK OUT THE GIFT SHOP

You know I’m a sucker for a good gift shop, especially if it supports a nonprofit.

The Pacific Northwest Ballet gift shop is beautiful! There are tons of Nutcracker-themed ornaments and holiday decor.

The Nutcracker in Seattle also has a gift shop where you can buy some toys and souvenirs for your kids.
These cute dolls would keep little hands occupied during the show! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

There are also cute dress-up clothes, dolls, and every ballet-related gift idea you could think of!

They also have a mini gift shop upstairs that is a little easier to walk around when you have little kids.

PRE-ORDER SNACKS

My son and I perused the concession area, and they had a few delicious treats that looked amazing!

Yes, you can have a snack while watching The Nutcracker in Seattle.
Now, this is how I like the Mouse King–in cookie form! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

If you are worried about giving your kids sugar before the show, you can bribe them with a treat at intermission.

The cool thing is you can actually pre-order treats for your kids (like amazing cupcakes) and avoid waiting in line during intermission! But you’ll need to order them before they sell out.

GRAB A SEAT CUSHION

If you don’t want your child to insist on sitting in your lap to see better, get a complimentary seat cushion before you sit down. They have a TON available, and my son actually liked the responsibility of choosing his cushion and putting it back after the show.

CRY ROOM AVAILABLE

Just in case your toddler or preschooler starts making noise when the rest of the audience is silent, don’t freak out!

There is a cry room available, or you can just bring them into the lobby until they settle down. There are monitors so you can still see the show.

What We Thought About George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seattle:

Part of why this version of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at Pacific Northwest Ballet felt so modern and updated is that they used video to anchor the story.

I completely felt transported in time to a huge estate in a snowy town. There was some nostalgia about getting dressed up to visit relatives for Christmas Eve, and it just felt a bit magical!

I also thought that was a smart addition to keep the kids engaged, too! It was easy to see that the story takes place a long time ago.

So, my husband and I experienced George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in very different ways when we first saw it in 2018.

MY HUSBAND’S TAKE ON GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER IN SEATTLE

Having never read the story or seen the ballet, he read through the program and was still a bit confused about the story.

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Seth Orza as Herr Drosselmeier in a scene from The Nutcracker in Seattle.
Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Seth Orza as Herr Drosselmeier in a scene from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ®, choreographed by George Balanchine. Photo credit: Angela Sterling

He comes from a musical background, and the music was his focal point, and the dancing was secondary. It bothered him a bit that the dancing didn’t always line up with the music.

Also, as a Chinese guy, he was mildly annoyed that the “Chinese” dancers had the shortest number on stage.

But mostly, he was surprised how much of the music he recognized and was able to hum along to in his head!

And it made him curious enough to re-read the synopsis in the program and to look up the rest of the story later.

MY IMPRESSION OF GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER IN SEATTLE

My background is in dance, so it’s not surprising that I was predominantly glued to the dancing, and the music just kind of accompanied it.

I have to start off by saying just how impressive these young dancers are! I mean, they do a TON of dancing in Act I, and you can tell how hard they train for this opportunity. Ballet fans are definitely going to appreciate them.

And so much of the show is kid-focused. Most of the characters aren’t intimidatingly large compared to the kids.

Eek – a mischief of mice! Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in a scene from The Nutcracker in Seattle.
Eek – a mischief of mice! Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in a scene from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ®, choreographed by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo credit: Angela Sterling

I’m still not a fan of the Mouse King (he has 7 heads!), but the costumes are AH-MA-ZING!

I loved the big bowed dresses in the First Act. And I was swooning over the brightly colored costumes in the Second Act!

And there were quite a few “ooh” moments for me.

The Sugar Plum Fairy (played by Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Leta Biasucci) gets pulled while she’s up on her toes, and it looks like she’s ice skating!

But I think I really enjoyed the “cultural” dances from around the world the most! It’s definitely the ballet version, but I thought they seemed exactly like what little Clara would have dreamed about when thinking about exploring the world!

WHAT DID MY 8-YEAR-OLD THINK OF THE NUTCRACKER IN SEATTLE?

He was thoroughly impressed with all the pre-show excitement. We did a bunch of photos with the cool photo ops, he got to shop at the gift shop, and then we headed upstairs to pick out treats.

He quickly exclaimed, “I LOVE going to The Nutcracker!” That was before the show had even started.

Once it began, he thought the opening video was really cool and totally set the stage. And then he had a lot of questions about what was “real” and what was just the set during the part where Clara and her brother are trying to peek inside the party room.

After about 5 minutes of the ballet part, he turned to me and asked, “So, are they not going to talk at all?”

That’s when I realized that I totally didn’t prepare him for what to expect at a ballet performance. Oops!

He stayed pretty engaged through the first act, although he did keep asking when intermission was so he could eat his cookie. The second act’s run time was a bit long for him, and he was definitely ready to go by the end.

But he mostly had a good time, and we were able to chat about the show on the drive home.

Nutcracker in Seattle Wrap-Up

After having missed so many holiday festivities during the pandemic, I was extra pumped to attend The Nutcracker at McCaw Hall. And I’m really glad that I got to have a special activity with my oldest son.

If you think you’re ready to introduce this classic to your children, it’s something worth doing this holiday season.

We felt pretty safe going, and they really didn’t skimp on the holiday magic!

Thanks to Pacific Northwest Ballet for the press tickets. All opinions are my own.

More Festivities in the Pacific North West This Holiday Season:

3 Things to Do in Vancouver BC during the Holidays
Holiday Magic: Christmas in Seattle
The Velveteen Rabbit at Seattle Children’s Theatre
5 Seattle Christmas Activities to Add to Your Family Winter Traditions
THE POLAR EXPRESS at Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum

Heading to Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle to see George Balanchine's The Nutcracker in Seattle? Get my top tips for bringing the kids! Click to read more or pin to save for later. www.marcieinmommyland.com #pnb #balanchine #nutcracker #pacificnorthwestballet

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Kevin

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

The Nutcracker isn't my cup of tea, but you did a great job outlining the experience in a very detailed manner. Great photos too, makes you feel like you are experiencing it

marciecheung

Thursday 6th of December 2018

I wasn't a fan of the Sendak version (at least as a kid) but this one was stunning!

Elizabeth O

Sunday 2nd of December 2018

Great ideas how kids could enjoy watching shows. It would give them unforgettable experience once they've enjoy the show. :)

marciecheung

Monday 3rd of December 2018

Yes, it's such a beautiful production!

Fairuz

Saturday 1st of December 2018

The Nutcracker sounds like a wonderful ballet show. The mice do look creepy, but only a little. They're kinda cute in their own way. I like the fact that the use video to anchor the story too. That's a modern twist that kids will surely love. Being able to bring your wine into the theatre is definitely a plus.

marciecheung

Saturday 1st of December 2018

Yes, I love it when shows adapt to the times and let modern technology enhance the experience!

Subhashish Roy

Friday 30th of November 2018

Some very handy information for those wishing to visit. Kids should actually love it.

marciecheung

Saturday 1st of December 2018

It's a beautiful production!

Diana Tidswell

Friday 30th of November 2018

My kid might enjoy the nutcracker too, maybe a few years to go from now.

marciecheung

Saturday 1st of December 2018

Yes! It's best to know if your kids are ready for it before going!

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