Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

I haven’t seen a live performance of The Nutcracker since I was a little girl, so this was a special treat. I brought a friend with me who also has a dance background from childhood/​adolescence, and she’s seen the Nutcracker several times in different venues. On the whole, I enjoyed it – especially the references to Pittsburgh, the Arabian dancers (could hardly take my eyes off of the woman), and the cute little kids. However, I have to agree with others who were disappointed by the recorded music vs. live orchestra. And, while I laughed at the peppering in of modern dance moves, I don’t think they were necessary or added much to an otherwise fine production.

This is a great show. So glad I came.
There is a slight Pittsburgh slant to this version that I like. The costumes are good and the dancing is at a professional level that is a joy to behold, in its effortless, gliding flow.
I do wish there was live music, but maybe in the future, if we continue to support the Pittsburgh Ballet.

The Nutcracker is a classic in any city, and Unilocal giving away free tickets was pretty cool.
As someone who has had the luxury of seeing some great ballet, the Nutcracker in Pittsburgh doesn’t really do my artistic soul any justice. I will say that Marie and the Nutcracker on this night were quite good. However, the lack of a live orchestra is truly wrong on so many levels. If you are someone with a strong classical music background, you will need to just view this production as a spectacle. This isn’t New York, Chicago, or Boston for sure.
Once you sit back and just take this as a free evening to get into the Christmas spirit, this is a fun way to get ready for the holidays. The children dancers are really cute, and it is fun to see the little kids dress up to go to the show. We also had pretty good seats for the ballet. The left center of the orchestra 6 rows from the back gave us a view of most of the stage.
All in all, I wouldn’t pay much to see this production, but it is an enjoyable evening out.

Thanks as always to Rachel and the Pittsburgh Unilocal team for securing tickets for us to The Nutcracker! The hubby and I planned a fun evening around the event, starting the evening with appetizers and drinks at Sonoma and ending with dinner and dessert at Butcher and the Rye.
I have only been to The Nutcracker a couple other times during my life (once as a little girl and another time in college) and was really looking forward to attending for the third time. I wish that I could say the show lived up to my expectations, but to be perfectly honest, it did not. For me, the bright spots of the performance were the Snow King and Snow Queen, the Arabian dancers, and the fun Pittsburgh references, such as the large clock and the party guests. I struggled with the pace of the show as it began to feel long to me, especially in Act I, and also with the very softly projected pre-​recorded music. Maybe the music was louder closer to the stage, but from row R on the main floor, I could more easily hear a number of whispered conversations and show commentary occurring around me than I could hear the actual music.
I love attending plays and musicals but must admit that I would have been disappointed to have paid $ 50/​seat to attend this show. I have really enjoyed attending both A Musical Christmas Carol and the Holiday Pops in the past and would prefer to return to them — at a lower cost — in the future versus coming back to The Nutcracker.

Ballet is an important holiday tradition for me! Growing up with a (really talented) ballerina for a sister meant that I was involved in a Nutcracker production of some sort for around ten years. She used to be in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s grad program, meaning she danced in this particular production several times… she was a bird in the aviary sequence in high school followed by the snow and flowers scenes several times. I have happy memories of this show from years past, so I jumped at the chance to see it again and share it with my boyfriend. We both enjoyed ourselves immensely! We scored great orchestra-​level seating with a clear view. The revamped snow scene looked wonderful, as did the staging of the battle scene. I loved seeing the penguin toy with a hockey stick due to it being a Pens game night! (The rats wave Terrible Towels on Steelers game nights too.) Overall this is a wonderful Pittsburgh version of a beloved holiday production, and it’s not to be missed if you can help it!

If I had to use only one word to give a review it would be BREATHTAKING. I have not been to see the Nutcracker in many years so I was very excited to see it. I didn’t realize how many connections the Nutcracker had with Pittsburgh until o read about it in the program. Before they ballet opened they brought Sally Wiggan, a local newscaster, and shared that she was going to be one of the guests at the party in the Nutcracker. She stated she had the opportunity to «attend the party» several times and really enjoyed it. Again they were bringing a bit of Pittsburgh into the ballet.
From the moment the curtained opened until the final curtain I was mesmerized. Everything was literally on pointe. I loved how they incorporated some of today’s dance moves into the ballet by in the first act the young man did a few. Whip and Nae Nae moves. It was funny to see who in the audience knew what he was doing. Later in the performance a young man did the Cabbage Patch and the Sprinkler. Again, it was funny to see who responded.
I think most little girls would want to play the part of Marie or the Sugar Plum Fairy but the dancer who drew my eye was the young woman who was the Arabian dancer. She was flawless, graceful, and to me was the best ballerina of the show. She made everything she did look effortless.
Of course seeing the tiny dancers is heartwarming. They are all just adorable. In one part of the show the little ones were building a human pyramid and one of the tots who was supposed to be on top just couldn’t make it. It didn’t mess up the performance, it actually made it more enchanting. Of course my very favorite was at the end when the bees turned their backs to us and wiggled their behinds.
I don’t know if many little girls dream about becoming a ballerina in today’s world where they can dream about one of the many options they have but I dreamed of being a ballerina when I was little. Tonight I’ll be dreaming about being a ballerina again.

This was my second time seeing The Nutcracker in Pittsburgh, and it’s quickly becoming a holiday tradition. Between the unseasonably warm weather we have been having and a very busy work schedule, I’ve been finding it hard to get into the holiday spirit. Last night definitely changed that for me, thanks to this production.
I enjoy attending shows at the Benedum Center because it is like stepping back in time. The building and theater are absolutely beautiful, and unlike any «modern» theaters or concert halls.
PBT puts on a great production, with very talented dancers and whimsical sets. The show is very thoughtfully planned to appeal to all ages. While my friend and I were able to appreciate the complexity of the dances, the younger audience members were engaged by the special effects and silly moments.
Overall, this was a really nice evening. I plan to continue to support PBT and their production of The Nutcracker as it is a wonderful way to experience some Christmas magic and get into the holiday spirit!

I had never seen The Nutcracker before so when I got the email with notification that Unilocal had tickets, I jumped at the chance to go (I got so excited that I think I submitted two requests because my phone wasn’t working fast enough for me :)).
It is at The Benedum which is a fantastic venue. You step into the lobby and it is like stepping back into time. The lobby beautifully appointed with sparkling chandeliers that glow warmly, inviting you in from the cold, frosty air outside. It didn’t hurt that on this night, the air was cold, colder than it has been all season and the snow started flying while we watched Marie and The Nutcracker dance across the stage. We were also greeted by carolers singing beautifully as we waited to get into the auditorium. It certainly brightened my spirit making it seem much more Christmas than it has recently (the warm weather has dampened my spirit a little).
Now on with the ballet… What an awesome job the Pittsburgh ballet does! It was beautifully done. I love that they use Pittsburgh and all things Pittsburgh. The costumes are amazing! The colors are just so vibrant. And the dancers, wow, exquisite! I could watch point all day and night and not get tired. It is absolutely mesmerizing to me. It all comes together for an awesome display, a feast for your eyes if you will. It was amazing!
If you ever get the chance to see The Nutcracker, do it! It was just breathtaking! And it certainly adds to the holiday spirit. Thank you Unilocal for affording me the opportunity to see The Nutcracker it was unforgettable and I absolutely loved it!

This is an excellent production of the Nutcracker. There are magical special effects that emphasize the dream-​like fantasy of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. There are humorous scenes that made the youngsters sitting around us giggle with pleasure. There is masterful dancing, such as the serenely beautiful duet in the Arabian Dance. It all takes place in a spectacular venue. This is a marvelous Pittsburgh tradition, wonderfully staged.
My only concern is the lack of live music. The taped music is okay, however it can’t compare with the excitement of a live orchestral performance.

What a wonderful production. This was my first time seeing the nutcracker and was totally enthralled by each scene, dancing and costumes. It’s like fully cocooning oneself in whimsy. Thank you Unilocal Pgh for organizing!

I did not go to this event since my son treated me to this show last Sat. I had never seen the Nutcracker before and was excited to see it for the first time. The story is in the program but I was taken away but the pointe dancers, the magnificent costumes and all the hard work put into this production.
The production does not use a live orchestra but rather you listen to the soundtrack as you watch the performers dance. I love how they used a Shadyside home as well as Pittsburgh locale to serve as the setting before «Marie» enters the world of the Sugar Plum fairy.
The pas de deux in Act 2 literally blew me away as well as the use of a carousel and the world of magic. You will find the familiar «Waltz of the flowers,» «the Snow Queen», as well as the «Sugar Plum fairy» tunes you’ve grown to love along with other music that tell the story of Marie’s beloved Nutcracker.
This is a Pittsburgh holiday tradition for family and friends. Dancers change depending upon performance date but all do an outstanding job. This is one production that makes Pittsburgh proud!