The Christmas season would not be complete without the staging of the world's most popular ballet theater production — The Nutcracker. With the cold December chill all around, there's no better way of warming the heart than sharing a seat with friends and loved ones inside a cozy warm theater, watching the endearing and enchanting story of "The Nutcracker". The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater gives "The Nutcracker" a magical moments of dance, music, and a superb production showcase. Don't miss this spectacular musical treat, ideal for the whole family. Check out the series of shows at the Benedum Center starting on Friday, 5th December 2014. Get your tickets now!

Hailed as the 'most popular ballet in the world', "The Nutcracker" is a classic, an iconic ballet theater production that continues to earn raves from audiences of different parts of the world to this very day. It is continuously being staged, especially during the Christmas season. It is a story that is told and retold over and over, passed on from one generation to the next. And yet, it never loses its magic. The show is a grand production package filled with exhilarating ballet dances and the highly riveting music. Simply breathtaking. Truly a must-see show that you cannot afford to miss in this lifetime.

"The Nutcracker" is based on a story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann, way, way back in 1816. Its music was written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. One of its mos famous music pieces and dance number is the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy", where he discovered and used the celesta. The original title is "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". The Nutcraker ballet was launched at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 18 December 1892. Due to a lukewarm reception from the audience back then, it was rarely performed on stage. A renewed interest in The Nutcraker came in the 1940s when Walt Disney used some of its music on the animated movie "Fantasia". With the touch of Disney magic, the ballet became more appealing and accessible to the general public. Since then, the staging of The Nutcraker in theaters has been a well-loved and cherished yearly tradition in North America and many parts of the world.

It's Christmas time once again! Don't miss this most-loved Christmas ballet tradition, and let your family, friends and loved ones get a breathtaking and heartwarming musical experience they'll never forget. Pittsburgh Ballet Thetre's "The Nutcracker" is a must-see! Drag those tiny toes to the box office and get your tickets now!