San Francisco Youth Ballet Presents The 11^th Annual Performance of  The Nutcracker

   FOUR shows ONLY!   

Saturday December 3rd, 2011 @ 2pm & 7pm

 Sunday  December 4th, 2011 @ 2pm & 5pm

 Mercy High School Theatre,  3250 19th Ave. San Francisco

(Across from Stonestown Galleria Mall)

Capture the magic in this full length version, featuring principal dancers Bernadette Torres and Carlo di Dio from California Ballet Company, the students of San Francisco Youth Ballet and guest dancers from the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.  SFYBT's rendition and venue are perfect for families and young children.  The enchanting story is brought to life in a unique and child friendly way! 

There will be photo opportunities with different characters after the family shows on Saturday at 7:00 pm and Sunday at 5:00 pm, and the first 200 children to arrive will go home with a Nutcracker gift bag

Tickets $23  in advance & $25 At the door (Child and Adult) 

***Tickets are sold out every year.  Buy your tickets early. 

Group discounts available for qualifying organizations.

Act I: The Party Scene 

Our story begins with the eccentric Herr Drosselmeir and his nephew preparing the toys they will be bringing to the Stahlbaum Family's annual Christmas Eve party.  Once the toys are ready, the guests can be seen crossing the street to the home.   As they arrive, everyone praises the festive holiday decorations.  The children can barely be contained in the nursery waiting for the merriment to begin.  As this year's special Christmas tree in unveiled, the adults dance and then the children imitate them.  Suddenly Herr Drosselmeier makes a grand entrance with his handsome nephew.  He brings toys and dolls and magic to the party.  The most covetted toy he brings is for his favorite child Clara.  None of the children have ever seen it before, a wooden nutcracker.  Clara immediately falls in love with the nutcracker.  Fritz, Clara's brother, almost destroys the toy in a fit of jealousy.   Clara is charmed by Herr Drosselmeier's nephew when he repairs the nutcracker for her.  All is well again.

The party draws to a close and everyone says good night, but Clara is wide awake thinking of her new toy.   She decides to creep into the parlor to be near her nutcracker while the family sleeps.  Eventually she falls fast aslweep.  Suddenly, as the clock strikes at midnight and Clara is awakened by the sound of mice scurrying everywhere, stealing the Chrismast gifts.  While she tries to protect her beloved nutcracker, she discovers Herr Drosselmeier has come to her rescue.  He casts a spell over the mice and suddenly her nutcracker grows to an outrageous proportion as does the Christmas tree and other toys.  In her awe, she is surprised to find the mice are back and this time they have brought the Mouse King, who is also gigantic.  The Mouse King is battling to defeat the Nutcracker Prince!   In a moment of bravery, Clara tries to save her Nutcracker Prince who looks a though he might lose the battle.   In her efforts, she is knocked to the ground by the Mouse King, but not befoe the Nutcracker Prince finally defeats the Giant Mouse.  To thank her for saving his life, the Nutcracker introduces Clara to a handsome Prince who whisks them away to the land of snow.  After meeting the Snow King and Snow Queen, the Prince calls for an enchanted white swan to take them to the Land of Sweets

 Scene I:   The Christmas Party

Scene II:   The Battle

Scene III:  Enchanted Land of the Snow

 ....... Intermission........

Act II:        Land of Sweets

Clara and the Prince cannot believe their eyes as their swan travels through a magnificent land overflowing with candy and treats.   Everything looks delicious enough to eat.  As they are greeted by treats from many different countries, the queen of the land, the Sugar Plum Fairy, welcomes Clara with a dance.  All of the members of the kingdom perform exotic dances in celebration of Clara and the Prince's arrival.  The show is complete with treats from many countries, performing specialty prepared dances for the occasion; a splendid flower garden waltz, and a majestic ballet performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy.   After a final dance where every candy in the kindom praises Clara and her Prince, the beautiful, kind and gracious Sugar Plum Fairy and all the sweets say goodbye and send them on their way.  Magically, Herr Drosselmeier appears with the enchanted white swan to return them safely to their home.  Clara knows she will never forget this magical evening and the new friends she made.