BalletMet: The Nutcracker at Ohio Theatre

There's something quite magical about the festive season - decorating the Christmas tree, the sparkling of stunning lights at night, the exquisite cuisine, the anticipation of gift-unwrapping, the uplifting music and the spirit of unity. Whether it is actually the festive season or not, this unique sort of magic does its thing in summer, autumn, winter and spring and there is simply no better way to slip into the spirit of the festive season than experiencing the breathtaking ballet that left the world completely entranced over a century ago!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nut Cracker!

Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the sensational two-act ballet 'The Nutcracker' based on Alexandre Dumas' 1844 short story 'The Tale of a Nutcracker' and with breathtaking choreography by Marius Petipa, it became one of the world's best, most popular and most celebrated classical ballets ever.

'The Nutcracker' - featuring well-known tunes such as the shimmering 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', the jolly 'Russian Dance', the glorious 'Waltz of the Flowers' and the legendary 'March' - tells the tale of young Clara who is gifted 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 ballet also features something legendary for the ballet-lover: epic dancing - from hair-raising lifts and highly athletic leaps to legendary spins and brilliant, graceful dancing, from unexpected choreography and riveting puppetry to stunning hand-crafted costumes and scenery and of course, Tchaikovsky's timeless score to underline the on-stage events.

BalletMet this winter

Since the 1960s 'The Nutcracker' has had countless performances around the world - and the masses can't all be wrong! BalletMet's Professional Company Dancers bring this beloved production to life with choreography by Gerard Charles, featuring their talented principals and ensemble members as Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Sugar Plum Fairy and enchanting characters. This is without a doubt the one theatrical event in 2026 that you owe to yourself and your loved ones! Trust us - we've seen 'The Nutcracker' many times and every single time has been a wonderful memory!

Clara, the Nutcracker and their friends - and rat-enemies - are bringing the magic to Columbus's most adored live entertainment venue Ohio theater and there has never been a venue more suitable than this! The historic 2,791-seat theater with its stunning Spanish Baroque interior, located across from the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus, is the perfect setting for this holiday tradition.: the Ohio theater boasts exquisite sound and lighting, crystal-clear surround sound, a large capacity, plush seating across various levels and modern features catering for every want and need.

Make your Thursday night more popular!

Why not make the evening even more notable? Doors open at approximately 6:30 PM for the 7:30 PM performance. Check out our 'Plan Your Trip' section on the website for a hand-picked list of our favorite go-to's for food, drinks and entertainment!

So go ahead - have yourself a merry little Christmas this winter with 'The Nutcracker'! Running December 10-27, 2026, with approximately 1 hour 50 minutes runtime including one 20-minute intermission, this is Columbus's longstanding holiday tradition you won't want to miss!