The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker

This event was utterly overpriced for what my husband and I along with another couple paid. $125 for one seat in the fifth row for what was really a glorified dance recital! The ballet itself was good, not great, it was all parents and family of the kids in the ballet. This event was billed as a ballet like it was a huge production. We are from New York and expected way more than what was given. There wasn t even an orchestra just a Music system playing. I guess we wanted our first ballet to be spectacular and it was far from that! My recommendation would be to not go because the kind of money they are charging for this event is ridiculous. We felt it wasted our precious time in DC sitting and watching a dance recital

The Nutcracker was a stunning way to welcome the holiday season! We went because my 10 yo had friends in the performance... and we were blown away! Love the small feel of the theatre and the lobby... felt very comfortable and holiday energy was so so nice! What a treat! The first act was our favourite . The costumes and colours and glitter! Wow!

This was the first time I've ever seen the nutcracker ballet live and I absolutely loved it!!! Even my fiancé enjoyed it and I thought he was going to hate it. So much fun! Can't wait to make it a yearly tradition!

I always enjoy the Washington Ballet production of the Nutcracker! I enjoy that they make it unique to Washington D.C. The only thing that I would love to see again with this production is a live orchestra again. I love the scenery for the dancing and I love that the production changes slightly each year.

It was about 90 degrees inside the crowded theatre. We suffocated and sweated for 2 hours and couldn't enjoy the show at Warner Theatre. Torture. Felt bad for the performers.

We really had a good time. Costumes were wonderful; ballet was beautiful. Music was perfect. Fun to see it after so many years. So many kids there, but all were very well behaved. The woman in front of me should have been kind of enough to stop playing around on her cell phone!

The idea was creative, but the choreography was lacking, the dancers were unable to keep up with the pre-recorded music and even on Saturday evening children talked, kicked seats and stood up throughout the show.

Had it not been for my grandaughter being a member of the cast I would not have attended. A BIG mistake on my part. The event was excellent. A must see for all!

They took extreme creative liberties with the original nutcracker and just made a ballet recital out of it. The actual nutcracker and rat king were barely in the ballet.

Unfortunately we were so distracted by the heat we were not able to enjoy the show as much as last year.

This was our second time going to see The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker. It is truly a favorite event during the holiday season. The dancers are first class and amazing. The props and scenery are so beautiful. The event is great for the entire family. My daughter said she felt like she was in NYC. I highly recommend this event. If you plan to go dress very light as it is extremely hot in the theatre.

This is consistently my favorite production of the Nutcracker. The costumes are always very creative, the DC touches that are inserted are cute, and the skill exhibited by the dancers is phenomenal. If I were rating the production alone, this is easily a 5 star event. However, the folks at Warner Theater need to learn how to regulate their heat. We walked up stairs to our seats in the balcony and encountered a wall of hot air. We mentioned it to the attendant and she said they kept it the heat up for the dancers and that they were working on it. I think a realistic estimate is that it was 85 degrees in the balcony. The dancers certainly don't need it to be that hot. We were fanning ourselves the whole time and were having trouble concentrating on what was happening on stage. In addition, the box seats in front of us apparently get drink service throughout the performance - watching a server constantly walk back and forth in front of you is incredibly distracting and often blocked our view. It may have been more than usual, because I believe she was bringing cups of ice to them since it was so hot. So bottom line, Warner needs to address some issues, and I will never book seats in the balcony again. Definitely go see this performance, but dress in layers

The performance was delightful as always but the theater was way too warm. Must have been 90 degrees inside which made it very uncomfortable.

It is a tradition with my youngest son. Each year we sit in different seats and have a little different perspective. The setting of the ballet on the Potomac is a nice touch.

Traffic was horrendous coming into DC. Others made the same comment - I have not seen it so bad before. I was driving in because I was going to the 7PM showing and figured most of rush hour would be headed out of town. I was wrong and missed trying out Chef Geoff's across the street. So I was in a bad mood when I entered the theater. The place is old, but very majestic. Clearly operating on a bit of a shoestring. Staff are very friendly and the operation seems to want to include young children in their plays to promote the arts. This impressed me. Then I saw the production. It also impressed me with the complexity of the dancing as well as the professionalism of the dancers. No it was not a perfect show, but the realness of it really struck me as a good thing. It was not polished and safe like other shows - the dancers did a great job and some took risks to make the performance better. The inclusion of the children was a hoot - they really livened up the event! The bathroom (men's) was in very good condition - no complaints there. The snack vendors were a bit pricy but I can see what they were supporting and have no issues with it. $13 for a popcorn, bag of twizzlers, and a bottle of water. Popcorn was OK. Twizzlers were fresh. I did not partake of the alcoholic beverages but most people seemed happy. This venue is not as stuffy as other venues - with the friendliness of the staff and the high ceilings and cool decor really adding to a pleasant ambiance.

The show was beautiful, and the ballet performances were unforgettable. The show started my season off with a bang.

Ballet for the common folk! Fast-paced, beautiful sets and costumes, tremendous humor - it is the most fun, lively ballet I have seen. While technically the performance is not top notch, it doesn't matter - it's a beautiful, fun, a wonderful spectacle. I will see it every year - highly recommend it!

Fantastic dancing and costumes. My only wish is that there was a live orchestra. Nonetheless, highly recommended.

Walking into the theatre you're greeted by members of the cast -- in costume. The fun begins. This is the most engaging, vibrant, delightful Nutcracker I've seen on stage. The costumes are every little girl's fantasy and are, quite simply, whimsical and beautiful. The dancers are delightful -- from the "princess" to the bumble bees. Don't miss this lovely production!

This was a pleasant Nutcracker, made fun by the many local children performing. If you need a Bolshoi level performance, this is not it. The sets and lighting were enchanting, but what made the event was the infectious enthusiasm of the youngsters.

The Family Day show was amazing. With dress rehearsals, photos with the dancers, and activities for the kids, the troupe did an amazing job of bringing the story to life. Our seats were changed to Row B, dead center, which was great. Thanks to the box office for taking care of us.

This has become my favorite DC Holiday tradition. I've seen other renditions of the Nutcracker, but the production by the Washington Ballet is second to none! My absolute favorite is the dance with the Native American Braves - stunning! The beauty and talent of the dancers is only is enhanced by the clever set production, costumes, and choreography. This is a smart,and graceful yet athletic performance of the Nutcracker that you'll never witness outside of DC. Love the cardinals, the cherry blossoms, morel and chanterelle mushrooms, and of course our own George Washington as the Nutcracker. Thank you Septime Weber for giving my family a treasure we'll carry with us forever. Only wish there was a live orchestra!

This performance was beautiful! My only complaint is the crowd. The people who were in the theater clearly did not know theater etiquette. People were talking through the whole performance and making a lot of noise with all the food and drinks they brought in. So rude.

The ballet was beautiful. It was so nice to see a traditional ballet updated just a bit!

The Warner Theatre has done a superb job with this beautiful story. It is perfect for children. The choreography, dancing and dress attire is amazing! My kids 5 and 8 loved it! Even my 5 year-old boy who always has ants in his pants sat for the entire play and he said: "Its so cool".

The dancers were ethereal, the sets were stunning !! It went so fast and I cannot wait till next year to see it again! Wonderful performance. Thank you Septime Webre and Washington Ballet!

I thought the costumes were amazing, and how the kids were so professional and very well incorporated into the ballet was impressive. overall, so enjoyed the culturally added segments with asian, african, and other forest scenes. Very good show.

Really enjoyed the show. The seats were great and the performance was amazing.

We (My mom, sister, 8 yr old daughter) truly enjoyed this show. Not only were the dancers talented, there were acts with some humor. The young performers were very cute and performed very well. the costumes and sets were beautiful.

Firstly the performance did not begin on time and the ushers continued to seat people far into the performance. No live music and there was far too much activity on stage at the start and the show concluded in less than an hour. certainly not worth the value of the ticket. Mediocre at best

The show was wonderful! The costumes were so pretty, colorful, and very artistic. The dancers and the children in the production were especially very fun to watch and my 3 year old was in awe of them!

We thoroughly enjoyed the show but it was uncomfortably hot in Warner Theatre the whole time.

I had not seen the Washington Ballet Nutcracker for many years - and am so glad I was able to go this year. It is magical -- and anyone who loves the Nutcracker should not miss this production. The dancers (including the children) were superb - Clara, the Snow Queen and Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy -- were the best I have ever seen. I hated for it to end. It is beautiful, the costumes are breathtaking - and the dancing is just beyond my ability to describe. A wonderful holiday treat!

This was my first time, but I think I'll be going yearly from now on!

Very unique version of The Nutcracker. Only wish they had live orchestra.

Wasn't the best version of the ballet but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The theatre is beautiful.

My boyfriend decided to accompany me to the ballet. He is not a fan of the arts and initially fell asleep during the performance. (So embarrassing!) During the second half, he was alert and enjoyed the performances given as thanks. I had such a great time! it was my first time at a ballet and was very memorable. The performers were great!

Beautiful performances, but there was no orchestra in the pit! The dancers and audience deserve better than a soundtrack.

This was a great show and I really made this holiday season special

I haven't seen any ballet performance that has no orchestra before... Dancers were average gut the stage was beautiful. If anyone wants go see it, make sure you wear something light. It is toasty inside of the hall.

The venue is SO. SO. CRAMPED. Seating is like sardines. Heaven forbid anyone is sitting in front of you, their body will block your line of sight to the stage. The stage seemed small and like there wasn't enough room for the dancers to execute large choreography with room to breathe. They did a great job with such cramped quarters! Also, the temperature was about 85 degrees! IN DECEMBER!! It was all anyone was talking about, how hot it was. All-in-all, the show was good but I won't be returning simply because of how uncomfortable the venue was.

The company has incredibly talented dancers, who filled the theatre with grace and elegance! The costumes were breathtaking! An incredible evening!

Bravo!!!. The show was absolutely amazing. Would highly recommend it to my friends and family.

The dancers danced to a recorded CD. It just felt very rushed and the dancers seemed constrained to fit into the music. I wish the dancers could have had more freedom in their routines. Timing is good, but if the music were live, I think it would have been better. Also, changing it to a DC narrative didn t really work.

I've been to the Joffrey, San Francisco, Denver, SantaFe, Salt Lake City, and other company's performances. This rates as one of the top two! Absolutely excellent! It's nod to the American Revolutuonary and Colonia era is spectacularly fun! I would travel far again, as I did this time, to see it again!

Loved the ballet, this has become our Christmas tradition. Make sure to get there early and get something to drink first.

Great event and great theater! I totally recommend it.

This was my first experience of seeing a ballet. Beautiful and amazing. Had great seats. Got to even meet the one and only fox 5 Erin Como! Wonderful lady

Wonderful! My 3 yr old daughter loved it and danced along.

Julie Kent has added that last bit of perfection and discipline needed to create ballet that takes your breath away. All the dancers, even the children, performed with precision and style. Loved it!

I am not a ballet enthusiast but the show was still somehow captivating from start to finish.

Attending the Washington Ballet's unique Nutcracker is always one of my favorite holiday traditions each year, and this performance was no exception. The production seems to get better and better each year! The children in TWB school did a spectacular job and are the real artists of the day. This performance put a huge smile on each audience member's face and starts the holiday season off in style. Love it!

My daughter and I loved it!!! Would recommend to all the Christmas lovers out there!!!

The set, the costumes, the talent -- all magnificent! (Refreshment prices at the Warner - ridiculous)

Great view and experience of this ballet from anywhere in the theater. We were in the upper balcony, four rows from the back wall. Having attended on the orchestra and lower balcony levels prior, our most recent experience was not all that different. Can't wait for next year's Nutcracker.

Loved the show. Performers were excellent. Our seats were amazing. Warner Theater was very nice. Would recommend to everyone.

The Nutcracker did not disappoint once again. My Mother and I have attended the Washington Ballet's Nutcracker since I was 3 months old and I am now 51. Yes, 51 years!!! As such, we have seen over 50 years of shows and all of the changes in sets and costumes and dancers. And I am still absolutely in LOVE! We were of course disappointed when the orchestra had to stop playing due to funding challenges but the show "must go on." :-) I was fortunate as a child to be able to go down at intermission and see the musicians! Brooklyn Mack was fascinating. What poise as a dancer. I look forward to at least 50 more years as my Christmas Eve Activity! Beverly Ann Fields, Esq.

The whole cast of The Nutcracker did a superb job. I loved it.

Went to the ballet for the first time as an adult and can't wait to start the tradition again of going to the ballet on Christmas Eve! The costumes were beautiful, the dancers were lovely, the theatrics and surprises kept us entertained, and of course the theater itself is mesmerizing. Drinks and snacks were a little pricy without much quality, I think I will pass on those next time.

We were glad to see the Washington Ballet Nutcracker but found that it was not the "Traditional" Nutcracker we are use to. Second half of show was not about the Nutcracker at all.

Wonderful adaptation of the Nutcracker adjusted to its Washington locale. Dancing was spectacular, sets were beautiful, the leverage of young local talent for the younger roles was terrific. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker was akin to a wakeful dream. From the choreography to the costumes and to say nothing of the talented dancers, the Washington Ballet performance was world class.

It had been a while since I had seen the Nutcracker but the Washington Ballet did not disappoint! The costumes were beautiful, the dancers were excellent and the storyline was done very well that there was always multiple things going on, a lot to look at, a lot of excitement! The only unfortunate thing was a couple decided to bring their young son to the play sat right next to me, he clearly was bored within the first couple of minutes and I found his restless behavior distracting.

Beautiful theatre-- not a bad seat in there! Show was wonderful. Efficient coming and going. Will definitely see other things at the Warner as a result.

The 2pm show did not happen and the will call was excellent at getting us seated for the 7pm. I really appreciated it since the kids were excited to see their friend perform. Thanks to Warner for their professionalism and patience.

I loved the show. Very entertaining and skilled dancers

I prefer white swans over black swans. Are their no Indian swans or Mexican swans?

This is a great holiday tradition for young and old; the "twist" to give it a Washington character only adds to the enjoyment.

The sets and costumes were gorgeous. The dancing was excellent although certainly not world class. I didn't notice when I bought the tickets that there's no orchestra pit at Warner Theatre, but I realized it immediately when the music started playing. I would have thought that Warner could afford a better audio system for the amount of money that they pull in on every show. My stereo sounds more lifelike at home. Lastly I would not recommend pre-purchasing your parking from ParkWhiz for the 555 12th Street Garage. The parking garage is fine although there is at least one garage slightly closer, but there is no advantage to prepaying. ParkWhiz/Ticketmaster will charge you $13 vs the $10 the garage charges but worst of all, the prepaid ticket is far less convenient. You have to stop at the garage office on your way out and wait in a long line to trade your prepaid ticket for a timestamped exit ticket at which point you'll be guaranteed to be at the end of the long line of cars trying to get out. The prepaid ticket doesn't even guarantee you a spot because no one even sees that ticket until you trade it it. If you just show up and park you'll pay less and you just swipe your credit card at the exit gate your way out.

What an amazing performance put on by this cast!! It was very uplifting!

Dancers were out of sinc often, Biggest complaint is not having an orchestra! Piped in music and this is the Washington ballet? I just expected much much more and the price isn't cheap. We still enjoyed ourselves but overall it was a let down. Food and drink inside the theater during the performance is also not a highlight. Get an orchestra and that would be the biggest improvement!

Wonderful performance! The dancing and costumes were beautiful. The orchestra......flawless!

While the Nutcracker itself was very entertaining and the dancers are all talented, one cannot argue with the fact that in the nation's capital, to not have this ballet accompanied with a live orchestra is a travesty behind measure. The power the cymbals, bass, and tuba all invoke in the live versions of Tchaikovsky's songs cannot be duplicated with a semi-decent set of speakers. The lobby area is cramp and very drafty, as checking our coats was an option we gladly did not exercise. The draftiness carried into the seating as well, at least in the orchestra sections on the main floor. Two glasses of wine, mind you they were "doubles", cost a paltry $40. $10 a glass for 1.5L wine I could get at Wal-Mart, a mistake we will make only once. Needless to say, we will be shopping around next year for a Nutcracker ballet that offers better amenities, especially the orchestra, which is such a shame D.C. couldn't offer this. It would've made the $20 glass a wine a little bit nicer to drink... Lastly, it seemed that there were a lot of late-comers, and in other theaters we've been to, the ushers deny those from interrupting the show for the dancers and for the patrons who could make it in time. In the first act, I lost count at the amount of times our view was obstructed by these tardy patrons and those in their rows getting up to make way for them. If you're late, too bad, you should sit out the act. Sorry the rest of us decided to allow extra time to be there early/on-time.

great! I have a lot of fun. Great performance, I enjoy!

I enjoy the Washington Ballet's take on the Nutcracker. It is a version that those from the DC area will relate to right away. If you have kids, it is relatively short, at under 2 hours including a 15-20 minute intermission. I loved the energy shown by all the dancers, but especially the kids. Whoever played the lead kid clown during that segment has a future in entertainment. Overall, I would recommend this for anyone who loves the Nutcracker and anyone who might be interested in seeing it in a DC setting.

Our grandchildren were primed for a story line that at least resembled the story that is the classic version of the Nutcracker so they were sorely disappointed when the nutcracker was gently placed on the floor and presumed to have been broken. They understood when Clara was taken off on a voyage in a cardboard ship with her prince but beyond that the whole point of the story was lost and the ending was non existent. Even for adults who might enjoy an occasional ballet this production became tedious and somewhat gratuitous to the performers who just kept coming back for another pas de deux. We would have enjoyed it more had we left during intermission. The orchestra pit was empty! This matinee was timed for children; the story is for children; the theatre was filled with children; the production must have been for the troupe. The Warner Theatre is beautiful and akin to stepping back in history. Pick a different production.

Scenery and costumes were fabulous! The Warner is absolutely stunning! And the dancers were amazing!

This was my first viewing of The Nutcracker and I cannot say enough good things about it! The setting, the dancing, the costumes were all amazing. It goes without saying that the music was the icing on the cake. Everything was memorable. Moreso the expression of glee and wonder on the faces of the children in the audience. As an adult I took a great deal of pleasure in the "nutcrackers" for sale in the lobby. This was a wonderful holiday experience from beginning to end, and one that is not limited to children! I am going to make it an annual present to myself!

Amazing performance and a stunningly beautiful theater! So much going on, I would have liked to have seen in it several times to take it all in!

I have watched many Nutcracker shows - personally I didn't think this one was memorable. The costumes were mediocre, the performance - while some parts were strong, others seem like high-school grade performance. I especially didn't like that they serve drinks during the performance. Horrendous that food is permitted-Cotton Candy? Popcorn? Really distracting.

No orchestra-- danced poorly to a recording. Very strange audience response- felt like a recital with inappropriate applause and bad dancing. Would have been fine for $20, but at $100/seat we were expecting something much more professional. Serious disappointment.

My daughter and I enjoyed this year's Nutcracker - the subtle Washington DC backdrop made it familiar yet different (but not too different). If there was one disappointment, it was the patrons around us. We attended a matinee (vs the evening performance) and were often distracted/disturbed by the people around us. I understand wanting to introduce small children to the theater - but their experience was at the detriment of my own. Arm waving, hair shaking and kicking the back of a seat is not acceptable - and impacted our enjoyment of the show. NO MORE matinees!

The first half was pretty decent. It followed some sort of plot which was accompanied by the ballet. The dancing was solid. The humor was a bit off (almost forced). The second half was terrible as far as coherency. It just had the main characters sit down and watch a bunch of dances. It was an audience watching a ballet of a pair of dancers watching a ballet. This is stupid it doesn't even feel intense again. What remained were some randomly themed dances that were supposed to seem worldly but seem to come off way too stereotypical. Oh, far east Asians can dance so let's throw in a dragon. Oh, we have a middle-eastern/north-African influenced garb and a native American influenced garb but let's put them together anyways. However, I really liked the animal masks and feel like they added a natural sense of humor (whenever they they were active). The theater itself was pretty good (Warner Theatre). No photos/videos were allowed at the request of the dancers (or that's what they said). Food is a bit too expensive, so eat beforehand.

Excellent performance for all ages. A must see each year.

Excellent show highly recommend. Will plan to attend every year. Just feel the tickets are overpriced, otherwise, great show.

It was a spectacular and entertaining performance in a beautiful theater; I wish I had bought tickets for a second showing!

An enchanting Nutcracker. All the child performers make it a special experience, and the polished, beautiful dancing of the professionals was a joy to watch. Touches of humor, moving moments of beauty, and the lovely sets and costumes all provide a feast for the eyes. The chaotic battle scene was fun to watch. We had a great time!

This is the best production I've ever seen! The concept (early American) was great, and really well done. The costumes, especially, were really well done. Outstanding!

Being fans of the Nutcracker, we figured we would try out the Washington Ballet's production this year after moving to the DC area, but were extremely disappointed. Not only was there no live music, but many of the classic and quintessential components of the Nutcracker were nowhere to be found. It ran more like a touristy youth production of the Nutcracker. There were quite a number of very poorly placed references to the DC area and America in general, which left a moneygrabbing poor taste in my mouth. Many of the classic dances from act two were replaced, including the Mother Ginger becoming a break dancing Carousel, as well as the entire rat vs. soldier interaction from act one being non-existent. For charging so much, this production did rise to its price, nor the history of the show. Save your money and go see one of the well established versions of this classic

Wonderful performance all around: dancing, costumes, scenery, festive atmosphere (but bring back the live music!)

It was overrated. The dancing by the 2 senior principle dancers were awesome, however the rest of the dancing was average. Some dancers wobbled. The set and costumes were beautiful and festive. The children were adorable. I liked the diversity of the dancers. The price was just too high for the average performances. I expected better professional dancing and a live orchestra for that price.

The event was great. I felt like the entrance and exit could have been organized better. The parking I purchased had zero directions and information. Then having to pic up at the will call box office was frustrating. The show itself was good, but people were extremely rude because of all the kids. Maybe you can recommend shows specifically for kids so its focused on them.

My sister and I took my 5 year old daughter to see the Nutcracker. It was a beautifully done performance. Lots of fun for everyone. We enjoyed seeing dancers of all ages and the humor put into the scenes. The scenery was magical.

I absolutely loved this rendition of the Nutcracker. The dancing was phenomenal, the set and costumes were lively, colorful and absolutely beautiful! I loved how Washington was weaved into the storyline, showing monuments in the background and the party being held in Georgetown. It felt so "homey". The characters that were located above the set during scenes with the children were very cleverly weaved in so that the children could be directed without it looking as though that was what was happening. I would definitely recommend this show. The Washington Ballet has absolutely captivated me!

I grew up going to see the Nutcracker every Christmas, and I think this was my favorite show I've seen of it. Beautiful set, costumes, and very creative plot twists (Americana themes, etc.). Loved it!

Overall the performance was entertaining. A few things I found disappointing, though. There was no live orchestra playing music for the performance. The Nutcracker is just as much about the music as is the dancing, so I was a little disappointed to go to THE WASHINGTON BALLET and get canned music from speakers. I also was not surprised to see Septime's bizarre twist on an original. The first Act was pretty traditional and similar to the storyline, but the original storyline went out with the bathwater in the second act. I don't see The Nutcracker too often, but when I do, I want to see the traditional Nutcracker. Instead of a sugared fantasy world, the second act took us to a springtime Washington DC with cherry blossoms, cardinals, cats, clowns, and dancers in coonskin caps. There was an insert of an American History lesson and heritage throughout the second act, which was very different from the traditional Nutcracker storyline. I also don't recall Clara sailing down the Potomac on a riverboat casino in the original...but it was entertaining nonetheless.

I love the Nutcracker. I grew up performing in it at my dance school and watching as many versions as I could (live or on tape). This was extra special because it has a unique Washington flair. It was a beautiful evening!

The holidays don't start for us until we see the Nutcracker at the Warner. Septime Weber is a genius, and the Washington Ballet version of the Nutcracker gets better every year! The dancers are top-notch and diverse, and the ballet continues to enthrall, even though the music is no longer live. A weekday evening show, with a late dinner at The Tadich Grill was a perfect start to the Christmas Season!

This production of the Nutcracker was very well danced and had comedic elements, as well. The costumes were fantastic!. The theatre was comfortable. We are glad we attended and will go again!

The Washington Ballet's production of the Nutcracker was one of the most visually stunning performances that I've ever seen. The sets were brilliant, the costumes absolutely lovely, and the dancing was superb.