BalletMet's holiday staple is coming back to downtown Columbus, with The Nutcracker set for a 22-show run at the Ohio Theatre from Dec. 10 through Dec. 27. The production will feature more than 200 BalletMet Academy students and trainees performing alongside the professional company and BalletMet 2, nearly 300 costumes, and 300 pounds of fake snow blanketing the stage.
According to 10TV, BalletMet Artistic Director Remi Wörtmeyer said The Nutcracker has been part of Central Ohio's holiday season for nearly five decades and that the company is joyful to continue sharing the tradition. The ballet last played the Ohio Theatre in 2018, and the station reports the production also has roots that stretch back decades in the local arts scene.
A 22-Show Run With Something for Every Schedule
The station's report lays out a packed standard schedule: performances on Dec. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 12 and 13 at noon and 5:30 p.m., a run of 7:30 p.m. shows from Dec. 15 through 18, a double-header on Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., matinee and evening shows on Dec. 20 at noon and 5:30 p.m., and evening performances on Dec. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Columbus's overall holiday arts calendar has long centered on this production, per the same account, with the 22-performance stretch closing out on Dec. 27.
Beyond the standard lineup, the station notes a Pay What You Want program that lets community members choose their own ticket price for select performances, including Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15 through 17 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 27 at noon.
Shorter Shows Built for Younger Audiences
For families with little ones, BalletMet is again offering two My First Nutcracker performances, scheduled for Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 at 11 a.m., according to BalletMet. The company describes the shortened format as a perfect choice for its youngest fans and anyone who may prefer a shorter, less crowded, and more casual environment. Everyone attending, regardless of age, still needs a ticket, BalletMet notes.
The full-length production, meanwhile, runs about 110 minutes total, broken into a 50-minute first act, a 20-minute intermission, and a 40-minute second act, per BalletMet's own performance page. The company also says limited VIP packages are available for select performances, though it hasn't specified which dates still have them.
Tickets and Venue Details
Tickets for The Nutcracker went on sale July 1 with a 50% discount running through July 31, while season subscriptions became available earlier, on May 1, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Tickets can be purchased through the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre, located at 39 E. State Street, according to the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts. The organization notes that BalletMet has brought dance to theaters, studios, and classrooms across Central Ohio and beyond since 1978, a legacy that will be on full display once the snow starts falling on the Ohio Theatre stage next month.
