Voted "San Diego's Best Nutcracker" (Tommy Dance Award), and described by the San Diego Union-Tribune as "a plum of a Nutcracker," City Ballet's 18th annual Nutcracker returns to the historic Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego for eleven performances, accompanied by The City Ballet Orchestra conducted by John Nettles.

Directors Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, formerly of the Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet, have created a lavish production with their company of professional dancers. Fashioned after the choreography of the great Russian master, Lev Ivanov, who created the very first Nutcracker more than 100 years ago, the production is dazzling, with virtuoso dancing complemented by opulent sets and costumes. Children's roles are performed by talented young dancers from the City Ballet School, the official school of City Ballet.