American Ballet Theatre's
The Nutcracker & Segerstrom Center: A history
American Ballet Theatre premiered The Nutcracker on the West Coast in 2015. Since then, it has become a cherished holiday tradition in Orange County. American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker is produced in partnership with the ABT William J. Gillespie School, Costa Mesa’s premiere ballet school located on our campus. Students at the Gillespie School have the unparalleled opportunity to work and perform with American Ballet Theater during their classic holiday performances. Journey into the enchanting world of The Nutcracker as American Ballet Theatre and students of with the ABT William J. Gillespie School perform at Segerstrom Center for their eighth year.
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Photo gallery
Cast of American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in December 2022. Photo by Marty Sohl.
Cast of American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker performing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on December 7, 2017. Photo by Doug Gifford.
Christine Shevchenko as Princess Clara and Thomas Forster as the Nutcracker King in American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker on December 20, 2018. Photo by Doug Gifford.
Misty Copeland as Princess Clara and Herman Cornejo as Nutcracker Prince in American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in December 2016. Photo by Doug Gifford.
West Coast Premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker on December 10, 2015. Photo by Doug Gifford.
Learn more about The Nutcracker
Chloe Misseldine’s Clara debut
A beloved holiday tradition returns to Southern California this December as American Ballet Theatre’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker makes its highly anticipated return to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for the ninth year.
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Behind the Curtain: American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker
As the curtain rises on the mesmerizing world of American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, the audience is transported into a realm of magic, dreams, and enchantment.
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Christine Shevchenko
For the past seven years, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Christine Shevchenko has performed in ABT’s The Nutcracker in Segerstrom Hall, bringing this holiday classic to Orange County audiences for all to enjoy.
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Behind the Ballet with Elizabeth Kaye - ABT's The Nutcracker
Take a look at a history lesson about Southern California's favorite holiday tradition.
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