My First Nutcracker

The classic Nutcracker isn’t perfect for all age groups, but this rendition at New York City Children’s Theater is a fantastic first introduction. A 50-minute, kid-friendly show (best for ages 3 to 8), this ballet follows Clara and the Prince as they travel to a magical Christmas wonderland complete with whimsical decorations, sweet treats, dancing flowers and one pesky mouse.

My 6-year-old, 4-year-old and 1-year-old, all loved the production and were mesmerized from beginning to end. The show was the perfect amount of time to let them experience a quintessential NYC holiday experience with the freedom to wiggle around and even interact with the performers. Whether your kids have never stepped foot in a theater or are seasoned veterans, this unique rendition will surely be a memory that little ones will cherish for years to come.

My kids love ballet, so I knew they’d love the New YorK City Children’s Theater’s My First Nutcracker, a children’s production of the holiday classic. In 50 minutes we traveled to far off lands and celebrated the magic of dance during this riveting interactive performance. If you live in the NYC area come delight in the magic of the holiday season with your little ones at My First Nutcracker.

New York City Children’s Theater presents the classic holiday story adapted especially for young audiences. In this 50-minute production, audiences will travel with Clara and the Prince to a magical kingdom filled with delicious treats, dancing flowers, and a pesky mouse king.

If your tot’s too young to sit through the full-length ballet, New York City Children’s Theater is presenting a 50-minute version that serves as an age-appropriate introduction to this seasonal staple. Watch as Clara and her Prince journey to a fantastical kingdom filled with scrumptious treats, dancing flowers and a meddling Mouse King. All the highlights of The Nutcracker, including Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking music, are there, and Clara narrates the whole thing so young audiences won’t lose their way.

My First Nutcracker is an absolutely delightful introductory ballet performance geared to young children. My 5 year-old granddaughter enjoyed it all: the crafts, the story, the “cozy” theater, and the Mouse King tip-toeing up the aisle! The dancers are wonderful! The audience participation component was perfect for young children, including getting up out of their seats to practice ballet steps! I highly recommend My First Nutcracker for young children and their parents and grandparents!

Thank you so much for this wonderful experience. The kids loved the performance. When I asked what was their favorite part, some of them said that they loved flying with the dancers. Thank you for this wonderful gift of art and culture. It was magical!

Playing now through Dec. 22 at W. 42nd St.’s Theater Row is My First Nutcracker, a NYC Children’s Theater production. Aptly titled, it’s a place to bring kids ages 3-8 for their first time seeing this story. We spoke to Barbara Zinn Krieger, the Founder and Artistic Director of NYC Children’s Theater, who explained that it has a running time of under an hour, plus dialogue to help kids better understand the story. It also has audience participation, so “kids can have the thrill of doing some steps and arm movements themselves.” Krieger also explained that the audience will be able to interact with Clara-Marie and the rest of the cast, and will learn the significance of the various dances in the show. There are also a few “Sensory-Friendly Performances” for children on the autism spectrum, or with ADHD.

Perfection! A wonderful primer for a young theater-goer. Every detail – from small to large – was thoughtful and imagined for little eyes. The actors are phenomenal. Facial expressions and all! The costumes are eye catching and imaginative. And, although I (as a parent) was bummed when it ended, it was just the right run time for the target audience.

My First Nutcracker is a very engaging, delightful and gentle introduction to The Nutcracker! Even the warm up act before the performance is charming.

My girls loved it! What a great, inviting energy from the cast. I admired the interactivity and the condensing of the original piece. Clara’s dancing was especially beautiful! She sparkles. My girls were just upset they couldn’t stay in their seats and watch the whole thing again.

Truly an immersive experience from start to finish! The theater staff and cast tease all the senses and keep the audience on their toes (literally)! The audience ‘flies’ to new lands with Clara and her family to party with nutcrackers, royalty, fairies and more! Kids (of all ages) and adults alike will revel in this well-timed holiday fun! Truly a treat!

My daughter was enthralled by the performance and had the time of her life with the interactive bits of the show. She was so immersed in the experience! Thank you for a great theatrical and dance experience!

My daughter who is 17 months old was very intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed the show! It was her first theater experience and it was the perfect length. We have a tradition of going to The Nutcracker every year so it’s great there is an age-appropriate show for my child. Would highly recommend it for families with little kids. We will definitely see it again next year!