Act I
Scene I: The Stahlbaum Home
It is Christmas Eve. Mayor Stahlbaum, his wife, and children, Clara and Fritz are having a party.
The festivities begin. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local magician, and Clara's uncle. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including 2 lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping. Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden Nutcracker for Clara, and a cannon for Fritz. Clara immediately loves her Nutcracker. Fritz, however, is jealous and breaks it. Clara is heartbroken. Soon afterwards, the party is over and Clara must go to bed.
Scene II: The Battle Scene
During the night, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved Nutcracker. Clara curls up and falls asleep holding her Nutcracker. Drosselmeyer appears and begins to cast a magic spell on Clara. Suddenly, mice and toys begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The Nutcracker also grows to life-size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of soldiers, stuffed animals and mice, led by the Mouse King. As the Mouse King advances on the Nutcracker, Clara throws her shoe at him distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to stab him.
Scene III: The Snow Kingdom
The Nutcracker turns into a Prince, and along with unicorns he transports Clara from her parlor to a magical Snow Kingdom ruled by the Snow Queen and King and the Winter Snows who have been brought to life by the magic of Christmas.
Act II
Scene IV: The Kingdon of the Sweets
The unicorns guide Clara and the Nutcracker prince to the kingdom of the sweets, which is ruled by the Sugar Plum and her Cavalier. Clara recounts for her the story of the heroic Nutcracker Prince. With gratitude for saving the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy presents a celebration of sweets from around the world. Chocolate from Spain, Coffee from Arabia, and Tea from China all dance for their amusement; Candy Canes from Russia; Danish shepherdesses perform Mother Ginger has her children, the Gingerbread Cookies, a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.
A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which Clara is crowned ruler of the Land of Sweets. Soon, they leave with everyone waving goodbye. Clara is found sleeping in the parlor. The Nutcracker is under her arms. She awakes, thinking it was all a dream, but then finds her crown sitting beside her, leading to question, was it a dream?
