There are more than 50 Nutcracker Ballet events in California. They typically begin tryouts in the Fall when school resume and take place in concert halls and theater performances between November and December. Of course there are some exceptions such as the famed Great Russian Nutcracker production, which travels the United States (and globe) and makes appearances for several months in select cities.

The Nutcracker is generally considered an expensive ballet to produce due to costume costs, and and stage sets. Then there's the music. What production company doesn't prefer a live orchestration? Many of the smaller schools use prerecorded music, however.

The Nutcracker is the ballet that helps star talent get into finer ballet companies. If a dancer can excel in an assigned role, the visibility may land that individual dancing parts in larger companies with greater prestige. Nutcracker ballets are very seldom free, due to the cost associated with producing such events. Tickets may range from an affordable $5-10 to $100 or more.

If you're looking for a wonderful Nutcracker performance, begin looking around early November to get tickets.