Theater Picks of the Month: Experiencing The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center
There’s something uniquely magical about seeing The Nutcracker live during the holiday season—and my recent evening at Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center was a reminder of why I fell in love with the performing arts in the first place.
Benedum Center lobby
As someone deeply captivated by live performance—from soaring opera arias and elegant ballet to Broadway musicals and immersive concerts—there’s a particular thrill in watching artistry unfold in real time, right before your eyes. It’s that shared, unrepeatable energy between performers and audience that makes live art feel essential, especially during the holidays.
From the moment we stepped inside the Benedum, the atmosphere felt electric. Children in festive dresses buzzed with anticipation, families and couples clutched their programs while snapping photos, and the glow of holiday décor seemed to stretch from the lobby all the way into the auditorium. It felt less like attending a show and more like participating in a cherished seasonal ritual—much like revisiting beloved holiday films that define the season and bring families together year after year.
Once the curtain rose, the ballet sparkled with life. Clara’s curiosity and sense of wonder radiated from the stage, while the Nutcracker Prince embodied both elegance and quiet heroism. The choreography was breathtakingly precise yet infused with warmth and narrative clarity, making every transformation—from cozy living room to the fantastical Land of Sweets—feel genuinely enchanting.
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score is unforgettable on its own, but hearing it performed live elevated the experience entirely. The delicate shimmer of the celesta during the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy floated through the theater, echoing the way holiday music carries emotional memory and seasonal meaning—shaping how we experience this time of year again and again. I explore this idea more deeply in The Emotional Power of Christmas Music: Holiday Traditions That Matter
Program for the 2025 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Nutcracker.
During the Waltz of the Snowflakes, as dancers cascaded across the stage, the collective delight of children and adults alike amplified the brilliance of the moment. It felt similar to the shared thrill of a grand opera or a live concert—those rare instances when audience and performers are completely in sync.
Visually, the production was a feast. Intricate period costumes, luminous backdrops, and imaginative set design transformed the Benedum Center into a cinematic winter wonderland. As snowflakes drifted down in the final moments, the boundary between stage and audience seemed to dissolve, offering a gentle reminder that magic—at least for a few hours—can feel very real.
What makes The Nutcracker especially memorable is how perfectly it captures the shared joy of the season. Watching children’s faces light up, hearing adults whisper nostalgic memories of past performances, and feeling the collective warmth in the room reinforced why live theater holds such enduring power. Much like revisiting classic holiday films—something I reflect on in The Snuggled Season: Best Holiday Movies these experiences connect generations through story, emotion, and tradition.
Nutcracker doll and ballet shoes for The Nutcracker.
The arts connect us. They make us feel present, alive, and emotionally engaged—offering grounding, inspiration, and connection during both joyful and challenging times. That’s why performances like this matter. They remind us that culture isn’t just entertainment—it’s nourishment.
This Pick of the Month is exactly the kind of experience I want to continue spotlighting: performances that seamlessly blend artistry, emotion, and spectacle. Whether it’s a classic ballet, a new musical, a film adaptation brought to life on stage, or an intimate candlelight concert, these are the moments that stay with us long after the curtain falls.
The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center is a perfect embodiment of that magic—and a beautiful reminder that the most powerful performances are meant to be shared.