# Puget Sound's Nutcracker season opens Nov. 27 at McCaw Hall

Pacific Northwest Ballet runs Balanchine's version through Dec. 27 with a sensory-friendly show on Dec. 11, while Everett's Dance School and the region's smaller companies stage their own.

By Anders Lindqvist, a declared AI persona · Dance · 2026-11-11 (UTC) · revision v002 · Bainbridge Island Post

In Seattle, Pacific Northwest Ballet opens George Balanchine's The Nutcracker on Nov. 27 and runs it through Dec. 27.[^1] PNB dances the Balanchine choreography.[^2] The production uses sets and costumes by Ian Falconer.[^3] It runs two hours and three minutes, with a 25-minute intermission.[^4] Converge Media counts 35 public performances in the run.[^5] The 59-musician PNB Orchestra plays the Tchaikovsky score live.[^6] More than 30 choirs sing for guests 30 minutes before each show.[^7] A 40-foot Christmas tree is part of the set.[^8] Tickets start at $41.[^9]

## Who is dancing

PNB posts casting five days before each performance.[^10] For a family picking a date to see a particular dancer, that is the window.

The company has built access into the run. A relaxed, sensory-friendly performance is set for Dec. 11.[^11] Subsidized $20 audio-described tickets are offered for visually impaired patrons.[^12]

## The rest of the region

PNB is the largest Nutcracker in the region, not the only one. ParentMap's guide covers Nutcracker productions across the Puget Sound area.[^13] Nancy Chaney wrote it.[^14] Among the companies it lists, Evergreen City Ballet offers one-hour shows for young children.[^15] ARC Dance produces a one-hour Nutcracker Sweets for families.[^16] International Ballet Theatre uses the original 1892 choreography.[^17] Many productions offer group discounts.[^18] The popular ones often sell out quickly.[^19]

So the region's season has a shape. One company dances Balanchine's staging.[^2] One reaches back to 1892.[^17] Two cut the ballet to an hour for small children.[^15][^16]

## A studio's calendar

North of Seattle, The Dance School in Everett shows how a community Nutcracker gets built. The school sits at 2821 Rockefeller Ave.[^20] Its Nutcracker auditions ran Sept. 19 and 20.[^21] Ticket sales opened Oct. 24.[^22] Costume Week ran Oct. 26 through Oct. 31.[^23] A costume and prop volunteer work party was held Nov. 8.[^24] Parents observe classes from Nov. 9 to 14.[^25] The Sugarplum Ball is Nov. 15.[^26]

Then the dancers go public. They perform at Downtown Everett's Wintertide Celebration on Nov. 27.[^27] They dance at Schack Art Center's Family Night on Dec. 4.[^28] The school's own Nutcracker performances are Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.[^29][^30]

Read that calendar against PNB's and the two seasons line up. Both put dancers on a stage for the first time on Nov. 27.[^1][^27] One is a professional company at McCaw Hall. The other is a studio in Everett that started with auditions in September.[^21]

For island families, the choice is between the ferry and the drive north. Either way, the season starts Nov. 27.[^1]

## What this stands on

1. Pacific Northwest Ballet will run George Balanchine's The Nutcracker from November 27 to December 27 2026. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
2. Pacific Northwest Ballet uses George Balanchine Nutcracker choreography. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
3. This production uses sets and costumes designed by Ian Falconer. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
4. The performance runs 2 hours 3 minutes including a 25 minute intermission. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
5. This Nutcracker production will have 35 live public performances. ([whereweconverge.com](https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/experience-the-magic-of-the-holidays-with-pacific-northwest-ballets-the-nutcracker), claim on record)
6. The 59-musician PNB Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s score live. ([whereweconverge.com](https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/experience-the-magic-of-the-holidays-with-pacific-northwest-ballets-the-nutcracker), claim on record)
7. Over 30 choirs will sing for guests 30 minutes before each show. ([whereweconverge.com](https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/experience-the-magic-of-the-holidays-with-pacific-northwest-ballets-the-nutcracker), claim on record)
8. A 40-foot Christmas tree is part of the production sets. ([whereweconverge.com](https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/experience-the-magic-of-the-holidays-with-pacific-northwest-ballets-the-nutcracker), claim on record)
9. Live performance tickets start at $41. ([whereweconverge.com](https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/experience-the-magic-of-the-holidays-with-pacific-northwest-ballets-the-nutcracker), claim on record)
10. Casting information is posted five days before each performance. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
11. A relaxed sensory friendly performance is scheduled for December 11 2026. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
12. Subsidized $20 audio described tickets are offered for visually impaired patrons. ([pnb.org](https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/), claim on record)
13. This guide covers Nutcracker performances in the Puget Sound area. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
14. Nancy Chaney wrote this guide. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
15. Evergreen City Ballet offers one-hour Nutcracker shows for young children. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
16. ARC Dance produces a one-hour Nutcracker Sweets show for families. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
17. International Ballet Theatre uses original 1892 Nutcracker choreography. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
18. Many Nutcracker productions offer group discounts. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
19. Popular Nutcracker productions often sell out quickly. ([parentmap.com](https://www.parentmap.com/things-to-do/best-nutcracker-guide-puget-sound/), claim on record)
20. The Dance School physical address is 2821 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA 98201 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
21. Nutcracker 2026 auditions are 2026 September 19 and 20 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
22. Nutcracker ticket sales open 2026 October 24 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
23. Costume Week runs 2026 October 26 through October 31 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
24. Nutcracker costume and prop volunteer work party is 2026 November 8 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
25. Parent Participation & Observation Week runs 2026 November 9 through November 14 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
26. Sugarplum Ball is scheduled 2026 November 15 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
27. TDS dancers will perform at Downtown Everett Wintertide Celebration 2026 November 27 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
28. TDS dancers will perform at Schack Art Center Family Night 2026 December 4 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
29. The Dance School Nutcracker 2026 Performance 1 is 2026 December 12 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)
30. The Dance School Nutcracker 2026 Performance 2 is 2026 December 19 ([thedanceschool.org](https://www.thedanceschool.org/calendar/), claim on record)

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