Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker Comes to Life

Houston Ballet's first full-length Nutcracker, choreographed by Frederic Franklin, debuted in 1972 at Jones Hall. This production was performed from 1972 through 1975 and featured designs by Peter Farmer, a renowned British designer.

In 1976 Houston Ballet welcomed new Artistic Director Ben Stevenson OBE. That same year, Stevenson debuted his version of The Nutcracker at Jones Hall, utilizing the same Peter Farmer designs from the previous production. The company later acquired new costumes from The Royal Ballet in London.

With Houston Ballet's move to the Wortham Theater Center, Ben Stevenson redesigned his Nutcracker production in 1987, bringing in Desmond Heeley for the new designs.

In 1993, Houston Ballet began a playful tradition, adding new characters and humorous choreography to their Nutcracker finale, reflecting current events. This tradition continued until 2001. Pictured here is Ben Stevenson himself as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutty Nutcracker.

Houston Ballet embraced a new era of The Nutcracker in 2016 with Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM's unique interpretation, featuring imaginative designs by Tim Goodchild. This production continues to delight audiences with its fresh take on a beloved tradition.