Some “Nutcracker” productions lean simple and understated, while others aim to wow. Long Beach Ballet’s does the latter — and then some.
Now in its 43rd year, Long Beach Ballet returns to the Terrace Theater with its larger-than-life production of “The Nutcracker,” running Dec. 13 through Dec. 21 with six performances accompanied by a full symphony orchestra.
Regularly named “The Nation’s Best-Loved Nutcracker” by Goldstar, this holiday tradition remains one of Southern California’s most spectacular seasonal events.
Performances take place at the Terrace Theater inside the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, where audiences enter through the grand plaza and its color-shifting fountain display.
Long Beach Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” returns to the Terrance Theatre Dec. 13-20. (Photo by Katie Ging)
Long Beach Ballet’s 41st anniversary production of “The Nutcracker,” runs Dec. 16-17, and Dec. 22-23 at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Long Beach Ballet)
Tea, The Chinese Dance, is one of the favorites in “The Nutcracker.” Pictured are twins Sadie and Saxon Woods in the 2014 production. (Courtesy Long Beach Ballet)
Dancers perform one of the big numbers in Long Beach Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” (Photo by Katie Ging)
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Long Beach Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” returns to the Terrance Theatre Dec. 13-20. (Photo by Katie Ging)
Inside, the soaring glass-walled lobby and suspended staircases set an appropriately magical tone before curtain.
As always, under the artistic direction of David Wilcox and the baton of Roger Hickman, the Long Beach Ballet Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s score exactly as the composer intended, including the rare use of two harps.
It’s one of the only productions in the region to feature a full symphony orchestra instead of a pre-recorded track, lending the performance lushness and immediacy.
And when you’ve got a flying sleigh, on-stage pyrotechnics, a real live horse, and a cast of more than 200 dancers, this production really blossoms.
As Wilcox notes, “You can hate ballet and you’ll still like this production.”
In fact, the impact of Long Beach Ballet’s Nutcracker stretches far beyond the city. Hundreds of thousands worldwide have experienced it through live tours, international collaborations and televised broadcasts.
But there’s nothing quite like seeing its scale and artistry unfold in person.
Performances begin Saturday, Dec. 13. For a full list of dates and tickets, go to longbeachnutcracker.com.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
There are few sounds more capable of stirring up some holiday nostalgia than the swinging piano melodies of the soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
On Saturday, Dec. 6, five-time Grammy-nominee David Benoit brings those sounds — and more — to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, with singer Courtney Fortune and the All-American Boys Chorus joining him for an evening of seasonal magic.
Benoit, a towering figure in contemporary jazz whose career spans nearly five decades, has long been linked with the Peanuts legacy — composing and performing for multiple modern adaptations of Charles Schulz’s world of Charlie Brown.
His affection for Vince Guaraldi’s iconic holiday soundtrack is well known, and over the years he’s turned it into a holiday tradition for many.
But this concert isn’t just a stroll down memory lane. Expect a show that blends the comforting familiarity of “Linus and Lucy,” “Skating” and “Christmas Time Is Here” with the sensitive elegance that Benoit brings from his decades of work, both as a jazz pianist and as a composer and arranger for orchestra, film and television.
Joining him on stage, vocalist Courtney Fortune and the youthful harmonies of the All-American Boys Chorus add texture, transforming what might feel like a cozy jazz set into a full-bodied holiday concert.
The result? Music that should speak to both children and longtime fans of Benoit and Peanuts.
For the kind of feeling that stays with you long after the last note fades, this concert is one to mark on your calendar.
For tickets, check out carpenterarts.org.
Catalyst Chamber Ensemble
The Catalyst Chamber Ensemble will usher in the holiday season with a luminous evening of music on Tuesday, Dec. 2, presenting the first of two winter concerts in the warm setting of St. Cornelius Catholic Church.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the program hopes to offer an immersive, all-candlelight experience, with a curated blend of beloved Christmas carols and contemporary choral works that highlight the ensemble’s signature clarity and emotional precision.
The Catalyst Singers will lean into the reflective side of the season, inviting listeners to slow down and savor the quieter moments of early December.
St. Cornelius, already known for its generous acoustics, becomes part of the performance itself as flickering candlelight and layered choral textures create a contemplative atmosphere.
Less of a traditional concert experience, and more of a much-needed sanctuary in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
Preferred seating is available for $46, with VIP tickets priced at $60.
The second presentation of this concert will take place the next evening, December 3, at St. Francis Episcopal in Palos Verdes.
Head to longbeachcameratasingers.org for more information.