Toledo’s Christmas season has been inaugurated with not one, but two productions of Georg Friedrich Handel’s Messiah. But it wouldn’t be Christmas without the Toledo Ballet’s Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 

This will be the Toledo Ballet’s 82nd performance of the work well-loved for its music, story, and choreography. Those ingredients make it a staple for many companies to stage, and you can find many performances around the region.

The Toledo Met Performance Academy presented its inaugural Nutcracker on Sunday. The River Raisin Ballet Company staged its version, choreographed and directed by Gail Choate Pettit and Melissa Moore, last weekend as well at the River Raisin Centre for the Arts in Monroe. 

The Black Swamp Fine Arts School in Bowling Green will present its third annual production of Masha & the Nutcracker, with a cast of 65 dancers, at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts in Findlay.

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But before the action begins for Masha, the littlest dancers will present a toddler-friendly performance of the story, shortened to about 30 minutes, said Sophia Jarrell, Black Swamp Fine Arts School director, in a news release.

There is no set age requirement, Jarrell said by email. 

“We welcome any young audience members to attend the adapted toddler-friendly production if their family thinks that’s the best for their developmental stage,” Jarrell said. “I will be bringing my 2 and 3-year-old sons; they’re very excited to see their first Nutcracker.”

Masha & the Nutcracker, set in 1816 Russia, features the same story as The Nutcracker, though the character of Clara is now Masha. The production features dancers from Black Swamp Fine Arts School’s pre-professional company, resident artists, and enrichment dance program.

Still, it is the Toledo Ballet that holds the title of the longest-running annual Nutcracker production in the nation.

It began its run in 1941, two years after the Toledo Ballet School was founded in 1939. Music was provided by the Friends of Music, a precursor to the symphony that was founded in 1943. According to the Toledo Ballet, that first performance was only an abridgment of the score, procured by Marie Bollinger Vogt, founder and artistic director emerita, which was all that was allowed out of the Soviet Union.

Though the ballet was not interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the music — rather, the live music — was. But the Toledo Symphony will be back in the pit conducted by artistic director Alain Trudel.

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“I think we are all very excited to be performing once again with the Toledo Symphony,” Eric Otto, the ballet’s new artistic director and head of curriculum, said by email. “Having live music accompany the ballet is very important not only for pleasure, but also for educational purposes. I want my students and dancers to learn how to dance to live music because it's very different than dancing to a recording.”

Otto took over in September.

“Eighty-two years is a huge feat,” Otto said about the ballet’s longevity. “I think we can brag a bit because it’s the longest running, annual production of The Nutcracker in the country. ... It has been a wonderful few months putting together this massive production with the students, families, volunteers, Toledo Ballet, [Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts] staff, and the symphony. I am so excited for what the future holds for this organization.”

He’s making a few tweaks to this year’s  long-running production, which this year is choreographed by internationally know principal dancer Eris Nezha. Clara, for example, is now a teen. 

Hayden Graham reprises her role of Clara for two performances. “Clara is more involved and I love that aspect,” she said. “She feels more grown up, and it makes the role feel more mature. That’s exciting for me because it’s different and more difficult than last year.”

Sophia Black is making her debut as Clara for two performances.

For all that, perhaps the most notable new feature of this venerable tradition is that for the first time since 2009, when the school’s Adaptive Dancer program began, a student from that program, Avin Hatch, will be on stage with her peers.

Also joining the cast will be nonambulatory dancer DeMarco Sleeper, a member of the Dancing Wheels Company in Cleveland. He will dance dance alongside McKenzie Beaverson, a Toledo Ballet alumna and member of Dancing Wheels, and Marissa Thomas, associate and teaching artist of the South Chicago Dance Theatre and tour manager for the Dancing Wheels company and school. 

The principal guest artist roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier will be danced by international guest artists Katia Raj and Gustavo Ramirez.

But some traditions will stay the same. The iconic role of Mother Ginger, usually performed by a man, will spotlight four community leaders. On Friday at 11 a.m., Mother Ginger will be portrayed by Timothy Van Tuinen of MacMillan, Sobanski, & Todd, LLC; Saturday at 2 p.m. is Jason Kucsma, executive director and fiscal officer of Toledo Lucas County Public Library, and at 7 p.m. is Paul W. Favorite of Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick; and Sunday at 2 p.m. is Stuart James, Ability Center executive director. 

Performances are at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo.

Saturday’s performances will livestreamed and available via TAPA Streaming for $34.99.  For more information, visit toledoballet.com, stop by the TAPA Box Office at 1838 Parkwood Ave., or call 419-246-8000. 

But what if — play along with me here — you could dance along to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music and still be surrounded by all the magic the ballet hints on stage without frowning faces and reprimands to shush and go back to your seat?

Storywall Entertainment, the company behind the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit, is letting attendees get caught in the adventures of the Mouse King, Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and of course, the valiant Nutcracker as scenes swirl around them and the music washes over everyone.

Detroit is one of the 11 U.S. cities to present this 30-minute immersive experience at Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit, 311 E. Grand River Ave. Tickets can be purchased at immersive-nutcracker.com. 

First Published December 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m.