Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou
Cajun culture meets Chrismas classic in this Baton Rouge tradition.
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Raising Cane's River Center 275 River Road South, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

Image courtesy of BRBT
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy melody is intertwined with the holiday season. And in this part of the world, so is the long-running Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre production of The Nutcracker. Each year for generations, local and national dancers of all ages have flitted and fluttered across the stage of the River Center, breathing hyper-local life into Tchaikovsky's masterpiece to the tune of Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra accompaniment and a stage set that invokes Baton Rouge landmarks like the Old State Capitol and Oak Alley. BRBT's version of the timeless classic has become a by-word for Baton Rouge Christmas tradition. World-class dancers, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and over three hundred local children participate in this city-wide artistic act of holiday love. This year, special guest performers include rising star of the San Antonio Ballet Sofie Bertolini as the Sugar Plum Fairy; the return of Francisco Estevez (who has performed with the Barcelona Ballet, Boston Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and others) as the Cavelier; and three talented BRBT alumni who have since continued their dance training and careers elsewhere: Riley Richard, Celia Fishbein, and Marlon Grigsby. 2 pm and 6 pm each day at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. $30–$90. ticketmaster or (225) 766-8379, or at the River Center Box Office. batonrougeballet.org.