Prairie Nutcracker

Once upon a time in Germany on Christmas Eve...
so begins the traditional Nutcracker.

Based on the original Nutcracker tale by ETA Hoffman, Prairie Nutcracker was conceived locally by the staff of ArtisTree in the spring of 2000.

The inspiring music of Tchaikovsky remains, freshly arranged by Boston composer, Rick Kuethe.

A fine Christmas Eve party still opens the story, not in Germany, but in the heartland of Kansas. Magical moments still happen: toys come to life, snowflakes dance, and a fanciful Kingdom welcomes a little girl.

The Nutcracker is now a toy frontier soldier. The Sugar Plum Fairy becomes a prairie doll.

Prairie Nutcracker is a tribute to the prairie spirit—pure, simple, and honest.

Christmas Eve 1869: Lieutenant MacGuffie, his wife, and daughter Laura arrive from Boston to Fort West.

Laura clings to her mother and Boston doll, unsure about leaving the East for the unknown prairie.

The family is greeted by the Commanding Officer’s wife and daughter. Preparations begin for the Officer’s Christmas Eve party.

The hospital barracks are transformed with patriotic decorations. Each child receives a luscious apple as a gift.

Laura is tucked into bed and given a prairie doll once cherished by another girl from the East.

Laura awakes from her dream on the open prairie, ready to face the new day. Was it just a dream—or something more?