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Holiday Traditions: The Nutcracker

I have fond memories of attending the Nutcracker ballet at the Kennedy Center with my mother. It was a highlight of the Christmas season, and an experience I’d love to share with my boys. But, I know the sweet image of the boys, dressed in their sport coats and khakis, shoes shined, neck ties tied, sitting quietly in their seats enjoying a full-length ballet are quite honestly, the things that dreams are made of! Two fidgety, bickering boys, kicking the seats of the patrons in front of them, trying to strangle each other with their neckties, and being shhhed from all sides… that is more likely to be the reality. And so, I begrudgingly accepted this was one Christmas memory I would be unable to share with my boys (at least for many, many years), and settled on reading them the story of the Nutcracker from a library book, a very poor substitute, I must say. 

And then I learned of The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo, Maryland and their 50-minute production of the Nutcracker featuring puppets and costumed players. Now, I thought, this might just be a production of the Nutcracker my boys would enjoy, and so, we hopped into the car, traveled to Glen Echo, and sat “criss-cross-applesauce” on the theater floor for a most unique, but extremely entertaining, version of the Nutcracker. Afterward, we were able to meet the puppeteers, ask them questions about their costumes and puppets, and compliment them on their wonderful show, perfect for the young theater-going crowd. 

 
Connor talks with the Nutcracker about her costume.
The boys pose with a few of  The Nutcracker actors.

As we were leaving the theater, Connor announced to the hostess, a festively clad middle-aged woman, “We are coming back on Saturday with my Daddy!” And although we were not actually able to return on Saturday, the fact that Connor was excited enough about the show to want to share it with his Dad, suggests that perhaps a new Christmas Tradition was born!

And next year, we will try to take Daddy along with us… and maybe Grandma and Grandpa, too!

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