The new Nutcracker is disappointing. Growing up, we went every year and it was a highlight of the holiday season. Found out my wife had never seen the Nutcracker so I was excited to get her tickets for Christmas this year. Unbelievable that they replaced the previous version with this mess. The whole first act is just kids shuffling around. In the 2nd, the soloists were impressive, but the corps de ballet's timing and positioning were often unfortunate. The story is completely an afterthought. If they bring back Sendak, would love to go again, but will not be returning for the current production. read more

The 1 star reviews say it all. Just got back from watching. the drive home we were silent..shocked! WHERE was the nutcracker? Hardly seen. Just a show of kids running around. Some ok ballet but wow who decided on this choreography? We were that shocked. The story line was none existent.. You would not have any clue what it was about unless someone told you. Even from the top tier during performances and music you can hear the ballet shoes constantly squeaking and the dancers jumping onto the floor... Shame for the kids in the show.. all tried so hard, however.. who ever is coaching and training them needs to step it up. The opening video followed by what seemed way too long seeing just kids and adults running from side to side with no direction was an opening to be missed and questioned "what is this about".. as though they were just taking up time not fully knowing what they should be doing so hey let's just run around for a while. Was super excited to go with the whole family, came home with so many questions and disappointment. I hardly ever take the time to review but this needs to be heard. This was not the nutcracker we or anyone would expect! And it's Christmas Eve. I've heard prior performances have been spectacular. Sorry to say this rendition seemed to be a training camp for kids with pretty costumes. Someone please reevaluate and bring back the glorious story and performance it once was! read more

So I attended the nutcracker ballet back in 2011 and wrote the first review 4 years later in 2015. I went again to see this ballet performance with family Members for Christmas a few days ago and I felt it was fantastic. Yes, the venue is considerably smaller than larger performance halls in nyc but that made every seat in the house easily visibly accessible no matter what you paid for your tickets (50 bucks a pop to 200 bucks). The only thing was, at times I was still very aware of the squeaking of the ballet slippers/various foot wear on the stage although it wasn't as noticeable as last time I went to this performance. The little gold angels that lined up and drifted across stage was very adorable. My 4 year old loved it. read more

I admit it; I was dreading going. I suppose every major city has it's own festive highlight (NYC - Radio City Rockettes). Every Christmas in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest Ballet puts on a huge production of the Nutcracker. It was decided that we'd have a family (plus 4 priests and 3 nuns) outing to watch this year's production. My last memory of the Nutcracker was watching it as a kid in elementary school a long long time ago. I remember a dark theater and playing with the back light on my watch. That and falling asleep. Suffice to say, I was not any more excited for a second go at the ballet. I guess I've matured because I didn't fall asleep nor did I lose interest during the show. The set design and artwork were spun from the creative mind of Maurice Sendak. Just like his book 'Where the Wild Things Are' fame, it's pretty amazing stuff - soft color schemes, intricate, highly detailed images, and fantastical creatures. The dancing by the ballet company was graceful, naturally. Grand enough, pretty enough for one as obtuse as I to appreciate. The only part I didn't like was the continual dancing before The Pasha, where Clara and the Nutcracker are supposed to be entertained as honored guests. I was bored and the story didn't seem to be moving along, but what do I know. Overall, a moving performance with wonderful artwork. A scene where the Nutcracker battles the King of Mice: %^$#@! |/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\| | (@ @) | | * * :'( ! ! | | ==0== o O | | $$ |= 7*|o|} | | / ) / \ | ==========================================/ / / *cheers* o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o *clap* o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o *wooooo* read more

Well, this production of Cinderella was really stunning. The overall experience at the theater is always amazing, with such a gorgeous backdrop and perfect seating to see the show, it was a 'can't miss' experience to begin with. The staff graciously offered my almost-5 year old a cushion so she could see better and it was a great help for her. They were fun and friendly, making sure she was having fun, pointing us to our seat and answering questions. Then the curtain lifted and magic happened. It was like the fairy godmother had come to life, giving us an evening of enchantment that rivaled Cinderella's. The costume, the dancing, the sets and the music, oh, the beautiful music. What are you still doing reading this? Go! Get tickets now! If you missed it this year, don't make that mistake and go as soon as you can! read more

We've loved every minute of the Nutcracker this year. Incredible job! While NYC Ballet had to closed down due covid with all their teenagers vaccinated, it's incredibly clear PNB took Covid seriously. I applaud your decision to keep the kids in masks. How amazing they got to perform while Broadway and theaters around the country closed down again due to Omicron. We were overjoyed to see the amazing costumes, music, set, and the entire production thrive. Thanks again! We know the Balanchine's version of the Nutcracker is not loved by all, but we certainly love it! read more

Have seen the Nutcracker, Modern Masterpieces and most recently Swan Lake. Love PNB's season and repertoire. Talented dancers, great programming, breathtaking sets, and affordable tickets. Love attending the ballet - thanks PNB! read more

***************************I upped it taking inconsideration all the beautiful dance performances I have seen************************************Deliberate misleading facebook ads. Elitist attitude from marketing. Am I kind of pissed? I truly wish it were different. Ethics in these days are bendable by some, apparently. read more

My wife and I took in the recent performance of Apollo and Camina Burana. Carmina Burana...which regularly sells out in NY was just an awesome show. The overature and concluding number were just as powerful as I had hoped they would be with the orchestra members and choral group of about 70 pounding out the pulsating song...that is recognizeable from movies like Lord of the Rings. Just amazing. Great experience, and I would definitely do it again. Since Ive seen modern dance pieces like Alvin Ailey in Portland, OR, I could actually picture an even more risque interpretation of Carmina than what was put together on stage. But, my wife kind of disagreed...and said I was crazy to think that way. Anyway you cut it, an amazing show! read more

We had only seen the Kent Stowell/Maurice Sendak version a number of times, so was most pleased to have the Balanchine version offered. I am a devotee of Balanchine; however, this choreography is quite lackluster. The first act had the little children's energy to compliment the music of Tschaikovsky, unlike The Stowell version that only had the boring movements of the adults. The First Act is always problematical as it is more story telling than dancing. Boring, frankly. The Second Act with the Stowell version is vastly superior! Dramatic, on point and revealing of each of the stars. Balanchine's choreography was limited, simple and a bit dour. Hardly any grand movements! Hardly worth the price of admission, therefore. I will save the money in the future and buy tickets to the regular season where we will get lots of DANCE! read more

I went to the PNB to see the Nutcracker this past Christmas. It had been years since I had gone to the ballet - I think the last time I went I was a little tiny child. The dancing was incredible! Beautiful and graceful. The choreography was fantastic and told the story very well. I had a really great time and, while it is a "once in a while" event for me due to its price, I would love to go again. I did have one issue. The acoustics were great, but the orchestra wasn't very loud! Way back in the second balcony, any time the people next to me were whispering, I could hardly hear the music at all. It was beautifully played, I just wish I could have heard it better. Pump up the volume in there! As much as I loved the Nutcracker, I would like to go back and see another, less mainstream, ballet. Something more unique! read more

NUTCRACKER 2016 Brilliant Balanchine production! I too have had a difficult time letting go of the "wild rumpus" of the Sendak Nutcracker production, which had become a ferocious part of the very fiber of family life for all of us for over 3 decades. We nurtured an entire generation of our children on that version. Yet-- the Balanchine Nutcracker is simply exquisite! It is not as loud and rambunctious for sure (as decried by a few below), but instead becomes the introduction for our children and a new generation of family traditions to the majesty and splendor of Balanchine. What an elemental foundation! Balanchine's beauty & lessons can be a continual inspiration for a better life! Teach your children instead of the simplicity, elegance, beauty and moments of absolute austere purity that the Balanchine legacy provides to us. Take that lesson and allow it to blossom into a deeper understanding of doing every act, every task, every chore, every movement with the care, precision and experience of pure ecstasy of a simple job well done. These are the inspirational moments to be found in this quieter, and more pristine Nutcracker. Read the stories before hand, dance the Quadrille afterwards (no matter how badly done) in your living room with all the kids, cousins and grandparents, and bring to life the olden days of Imperial Russia and turn it into a lesson in history and Russian romance. Then-- what the heck-- turn that Quadrille into a wild rumpus-- just in honor of 34 years of Sendak. There is definitely room in life for both versions!!! It is a majestic production!!! Costumes, set design, talent!!!! Bravo Balanchine!!! Bravo PNB!! Thanks for expanding our experience!! read more

Having the ability to drive over the hill and enjoy what is one of the best ballet companies in the world is a rare opportunity. If you've never been to see a PNB show, make it a resolution to get to McCaw hall this year. The sets and costumes are magical and world class, and the live symphony and voice accompaniments make for a very dramatic show. Peter Boal has changed the focus slightly, and what I notice is more diversity on set, new dancers being brought to the forefront, and increased attendance. Visit- make it one of your Seattle to-do's. read more

I loved this new production of the Nutcracker. Right fro the very beginning it is so creative. It is much better than the other production. Very reminiscent of the first Nutcracker that my husband and I use to in San Francisco. Much more traditional. I never really cared for Sendak set but out of traditions would occasionally go to it anyway. I am thrilled to take my husband this weekend. He will love it! I don't understand some of the comments that it is boring! This ha more of the original numbers that the SFB had and the Stowell production did not. Thank you PNB for the wonderful change! read more

I must start out by saying I've never been a fan of the Ballet, the commercials for the Nutcracker makes me want to pull my hair out and stab needles in my eyes. Seriously I hated it that much until last night. Some how, I'd say rather magically my gay boyfriend scored two free tickets to opening night last night of Romeo et Juliette at McCaw Hall. I'm not going to lie I was hesitant I wasn't sure I wanted to go but hey they were free tickets so why not if I didn't like it I could always leave at half time* and nothing was lost. We arrive and take our seats, first tier center they couldn't have been any better. The amazing thing about these seats was the fact that you were far enough back that you could see everything that was going on on stage, you didn't have to move your head back and forth ala a tennis match, like the people who were on the floor. The Pacific Northwest Ballet has made me a convert I now enjoy, at least last night, the ballet. The choreography, Jean-Christophe Maillot was able to tell me the story in a beautiful way where I wasn't bored out of my mind and wanting to stick needles in my eyes. He actually made me want more. Romeo et Juliette was sexual, it was comedic, it was modern and it was raw and I loved it. You could see the raw talent in all the dancers and their passion for being doing what they do. I will say the Nurse, performed by Jodie Thomas, was by far my favorite soloists for the evening for me she lovely and what I'm happy that ballet has become. Like many theatres around town the PNB has $15 tickets to the first Friday performance, for this show would be tonight, to those who are 25 and younger. If I was 25 and younger I would be all over this deal. Romeo et Juliette only runs until February 10 so go buy your tickets now and be sure to see a performance. *Yes I know its intermission; I'm not stupid I just like calling it half time, ok. read more

This review is for the school. My son has been dancing since he was 3, and I started him in the boy-only class at PNB in January. He loves it. The teacher is male, as are all the students in his class. If you have a boy in ballet, you know how rare this is. He is the only male student at his other ballet school. In any event, he has blossomed in the company of other ballet boys, and the instruction has been top-notch. Highly recommended. read more

I'm not a dance expert by any means, but a few years ago we decided to go to the Nutcracker, basically because my husband was interested in the Maurice Sendak sets. It sucked us in, we bought tickets to one more ballet that year, and for a few years now we have been subscribers and members of the ballet. I love PNB because it does some classics you know about (like Swan Lake), some classics with a twist (Romeo et Juliette), Balanchine, some really modern stuff, some stuff that's borderline experimental, or at least that's what I think when I read that stuffy ballet critics are complaining about it (a la One Flat Thing, Reproduced). I had never really known a lot about dance before starting to go to the ballet, and the recent rash of dance TV shows, but what amazes me about ballet is how much they can express with no words at all. It's breathtaking. I'm sure there are more famous companies out there, and sadly some of our favorite PNB dancers have been poached by other companies. But when you compare it to all the different arts organizations in Seattle, from theatre to symphony to museums, etc., PNB is one of my favorites. p.s. It's great people watching too, from the little girls in their pretty dresses to the women in their pretty dresses to the women who show up all Seattle style-ee with a t-shirt, a loose skirt, and tennis shoes on. haha read more

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area but planned a whole trip to the Northwest, culminating in a PNB performance after hearing about the $5 Friday series. As someone who enjoys dance but doesn't know much about ballet, I think it's beyond totally cool how the PNB takes an active role in pulling the community into its work, above and beyond what I've seen other major companies do: the Conversations with PNB, the lecture series where you can stay for a dress rehearsal, the previews, the pre- and post-performance lectures and Q&A. Add to that the fact that they do things like Teen Tix ($5 tickets for 13- to 18-year-olds) and Backstage Pass, and it tells that they strive to educate the public in a way that strikes me as passionate and enthusiastic and unaffected. I especially love the intimacy and immediacy of the $5 Friday performances: the stark light, the practice floor, the dancers in practice costumes/gear and at times dancing so close to the audience in the bleachers you can hear them breathing from exertion--and the fact that artistic director Peter Boal brackets each performance excerpt with commentary, makes it all fascinating and approachable for me. Watching Nacho Duato's Jardi Tancat, for instance, in its earthiness and sensuality, was made all the more unforgettable by the fact that we could see the performers up-close and take part in Boal's Q&A afterward. The learning in that is invaluable and only heightens appreciation of the art form, especially by people like me who would like to learn more about ballet, but are maybe kind of intimidated by not knowing more about it going in. I just wish I could partake in special events like the PNB's more often! read more

PNB is truly a Seattle jewel - and sometimes I feel (relative to the opera and symphony) and under-appreciated one. Last season marked a shift in leadership from long-time directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell to Peter Boal. I personally feel like Peter Boal has breathed new life into the company. First, under Kent and Francia, programs almost always included one ballet choreographed by Kent. I found Kent's dance works to be uneven - sometimes well, even just uninteresting. Second, I think any long-time tenure in an arts organization can cause the organization to become a bit stale. And I say this with no disrespect to Kent and Francia, who built the company to what it is today. If you are going to attend for the first time, I'd suggest selecting a program that includes a work by George Balanchine. The company specializes in Balanchine works, which are carefully staged according to standards set by the Balanchine Trust. Also, check out a pre-performance lecture, most often given by Doug Fullington - an expert in dance history. It will help you enjoy the performance more if you have a bit of background on it. read more

The Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker is the best!! McCaw Hall is gorgeous, and you feel the Christmas spirit fromt the moment you step into the theater. The set and props are amazing... they fill the stage with color and excitement! The dancers are extremely talented, and it is so fun to watch the children ballet dancers! To top it all off, there is a live orchestra that plays the most beautiful music... Really, this whole production is just stunning! Tickets can be a bit pricey, but the show is totally worth it! read more

The ballet is undergoing a staff transition with new dancers being incorporated into the PNB system. I enjoy most of the performances. There have been a few where they should have used different principals to perform the pieces as their ability was not in sync with the choreographic aspects of the dance piece being performed. The acoustics are marvelous when the orchestra is performing. The sound engineers have it spot on! This is not true with dance pieces where they are using canned music. The music is often too loud and you feel like you're at a rock concert and not a ballet. I also attend Pilates classes at PNB Dance School. I've worked with several of the instructors. Each is different in their approach to the equipment. Nonetheless, they are incredible teachers and work with you in accomplishing your Pilate's goal. read more

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This is specifically for the Nutcracker......I am in 100% in agreement with the 2 previous reviewers. I guess that's why the theater was only 3/4 full this close to Christmas. read more

I've been wanting to watch the Nutcracker for years and it just so happened that my boyfriend surprised me with tickets last December! We had dinner at The Melting Pot and soon after, we drove down (or was it up?) the street to Mccaw Hall. Parking was not an issue because we parked at the parking garage. Once we entered in the building, we were welcomed with a beautiful Christmas tree. We were seated about 5 rows back and the Nutcracker was wonderful. I had a great experience and the ballet was beautiful. Mccaw Hall is a great venue and I loved seeing holiday decor along with the Nutcracker decor. The gift shop was packed with people but we made it inside for a look. I bought a small Nutcracker ornament as a keepsake. This was a great treat for the holidays. I highly recommend this to everyone. read more

One of the top ballet companies in the country. I first bought a subscription to the PNB in 2009-2010, and have continued to do so ever since. Their yearly repotoire is fantastic. It ranges from must see classical ballets like Copelia and Swan Lake, to modern pieces by twyla Tharp, and everything in the middle (their modern Romeo et Juliet is stunning). I used to live in New York City where i would watch the New York City Ballet, and the performances at the PNB are JUST as good. What's even better is that McCaw Hall I think is a better venue and you really get to see the whole performance as well as the individual dancers. Doing a subscription is a great deal, i would highly recommend it. read more

Granted I have not been to many ballet performances, but Pacific NW blows Denver out of the water. I was able to see Romeo and Juliet here a few months ago and it was absolutely beautiful. Poetry in motion. No stage bells and whistles...just gorgeous costumes and beautiful modern ballet. McCaw Hall is a great venue and although we were sitting in the Mezzanine we felt intimately connected to the performance. P.S. the Romeo character was ridiculously hot....major bonus points! read more

Physical grace and beauty of movement are not qualities we find very often--at least not in the people we encounter at work, our health club, or most certainly not on the street--in our daily lives, which is what makes any experience with ballet or modern dance special. (The "lesson" therein may be that true nobility inheres in talent, not in ostentatious wealth, power, or by birthright). I had not been to a live ballet or modern dance performance since college (Pearl Lang's "Dybuuk," at Brandeis) until I saw an in-studio demonstration at Pacific Northwest Ballet. The experience certainly left me wanting to go again. Peter Boals, PNB's artistic director, is disarming. It was heartening to find others with a greater affinity for a gazelle, a flamingo, or a feline than for an elephant, King Kong, or Godzilla, who could sit quietly and with concentrated attention while deriving both pleasure and satisfaction in the ever-evolving tapestry ("tableau vivant") of both complex and simple choreographed movements. Despite the gloomy prognostications, classical music is not dead, with the most popular pieces being those of Jerome Robbins set to Bernstein or to Dave Brubeck. It may be wishful thinking but having more affordable tickets for not just the student or senior citizen crowd, I think, could make the ballet more accessible to a greater swathe of the local population. Being pretty near-sighted, though, I wonder too how much I would be able to appreciate in the sheer enormity of McCaw Hall. Still, no DVD or PBS special can compare with a live performance. read more

The Nutcracker is phenomenal (I can't image a new one being better - will have to wait and see). I've gone to a couple of other productions but they paled in comparison. After the Nutcracker my girls now think they want to come to another ballet (Snow White). We'll see............ read more

We saw Don Quixote this past weekend. The dancers were great and the show was entertaining. The synchronicity of movement and music was at times imperfect. The acoustics of the hall are poorer than other venues we have been to, which is surprising given that Seattle is a "major" city. They have a bar but I was very disappointed that you cannot take the drinks to your seats so it's only good for before the show and during intermission. The bartender didn't bother to mention this fact when we were ordering our drinks minutes before show time which is very poor service - did he think I was chugging a glass of wine? He did, however, ask us if we wanted to preorder a round for intermission. At intermission all the preordered drinks set out next to handwritten name tags for patrons to self serve. This practice is surprising and unsettling (whatever happened to never leaving your drink unattended?). Overall we had a great time but am not racing to buy tickets to the next show...if they make some improvements, I would come back sooner/more often. read more

The most dreadful production of The Nutcracker. Where is the ballet? I don't care how tall your tree grows- the set can not make up for a lack of foot work and acting. It's been a long time since I was a child and a very long time since I have seen any production of The Nutcracker, I am not a dancer. Yet, when I hear Tchaikovsky's music, my feet seem to remember all those lovely steps, spins, toe points, and jump. What I saw last night made no child dance in the isle. How sad to hear people around me talk about this being their first ballet. Will they ever spend good money to see another? Is this a COVID year? yes. Are there a lot of children on stage? yes. So what. This grossly over hyped event was presented with less than community theatre choreography. And to the good dancers on the stage-what a waste of your talent! Find another way to kick off your holiday festivities. The next time I see this ballet, I hope its in San Fransisco, Chicago or even Tacoma. read more

Hands down one of the best professional companies on the west coast. Superb dancers. Unbelievable sets and staging for their performances. I just saw Coppelia and it was breathtaking. I've been enjoying PNB's performances for over a decade now and have loved it all. read more

Simply enchanting. I have never seen such a splendid performance by a ballet troupe. Of course, I've not traveled the world searching for the greatest ballerina, but I am moderately experienced in this regard enough to know that my being able to sit and hear the story through the artful movements of the ballerinas for the entire performance with my mouth wide open and my eyes glowing is a pretty good sign. I love ballet because of the fluid grace of the dancers, and several of the dancers in the performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which I recently had the great pleasure of attending were truly the soul of grace and self-expression through movement. I could tell you all about the personality of each character without their ever speaking a word--regally magnificent Titania, mischievous Puck, spoiled but regal Oberon. It was truly glorious. If you enjoy the culture and artistry of ballet, don't hesitate to find yourself at a performance by the Pacific Northwest Ballet some night soon. Put on a ravishing gown or a smart suit, grab your Opera glasses, and prepare to be dazzled. You won't be sorry. read more

I'd love to go for 3.5 here, but no can do. I've been to a few PNB productions this season and I've enjoyed them all. They do a mix of ballet classics (Balanchine, Nutcracker, ...) and contemporary pieces. But most of the dancers seem more comfortable with the classics than with contemporary. If you want contemporary, check out On the Boards. Last year's Jewels by Balanchine was lovely and this season's 3 by Dove production was really interesting but I was not equally thrilled by all of the dancers. The selected pieces were great though. The box office isn't bad but sometimes they do strange things. I got my tickets to 3 from a coworker who subscribes but was going on vacation and missing the whole run. I called to see if I could exchange the tickets for another night and while they let me they said they didn't have comparable tickets on the floor and would have to put me in the second balcony. Ugh, but okay they were free. Then, when I got there I noticed tons of open seats. And in fact, we were put about 6 rows above anybody else so we moved to lower seats just before curtain. What is up with that? read more

Sendak & Stowell Nutcracker Review: absolutely breathtaking from start to finish. If you have not yet had a chance to view this 25-year production, be sure to see it now before it's gone. Next year's production will be all new. Sets and costumes are mesmerizing, and the quality of artistry is top-notch. This is one of the country's most well renowned Nutcracker performances. Having been several times, I recommend floor seating at the Orchestra Circle. read more

Pacific Northwest Ballet - A fan with a "Mouse King" cookie during intermission, The Nutcracker. - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Took the family to the Nutcracker performance for their Thanksgiving week visit. The Maurice Sendak set was truly the highlight of the show. It was vivid, elaborate and imbued with the same vitality of his illustrations. The ballet itself features the classic orchestral accompaniment, but, though I'm certainly no expert on ballet, I wasn't especially captivated by the dancers. The only dancer that truly captured my attention was the woman playing the part of the white peacock - she was gracefulness personified. McCaw Hall is a gorgeous auditorium. We were seated way in the back but still enjoyed a great view and the acoustics were fantastic. I hope to catch more performances here in the future. read more

The northwest ballet is world class. Major critics have long noted our choreography as well as our directors and budget. Watch a ballet somewhere else, then come to the northwest ballet. You will see the difference immediately. People who leave a poor review just don't like ballet, or pride themselves in enjoying "only the finest," but really they're just trying to find something not to like. Saw Swan Lake here recently. Amazing performance. The dancers coupled with the music truly made a powerful performance. nearly impossible not to feel the power of Tchaikovsky's work, the love and loss of the princess and the prince. 10/10 read more

When I went to Seattle last, I decided to shell out almost $100 to see PNB perform. Not only was is it worth every penny, but it was the most amazing artistic thing I have seen in my life. If I could freeze dry any life performance into a painting to hang in my living room this would be it. I still remember every step, every decision, every costume. That's how memorable this is. These dancers have raw talent, passion, and are seriously just amazing. Watching them is one of those moments in life when you wonder if this just might top off an orgasm. This is one of those top ten things you should see in your life before you die. It's probably a good thing I don't live in Seattle, because I would spend all my money on the PNB. read more

Just saw The Nutcracker. Thought it was a beautiful production. The ballet dancers were lovely but I was surprised at how loud their feet were! Some amazing moves, twirls, leaps, etc... Took my breath away a few times! I look forward to seeing another ballet performance soon. read more

The Nutcracker definitely had a different feel than the previous ones I have attended in past years, but it was still very much enjoyable. The first act was a cute and pretty easy to follow if you didn't have any background knowledge of the story, but I was clueless as to what was going on in the second act. First act was more story based and some dancing, and the second act was just a pure ballet with little story. Drinks at the bar are extremely overpriced as is expected. I ended up paying $70 for two glasses of wine after the bartender gave me his "personal recommendation". There weren't any prices listed anywhere and by the time he poured them into the glasses, they couldn't be poured back into the bottle. Felt scammed, but I didn't let it ruin my night. Nonetheless, my girlfriend and I very much enjoyed the experience and have been talking about it with friends, as well as considering seeing the next performance. read more

Pacific Northwest Ballet - The Nutcracker - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

PNB is an institution that makes it a joy to live in Seattle. A great company right here in our own little burgh. I've been going to performances for years and finally became a season ticket holder (highly recommended) two seasons ago. While of course they have to do shows that cater to the masses and fill their coffers (can you say 'Nutcracker'?) they still do some really amazing innovative stuff every season. Beyond the exquisite dance, every performance has very high production values - music, costumes, sets, lighting, ... it's always a beautiful thing. read more

We've come to see the Nutcracker for 2 years in a row now, and also saw Swan Lake last year. The Nutcracker is ok, it's more about the experience than the show itself. Swan Lake was seriously beautiful, I really enjoyed that. The venue is fantastic, the drinks are good and not too pricey. At the Nutcracker this year our bartender was fabulous and made us some festive custom mimosas. The one downfall I find is that a few days after every show, I have an employee calling my phone to tell me about the upcoming shows and see if I would like to by tickets. This is slightly annoying, but not a big deal... the problem is that every time when I have politely said I'm not interested, the employees are then super rude and quickly hang up on me. What a way to sour a good experience PNB... read more