Characters of The Nutcracker Ballet

Question: Characters of The Nutcracker Ballet

Answer: Part of the enchantment of The Nutcracker Ballet comes from the many characters who appear on stage during the performance. The diversity of the cast allows dancers (and some non-dancers) of all ages the opportunity to participate in the ballet. The following list of characters, in order of appearance, varies slightly among ballet companies. Although the overall storyline generally remains the same, directors and choreographers sometimes tweak the cast according to the specific needs of their corps of dancers.

Act I:

• Mr. Stahlbaum, the town mayor
• Mrs. Stahlbaum, the mayor's wife
• Party guests, family and friends
• Clara and Fritz, the Stahlbaum children
• Uncle Drosselmeyer, godfather of Clara and Fritz
• Mechanical dolls, harlequin and soldier
• Owl, changing into Drosselmeyer
• Mice
• Hare-Drummers
• Nutcracker
• Soldiers of the Nutcracker
• Mouse King
• Gnomes, with torches
• Cavelier, Nutcracker prince
• Snowflakes
• Snow Queen

Act II:

• Sugar Plum Fairy
• Clara
• Cavalier, prince
• 12 Pages
• Spanish dancers
• Arab dancers
• Chinese dancers
• Russian dancers
• Shepherdess
• Mirliton dancers, reed-flutes
• Mother Ginger
• Buffoons
• Dew Drop Fairy
• Rosebuds
• Flowers