Welcome to The Nutcracker and the Christmas Dream, a magical holiday story filled with wonder, warmth, and imagination. In this enchanting play, we follow Marie as she receives a very special Nutcracker on Christmas Eve. When the clock strikes midnight, a dreamlike adventure begins—complete with dancing dolls, toy soldiers, sugar mice, and a handsome prince who leads her to the sparkling Kingdom of Sweets.
The play requires a minimum of 11 students to cover all the named roles (5 adults, 2 children, 2 Harlequins, the Nutcracker/Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy), plus an additional actor for the Prince Mouse. To make the Battle Scene (mice vs. soldiers) and the Land of Sweets (Act III) lively, you should plan for at least 8 to 12 more students to perform the ensemble parts (Mice, Toy Soldiers, and Sweets). Therefore, the play is best suited for a class or group of 19 to 23 students, offering flexibility to double roles or create larger, more exciting crowd scenes.
CHARACTERS:
MARIE
FRITZ
MR. STAHLBAUM
MRS. STAHLBAUM
HERR DROSSELMEYER
DANCING DOLL HARLEQUIN 1
DANCING DOLL HARLEQUIN 2
NUTCRACKER / PRINCE
PRINCE MOUSE (Mouse King)
MICE
TOY SOLDIERS
SWEETS (Candies, Chocolates, Candy Canes)
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
DANIEL
SCRIPT:
ACT I
(In the living room at the Stahlbaum house on a cold Christmas Eve. Music: Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky – Overture Miniature. There is a Christmas tree in the center of the stage, decorated with candies, chocolates, candy canes, and sugar mice. There are Christmas gifts under the tree.
-Lights on-
(Marie and Fritz enter. They stand in front of the tree. Music stops)
MARIE: Oh, look at the beautiful Christmas tree! It’s glittering! Look, Fritz, at all the chocolates and candy canes hanging on it!
FRITZ: (takes a Christmas hanging) What are these?
MARIE: Oh, let me see. They are little sugar mice!
(The doorbell rings. Mrs. and Mr. Stahlbaum enter.)
MRS. STAHLBAUM: That must be dear Herr Drosselmeyer.
(Mrs. And Mr. Stahlbaum open the door.)
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Hello, hello! (has two small gift boxes and two big boxes standing on the floor)
MRS. STAHLBAUM: Please, come on in.
HERR DROSSELMEYER: It sure is cold tonight.
MR. STAHLBAUM: Marie…Fritz, come quickly! Mr. Drosselmeyer is here!
(Marie and Fritz hurry to the door)
MARIE AND FRITZ: Good evening.
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Hello, Kids! Merry Christmas Eve!
MRS. STAHLBAUM: (stares at the two big boxes on the floor) What are those big boxes you have?
HERR DROSSELMEYER: You will see. It’s a surprise.
MR. STAHLBAUM: Let me help you take them to the living room.
(Music plays: Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker, Op.71: No. 4 Dance Scene – the Presents of Drosselmeyer. Herr Drosselmeyer and Mr. Stahlbaum take the boxes to the living room. They all sit. Herr Drosselmeyer makes a magic trick. He dramatically throws a sparkling cloth over one of the large boxes and quickly pulls it away.)
(ACTION: Harlequin 1 and Harlequin 2 pop out of the big boxes. They move stiffly, like wind-up toys. The two Harlequins perform a short, quick, and mechanical dance. Their movements should be precise, with abrupt starts and stops, mimicking clockwork dolls. They move out of sync at first, then come together for a few quick synchronized steps.)
(Marie and Fritz watch the magical dolls dance. They laugh and cheer. Herr Drosselmeyer makes a sharp clapping noise.)
(ACTION: The dolls suddenly stop all motion, turn quickly, and climb back inside the box. Mr. Stahlbaum closes the lids. Marie and Fritz clap. Music stops.)
FRITZ: You are a great magician! Do another trick!
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Wait until you see what I have for you! (does a magic trick and gives Fritz a gift box).
FRITZ: Oh, thank you… Can I open it now?
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Of course!
FRITZ: (opens the gift box) Wow! Toy soldiers! Thank you! (hugs Herr Drosselmeyer)
MRS. STAHLBAUM: Fritz, you know where the box should go, don’t you?
FRITZ: Yes, mother, under the tree (places the box under the tree).
MARIE: Godfather… did you bring me a gift?
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Sure, I did… and it is the best gift of all!
MARIE: Oh, what is it?
(Herr Drosselmeyer gives Marie a gift box)
MARIE: (opens the gift) What a handsome toy soldier!
HERR DROSSELMEYER: It’s a Nutcracker!
MARIE: I love him! Oh, thank you!
(Music plays Tchaikovsky’s “Grandfather’s Dance”. Marie takes the nutcracker and dances. Music stops. Fritz grabs the doll.)
FRITZ: Let me try it! I’ll break a few nuts! (takes some nuts and the nutcracker breaks).
MARIE: Fritz! Look what you did! You broke my Nutcracker!
FRITZ: Sorry, Marie.
(Marie cries)
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Don’t worry, dear, I’ll fix him (mends the nutcracker and gives it back to Marie).
MARIE: Thank you, Godfather. He’s all better!
MRS. STAHLBAUM: Now, put it carefully inside the box and under the tree.
(Marie places the nutcracker inside the box and under the tree)
MRS. STAHLBAUM: Hurry now, kids, it’s time for bed.
MARIE AND FRITZ: Good night, everybody.
(Marie and Fritz kiss their parents and Mr. Drosselmeyer and leave)
-Lights Off-
ACT II
-Lights On-
(Marie sleeps in her room. She wakes up and goes to the living room. The Christmas tree lights are turned off. She opens the gift box and takes out the nutcracker. She lies down on a sofa with the doll at her chest and falls asleep. The clock on stage shows 11:55.)
(The Christmas tree lights suddenly turn on.)
(A loud, echoing noise, like a drum beat, wakes Marie. The clock strikes midnight. Marie sits up quickly, clutching the Nutcracker.)
MARIE: Who turned on the Christmas tree lights? What’s that noise? It sounds like tiny feet!
(Music plays. Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker, Op. 71 The Nutcracker battles against the army of the Mouse King.)
(ACTION: The stage begins to darken slightly, focusing light on the tree. The Sugar Mice hanging on the tree start to drop off, one by one, and scurry toward Marie. The Prince Mouse, wearing a crown and carrying a small sword, enters from stage right, leading a larger group of Mice. Marie looks scared as she realizes the mice are life-sized. The Toy Soldiers from under the tree suddenly stand up, growing to life size. They march quickly into a row in front of the Christmas tree, holding their muskets up. The Nutcracker doll in Marie’s arms transforms on stage into the life-sized Nutcracker. He quickly draws his sword and stands in front of the Toy Soldiers.)
NUTCRACKER: Ready, my brave soldiers! Charge!
(ACTION: The Toy Soldiers advance on the Mice. A chaotic, choreographed battle ensues. The Nutcracker fights the Prince Mouse directly in the center of the stage. SOUND EFFECT: Clashing of small swords.)
(ACTION: The Nutcracker is overwhelmed by the Prince Mouse and falls to the ground. The Prince Mouse raises his sword for the final blow.)
MARIE: No! Stop!
(ACTION: Marie quickly takes off her slipper and throws it with all her might. The slipper hits the Prince Mouse, who stumbles and falls, defeated. He clutches his crown.)
(ACTION: The remaining Mice panic and immediately retreat, scurrying off stage left, dragging the defeated Prince Mouse with them.)
(ACTION: The Toy Soldiers give a cheer, salute the Nutcracker, and march off stage right.)
(Marie rushes to the Nutcracker. He stands up, looking at her with gratitude. The music swells slightly.)
(ACTION: The Nutcracker slowly transforms again, this time into a handsome, well-dressed Prince. He stands alone with Marie in the center of the stage, taking her hand. Music stops.)
MARIE: Oh, wonder of wonders! You have turned into a real prince!
NUTCRACKER: My dear Marie, your bravery saved me! You’re so beautiful! Come with me, let’s go outside!
-Lights Off-
ACT III
-Lights On-
(SETTING: The stage is bright, decorated with giant, stylized sweet props—lollipops, oversized gumdrops, and frosting-like clouds. Marie and the Nutcracker/Prince stand in the center of the stage.)
MARIE: Where are we? Everything is sparkling!
NUTCRACKER: We are in the Land of Sweets!
(Music plays: Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker Suite, Op 71a – The Waltz of the Flowers.)
(ACTION: Children dressed as Candies, Chocolates, and Candy Canes (The Corps de Ballet of Sweets) enter from all sides of the stage. They perform the Waltz of the Flowers around Marie and the Nutcracker Prince. They form a half-circle, bowing.)
(ACTION: The SUGAR PLUM FAIRY enters gracefully from upstage center. The corps of Sweets bows deeply as she arrives.)
(Music shifts: Tchaikovsky – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.)
(ACTION: The Sugar Plum Fairy performs her solo dance. She focuses her movement and gaze on Marie. When she finishes, the corps applauds silently. The Sugar Plum Fairy gestures toward Marie and the Nutcracker Prince, inviting them to dance.)
(Music shifts: Tchaikovsky – Nutcracker – Pas de deux.)
(ACTION: Marie and the Prince begin their dance, executing simple, elegant moves. Marie attempts a series of fast turns with the Prince. Marie stops dancing suddenly. She puts a hand to her head, swaying slightly.)
MARIE: Oh, my head is swimming! All those spins!
(ACTION: Marie looks dizzy and collapses gently into the arms of the Prince, fainting. The Prince holds her carefully. The Sugar Plum Fairy and the other Sweets look on with concern.)
-Lights Off-
ACT IV
-Lights On-
(In the living room. Marie wakes up under the Christmas tree with the nutcracker toy under her arms. The doorbell rings. She stands up and opens the door. Mr. Herr Drosselmeyer is at the door with his nephew Daniel, who is the nutcracker/prince. Marie looks surprised.)
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Hello, dear! (hugs Marie). (to Daniel) Aren’t you going to say hello to Marie?
DANIEL: Hello, Marie.
MARIE: Hello, Daniel. You look so familiar…
HERR DROSSELMEYER: What’s wrong? You look as if you have seen a ghost!
MARIE: It’s just that I had a most amazing dream…. and…
HERR DROSSELMEYER: Sometimes dreams come true, dear.
MARIE: You’re right. Merry Christmas Day!
HERR DROSSELMEYER AND DANIEL: Merry Christmas! (They hug Marie).
(Music: Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker, Op. 71. Closing Waltz – Grand Finale)
As the magic fades and Marie wakes beneath the Christmas tree, she realizes that dreams can be powerful, unforgettable, and sometimes closer to reality than we think. The Nutcracker, the prince, and the Kingdom of Sweets may have come from her imagination, but the courage, kindness, and hope they inspired will stay with her forever.
The Nutcracker and the Christmas Dream remind us that Christmas is a time for believing in the impossible, cherishing the people we love, and keeping a little sparkle of magic in our hearts all year long.
The End
Author: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed in 1891–92.
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
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