‘The Nutcracker’ is back in Kansas City: How to see the holiday tradition
One of Kansas City’s long-standing traditions returns to the stage at the Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and tickets are on sale now.
Kansas City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is back for the holiday season with its dazzling display of costumes, choreography and artistry. Since the show’s first performance in 1972, the annual production has grown into a beloved piece of Kansas City, featuring the talents of the Kansas City Ballet, its Second Company and students from the Kansas City Ballet School.
The show based on the 1800s fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by author E.T.A. Hoffmann runs on select days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, with every weekend date hosting two performances.
“The Nutcracker” takes viewers on a fantasy-filled journey in its 2-hour, 15-minute runtime with hundreds of dancers of all ages involved. Viewers can watch a young girl’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, come to life, do battle and venture away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls.
Viewers are seeing the “overhauled” version Kansas City Ballet artistic director Devon Carney installed in 2015, featuring updated choreography and a score backed by famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Carney said to The Star in 2024 that he thinks there’s always room for ideas on refining the choreography and production, and that he’ll unwrap that package with the next holiday season.
The next holiday season is here, and it’s time for viewers to see what else Carney has added to the production of the classic story.
“It fills me with such a sense of joy to see the production that came fully from my heart as a gift to Kansas City,” Carney said in 2024.
When is The Nutcracker in Kansas City?
Performances of “The Nutcracker” can be seen on these days and times at the Kauffman Center during the holiday season:
- Saturday, Nov. 29: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 30: 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 5: 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 6: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 7: 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 11: 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 12: 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 13: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 14: 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 18: 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 19: 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec, 20: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec 21: 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 22: 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec 23: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 24: 1 p.m.
Tickets range between $34-$149 for adults, and $34-$144 for kids ages 12 and under. VIP family experiences are available for $199 per ticket on first shows of Dec. 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22 and 23, where guests receive access to a private reception suite before the show and at intermission and are able to meet some of the costumed characters from the show at intermission.
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 816-931-8993 between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
This story was originally published November 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
