The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents 'The Nutcracker'

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents a new musical of the timeless classic, The Nutcracker, this holiday season. With the first flurries of the season swirling signifying the start of winter, my two boys and I dressed up for the occasion and were eager take in the premier of The Nutcracker. And this production surely did not disappoint. My nine-year-old and six-year-old had not been to this venue before, but the welcoming ushers, beautiful set design and the theatre-in-the-round stage made us feel right at home. With a one-hour show awaiting us, we were excited to witness the kickoff of the 2016 Nutcracker performances!

Set on Christmas Eve, this musical truly came to life for us. While opening a gift from her Uncle Drosselmeyer, young Marie unveils a shiny new toy Nutcracker which comes to life while she’s sleeping. Along with other toys coming to life, including her brother’s Mouse King, who has stolen the Nutcracker’s magic crown, they set on their journey to find the magical Sugar Plum Fairy who can turn the crown’s owner into a human boy. The question we as the audience found ourselves asking throughout the performance was, “Who will get there first, the Mouse King or the Nutcracker?”

Featuring incredible actors along with timeless music from Tchaikovsky, this production kept us engaged from start to finish. The cast, many of whom have played played multiple roles, truly knew how to relate to their audience. Between the amazing dancing, live orchestra music, lights, set design, and hand-tailored costumes, we truly were engaged and entertained throughout. There was no better way for us to ready ourselves for the cold temperature of the upcoming months than to warm up with this holiday classic right here in Lake County. The 10:00 a.m. time slot was perfect for our family to enjoy the fun.

When visiting the Marriott Theatre, be sure to stay for the live question and answer session with the cast. With reviews like “It was really fun” from nine year old Jordan and “So awesome” from six year old Danny, this obviously is a not to be missed production. Our favorite parts of the show included the dancing, the costumes, and the funny Mouse King and his friends!

Our family is excited to visit the Marriott Theatre for more shows in 2017, especially Madagascar beginning in February! With such high quality shows and a great lineup for families, we anticipate becoming regulars at the Marriott Lincolnshire next year.

The Nutcracker runs from November 11th through December 30th 2016, and you are going to want to purchase your tickets early! I am excited to share our experience at The Nutcracker with my friends and family and let them know that it’s a perfect fit for all ages.