Marionette 'Nutcracker' Performances To Ring In The Holidays At Sierra Madre Playhouse

SIERRA MADRE, CA — "Bob Baker’s Nutcracker," the 1969 marionette adaptation of the classic ballet, returns to Sierra Madre Playhouse with 52 performances starting next month.

Produced by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, the show will run from Saturday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Jan. 3. Tickets cost $25.

“There’s something special about seeing Bob Baker’s Nutcracker in a 99-seat room,” Sierra Madre Playhouse Artistic and Executive Director Matt Cook said. “The puppets are only a few feet away, kids can see every detail, and adults get to rediscover a holiday tradition through children’s eyes. Bob Baker has been part of Southern California’s holidays for generations, and we love giving families the chance to experience that magic up close in Sierra Madre.”

The production features more than 100 handcrafted puppets, including characters from the ballet such as Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King and the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with many of Baker’s own creations. According to show organizers, "this one-hour production is a magical experience for people of all ages."

BroadwayWorld has called the show “Christmas magic,” while LA Dance Chronicle described it as “a congregation of imagination."

LA Theatrix described the venue, saying, "The cutely intimate Sierra Madre Playhouse, with its throwback red velvet seats and curtain, seems ideally suited for this vintage feeling show.”

Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Free parking is available.

For more information or tickets, call 626-355-4318 or visit sierramadreplayhouse.org.