The Saint Louis Ballet has the perfect first Nutcracker. ‘The Nutcracker: A Shorter Tale’ trims Gen Horiuchi’s beloved full production into a one-hour, narrated jewel box made for young audiences — all the snowflakes, sweets and Tchaikovsky, at a length little attention spans can love.
The special performances run at 11 a.m. on December 1 and December 18, 2026, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, alongside the full-length production’s season (November 28–29 and December 18–23). For many St. Louis children, this is the morning the holiday — and a lifetime of ballet — begins: wiggles welcome, wonder guaranteed.
Arrive early for the full Touhill glow, and let them dress up. Everyone does.
‘The Nutcracker: A Shorter Tale’ is at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Boulevard. Tickets at stlouisballet.org.
