The Nutcracker is the one ballet many Utah Valley families see every year, and the choice is wider than it looks. Ballet West's production, with its 1944 pedigree and full orchestra, is the famous one, but it means a drive north. Two stages in Provo and Orem host their own productions a few minutes from home, often for less. This guide lists the productions with published runs we could confirm for the 2025 season, as a guide to 2026; smaller studio shows also appear each December.
Ballet West, Ogden and Salt Lake City
Ballet West's Nutcracker was first staged in 1944 by the company's founder, Willam Christensen, and the state of Utah has designated it a Living Historic Landmark, the first ballet so named; Onstage Ogden calls it the longest-running Nutcracker in the country. It is danced to Tchaikovsky's score played live by the Ballet West Orchestra.
- Ogden, Thanksgiving weekend: at the Browning Center's Austad Auditorium at Weber State University. In 2025, November 28 to 30. About an hour and a half from Provo.
- Salt Lake City, most of December: at Ballet West's home, the Capitol theater at 50 West 200 South. In 2025, December 5 to 27. About 45 miles and 53 minutes from Provo.
- Tickets: from about $30, with single tickets on sale from early September in 2025.
- Ages: recommended for 4 and up; children under 4 are not admitted, and everyone needs a ticket and a seat.
- Length: about two hours, with a 20-minute intermission.
Utah Metropolitan Ballet, Provo
Utah Metropolitan Ballet performs its Nutcracker at the Covey Center for the Arts, at 425 West Center Street in downtown Provo, three minutes from the center of town. Its production, which premiered in 2017, has sets and costumes by Cassandra Barney and choreography by Jacqueline Colledge, and the 2025 run was performed with a live orchestra. In 2025 its performances fell in mid-December, with tickets from about $30 to $65.
Chrysalis Ballet and Central Utah Ballet, Provo
Chrysalis Ballet and Central Utah Ballet also stage The Nutcracker at the Covey Center, earlier in the season. In 2025 they performed in mid-November, with tickets at $20 and $30, and a version of the story in which Clara's nutcracker battles a Mouse Queen. Ages 3 and up are admitted with a ticket.
Utah Valley Civic Ballet, Orem
Utah Valley Civic Ballet produces The Nutcracker with the Orem Library Hall in the Ashton Auditorium, at 58 North State Street in Orem, about 12 minutes from Provo. In 2025 it performed on December 5 and 6 and added a performance to meet demand.
Choosing one
- For the full production: Ballet West, with the orchestra and the 1944 staging, and the longest run.
- For small children: a local production in Provo or Orem, close to home and shorter on travel.
- For the budget: the Covey Center productions, from $20.
- For Thanksgiving weekend: Ballet West's Ogden run.
Practical notes
- Book Ballet West early. The December weekends go first.
- Check the age rules. Ballet West admits no one under 4.
- Look close to home. Two Utah Valley stages host Nutcrackers.
- Watch the fall calendars. The Covey Center and the Orem Library Hall post their seasons ahead.
Related Guides
- Christmas in Salt Lake From Utah Valley
- Light the World in Utah Valley
- The Christmas Devotional and Conference Center
- Christmas Village in Ogden and the Midway Ice Castles
- Christmas in Provo
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see The Nutcracker in Utah Valley?
When is Ballet West's Nutcracker?
What is the minimum age for Ballet West's Nutcracker?
Which Nutcracker is cheapest?
Why is Ballet West's Nutcracker a historic landmark?
Who performs The Nutcracker at the Covey Center in Provo?
Is there a Nutcracker in Orem?
Is Ballet West's Nutcracker performed with a live orchestra?
