Buy here for the 12/11/09, 12:00 p.m. show

Click above to buy tickets for 12/11/09 at 12:00 pm. Click on the links below to buy tickets for other dates.

• Buy tickets for 12/9/09 at 7:30 p.m.
• Buy tickets for 12/10/09 at 7:30 p.m.
• Buy tickets for 12/16/09 at 7:30 p.m.
• Buy tickets for 12/17/09 at 7:30 p.m.

With today’s Groupon, $60 gets you a ticket to the Land of the Sugar-Plum Fairy—that means you’ll see The Nutcracker at the Boston Ballet for 40% less than the usual $100. With Section A seats (floor and balcony available), you’ll be close enough to see splinters fly when that fiend Fritz breaks Clara’s beloved cracker. Just follow the redemption instructions on your Groupon as soon as you receive it and email the Boston Ballet to indicate your preferred seating.

There’s no better way to transition from Thanksgiving’s tryptophan turkey coma to the red and green sugar gobs of the holiday season than by seeing Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. Beat the crowds by grabbing these discounted, pre-sale tickets before normal-priced tickets become available to the public on July 13. Since kids love The Nutcracker almost as much as they love candy canes and non-alcoholic eggnog, it’s a good thing you can buy multiple Groupons as gifts.

The 44-year-old Boston Ballet presents fully staged classical and contemporary works during its eight-month season. You’ll see its performance of The Nutcracker at its new home, The Boston Opera House, at 539 Washington St. Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen was a principal dancer at the San Francisco Ballet for 10 years before joining Boston Ballet. In 2007 he took Boston Ballet’s troupe on its first international tour in 16 years, receiving major critical acclaim.

Reviews

Critics loved last year’s The Nutcracker, which was full of surprises and special effects. The Boston Globe says:

• Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” provides a nice little sugar rush right into the holiday season. Choreographed by artistic director Mikko Nissinen, the company’s version of this beloved classic sports vivid, imaginative scenery by Helen Pond and Herbert Senn, elaborate, often whimsical costumes by David Walker and Charles Heightchew, and captivating special effects (like the Christmas tree that soars to the ceiling before our eyes and a balloon that flies up and out of sight, carrying Clara, its young heroine, to the Land of the Sweets.) However, the production also features substantive choreography and, in last evening’s opening night performance at the Opera House, some exquisite dancing.

Ballet Magazine writes:

• The sets and costumes are gorgeous. The special effects include a tree that grows to a height of 30 feet, a sleigh drawn by human reindeer in a blizzard of snow, and a hot air balloon that rises into the fly space, carrying Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the Kingdom of Sweets. Drosselmeier too flies across the stage. In fact, there’s so much airborne activity that the program includes the credit: ‘Flying by Foy’.

Four Yelpers chime in, giving Boston Ballet a 4.5. What are they saying?

• Boston Ballet kicks ass, quite simply. Since Mikko Nissinen took over in 2002 (I think), this company is entering into a golden age… –Alexandra C., Yelp
• This is only my 3rd Boston Ballet event but on the strength of these dancers i’ll be back again and again and again. – Asia K., Yelp
• Overall, a great facility and asset to the Boston dance scene. – Crystal W., Yelp

FBCBRHB Report

The Federal Bureau of Child Behavior Relating to Holiday Ballets (FBCBRHB) reports that American children prefer receiving tickets to The Nutcracker more than any other gift, including:

• Adult-sized socks
• Adult-sized big wheels
• Adult-sized subscription to Highlights
• Adult-sized crème brûlée set
• Adult-sized crimping shears