16th ANNUAL
GOLDSTAR NATIONAL
NUTCRACKER AWARD
It's the nation's only prize for live performances of The Nutcracker — and it's voted on by Goldstar members like you!
Find Your Local NutcrackerAND THE NUTTY GOES TO…
Long Beach Ballet’s The Nutcracker With Full Symphony Orchestra
This stunning version of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet by artistic director David Wilcox has been Southern California’s favorite holiday production for 39 years. The Long Beach Ballet Nutcracker was voted “Best Nutcracker in the U.S.” by Goldstar audience members in 2018 and 2019. Accompanied by a full symphony orchestra, the Long Beach Nutcracker also boasts sparkling sets and costumes, a cast of over 250, dazzling pyrotechnics and magic effects along with a special appearance by Rebel, Long Beach Ballet’s gorgeous white Arabian horse. The Los Angeles Times calls it “opulent, family‐ oriented holiday entertainment…. Seek no further!” See More
PREVIOUS WINNERS
The most loved Nutcrackers in the U.S. according to... you!
2021
Nutcracker Rouge by Company XIV: A Baroque Burlesque Confection
Théâtre XIV
Brooklyn, NY
2019
Long Beach Ballet’s The Nutcracker With Full Symphony Orchestra
Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater
Long Beach, CA
2018
Long Beach Ballet’s The Nutcracker With Full Symphony Orchestra
Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater
Long Beach, CA
2017
Nutcracker Rouge by Company XIV: A Baroque Burlesque Confection
Théâtre XIV
Brooklyn, NY
2016
Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
2015
The Nutcracker: Robert Joffrey’s Beloved Classic With Chicago Phil
Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, IL
2014
A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker: Risque Holiday Favorite
Studio Theatre at the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre
Addison, TX
2013
The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker: Debbie Allen’s Modern Spin on the Holiday Classic
Royce Hall at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
2012
The Nutcracker: Robert Joffrey’s Beloved Classic With Chicago Phil
Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, IL
2011
The Nutcracker: Robert Joffrey’s Beloved Classic With Chicago Phil
Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, IL
2010
Debbie Allen Presents The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a Fresh Take on an Old Favorite
Royce Hall at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
2009
Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker with Live Orchestra at Boston Opera House
Boston Opera House
Boston, MA
2008
Kirov Ballet in The Nutcracker at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, CA
2007
Christmas Classic The Nutcracker Reimagined at Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre
Chicago, IL
THE NOMINEES
To cast your vote, go see a Nutcracker performance and rate it.
1
San Francisco Ballet Presents a Nutcracker Spectacle
War Memorial Opera House
San Francisco, CA
2
Hot Chocolate Nutcracker: Sweet Holiday Fave
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
Redondo Beach, CA
3
The Yorkville Nutcracker, Set in Old New York
The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
New York, NY
4
The Nutcracker: Holiday Classic From Coast City Ballet
Huntington Beach Historical Theater
Huntington Beach, CA
5
Contra Costa Ballet’s Condensed Nutcracker
Lesher Center for the Arts - Hofmann Theater
Walnut Creek, CA
6
Peninsula Ballet Theatre’s Magical Nutcracker
Fox Theatre in Redwood City
Redwood City, CA
7
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The Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker
Lyric Opera House
Chicago, IL
8
San Diego Ballet’s The Nutcracker
The Magnolia
El Cajon, CA
9
Atlanta Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Atlanta, GA
10
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Dolby Theatre
Hollywood, CA
11
Virginia National Ballet’s Nutcracker
Capital One Hall
Tysons, VA
12
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Hippodrome Theatre
Baltimore, MD
13
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Kings Theatre - Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY
14
The Nutcracker: A Holiday Classic from Festival Ballet Theatre
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Irvine, CA
15
NJ Ballet’s Nutcracker with NJ Symphony
Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, NJ
16
Salt Creek Ballet: The Nutcracker
McAninch Arts Center
Glen Ellyn, IL
17
The Nutcracker
Northshore Performing Arts Center
Bothell, WA
18
Westchester Ballet Company: The Nutcracker
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts-CUNY
Bronx, NY
19
Los Angeles Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Dolby Theatre
Hollywood, CA
20
Oakland Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker
Paramount Theatre
Oakland, CA
21
Inland Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker
California Theatre of the Performing Arts
San Bernardino, CA
22
Nutcracker Rouge by Company XIV: A Baroque Burlesque Confection
Théâtre XIV
Brooklyn, NY
23
The Nutcracker: The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine
New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Prudential Hall
Newark, NJ
24
City Ballet’s The Nutcracker with Full Orchestra
California Center for the Arts Escondido
Escondido, California
25
San Jose Dance Theatre: 57th Annual The Nutcracker
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
San Jose, CA
26
The Nutcracker
Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Coral Springs, FL
27
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
McCaw Hall
Seattle, WA
28
The Nutcracker: The Anaheim Ballet’s Holiday Treat
City National Grove of Anaheim
Anaheim, CA
29
The Nutcracker
Jennie T. Anderson Theatre - Cobb Civic Center
Marietta, GA
30
Kansas City Ballet Dances The Nutcracker
The Kennedy Center - Opera House
Washington, DC
31
San Jose Nutcracker Presented by New Ballet
California Theatre
San Jose, CA
32
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
The Orpheum Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
33
The Nutcracker Presented by Inland Pacific Ballet
Fox Performing Arts Center
Riverside, CA
34
The Nutcracker: Ballet California’s Holiday Favorite
El Camino College Center for the Arts -- Marsee Auditorium
Torrance, CA
35
American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall
Costa Mesa, CA
36
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Ballet Chicago Presents: The Nutcracker
Athenaeum Center
Chicago, IL
37
A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker: Risque Holiday Favorite
Studio Theatre at the Addison Conference & Theatre Centre
Addison, TX
38
The Nutcracker With Full Symphony
Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center
Minneapolis, MN
39
Hip Hop Nutcracker: Classic Holiday Tale Remixed
Fox Theatre in Redwood City
Redwood City, CA
40
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Prudential Hall
Newark, NJ
41
(Not Your Normal) Nutcracker
Brooks Theatre
Oceanside, CA
42
Urban Nutcracker
Boch Center Shubert Theatre
Boston, MA
43
Los Angeles Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
Redondo Beach, CA
44
The Nutcracker
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
San Gabriel, CA
45
The 34th Annual Nutcracker
Puppet Co. Playhouse
Glen Echo, MD
46
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Paramount Theatre
Oakland, CA
47
The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Guest MC Kurtis Blow
Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Coral Springs, FL
48
The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque
Greenhouse Theater Center
Chicago, IL
49
The Urban Nutcracker
The Sugar Castle
Houston, TX
50
Ballet Legere: The Nutcracker
Lund Auditorium
River Forest, IL
51
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Fox Theatre
Atlanta, GA
52
The NutcracKer’s Guide to Getting UnPlugged
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Washington, DC
53
San Francisco Youth Ballet’s 21st Annual Nutcracker
Chinese American International School
San Francisco, CA
54
Nutcracker Sweet: Abridged Reimagining of the Classic
Peninsula Ballet Theatre
San Mateo, CA
55
The Nutcracker: Holiday Fave Stars Dancers of All Ages
Alex Theatre
Glendale, CA
56
The Brooklyn Nutcracker
Kings Theatre - Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY
57
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Shubert Theatre
New Haven, CT
58
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Rosemont Theatre
Rosemont, IL
59
The Nutcracker
Meyerson Symphony Center
Dallas, TX
60
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Smart Financial Centre
Sugar Land, TX
61
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Fox Theatre
Detroit, MI
62
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Music Hall at Fair Park
Dallas, TX
63
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY
64
Pacific Festival Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center
Thousand Oaks, CA
65
Peninsula Ballet Theatre’s Hip Hop Nutcracker Sweet
Peninsula Ballet Theatre
San Mateo, CA
66
Dancenter North presents The Magic of the Nutcracker
Genesee Theatre
Waukegan, IL
67
A&A Ballet: The Art Deco Nutcracker
Athenaeum Center
Chicago, IL
68
The Urban Nutcracker
The Sugar Castle
Houston, TX
69
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse Artspace at the Castle
Boston, MA
70
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago
Chicago, IL
71
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse Immersive Denver
Denver, CO
72
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit
Detroit, MI
73
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse ArtSpace Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
74
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse ArtSpace Nashville
Nashville, TN
75
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Fox Performing Arts Center
Riverside, CA
76
The Nutcracker
The Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center
Monrovia, CA
77
The Fox Valley Nutcracker
Batavia Fine Arts Centre
Batavia, IL
78
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
79
V & T Classical Ballet Academy: The Nutcracker
Santa Ana High School
Santa Ana, CA
80
The Nutcracker
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
Tracy, CA
81
My First Nutcracker
Theatre Row - Theatre Three
New York, NY
82
The Immersive Nutcracker
Lighthouse Artspace Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
83
The Nutcracker: Golden State Dance Foundation V&T Dance Classical Ballet
Santa Ana High School
Santa Ana, CA
84
The Nutcracker: Golden State Dance Foundation
The Bill Medley Auditorium
Santa Ana, CA
85
The Nutcracker
Everett Performing Arts Center
Everett, WA
86
The Nutcracker 2022
Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center
Eden Prairie, MN
87
Los Angeles Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
Royce Hall at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
88
City Ballet Presents The Nutcracker A Holiday Ballet
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
San Francisco, CA
89
The Nutcracker: In A Nutshell
Theater at St. Jean
New York, NY
90
KOLA: An Afro Diasporic Remix of The Nutcracker
Agency Oakland
Oakland, CA
91
Body Language Studio Presents The Nutcracker
Lindbergh Senior High School
Renton, WA
92
World Ballet Series Presents Nutcracker
Saban Theatre
Beverly Hills, CA
93
World Ballet Series Presents Nutcracker
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Oxnard, CA
94
Realm of the Nutcracker King: An Immersive Holiday Fairytale
Otherworld Theatre
Chicago, IL