Bob Baker's NUTCRACKER Will Return to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Bob Baker's Nutcracker, Bob Baker Marionette Theater's 1969 marionette adaptation of the timeless ballet classic, will return to Sierra Madre Playhouse for the holidays with 52 performances from Saturday, November 28, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Tickets are just $25.

“There's something special about seeing Bob Baker's Nutcracker in a 99-seat room,” says Sierra Madre Playhouse Artistic and Executive Director Matt Cook. “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 beloved characters from the ballet, such as Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with many of Baker's own whimsical creations. With its large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, this dreamscape adaptation has been one of the Southland's most celebrated holiday traditions for nearly six decades. Carefully preserved and adapted over the years by the talented team at Bob Baker Marionette Theater, this one-hour production is a magical experience for people of all ages.

Critics call Bob Baker's Nutcracker “Christmas magic” (Broadway World) and “a congregation of imagination” (LA Dance Chronicle). LA Theatrix proclaims, '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 – with convenient free parking, its central location in the heart of Sierra Madre's quaint shopping and restaurant district, and affordable tickets – is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.