The Nutcracker at Capitol Theatre

America's 1st Nutcracker celebrates 80 years! The iconic masterpiece that has defined generations all started when Ballet West’s founder, Willam Christensen, choreographed the first full-length version of The Nutcracker in the United States in 1944. Officially named a Living Historic Landmark by the state of Utah in 2024, the first such designation in the U.S., Christensen’s Nutcracker sparked a cultural and artistic phenomenon that is largely responsible for the ballet landscape in America as we know it today, earning him the recognition as the “godfather of American ballet.” Christensen’s Nutcracker has been annually presented in Utah since 1955, and by Ballet West since 1963. Images (Note, downloadable file will expire in 3 days):