The nutcracker comes to America: how three brothers from way out West turned the Nutcracker into a holiday tradition

Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America? Meet Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug from an uncle in the early 1900s. They performed alongside elephants and clowns on vaudeville, immersed themselves in the New York City dance scene, and even put on a ballet featuring gangsters at a gas station. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II—on a shoestring budget and in need of a hit—they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America's first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition. Follow along and learn how The Nutcracker came to be performed all across the United States from these truly humble beginnings. ISBN 978-1-4677-2151-6 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4677-8848-9 (EB pdf) Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America? Meet Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug from an uncle in the early 1900s. They performed alongside elephants and clowns on vaudeville, immersed themselves in the New York City dance scene, and even put on a ballet featuring gangsters at a gas station. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II―on a shoestring budget and in need of a hit―they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America's first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition. Millbrook,Millbrook Picture Books,Millbrook Press,Picture Book,Read Alouds,Read-Aloud Books,Story Books,Performing Arts,Dance,Holidays & Celebrations,Christmas & Advent,People & Places,United States,19th Century,21st Century,America,Ballet,Ballet Dancers,Cathy Gendron,Chris Barton,Christensen Brothers,Cultural Tradition,Culture,English,Harold Christensen,History,Holiday Traditions,Holidays and Customs,How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created a Holiday Tradition,Language Arts,Lew Christensen,Picture Books,The Nutcracker,The Nutcracker Comes to America,Theater,Utah,William Christensen Cover 1 Front Flap 2 Dedications 6 Copyright Information 8 Photo Acknowledgments 8 Title Page 9 Author’s Note 38 Illustrator’s Note 39 Timeline 40 The Whole Shebang, in a Nutshell: A Summary of The Nutcracker 43 Suggestions for Further Reading 43 Back Flap 47 Back Cover 48 Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America? Meet William, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. They performed on vaudeville and took part in the New York City dance scene. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II, they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America's first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition. Author's Note, Full-Color Illustrations, Further Reading, Timeline.