The Nutcracker

Each holiday season, the NYCB costume shop is tasked with repairing or rebuilding any costumes for The Nutcracker which are in need of restoration. With the exception of its new works, the NYC Ballet remains true to the design and choreography of each original ballet’s debut. The Nutcracker was first staged in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, though it premiered at the NYC Ballet in 1954. For us in the costume department, that means each replacement fabric and notion needs to be as indistinguishable as possible from the original in order to preserve the integrity of Barbara Karinska’s original designs from 1954. Below are on- and backstage photos of select reconstructions accomplished during my tenure as costume shopper. Photo above © Paul Kolnick.

 
 

Watch the Costumes in Action