Nominees for ‘Nutty’ award for best ‘Nutcracker’ are announced

Things got nutty Wednesday as ticket company Goldstar announced the nominees for its eighth annual Goldstar National Nutcracker Award.

The lengthy list sports nominees from 15 states and Washington D.C., including 10 “Nutcracker” shows in Los Angeles, seven in Orange County and three in the Inland Empire. The winner, to be announced Dec. 22, will be decided by Goldstar members who rate the “Nutcracker” performances they attend over the holiday season.

The winner’s award? The company gets a “Nutty” statuette as well as a cash prize to be used for education programs.

L.A. has taken the prize twice before, in 2013 and 2010, with Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.” Could three times be a charm?

The L.A. entrants:

Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker” at the Wiltern, Los Angeles

City Ballet of Los Angeles’ “The Nutcracker Swings” at Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles

Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” at UCLA’s Royce Hall

Inland Pacific Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Bridges Auditorium, Claremont

L.A. Unbound’s “The Nutcracker Unbound” at El Portal Theatre, North Hollywood

Long Beach Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Long Beach Performing Arts Center

Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” at Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State L.A.

Pasadena Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” at San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

South Bay Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at El Camino College Center for the Arts, Torrance

Red Chair Children’s Production Company’s “The Nutcracker” at Alex Theatre, Glendale

Orange County contenders:

Anaheim Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at City National Grove of Anaheim

Ballet Etudes’ “The Nutcracker” at Huntington Beach High School auditorium

Coast City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Huntington Beach High School

Festival Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” at Irvine Barclay Theatre

Orange County Ballet Theater’s “The Nutcracker” at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, San Clemente

Sunrise Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Servite Theatre, Anaheim

Tustin Dance Center’s “The Nutcracker” at the Alexandra Nechita Center for the Performing Arts, Orange

Inland Empire:

BRAVA’s “David Allan’s Nutcracker” at Landis Performing Arts Center, Riverside

Inland Pacific Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside

The Fine Arts Network/Ballet Studio’s “The Nutcracker” at Old Town Temecula Community Theater

To see a list of local “Nutcracker” shows, click here.

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