Oglebay Institute presents "The Nutcracker" 25th Anniversary

Oglebay Institute’s Youth Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker at 7pm December 18 & 19; 3pm & 7pm Sunday, December 21 at Towngate Theatre.

(December 19 performance titled “The MUTTcracker” will help support our friends at the Ohio County Animal Shelter. The 7pm December 21 performance is the 25th Anniversary show featuring dance alumni.)

About the Show

Dancing flowers! Flurries of snowflakes! Beautiful fairies and a legion of mice!  See them all swoop and soar across the stage. Oglebay Institute’s Youth Ballet Company dances The Nutcracker on Towngate stage. Beautifully costumed dancers bring this magical story to life. You will be transported into a Christmas fantasy. You’ll marvel at the lavish set and revel in Tchaikovsky’s beloved score.

For many, this annual show is a treasured holiday tradition. So, gather your family and join us at Towngate for this magical holiday journey.

This production marks the 25th anniversary of Oglebay Institute’s tradition of performing The Nutcracker for the community.

Sponsored by the Helen J. Prince Foundation.

Get Tickets

Tickets: $20
$25 for Dec. 19 “MUTTcracker” ($5 from each ticket goes to Ohio Co. Animal Shelter.)

Purchase tickets online or call 304-242-7700.

2025-26 Children’s Theater Season at Towngate

“12 Dancing Princesses” Ballet
3pm & 7pm Sunday, October 12
7pm Saturday, October 18
3pm & 7pm Sunday, October 19

“The Homecoming: A Christmas Story”
7pm December 11 & 12; 3pm December 13 & 14

“The Nutcracker”
7pm December 18 & 19; 3pm & 7pm Sunday, December 21

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”
8pm March 6, 7, 13, 14; 3pm March 8

Take your kids to the ballet.

Oglebay Institute’s children’s theater brings classic stories from the page to the stage through theater and dance.  Ballet performances feature well-loved stories that children relate to. Kids not only get excited about the characters and music they know, but also get to see stories presented in new and interesting ways.  Performances introduce kids to the beauty of dance. They also learn how dance can be used as a means of self-expression and storytelling.

Teaching the Art of Dance…

Oglebay Institute recognizes the importance of creative expression through movement and music. Dance has been a vibrant part of our programming for more than 80 years. We not only present dance as an art form and a means of self-expression but also as social interaction for all ages. From new dancers to returning professionals, our students immerse themselves in the art of dance at Oglebay Institute.