Bob Baker's Nutcracker

Nothing says the holidays quite like watching more than 100 hand-carved marionettes dance across a tiny stage, and that’s exactly what’s waiting for your family at Bob Baker’s Nutcracker.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s beloved 1969 marionette adaptation of the classic ballet returns to Sierra Madre Playhouse for the 2026 holiday season, bringing Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Rat King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy to life through intricate puppetry, twinkling sets, and Tchaikovsky’s unmistakable score.

The hour-long show is a gentle, visually enchanting introduction to the Nutcracker story for younger kids who aren’t quite ready for a full-length ballet, while grown-ups who grew up on Bob Baker’s puppetry tend to get just as swept up in the nostalgia.

📅 Dates & Times

52 performances run Saturday, November 28, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Showtimes vary by date — most performance days offer shows at 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 4:30 PM, with select Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in December adding a 7:30 PM performance. The theater is dark most Mondays. Because showtimes shift throughout the run, check the official calendar link below before planning your visit.

📍 Venue

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👦🏻‍👦🏻 Age Requirement

All ages are welcome. The show’s gentle pacing and puppetry make it a favorite with children around age 3 and up, and the intimate 99-seat theater means even the littlest audience members get an up-close view of the marionettes.

🎫️ Tickets/Price

Tickets are $25 per person for every performance in the run. Get tickets on the official Sierra Madre Playhouse website

🍔 Food

Please check the website for more information.

🚙 Parking

Free parking is available near the theater, which sits right in the middle of Sierra Madre’s walkable shopping and restaurant district — easy to turn the show into a whole family outing.

🌐 Website Link

Sierra Madre Playhouse

🧭 Directions

Click on the “Google” map for directions.

📢 Disclaimer

Event listings are believed to be accurate at the time of posting, but details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm all details with the event organizer before attending. FUN WITH KIDS IN LA® is not liable for errors, omissions, or changes to listings in our calendar. Some events have paid us to be on our events calendar, and some events contain an affiliate link.