After two long years of muted holiday returns thanks to the pandemic, Colorado Ballet‘s “The Nutcracker” has already proved its staying power by reaching its $3.3 million ticket-sales goal for their 25 performances this December.
The long-running, iconic show debuted in 1961 with a six-performance run; Denver’s residents have enjoyed Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic in every year since.
Not every seat for the remaining performances have been sold; limited availability still exists on a handful of evenings, but as they say, tickets are going fast. “We currently have the second-highest attendance for ‘The Nutcracker,’ and our current daily average number of tickets sold have us projected to surpass 2019’s total attendance of 53,384 (across) 27 performances,” Colorado Ballet’s Rachel Perez told The Denver Post.
The previous revenue record was set in 2019, when it had earned $3.22 million over 27 performances, meaning that even with two fewer performances of the show, Colorado Ballet is $1.28 million ahead in revenue and 19,700 ahead in the number of tickets sold over 2021, Perez told The Post. As usual, the success of “The Nutcracker” is critical to the dance troupe’s success; revenue from from the show is expected to generate more than 60% of Colorado Ballet’s overall budget next year.
Shows started on Dec. 4 and continue through Dec. 24. For tickets to “The Nutcracker” and other shows, visit the Colorado Ballet website here.
