For many children around the country, The Nutcracker was not only their first introduction to ballet, but also a shining symbol of the holiday season. The Nutcracker in New York, which debuted in February 1954, pays homage to that tradition with elaborate staging and some of the finest performers in the world. All in, the show features 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 32 stagehands and 2 separate casts of 50 students that re-create Tchaikovsky's beloved world flawlessly. If you can only see one show this holiday season, don't even hesitate. Make it The Nutcracker. The show runs from late-November to early-January, giving you plenty of time to catch a piece of the magic, even after the new year.