The Nutcracker Chronicles: The Cheating Prince by Alastair Macaulay

In this version, with the dressiest audience in the country, the Nutcracker introduces Clara to his wife, the Snow Queen, and then takes Clara to meet his other friend, the Sugar Plum Fairy…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:45am on December 8, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: In the Land of Snow by Alastair Macaulay

Flying through a "Nutcracker" world to see one of the country's best productions.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 4:00pm on December 7, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Let the Taped Music Ring by Alastair Macaulay

This "Nutcracker" comes with gentle protesters outside.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:00pm on December 7, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Shh, the Puppets Are About to Dance by Alastair Macaulay

This Nutcracker is put on with puppets and children in the audience knew how to behave.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:00am on December 7, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Clues to the Original Production by Alastair Macaulay

Delving into an archive from Russia that offers peeks of the 1892 premiere production of "The Nutcracker."

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:30am on December 4, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: The One Where Mom Is the Sugar Plum Fairy by Alastair Macaulay

In a Lower East Side version of "The Nutcracker," Mom is the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dad is her Cavalier.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:30am on December 3, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Following the Dancers From Room to Room by Alastair Macaulay

A "Nutcracker" in a mansion in Newport, R.I., offers some interesting interactions between audience and dancers.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:30am on December 2, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Clara in the Rockies by Alastair Macaulay

To get an idea of how central "The Nutcracker" is to American ballet, look at how central it is to the Colorado Ballet (which this season celebrates its 50th anniversary).

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:00pm on November 30, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Where the Wild Sugar Plums Are by Alastair Macaulay

In Seattle, "The Nutcracker" takes a fanciful twist.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:15am on November 30, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: The Doctor Will Dance for You Now by Alastair Macaulay

An oncologist has his moment in the "Nutcracker" spotlight.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:30am on November 25, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Son's Progress by Alastair Macaulay

A reader writes about her son's long-ago experience with "The Nutcracker." Fast-forward several years and look who's being reviewed as a professional dancer?

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:30am on November 24, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: Where the Coyotes Dance and the Bats Roam by Alastair Macaulay

I could probably see a different one every day of the year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 8:55am on November 23, 2010☆⚑

The Nutcracker Chronicles: First Stop West Point by Alastair Macaulay

The first stop on Alastair Macaulay's "Nutcracker" marathon takes him to West Point.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 4:46pm on November 18, 2010☆⚑