STORY BY KAILEY RHODES
E
very year, Christmas in Macon is marked by
an evening at the historic Piedmont Grand
Opera House for The Nutcracker. Visitors
are dazzled not only by the Grand's soaring
ceilings and velvet-lined boxes, but also by the
production itself—from fi nely tailored costumes to a
cast of community dancers and guest professionals.
After auditioning more than a hundred dancers each
fall, The Nutcracker of Middle Georgia rehearses a
story of Christmas Eve anticipation, a magical toy, and
Clara's kaleidoscopic dreams.
What Jean Weaver began in 1985 turns 40 this year,
and we think she'd be proud of the tradition Macon
has carried forward. Whether it's your fi rst Nutcracker
or your fortieth, audiences return year after year for
both the big moments ("It's not Christmas without
The Nutcracker!") and the blink-and-you'll-miss-
it details that feel like secrets between stage and
audience.
This year, we asked dancers, costumers, crew, and
longtime fans to share the little things they love most
about Macon's Christmas crown jewel. Their stories
invite you to experience The Nutcracker more deeply,
from the fi rst sound of the bassoon to the snowy
rose petals falling in pink light. Here are little things
our community loves about The Nutcracker, from
backstage rituals to silly superstitions, generational
memories to audience traditions!
It's
t
h
e
L
ittle
Thi
n
gs
From
snow
fl
akes
to
secrets,
here
are
40
years
of
me
mories
to
honor
N
utcr
a
cker
of
Middle
Georgia's
40th
anniversary
44 maconmagazine.com | October/November 2025
When you
see the Opera
Glasses icon,
read for a tip on
what to watch
for onstage!
