How American Ballet Companies Keep Reinventing 'Nutcracker'

"From the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band's Dance-Along Nutcracker to the New Bedford Ballet's historical whaling production, A New England Nutcracker" - not to mention a hip-hop version and a "MeshugaNutcracker" for Chanukah - "the message of 'anyone can watch' is echoed throughout performances that interpret Tchaikovsky's score in new - and distinctly American - ways."