I know, I know. You've seen the Nutcracker. Everybody and their mother has. But the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production is probably better than the one you saw.

Why? Because PNB's artistic director Kent Stowell enlisted awesome children's illustrator Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) to design the entire set. They've transformed McCaw Hall into an acid trip worthy experience, complete with a 27-foot Mouse King. (Can you imagine seeing that thing on drugs? Yikes!)

Anyway. My point isn't that you should take drugs before seeing the show. In fact, you shouldn't. It's annoying enough when people get drunk at the event (I'll get to in a second.) My point is that Seattle's Nutcracker takes the cake from its counterparts. The cast does a fantastic job creating its own gorgeous--and slightly macabre--rendition of the ballet.

Thoe show runs through December 30. Tickets run $24-$130 (with discounts for children 12 and under) and are well worth the price.

That being said, I'd like to offer two bits of advice for future audience members:

1.) If you've got a tiny kid, don't forget to get a booster seat from the coat check lobby. The poor girl behind me spent the entire first half of the show huffing and "whispering" that she couldn't see. This made her unhappy and in turn, made me unhappy. Why? Because I was sitting in front of her and became convinced that I had the biggest fucking head in the world.

2.). Drink in moderation. After intermission a woman who reeked of wine plopped down in the empty seat next to me. Each time she hiccupped, her rancid breath would waft into my nostrils. She stared at me and slurred, "Are you a ballerina?" When I smiled politely and said no, she yelled defensively, "Don't worry, I'm not a lesbian!" She also decided to yell "Whoooooo!" through the rest of the show. I'm not exactly sure why. Seriously--go easy on the wine, folks. It's not a football game.