The Magic Nut is a new ballet "prequel" to E.T.A. Hoffman"s holiday classic. Based on Hoffman"s own work, The Story of a Hard Nut, Chemiakin"s adaptation shows fans how the Nutcracker character itself came into being. In performance, The Magic Nut explores the heroic qualities of the boy who was turned into a nutcracker for his virtuous deeds. Here is the creation of the ballet, scene by scene, with detailed sketches of the sets, costumes, masks, and props created for the production in 2005. Chemiakin"s working style could not be better fitted to fairy tales and the colorful drawings featured here will delight ballet fans, costume designers, students of theater, and art lovers alike.