Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple Ballet Arizona musicians, bottom, and dancers rehearse for the “Nutcracker”, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in ...

Playing live, 'Nutcracker' musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple Ballet Arizona musicians, bottom, and dancers rehearse for the "Nutcracker", Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Phoenix prior ...

Sara Cutler, who retired earlier this year as principal harpist, has performed “The Nutcracker” about 2,000 times in over four decades, only taking a year off during the pandemic shutdowns.