An instantly recognizable character in the Boston Ballet's holiday classic The Nutcracker only appears for a few minutes in the first act, but the bear is a real crowd pleaser. His origin story is uniquely Boston.

Broncos players Alex Singleton and Will Lutz perform in Colorado Ballet's 'The Nutcracker.' Tickets still available for shows.

Performers have spent decades in productions of the holiday show, starting as children and moving on to plum roles; ‘the littlest mouse’

A look at what goes into playing the signature bear in "The Nutcracker."