Key West Art & Historical Society collecting, preserving, and presenting Key West’s history, since 1949.

Joyce Stahl, standing close to the statute of the 'nutcracker,' is seen here wearing a crown from the Nutcracker Ballet. The ballet was adapted to fit in with the tropical and nautical Florida Keys.

Norman Aberle, left, curator of the Custom House Museum, and Jennifer Krumfolz, prepare the Nutcracker Ballet Exhibit that will be held from Dec. 5 – Jan. 4, 2010.

“We are having an early Saturday opening so the children of the Keys can see up close and personal the detail of the costumes,” said Executive Director Claudia Pennington. “The ballet has been popular with the residents and we thought this would offer an exceptional opportunity for all the fans.” When the museum board heard that the Nutcracker Ballet would not be performed this year it decided to present many of the principal characters’ costumes for public viewing, Pennington said.