Joffrey's Nutcracker premiered in 1987, and is the first version of the classic Christmas ballet to reflect American, rather than European, themes and traditions. Although the ballet was created in the spirit of Marius Petipa's original, Joffrey based his ballet on the ambiance of an American Victorian-era Christmas.
Aspects of the production are based on a collection of toys and cards and holiday knickknacks from that era that Joffrey collected. Some designs for the set, such as the design on the stage curtain, come directly from these antiques.
The ballet was choreographed by Joffrey and the company's co-founder Gerald Arpino, who is still its artistic director. Robert Joffrey died in 1988.