A rental truck carrying essential sets for a touring production of "The Nutcracker" was stolen in Toronto early Monday morning. The theft occurred around 2:30 a.m. at a parking lot in Etobicoke, where the truck was parked. The truck, a white 26-foot Penske vehicle, was transporting irreplaceable scenery and backdrops created by the Group of Seven for Ballet Jörgen's holiday production.

Bengt Jörgen, the artistic director and CEO of Ballet Jörgen, expressed the impact of the theft, stating, "This is devastating for us because these sets are very specific and extremely hard to replace. Unless we can find the sets, it’s going to severely impact the quality of the production."

The truck was parked at 77 N Queen St. in Etobicoke when it was stolen. According to the vehicle's tracking device, its last known location was on McLaughlin Road in Mississauga. Toronto police confirmed they received a report regarding the theft but did not provide further details, including any suspect information. A police spokesperson noted, "This investigation is still in the early stages."

Ballet Jörgen's version of "The Nutcracker" debuted in 2008 and features Tchaikovsky's classic score, set in Northern Ontario in 1912. The production includes custom-built backdrops that are 10-meter reproductions of Group of Seven paintings, showcasing various Canadian landscapes. Jörgen mentioned that the sets are valued at approximately $150,000.

The production's 2025 holiday tour began in North Bay and is scheduled to visit over a dozen communities in Ontario, with 25 performances planned through the end of December. The next performance is set for Tuesday evening in Burlington. Despite the setback, Jörgen assured that all performances will continue as scheduled, stating, "We can’t fully recreate those elements we’ve lost, but we’ll do our very best. We’re still hopeful that somehow, the truck hasn’t left the country and somebody will find it."