Guide to Los Angeles area 'Nutcracker' performances

1/24

Dancers wait to go on stage during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

2/24

Ballet dancers Talya Marks, 13, Milly Davies, 13 and Camilla Marks, 13, get dressed into their Peppermint Candy costumes during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

3/24

Ellen Hunt, left, watches with her granddaughter, Daisy Kohner, 10, as Sara Akiba, 9, and Daniella Zhou, 9, wait to go on stage during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

4/24

Charity Drake, 12, looks for scissors in the costume room during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

5/24

Ballet dancer Talya Marks, 13, rehearses the Peppermint Candy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

6/24

Dancers practice during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

7/24

Ballet dancer Kailan Jenwick puts on her tiara during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

8/24

Adele Hall, 16, from second left, waits to go on stage during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

9/24

Dancers gracefully wave their hands in the air during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

10/24

Dancers stretch during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

11/24

Santa Monica College Orchestra Conductor Dr. James Martin observes dancers during the party scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

12/24

Lucia Connelly stands on her toes as she runs through the Sugar Plum Fairy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

13/24

Ballet dancers run through the Land of the Snow scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

14/24

Anna Davtyan, 13, left, and Cailyn Genewick, 13, put makeup on before a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

15/24

A ballet dancer uses a fan as she runs through the Spanish scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

16/24

Westside School of Ballet Artistic Director Martine Harley observes her students during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

17/24

Charity Drake, 12, puts on her shoes during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

18/24

Artistic Director Martine Harley, left, shows Lucia Connolly, 15, how to crown Clara with a tiara during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

19/24

Lucia Connolly, 15, right, controls her breathing as associate wardrobe director Nancy Drake squeezes her into her Sugar Plum Fairy dress during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

20/24

Dancers get dressed during a rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

21/24

Ballet dancers Mikaela Sayyah, 14, Alexa Fallica, 13, Skye Wight, 14, Ava Shapley, 12, and Sara Akiba, 9, watch other dancers during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

22/24

Artistic Director Martine Harley goes over some notes with her students during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

23/24

Guest dancer from San Francisco Ballet Jennifer Stahl runs through the Sugar Plum Fairy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

24/24

Lucia Connolly, 15, rehearses her part as the Sugar Plum Fairy during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

By Compiled by Matt Cooper

Nov. 30, 2013 9:15 AM PT

This has been updated.

This season’s offerings of “The Nutcracker” are robust and varied.

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica presents Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, Dec. 1, 1 and 5 p.m. Sold out. (310) 434-3200. https://www.westsideballet.comPacific Ballet Dance Theatre offers highlights as part of the Nutcracker Holiday Festival. Alex Theatre, 216 Brand Blvd., Glendale, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. $25-$90. (818) 243-2539. https://www.alextheatre.org

Inland Pacific Ballet performs with the Pomona College Orchestra. Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way, Claremont, Dec. 7, 14, 1 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 8, 15, 1 p.m.; also Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, Dec. 21, 1 and 7 p.m., Dec. 22 1 p.m. $19-$52. (909) 477-2752. https://www.thebestnutcracker.com

PHOTOS: Site specific dance

Los Angeles Ballet sets the holiday classic in 1913 California. Alex Theatre, 216 Brand Blvd., Glendale, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8, 2 p.m.; also Valley Performing Arts Center, 11811 Nordhoff Ave., Northridge, Dec. 14, 1 and 5 p.m.; Dec. 15, 1 p.m.; Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood, Dec. 21-22, 1 and 5 p.m.; Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach, Dec. 28, 1 and 5 p.m.; Dec. 29, 2 p.m. $30-$95; $24-$76 for students, children, seniors. (310) 998-7782. https://www.losangelesballet.org

The Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre re-creates the 1934 St. Petersburg production. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Dec. 7, 14, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. $34-$40. (323) 343-6600. https://www.maratdaukayev.org

The Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, perform the score. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Dec. 12-14, 8 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. $58-$205. (323) 850-2000. https://www.laphil.com

PHOTOS: LA Opera through the years

Festival Ballet Theatre performs with guest artists from the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr, Irvine. Dec. 13, 20, 7 p.m.; Dec. 14, 21, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 15, 22, 1 and 6 p.m.; also Dec. 18-19, 7 p.m.; Dec. 23, 2 p.m.; Dec. 24, 11 a.m. $35-$40. (949) 854-4646 https://www.festivalballet.org

Malibu Civic Ballet offers its 22nd annual production of the holiday classic. The Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. $10-$35. (310) 506-4522. https://www.ticketmaster.com

Long Beach Ballet performs with a full symphony orchestra. Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Dec. 14, 21, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 22, 2 p.m. $28-$95; discounts for children, seniors and groups. (877) 852-3177. https://www.longbeachballet.com

Pacific Symphony presents “Nutcracker for Kids,” a condensed 45-minute version concluding with a holiday sing-along. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Dec. 14, 10 and 11:30 a.m. $29-$49. (714) 556-2121. https://www.pacificsymphony.org

PHOTOS: Best in theater for 2012

Debbie Allen Dance Academy presents “Debbie Allen’s Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.” Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood. Dec. 14, 1 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 and 6 p.m. $40-$80. (310) 825-2101. https://www.thehotchocolatenutcracker.com

Conejo Civic Ballet performs. Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. $15-$31. (213) 480-3232. https://www.ticketmaster.com

Moscow Ballet presents its “Great Russian Nutcracker” touring production with principal dancers Karyna Shatkovskaya and Vladimir Tkachenko. The Wiltern Theatre, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Dec. 15, 3 and 7 p.m. $40-$276. (800) 745-3000. https://www.nutcracker.com

Laguna Ballet performs with current and former members of New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Dec. 19-20, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 22, 1 and 6 p.m. $20-$24. (949) 582-4656. https://www.saddleback.edu/arts/

South Bay Ballet stages its 10th annual production of the holiday favorite. Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. Dec. 20, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m. $20-$50. (310) 329-5345. https://www.southbayballet.org

Palos Verdes Ballet offers its 33rd annual production, with special guest dancers. Norris Center for the Performing Arts, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula. Dec. 21, 7 p.m.; Dec. 22, 1 and 5 p.m. $22, $32. (310) 544-0403. https://www.norriscenter.com

FOR THE RECORD:
“The Nutcracker”: A Dec. 1 listing of area performances of “The Nutcracker” misstated the name of Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre as Maria Kochetkova Ballet Theatre. Maria Kochetkkova is one of the guest artists who will be performing.

Guide to Los Angeles area ‘Nutcracker’ performances

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times

Most Read in Entertainment & Arts