Nutty for ‘The Nutcracker’ - Westfair Communications

Indiana Woodward and company in New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” Photograph by Erin Baiano.

With the exception of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” and Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” no other work of art distinguishes Christmas quite like “The Nutcracker,” E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale of an ugly, rejected Nutcracker transformed by a little girl’s love, set to some of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s most romantic music.

The granddaddy of all “Nuts” is the George Balanchine version performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in Manhattan through New Year’s Eve. Tickets start at $50, with a Sweet Seat including premium seating and a complimentary souvenir book. For every two Sweet Seats sold, there’s a coupon for a complimentary keepsake photo taken on-site.

On Saturday, Dec. 23, the company will present a one-hour Family Saturdays program with excerpts from the ballet, hosted by Megan Fairchild, a principal dancer and Family Saturdays creative director. Tickets for the one-hour interactive program are $25 for children, including infants, and adults. There’s priority seating available for American Sign Language interpretation.

For all tickets and more, visit nycballet.com or call 212-496-0600.

Principal dancers of the City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre join Connecticut Ballet for its “Nutcracker” at Stamford’s Palace Theatre 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. Tickets range from $50 to $75. For more, visit www.connecticutballet.org.

Meanwhile, Mamamroneck’s Emelin Theatre presents “Nutcracker Dream,” Saturday, Dec. 16, through 29, performed by Ballet des Amériques, with choreography by company founding director Carole Alexis.

All seats are reserved, with most priced at $35; $25 for children. There is a limited number of premium seats at $50. For the Dec. 16 7 p.m. opening, there is also a limited number of VIP | Waltz of the Flowers packages, which include a post-show themed reception that includes a photo op with dancers and goodie bags. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, there will be a special children’s performance, “Land of Sweets |Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier Reception” for all, including special treats and an opportunity to meet the dancers after the performance. Subsequent performances are scheduled twice daily over the holiday break from Tuesday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Dec. 29, at 2 and 5 p.m. For tickets and more, click here.