Nutcracker Fantasy
Friday-Tuesday: Minnesota Dance Theatre's production of "Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy" is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and it remains the longest-running holiday event in the Twin Cities. This show is filled with all the hallmarks of the classic holiday spectacle including dancing toys, twirling snowflakes, scampering mice and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy, all brought to life by MDT's company members and students. Super fans can also enjoy a special "Grand Tea" before Sunday's performance (1:30 p.m., 612-338-0627). 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Tue., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat, 3 p.m. Sun. $45-$75. State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Av., Mpls. 1-800-982-2787, www.hennepintheatretrust.org.
Classic Nutcracker
Friday-Sunday: Ballet Minnesota's "The Classic Nutcracker" lives up to its name. All the favorite characters from the holiday ballet come together on stage for the production. This year's cast features Styler Labin of Philadelphia's Ballet X as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ballet Master Matthew Prescott of New York's Joffrey Ballet as the Cavalier. The cast also includes 130 dancers from the Classic Ballet Academy as well as Ballet Minnesota's company members and apprentices. A special treat is the return of Robert Cleary as Godfather Drosselmeyer. Cleary is back on stage for his 25th "Nutcracker" performance after two battles with cancer. 7:30 p.m. Fri., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. $16-$42. The O'Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul. 651-690-6700. oshag.stkate.edu. Caroline Palmer
