THINGS TO DO

31 places to see The Nutcracker in New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia

Asbury Park Press

Where can you take the kids to watch dancing flowers, swirling snowflakes and an epic battle between rats and toy soldiers?

Nerea Borondo dances "The Nutcracker" with Roxey Ballet.

We can think of 31 places, right off the bat. All of them are staging "The Nutcracker," the ballet that is an all-ages favorite at the holidays. This classic story of a girl's coming-of-age, set to Tchaikovsky's rousing score, blends a child's anticipation of Christmas with the excitement of a first crush.

A Christmas tree grows to Rockefeller heights as a dreamscape takes hold, and Clara enters an enchanted world that will require her to summon both courage and compassion.

From the opening party scene to the last pas de deux, "The Nutcracker" evokes the wobbly experience of early adolescence so effectively that parents may blink back tears. But the kids, even those in the midst of that confusing time in life, will simply absorb the holiday magic, and cheer when the heroine takes down the Rat King.

See for yourself at the following venues:

1.

Nov. 12: "Big Holiday Show," featuring excerpts from "The Nutcracker" and other holiday favorites by Performing Arts Ensemble, Algonquin Arts Theatre, 173 Main St., Manasquan. Show time is 3 p.m. Tickets: $18 and $20, $17 and $15 for children and seniors. Optional meet-and-greet with characters after the performance. Info: 732-614-5426 or 732-610-4003, or paenj.org.

Ethereal costumes, such as in this production by Performing Arts Ensemble, are part of the charm of "The Nutcracker."

2.

Nov. 18, 19: American Repertory Ballet, Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St., Rahway. Show time is 2 p.m. Nov. 18 and 1 p.m. Nov. 19 (a sensory-friendly performance). Tickets start at $20. Info: 732-499-8226 or ucpac.org.

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3.

Nov. 24 - 26: American Repertory Ballet, McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton. Show times: 2 and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25, and 1 p.m. Nov. 26. Tickets start at $25. Info: 609-258-2787 or mccarter.org.

4.

Nov. 24 through Dec. 31: "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker" by New York City Ballet, David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, between 62 and 65th streets and Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, Manhattan. Show times: 7 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in December; 8 p.m., Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturdays; and 1 and 5 p.m., Sundays. Additional shows are scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 20, 22, 26, 27 and 29. Tickets start at $50. Info: 212-496-0600 or nycballet.com.

Chinwan Kim and Tara Seymour dance "The Nutcracker" with Roxey Ballet.

5.

Nov. 25 through Dec. 3: Roxey Ballet, The College of New Jersey, Kendall Hall, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing. Sensory-friendly performance on Dec. 2. Show times are at 2 p.m., with an additional 7 p.m. performance on Dec. 2. Tickets start at $20. Info: 609-397-7616 or RoxeyBallet.org.

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6.

Nov. 26: New Jersey Ballet, The Levoy Theatre, 126 - 130 North High St., Millville. Show times: 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $27 to $35. Info: 856-327-6400 or njballet.org.

7.

Nov. 30: "Great Russian Nutcracker" by the Moscow Ballet, Shea Center, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne. Show time: 7 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Info: 973-720-2371 or wpunj.edu.

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8.

Dec. 2: American Repertory Ballet, Patriots Theater At the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. Show time: 2 p.m. Tickets start at $20. Info: 877- 987-6487 or arballet.org.

American Repertory Ballet's "Nutcracker" includes children in the role of angels.

9.

Dec. 2 and 3: New Jersey Ballet, Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 North Van Brunt St., Englewood. Show times are 1 and 4:30 p.m., each day. Tickets: $19 to $49. Info: 201-227-1030 or bergenpac.org.

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10.

Dec. 3: Russian Grand Ballet, Kean University, Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Ave., Union. Show time is 3 p.m. Tickets: $25 to $35. Info: 908-737-7469 or www.keanstage.com.

11.

Dec. 8: "Great Russian Nutcracker" by the Moscow Ballet, The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg. Show times: 4 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $40 and $50. Info: 908-725-3420 or rvccarts.org.

American Repertory Ballet performs "The Nutcracker" at the State Theatre in New Brunswick and other venues throughout New Jersey.

12.

Dec. 8: Central NJ Ballet Theatre, Villa Victoria Theatre, 376 W Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets: $20, or $15 for children under 10. Info: 609-424-3192 or cnjballet.com.

13.

Dec. 8 and 9: American Repertory Ballet, South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 Trenchard Place, South Orange. Show times: 7 p.m. Dec. 8, and 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets start at $25. Info: 973-313-2787 or sopacnow.org.

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14.

Dec. 8 and 9: Atlantic City Ballet, Stockton Performing Arts Center, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway. Show times: 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets: $12 to $33. Info: 609-652-4786 or acballet.org.

The duel between the Rat King and the Nutcracker, as performed by the Atlantic City Ballet.

15.

Dec. 8 to 24: New Jersey Ballet with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St.,Morristown. Orchestra conducted by Gary S. Fagin. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays; and 1 and 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (No 6 p.m. show on Dec. 24). Tickets: $29 to $69. Info: 973-539-8008 or mayoarts.org.

16.

Dec. 8 - 31: "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker" by the Pennsylvania Ballet, Academy Of Music, 240 South Broad St., Philadelphia. Show times: Noon Dec. 9, 10, 16, 24, 27, 28, 30 and 31; 2 p.m. Dec. 9, 22, 26 and 29; 5 p.m. Dec. 10, 16, 17, 27, 28 and 30; and 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 9, 15, 22, 23. Sensory-friendly performance at noon Dec. 27. Info: 215-893-1999 or academyofmusic.org or paballet.org.

Ballet For Young Audiences performs "The Nutcracker" at Ocean County College.

17.

Dec. 9: Ballet For Young Audiences, Grunin Center, Ocean County College, Toms River. A narrated production of "The Nutcracker." Show time is 1 p.m. Tickets: $12, or $10 for children. Info: 732-255-0500 or grunincenter.org.

18.

Dec. 9 and 10: Princeton Youth Ballet, Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 151 Moore St, Princeton. Show times are 4 p.m. Dec. 9 and noon and 4 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $18 to $25, or $35 with a backstage tour, pictures with cast members, favors, snacks and drinks (ages 4 to 12). Info: 609-222-7592 or princetonyouthballet.org.

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19.

Dec. 9 and 10: Company Of Dance Arts, Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St.,Red Bank. Show times: 1 and 5 p.m., each day. Tickets: $20 to $40. Info: 732-842-9000 or countbasietheatre.org.

20.

Dec. 9 and 10: New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, Memorial Auditorium at Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair. Show times: 1 and 5 p.m., Dec. 9, and 2 p.m., Dec. 10. Tickets: $35, or $25 for seniors, students and children. Info: 908-273-5500 or njdte.org.

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Check out the mouse ears in Kurtis Blow's "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker."

21.

Dec. 10: Central NJ Ballet Theatre, Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks St., Bordentown. Show time is 2 p.m. Tickets: $20, or $15 for children under 10. Info: 609-424-3192 or cnjballet.com.

22.

Dec. 14: "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker" United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th Street, in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Info: 212-568-1157 or unitedpalace.org.

23.

Dec. 15: "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker" by Kurtis Blow, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets: $23 to $79. Info: 888-466-5722 or njpac.org.

Clara inspects the troops in American Repertory Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

24.

Dec. 15 - 17: American Repertory Ballet, State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. Live orchestra and choir. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets start at $35. Info: 732-246-7469 or statetheatrenj.org.

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25.

Dec. 15 - 17: The Dance Connection, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Abridged and fully narrated. Show times: 7 p.m., Dec. 15, 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 17. Tickets: $16, $14 for children and seniors. Info: 609-570-3333 or danceconnectionnj.com.

Lauren Lovette, Emerson Alexander and Ian Zelbo in New York City Ballet's "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker."

26.

Dec. 15 - 17: New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet, Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Center, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16, and 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets start at $28. Info: 908-979-0900 or centenarystageco.org.

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27.

Dec. 16: "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker," Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn. Doors at 7 p.m., show time at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 to $79. Info: kingstheatre.com or 718-856-5464.

Jumping for joy in Kurtis Blow's "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker."

28.

Dec. 16 and 17: Atlantic City Ballet, Circus Maximus Theater, Caesar's, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City. Show time: 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 4 p.m. Dec. 17.Tickets: $20 to $62. Info: 855-633-8238,acballet.org or ticketmaster.com.

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29.

Dec. 22, 23: American Repertory Ballet, Axelrod Performing Arts Center 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 22, and 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets are $35, or $32 for seniors and $25 for students. Info: 732-531-9106 or axelrodartscenter.com.

Sean Suozzi in New York City Ballet's "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker."

30.

Dec. 23: Atlantic City Ballet with the Garden State Philharmonic, The Strand, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood. Show time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $25 to $40, or $20 for seniors and $15 for students, all seats. Info: 732-367-7789 or strand.org.

31.

Dec. 29: "Big Holiday Show," featuring excerpts from "The Nutcracker" and other holiday favorites by Performing Arts Ensemble, Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church St., Middletown. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $18 and $20, $17 and $15 for children and seniors. Optional meet-and-greet with characters after the performance. Info: 732-614-5426 or 732-610-4003, or paenj.org.