‘Nutcracker’ Season Kicks Off

The Christmas tree is growing through the roof again, the mice are nastier than ever and only Clara’s strange new doll stands between her and complete disaster--as usual.

Yes, it’s the season for “The Nutcracker,” performed in dozens of Southland versions--some infinitely more imaginative, charming, professional and/or expensive than others. Below, the annual list of productions, starting with those on view this very weekend.

Circle X Theatre Company’s “Notcracker” (adults-only version): Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through Dec. 19. Los Angeles Playhouse, 1625 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood. $15. (323) 969-9239, Ext. 2.

“The Real Nut, the True Story of the Nutcracker” (puppet play): Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m., through Dec. 27. Milk and Cookies Theater, 110 Martin Alley, Old Pasadena. $8 (children)-$12. (323) 660-8587.

Anaheim Ballet: Today and Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. $10 (children)-$13. (949) 582-4656.

Ballet Arte Dance Theatre: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Parker Auditorium, 750 Nautilus St., La Jolla. $10-$25. (619) 259-5505.

Ballet Pacifica: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19-23, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2:30 p.m. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. $14 (children, seniors)-$17. (949) 854-4646.

Ballet Repertory Theatre: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Dec. 18, 7 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 p.m.; Dec. 21-23, 7 p.m.; Dec. 24, 1 p.m. Main Stage, Goldenwest College, Center Drive, Huntington Beach. $10 (children)-$12. (714) 895-8150.

City Ballet: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. Spreckles Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego. $15.50-$27.50. (619) 220-TIXS.

Malibu Ballet Society: Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 5 p.m. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, Malibu. $15 (children)-$20. (310) 456-4522.

Southern California Dance Theatre: Friday, Saturday and Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. Downey Theater, 8435 Firestone Blvd. $12.50-$17.50. (562) 496-1766.

David Taylor Dance Company: Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Long Beach Terrace Theater, Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. $15-$25. (562) 436-3661.

California Ballet: Saturday, 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. $20.50-$32. (619) 748-0505.

Channel Islands Ballet Company: Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd. $14 (children)-$27. (805) 723-5950.

DanceCorps’ “Story of the Nutcracker” (one hour): Saturday, 2 and 5 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2 and 5 p.m. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive. $10. (323) 343-6600.

Festival Ballet Theatre: Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St. $16 (advance purchase)-$18. (562) 985-7000.

Pacific Dance Academy: Saturday, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Center, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. $10. (818) 908-9001.

Pasadena Dance Theatre: Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Also Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 p.m. San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive. $12 (children)-$35. (626) 308-2868.

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet: Saturday, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara. $15 (children)-$27. (805) 963-4408.

San Pedro City Ballet: Dec. 17-18, 8 p.m.; Dec. 19-20, 2 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 21, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro. $10 (children)-$15. (310) 732-1861.

California Ballet: Dec. 18, 8 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 1 and 5:30 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2:30 p.m. San Diego Civic Theatre, 202 C St. $24.50-$45. (619) 570-1100.

Moscow Classical Ballet: Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19-20, 2 and 7:30 p.m. California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $16-$34. (800) 98-TICKETS.

San Diego Ballet: Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19-20, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Mandeville Center, UC San Diego campus, Gilman Drive and La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $20-$25. (619) 442-7500.

West Valley Ballet Company: Dec. 18, 8 p.m.; Dec. 19-20, 2 and 7 p.m. Performing Arts Center, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. $10 (children)-$12. (818) 677-3943.

California Dance Theatre: Dec. 19, 3 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. $16-$31. (805) 449-ARTS.

California Riverside Ballet: Dec. 19, 2 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 11 a.m and 3 p.m.; Dec. 21, 8 p.m. Riverside Municipal Auditorium, 3485 Mission Inn Ave. $5-$15. (909) 788-3944.

Daria Bearden Foundation: Dec. 19, 3 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. $12.50-$15.50. (714) 544-3795.

Inland Pacific Ballet: Dec. 19, 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2 p.m.; Dec. 26, 2 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 27, 2 p.m. Bridges Auditorium, Claremont Colleges, 450 N. College Way. $13 (children)-$20. (909) 607-1139.

Palos Verdes Ballet: Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 1 and 4 p.m. Norris Theatre, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. $12.50 (children, matinees only)-$18.50. (310) 544-0403.

West Coast Ballet: Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Campbell Hall, UC Santa Barbara campus, Santa Barbara. $9 (children)-$20. (805) 687-6086.

Westside Ballet: Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 1 and 5 p.m. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. $9.50 (children)-$18. (213) 365-3500.

Moscow Classical Ballet: Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 24,, 11 a.m.; Dec. 26-27, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St. $10 (children)-$56. (626) 449-7360.

Joffrey Ballet of Chicago: Dec. 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2 p.m.; Dec. 26-27, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $20-$65. (714) 556-2787.

Online Advice Want to take a child to see “The Nutcracker”? Before you buy your tickets, get some advice from Times Dance Critic Lewis Segal on the Calendar Live! Web site. Go to https://www.calendarlive.com.