The Nutcracker, an old fashioned holiday ballet performed annually by the Carnegie Performing Arts Center, will perform once again at the Andrew Carnegie Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue in Carnegie. Performances will be on Saturday, December 13, at 7 pm, Sunday, December 14, at 2 pm, Saturday, December 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 21, at 2 p.m.

Lana Platt, a student at the Carnegie Performing Arts Center and sophomore at Chartiers Valley High, will dance the role of  the Sugar Plum Fairy while Demitry Hood, a freshman at Westinghouse Arts Academy will be her Cavalier.   Merielle ******, a freshman at Shadyside Academy and resident of Scott, will dance the part of the Snow Queen and Cora Watkins, who attends Lincoln Park, and is a resident of Carnegie, dances the Dew Drop Fairy. Lucy DallVechia, who attends Chartiers Valley Middle School, portrays Clara, and Wyatt Westwood, in the 7th grade at Quaker Valley Middle School, is from Sewickly and will dance the role of the Nutcracker Prince.  Dancers from many community dance schools ranging in age from 5 – adult round out the cast of swirling snowflakes and candy flowers.   Monica Ryan, director of the Carnegie Performing Arts Center, will be choreographing the production. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors and are available through the ticket link on the website, at www.carnegieperformingartscenter.com