SPOTLIGHT

What would the holidays be without Clara and her Nutcracker. Based on

a book by E.T.A. Hoffman called “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” “The

Nutcracker” ballet with music by Tchaikovsky was first choreographed by

Marius Petipa in the early 1890s. Since then, new incarnations have spun

out every year.

The Festival Ballet Theatre, in conjunction with the Southland Ballet

Academy, will present its 13th annual “The Nutcracker” (above) starting

Friday at Orange Coast College. Ballet Pacifica’s “The Nutcracker” will

be staged Dec. 14-24 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

“The Nutcracker” tells the story of a girl, Clara, who receives a

Nutcracker from her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. The toy is broken by

Clara’s brother, Fritz, but Drosselmeyer fixes it. When Clara goes to

check on the Nutcracker late at night, strange things happen -- including

a fight with the Mouse King and trips to the land of snow and the land of

sweets, home of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The holidays are the only time of year this ballet is performed, so

see it before it disappears like Clara’s dream

FYI

What: “The Nutcracker” -- Festival Ballet Theatre

Where: Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview

Road, Costa Mesa

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Dec. 9

Cost: $16-$19

Contact: (714) 432-5880

What: “The Nutcracker” -- Ballet Pacifica

Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-23 and 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 24

Cost: $21-$25

Contact: (949) 854-4646

Walking into the holiday spirit

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will host its 23rd annual

Corona del Mar Christmas Walk, bringing the business community together

with residents for a festive time.

FYI

Where: Intersection of East Coast Highway and Marguerite Avenue,

Corona del Mar

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today

Cost: Free

Contact: (949) 673-4050

PLANNING AHEAD

GIANT MENORAH

The first light on the Giant Menorah of Freedom at Fashion Island will

be lit to celebrate the start of Hanukkah.

Sunday, Dec. 9

BOAT PARADE

Get into the holiday spirit. A patriotic theme will be seen during the

92nd annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade.

Monday, Dec. 17

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

400: The number of Hanukkah kits the Chabad Jewish Center of Newport

Beach will offer at Fashion Island on Dec. 9 to celebrate the start of

the holiday. The kits include a menorah, candles, a Hanukkah guide, a

dreidel and gelt.