Butler County students in “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center include, from left, first row, Soraya Aguglia, Alexis Walker, Vayda Clark and Kayla Wooster; second row, Ciara Mikula, Alexa DeJeet, Macy Minear and Madison Mann; and third row, Cianna Aguglia and Katy Coulson. The ballet opens Thursday and runs through Sunday. Zac Cageo photo

MIDLAND, Beaver County — “The Nutcracker” opens Thursday at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center featuring 10 students from the Butler County area.

The classic Victorian-era story by E.T.A. Hoffman features all new choreography as well as Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and Dr. Drosselmeier.

Featuring dozens of colorful characters, Tchaikovsky’s memorable score carries audiences to a world of child-like wonder where troublesome mice are tamed by toy soldiers and a snow-covered stage and snowflake-clad ballerinas take everyone to the Land of Sweets presided over by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier.

County area dancers include Macy Minear, a 12th-grader from Mars, who will play the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Other county dancers include Madison Mann and Alexis Walker, both of Mars; Soraya Aguglia, Cianna Aguglia, Katy Coulson, Alexa DeJeet, Ciara Mikula and Kayla Wooster, all of Cranberry Township, and Vayda Clark of Hermitage.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. nightly through Saturday with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets for the ballet range from $15 to $20 and are available by calling 724-576-4644 or online at www.LincolnParkArts.org.