The Seneca Valley Performing Arts Department rehearses for its presentation of “The Nutcracker” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Auditorium. Tickets for the ballet can be purchased for $7 at the door or in advance.

JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley Performing Arts Department will present “The Nutcracker” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Auditorium, 126 Seneca School Road.

Tickets can be purchased for $7 at the door or in advance at Seneca Valley Central Administration offices at 124 Seneca School Road.

Kwang-Suk Choi is the director/choreographer of the production.

This two-act ballet is a holiday tradition beginning as it does on Christmas Eve as family and friends gather in the parlor to decorate the Christmas tree.

Suddenly, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a magician and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker and has gifts for the children, including four lifelike dancing dolls.

Drosselmeyer has another toy for the children: a wooden Nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, purposely breaks it and Clara is heartbroken.

During the night Clara returns to the parlor to check on her Nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight.

Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room, and the Christmas tree begins to grow. The Nutcracker becomes life-size.

Clara finds herself in the middle of a battle between an army of soldiers led by the Nutcracker, and mice led by the Mouse King. The Nutcracker is wounded and the Mouse King advances on him. Clara punches the Mouse King and the Nutcracker stabs him.

In the second scene, the mice retreat and the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the forest and snowflakes dance around them.

In the second act, Clara and the Prince travel to the Land of Sweets and tell the Sugar Plum Fairy how Clara saved the Prince from the Mouse King.

In honor of Clara's bravery, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced. Mother Ginger has her children emerge from her enormous skirt to dance. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.

Clare is found sleeping in the parlor. She awakes, thinking it was all a dream, but she finds the Nutcracker beside her.

CASTClara, Alyssa Massimiani; The Prince, Vincent Smith; Spanish, Elise Harrison, Elizabeth James, Kayleign Morgan, Sophie Dilts;Arabian Leader, Cassidy Negri; Arabians, Alexis Gorman, Arianna Fargan, Erin Jenkins, Reagan Curry, Kaytlyn Hammerschmidt, Gabriella Policella;Chinese, Olivia Malvar, Tyler Shelly, Emily Schneider, Ashley Ruiz, MaKayla Washington, Alyssa Tollerton, Kyee Killian, Shea Standish;Dance of the Reed Pipes, Veridy Treu, Lauren Herb; Russians, Sydney Gondringer, Makayla Delaney, Abby Vanwormer, Emerson Carr; Waltz of the Flower Queen, Anna Stewart;Flowers, Elise Harrison, Elizabeth James, Kayleign Morgan, Sophie Dilts, Alyssa Tollerton, Tyler Shelly, Erin Standish, Samantha Magill, Shea Standish, Emma Krisfalusi, Kyee Killian, Savannah Adomaitis, Evelyn Graham, Elizabeth Grochalski, Madeline Harper, Erin Hecht;Mother Ginger, Anna Palmieri, Olivia Bell, Patricia Hohman, Emily Vlasnik, Piper Panek, Emily Bowser, Lena Drapas, Emma Raybould;The Sugar Plum Fairy, Emily McGoey; and Cavalier, Walter Apps.

GUEST DANCERS, PITTSBURGH BALLET HOUSEAnna Pamieri, Oliva Bell, Patricia Hohman, Emily Vlasnik, Piper Panek, Emily Bowser, Lena Drapas and Emma Raybould.

GUEST DANCERS, POINT PARK UNIVERSITYWalter Apps and Vincent Smith.

MIXED PROGRAM DANCERSDance composition: Abby Vanwormer, Anna Stewart; Ballet 'Talisman' variation: Emily McGoey; Ballet “Paquita” variation, Veridy Treu;Modern: Anna Stewart; Jazz: Lauren Herb, Abby Vanwormer, Alyssa Massimiani, Gabriella Policella, Annie Walton, Ashley Ruiz; and Tap: Anna Stewart and Samantha Magill.

<B>WHAT: </B>The Seneca Valley Performing Arts Department's presentation of “The Nutcracker”<B>WHEN: </B> 6:30 p.m. Thursday<B>WHERE: </B>The Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Auditorium, 126 Seneca School Road.<B>INFO: </B>Tickets can be purchased for $7 at the door or in advance at Seneca Valley Central Administration offices at 124 Seneca School Road.