The Cleveland Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Playhouse Square's Hannah Theatre from Dec. 12 to 16.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Ballet will open its five-day-long run of The Nutcracker on Wednesday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 16 at Playhouse Square’s Hanna Theatre.

Cleveland Ballet’s version of this holiday favorite ballet, The Nutcracker, promises to be magical, enchanting and captivating, appealing to audiences of all ages.

Drawn from E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King story book, Cleveland Ballet’s production tells the story of a young girl, Caroline, whose imagination takes her into a world of battles, snow storms, magical lands and flower gardens.

This production engages over 100 dancers and singers. Company members, apprentices, trainees, and School of Cleveland Ballet students as well as dance students from all over the city have worked together to bring magic and charm to the stage.

It will feature the following dancers in leading roles: Marla Minadeo, as Caroline; Rainer Diaz and Luciano Perotto alternating the role of the Nutcracker Prince; Anna Dobbins and Lauren Stenroos alternating the role of the Queen and Alan Obuzor as the King. Returning as artist in residence, Sam Meredith will bring his charm as the godfather, Drosselmeyer.

For this year’s production, costume designers Irina Mochalova and Marie Quintana have created new beautiful costumes for the grand pas de deux and waltz of the flowers in the second act. Newly constructed backdrops have also been added to the magical lands in the second act creating more realistic scenes.

Tickets still remain for our opening night performance on Wednesday Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. For more information on Cleveland Ballet, visit www.clevelandballet.org or call 216-320-9000.

Stay connected on Facebook (https://facebook.com/Clevelandballet/) and Instagram (@clevelandballetcompany). For ticket information visit: www.playhousesquare.org/events/detail/the-nutcracker.