Saturday, November 24 to Sunday, December 2, 2012; 2 p.m.

Location: Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, Maine

Contact: ; (207) 842-0800

Maine State Ballet’s holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker”, comes to Portland’s Merrill Auditorium again this year with nearly 300 dancers and the live music of the Maine State Ballet Orchestra.

Under the direction of Artistic Director and former New York City Ballet member Linda MacArthur Miele, “The Nutcracker” showcases classic choreography, richly colored sets and costumes, and the timeless music of Tchaikovsky. The show, which always opens on the weekend following Thanksgiving, has become a beloved tradition for families.

Performances are:

Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.

Friday Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

Saturday Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are on sale through Porttix at 207-842-0800, online at tickets.porttix.com, or at the Merrill Auditorium box office: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Tickets are priced at $15-$55, and discounts are available for groups, seniors and children. For more information, call Maine State Ballet at 207-781-7672, or visit www.mainestateballet.org.