‘The Nutcracker’

Alderwood Dance Spectrum’s “A Storybook Nutcracker”: A child-friendly version. 7 p.m. Dec. 9; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday; PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Tickets are $5 to $15; 425-771-2994 or www.brownpaper tickets.com.

American Ballet Theater: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18, McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. Tickets are $20 to $30; 866-624-6897; www.mcintyrehall.org.

Emerald Ballet Theatre: Matinee performances with the Rainer Symphony Ballet Orchestra. 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell; $20 to $35; 425-984-2471; www.npacf.org.

Olympic Ballet Theatre: Performances 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., today, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett. 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 3 p.m. Dec. 18, Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds. Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors and military and $20 for students. Buy them at 425-774-7570 or www.olympicballet.com.

Pacific Northwest Ballet: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays, now through Dec. 23, plus 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, Dec. 14 through 22, 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 24, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St. Tickets are $26 and up; 206-441-2424; www.pnb.org.

Whidbey Island Dance Theatre: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, now through Dec. 18, S. Whidbey High School performing arts center, 5675 S. Maxwelton Road, Langley. Tickets are $15 to $22 advance, $15 all seats opening night and Dec. 10, otherwise $22 at the door; For tickets and more information call 360-341-2221 or go to www.widtonline.org.

Holiday Shows

Snohomish and Island counties

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales”: The cast of Whidbey Playhouse brings to life all your Christmases in the magic of Dylan Thomas’ poetic language; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 9 through 18, Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. Tickets are $12. Call 360-679-2237 or www.whidbeyplayhouse.com/home.html.

“Christmas Belles”: A church Christmas pageant spins wildly out of control as three squabbling sisters try to reign in the mayhem; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 with special performances at 8 p.m. Dec. 22 and 23 at the Phoenix Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Tickets: $18.20 adults, $15.50 Seniors/Military. Call 206-533-2000 or brownpapertickets.com.

“Touch of the Child”: The story of Mary and Joseph, chosen to nurture and protect the world’s most precious gift, is told in this unique musical with a soaring score and a little wit that illuminates the wonder of the nativity along with a contemporary narrator who examines our relationship with faith, emphasizing the fragile humanity of all people; 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 at Northlake Christian Church, 19029 N Road, Bothell. Tickets are $15 and $18. Call 425-672-8044, ext.541 or go to http://www.northlakecc.org/.

“A Christmas Carol”: This Adagio Player’s production is told by narrators who turn into the actors who tell this story of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge and the rebirth of the child within him; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $16.50, $13.50 and $11.50 for groups of 6 or more. Friday performances will also include a concert by Emerald City Voices. Tickets at the door or at www.etix.com or call the theater at 425-258-6766.

“Christmas in Flight”: Taproot Theatre Presents this holiday story about Veronica who can’t face her family this year. Keeping the reason a secret from her husband, Veronica convinces him to book a last-minute vacation to Los Angeles, just the two of them. But amidst the stress of a delayed Christmas Eve flight, Alan uncovers the truth; performances at 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 11, First Baptist Church of Everett, 1616 Pacific Ave., Everett. Tickets $5 each or four for $15. Call 425-259-9166. Dessert will be served; childcare available.

Theater

Snohomish and Island counties

“The King &I”: This Rodgers &Hammerstein musical classic pits East versus West in a richly textured and ultimately uplifting love story between the King of Siam and English widow Anna Leonowens with a lavish score featuring “Getting to Know You,” “Hello, Young Lovers” and “Shall We Dance?”; 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 at The Driftwood Players at The Wade James Theater, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Tickets are $23 and $20; call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.

“Big, the Musical”: One morning shortly before his 13th birthday, Josh wakes up a full-grown man. Josh makes his way to Seattle, where he becomes an idea man at a toy company and has to reconcile childish wonder in an adult world; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 17 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley. Tickets range from $12 to $16. Call 360-221-8268 or 800-638-7631 or go to www.WICAonline.com.

“In the Mood”: Sky Performing Arts kicks off its new season with this Big Band era revue that recreates a USO-style show with the Sky Notes Orchestra playing such songs as “String of Pearls,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000” and “I Got Rhythm” while the singers provide a wealth of tunes including, “Summertime,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Blues in the Night”; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Dec. 9 and 10 and 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 11 at the Frank Wagner Auditorium, 639 W Main St., Monroe. Tickets are $16 and $14. Call Historic Everett Theatre at 425-258-6766 or Sky Performing Arts at 360-863-1663.

Billboard

“Audition for Murder”: Reunion Theatre Group will hold auditions for this upcoming murder-mystery comedy Dec. 11 and 12 at the Everett Music Hall in the Everett Mall; 1402 Everett Mall Way. The play was written by local playwrights Howard Voland and Keith McGregor. There are roles for four men and six women, ages 25 to 60+. Auditions are cold readings from the script; rehearsals begin in January. For full information go to www.reunion theatregroup.org.