Celebrate the marriage of classical ballet and live symphony music at Northwest Ballet Theatre's production of Tchaikovsky's seasonal favorite, "The Nutcracker," at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. John Bishop directs, with choreography by Miye Bishop. This year's production features music by Starry Night Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Schmidt.

Tickets, $15 to $24, with discounts for seniors and students, are available at 360-734-6080 and mountbakertheatre.com.

The company also stages the ballet Dec. 17-18 at McIntyre Hall, on the Skagit Valley College campus in Mount Vernon. Details: mcintyrehall.org.

For more on the company, see northwestballet.org.