Coastal Carolina University is presenting "The Nutcracker," performed by Columbia City Ballet, on Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. Tickets are $30 for the first floor section 1; $25 first floor section II and balcony; students 18 and younger receive a $5 discount.

This classic Tchaikovsky ballet is about a young girl named Clara whose wooden nutcracker doll comes to life and takes her on a magical journey, a peek into a child's dream filled with dancing fairies, toy soldiers and mouse armies.

For this perennial holiday favorite, Columbia City Ballet artistic director William Starrett has assembled a cast of more than 40 professional dancers. This year's performance will include new costumes, special effects and young dancers from the Grand Strand who auditioned for the performance.

"My job as the artistic director is to surpass the standards already set by the previous seasons and keep the production fresh, magical and with enough new surprises that audiences look forward to returning to Wheelwright Auditorium to see our Nutcracker every season," said Starrett.

"The Nutcracker" has been performed more times and for more people than any other ballet in the company's history. The Columbia City Ballet has performed the ballet since 1966.

The event is sponsored by HTC Inc.

For tickets or more information, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.