'Oklahoma Nutcracker' will be staged in Norman

Guest dancers will be Madalina Stoica and Ovidiu Ianco, senior soloists with the Tulsa Ballet. Stoica will dance the role of the Sand Plum Fairy, with Ianco performing as her prince.

A Sand Plum Fairy Tea Party for families and children will be at 1 p.m., before the performance. Children will meet the Sand Plum Fairy, participate in crafts and visit with Santa Claus.

Tickets for the ballet are $20 each, and tea party tickets are $18. Children must be accompanied by an adult to the tea party.

“Oklahoma Nutcracker” was created by Marjorie Kovich, the ballet company's executive director. Kovich's version of the ballet classic focuses on an Oklahoma historical family, the Overholser family, in Act I. The Overholser family helped develop Oklahoma City after the Land Run of 1889. The Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City was Kovich's inspiration for the first act's setting.

Act II is set on the Oklahoma prairie at sunset, incorporating such characters as Mama Armadillo and her babies, a king snake and scissortail flycatchers.

Tickets are available at www.ticketstorm.com. For more information, go to www.normanballetcompany.com.