A brooding, mysterious godfather, a broken-jawed wooden soldier that comes to life and a murderous Mouse King all converge once again to remind us The Nutcracker story may be the most hair-raising Christmas favorite for the whole family the world has ever known. The Tacoma City Ballet is set apart as the sole production in the area to follow the story, scenic design, costuming and choreography as it was originally created by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov accompanied by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky's captivating score, thanks to the Northwest Sinfonietta. Whether the Mouse King has seven heads (like the beast of Revelation), three heads (like Cerberus, dog-guardian of Hades) or only one (like a normal mouse king), this dark-edged dream promises to leave kids and sensitive adults as speechless as the bounding, pirouetting athletes on stage.

PANTAGES THEATER, DEC. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 3 P.M., $19-$60, 901 BROADWAY, TACOMA, 253.591.5894