‘NUTCRACKER’ COMPANIES GET CRACKING

With the holiday season in full swing, local and out-of-town ballet companies are busily preparing their annual offerings of “The Nutcracker,” the first of which takes place tonight in Fullerton.

The number of performances this season is staggering: A die-hard fan of the ballet could easily average two or three a week throughout the month of December.

What follows is a sampling of local stagings, which range from the full-scale offering by American Ballet Theatre (at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Shrine Auditorium) to the contemporary dance staging by Tandy Beal to the one-act version by the Samaniego Dance Gallery.

Tandy Beal and Company--The Southern California premiere of this modern-dance choreographer’s unorthodox production. Little Theatre, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd. Wednesday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m. plus matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Information: (714) 773-3371.

Long Beach Ballet--The company presents its annual “Nutcracker” no fewer than 20 times at five different locales, beginning Nov. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. (plus a 2:30 p.m. matinee on the 29th) at Orange Coast College in Santa Ana. On Dec. 5, the company moves to the Terrace Theater of the Long Beach Convention Center. Performances are scheduled Dec. 5-7 and 12-14. On Dec. 20-21, the production will be offered four times at Riverside Municipal Auditorium. On Christmas Eve, an excerpt will be danced as part of the daylong program at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Finally, the company appears at Palm Springs High School Auditorium four times on Dec. 27 and 28. Information: (213) 427-5206.

Theatre Ballet of San Francisco--The Bay Area company offers its “Nutcracker” at Pasadena Civic Auditorium Dec. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 6 and 7 at 2 p.m. Information: (818) 449-7360).

Pasadena Dance Theatre--In its 14th annual presentation, the company will offer 13 performances. The dates include Dec. 6 and 7 at Bridges Auditorium, Claremont; six times, Dec. 19-22, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, and four performances at Smothers Theatre on the campus of Pepperdine University, Malibu, Dec. 12-14. At the latter engagement, the company will be joined by two Joffrey principals, Leslie Carothers and Tom Mossbrucker. Information: (818) 799-9503.

Samaniego Dance Gallery--The third annual Family Christmas Concert pairs a ballet based on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” with a one-act version of “The Nutcracker.” Performances are scheduled at the Gallery Theatre, Barnsdall Park in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. Matinees are scheduled at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 20. Information: (213) 654-0401.

American Ballet Theatre--For the first time, the company will appear in Orange County, in Segerstrom Hall at the Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. That’s the good news. The bad news--if you haven’t ordered your tickets--is that the engagement is already sold out. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 9-14 at 8 p.m. with 2:30 matinees set for Dec. 13 and 14. Information: (714) 556-ARTS. The company moves to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Dec. 16-28. Evening performances are at 8 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m. Casting will be announced soon.

Westside Ballet--Performances take place at Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, in Torrance, Dec. 5-7; Royce Hall, UCLA, Dec. 12-14 (with Joffrey principals Kim Sagami and Glenn Edgerton appearing as guests) and La Mirada Civic Theatre, Dec. 19-21. Information: (213) 825-9261.

Ballet Pacifica--The company’s annual presentation at Laguna Moulton Playhouse begins with a benefit performance for the theater on at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18-22 and at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 23. Information: (714) 494-7271.