San Francisco ‘Nutcracker’ Will Replace ABT Version

The San Francisco Ballet will offer its production of the “Nutcracker” ballet Nov. 29-Dec. 8 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, filling the hole left when American Ballet Theatre canceled its new production scheduled for the same period.

Created in 1983, the San Francisco Ballet “Nutcracker” incorporates Lew Christensen’s 1967 choreography and later choreography by Willam Christensen and SFB artistic director Helgi Tomasson. Sets and costumes are by Jose Varona.

“The fact that this highly regarded company . . . was able to make itself available to us on our previously announced dates is, quite frankly, a bit of a miracle,” Center president Thomas R. Kendrick said in a prepared statement. The San Francisco Ballet last danced at the Center in 1989.

ABT’s production, a world premiere “Nutcracker” staged by Canadian choreographer Brian MacDonald, has been postponed for a year because of shaky finances, the New York-based company announced earlier this month.

“Neither (ABT) nor we know at this time the tour arrangements they will have for the ‘Nutcracker,’ ” Kendrick said Monday. “We do have open dates in the time frame preceding the (1992) Christmas period and if they move to confirm mounting in the near term, we would certainly work with them to have it here. But the premiere is up in the air, too.”

The “Nutcracker” cancellation will not affect the company’s one-week stint in Costa Mesa in February, according to a Center spokesman.

Individual tickets for the San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker” are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 13. Casting is not yet announced. Information: (714) 556-2121.