The Nutcracker will be live on stage at The Woodward Opera House in downtown Mount Vernon this holiday season. The Central Ohio Youth Ballet will bring the magic and splendor of this holiday classic to life Saturday December 9 and Sunday December 10. This affordable, family-friendly production is staged by Robert Cole, former dancer with The National Ballet of Canada. His love for the complexity and pageantry of a classical ballet draws a cast of young dancers from 5 different counties to join him in creating this beloved story for the Mount Vernon stage. The audience is welcomed into the Silberhaus home on the eve of their holiday gala, where they encounter whimsical vignettes, magic tricks and grown-up Clara telling her childhood story. Clara’s journey traverses a battleground with the toy soldiers and menacing mice, a beautiful snowy landscape and a magnificent kingdom of the sweets. The Nutcracker story is brought to life with dynamic dancing, vivid costumes and dazzling details to delight even the youngest audience members.