A holiday tradition continues as "The Nutcracker" with the New Jersey Ballet returns to the Paper Mill Playhouse.

It's the 39th season of the production, which features the Paper Mill Orchestra. Clara and her valiant Nutcracker Prince return to the stage along with the Sugar Plum Fairy, toy soldiers, villainous Mouse King and cast of over 90 performers.

"The Nutcracker" performances will be held on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 19 at 1 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 and 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 26 at noon and 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 27 at noon and 5 p.m.

Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $19-$57 and are subject to a $1.25 facility preservation fee. Tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, visiting the Paper Mill box office on Brookside Drive, or surfing to www.papermill.org. 
 
The first performance of "The Nutcracker" at Paper Mill took place in 1971 with Edward Villella, who was then a star with New York City Ballet, as the Cavalier. The heart of the production is a galaxy of stars of international reputation—20 professional artists from eleven nations. These artists have toured on every continent with companies that include the Bolshoi Ballet, Russian National Ballet, Ballet Argentino, Mongolian State Ballet, Hungarian State Ballet, Russian Imperial Ballet, The Royal Ballet, London Ballet and Ochi International Ballet of Japan. Many have also performed with such acclaimed American companies as Stars of American Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Austin and the international tour of Riverdance.