ORONO – Tickets for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s 23rd annual production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with the Robinson Ballet are selling quickly. Three shows will be held at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Maine Center for the Arts.

This season’s “Nutcracker” production features familiar faces for the gigantic Mother Ginger character. Over the course of the three performances, news anchors Jim Morris from WABI-TV 5, Cindy Michaels from WVII-TV 7 and Donna Gormley from WLBZ-TV 2 each will appear as the 12-foot-tall Mother Ginger.

The production also features a new 18-foot Christmas tree designed by students in the mechanical engineering technology department at the University of Maine.

The unique tree was designed by two teams of six students each. Team two composed of Chad Hamlin, Marc Caldwell, Matt Tardiff, Dan Smith, Brian Tremblay and Alan Kinne spent 1,033 hours designing and fabricating a tree. Team six members Chris Maheux, Dave Ferencik, Mike Donoghue, Brecon Haworth, Keith Walton and Eric Damaso invested 1,351 hours on a tree. They worked under the tutelage of Herbert Crosby, UMaine professor of mechanical engineering technology.

The Bangor Area Children’s Choir will perform during the magical snowflake scene at the close of Act One and during intermission in the lobby. A BSO brass ensemble will play before each show.

“The Nutcracker” store will sell Nutcracker keepsakes in the lobby.

Thomas Morelli Photography will be in the Bodwell Lounge area before each performance to take children’s photos against a holiday backdrop. For information and prices, call Morelli at 989-2577. Proceeds from the store and from Thomas Morelli Photography will benefit the BSO.

Tickets for “The Nutcracker” range from $22 to $32 with senior, youth and group discounts available. They may be reserved online at bangorsymphony.com or by calling the Bangor Symphony Orchestra box office at 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221. More information is available at

bangorsymphony.com.