Sunday 12.20 

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• Nutcracker

Raleigh
Nutcracker

Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center—It's that cheerful, jolly time of year again. Carolina Ballet artistic director Robert Weiss' masterful tricks will elevate the party room and Christmas tree to three times its usual height and use real snow in a production that promises to be filled with magic. But would you expect anything less from one of the nation's top 10 ballet companies? Even if you've seen the show in seasons past, Weiss promises you'll see things you haven't seen before. "It's a very special production in every way, and you can't see anything like it unless you go to New York," Weiss said. "It's brand new when you're seeing it again." Fourteen brand new performances run Dec. 18-27; tickets are $20-$100. Visit www.carolinaballet.com. —Sarah Ewald

Raleigh
Kenny Roby

Sadlack's—The good people at Sadlack's have installed fancy heaters in the patio ceiling just in time for the start of the chestnut-roasting season. Thus, it should be a comfortable evening with exemplary folk-rocker Kenny Roby and songs from his Six String Drag days, his four post-Drag releases and elsewhere. (Do everyone a favor, except maybe Roby, and request "The Sweep.") Holiday bonuses include Scott McCall, go-to guitarist in the local roots world and beyond, a couple cameos and even some Christmas tunes. Things heat up at 5 p.m. And please be Yuletide-generous when the hat's passed. See www.myspace.com/sadlacksheroes. You can also catch Roby and McCall doing the late show at The Cave Dec. 18. —Rick Cornell