Sisters Rhiannon Pelletier-Guerrette and Adrienne Pelletier grew up dancing in Maine State Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.” This year is the first in more than two decades that Rhiannon Pelletier-Guerrette won’t be in the show, but only because she’ll be almost six months pregnant in December.

That doesn’t mean she won’t be dancing at all.

The sisters launched Maine Dance Company in 2024 and will present their first original holiday show in Auburn. Rhiannon Pelletier-Guerrette might not be the Sugar Plum Fairy, but she can still make a cameo as a gumdrop in the premiere of “Christmas at the Castle.” The sisters spent more than a year creating this story based on fairy tale characters.

“It would not feel like holiday time if we weren’t on stage in some capacity,” she said.

Mainers might attend an annual production of “A Christmas Carol” or “The Magic of Christmas” at this time of year. But being on stage can be a tradition of its own, especially when families are there together.

Dustin Tucker has been in an estimated seven productions of “A Christmas Carol.” But this one at Portland Stage is extra special because he’s sharing the stage with his son for the first time. Harrison Tucker saw his dad play Bob Cratchit a couple of years ago and said he wanted to join. Now, the 9-year-old has notes for his dad on the way home from rehearsal.

“As an actor, our lives are so bizarre,” Tucker said. “We’re out there doing all these things that we can’t share with our families. The fact that my son gets to see me do my job and not just as a performer, it makes me very proud.”

Linda Sturdivant and her family aren’t actually on stage this year at the City Theatre, but they’re all helping in some capacity with “A Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett.” Sturdivant, the theater’s artistic director, is producing and directing. Her daughter, Sara Sturdivant, is the music director. And her 13-year-old grandson, Andrew, is going to help backstage. (He’s been on the stage plenty. He was 4 years old when he had his first role.)

“It’s the absolute best thing that could happen to me,” Sturdivant said. “Doing what I love with my family, who I love. Each one of us gets to work with our own talents.”

Emery Grant, 16, has been dancing in Portland Ballet’s “A Victorian Nutcracker” for 10 years now. Her younger sister, 13-year-old Lydia Grant, has been on stage for seven. That means their parents, Cate Gaynor and Ben Grant, have also spent a decade helping with costume changes backstage or ushering guests to their seats.

“It’s really cool to get to do something that we both really love together, and doing ‘The Nutcracker’ together has always been part of our holiday,” Emery Grant said. “She doesn’t do ballet just because I do it.”

“It fulfills them in different ways,” their mom agreed.

In recent years, they’ve made it a family tradition to go on a trip over Christmas once the girls hang up their dancing shoes. This December, they’ll go to Dublin. Carving out that time together after a busy season feels important.

“From the first weekend of November, they’re in the studio every Saturday, all day,” Gaynor said. “For us, it’s also a way to honor that the kids, now especially being older and being in bigger roles, they need a little time to decompress.”

Pam Mutty jokes that her daughter was potty trained on stage. Mutty taught and directed at Brunswick High School for 25 years, and Erin Leddy grew up tagging along to rehearsals. It’s no wonder that Leddy herself got into theater. She spent years working in New York and recently moved back to Bath.

Her return to Maine has afforded the mother and daughter the opportunity to spend more time together — in six weeks of rehearsals and performances for “A Christmas Carol” at Footlights Theatre in Falmouth. Mutty’s primary role is Mrs. Cratchit, while Leddy is playing Belle.

“Christmas is so busy,” Mutty said. “You can blow through it and forget what it’s all about. The story is a great reminder of what it really means.”

“Being on stage, it makes the whole season more magical,” Leddy agreed.

And Mutty’s grandkids are waiting in the wings.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Here’s a sampling of events for intergenerational audiences this season.

Travel to the magical Land of Sweets as Maine State Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” from Nov. 28-Dec. 7 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Tickets range from $27-$101, with discounts for children and seniors. mainestateballet.org

Ogunquit Playhouse will bring Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” at the Portsmouth Music Hall from Dec. 3-21. Tickets start at $68.50. themusichall.org

The “Holiday Party Playlist” winter concert at Good Theater in Portland will feature holiday standards and seasonal hits. Performances are Dec. 3-7, and tickets cost $30 for adults. Students and anyone under 30 get in for $10. goodtheater.com

Footlights Theatre in Falmouth will break out the special effects for their version of “A Christmas Carol” from Dec. 4-23. Tickets are $25. thefootlightstheatre.com

Portland Players will stage “Annie” in South Portland from Dec. 5-21. Tickets are $20. portlandplayers.org

“A Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett” at City Theatre in Biddeford will feature music from across his career. Performances run from Dec. 5-21. Tickets cost $30-$35. citytheater.org

Mayo Street Arts will celebrate light on one of the darkest days of the year with two St. Lucia Day performances on Dec. 6. Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door and $30 for preferred seating, with pay-what-you-can options available. mayostreetarts.org

Portland Ballet‘s “A Victorian Nutcracker” sets the first act of the classic story in the Victoria Mansion and draws on local history. The company will perform in Sanford, Portland and Westbrook from Dec. 6-21. Tickets are $33-$97. portlandballet.org

Portland Stage will present “A Christmas Carol” from Dec. 6-24. The classic tale by Charles Dickens reminds us that we all have an opportunity to make an impact. Tickets are $15-$67. portlandstage.org

Mayo Street Arts will host the celebrated Sol Y Canto and friends for a bilingual holiday parranda in the Puerto Rican tradition on Dec. 12. Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door and $30 for preferred seating, with pay-what-you-can options available. mayostreetarts.org

“The Magic of Christmas” is in its 46th year at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium from Dec. 12-21. This year, former “American Idol” finalist Julia Gagnon will perform alongside the Portland Symphony Orchestra, as well as an adult choir and children’s chorus. Tickets are $33-$108. porttix.com

The Bossov Ballet Theatre will perform “The Nutcracker” at the Waterville Opera House Dec. 12-14. Tickets for the longstanding tradition cost $38-$43. watervillecreates.org

The Public Theatre adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” begins with a modern-day child reading the classic novel. Performances in Lewiston are Dec. 12-14. Tickets are $15 for children 18 and under, $20 for those between 19 and 35, and $35 for adults. thepublictheatre.org

This double feature is an annual tradition at Footlights Theatre in Falmouth. See “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and “A Christmas Memory” on Dec. 14 and 15. Tickets are $25. thefootlightstheatre.com

Julia Gagnon will perform at Footlights Theatre in Falmouth Dec. 16. Tickets are $50. thefootlightstheatre.com

“Christmas at the Castle” is a new original work by Maine Dance Company, inspired by favorite fairy tale characters and meant to capture audiences of all ages. The Dec. 20 performance is at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Tickets are $40-$50. mainedancecompany.com

Portland Ballet closes the season Dec. 21 with a one-night-only comedic performance of “A Very Nutty Nutcracker” at Merrill Auditorium. Tickets are $24-$37. portlandballet.org

Municipal organist James Kennerley will perform his annual “Christmas with Kennerley” on Dec. 23 at Merrill Auditorium. Tickets are $30-$71. porttix.com