When Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” takes the stage Friday the dreams of young girls and boys will come true.

Michela Mattens, 15, of Langley, will be one of them. She’s living every little girl’s ballerina fantasy. She will be dancing a dream, as she will portray Clara in this year’s Nutcracker.

“It seems like yesterday that I was one of the little mice looking up at Clara,” Mattens said. “It’s amazing to now watch the little girls and their inspired faces.”

Mattens admits to being surprised and honored for her selection as Clara in this year’s “Nutcracker.” She said the role of the story’s heroine is a difficult one, but one she’s glad to take on.

“There’s so many life lessons you learn being in this production,” Mattens said.

It is the thirteenth year that Whidbey Island Dance Theatre has staged “The Nutcracker.” During its tenure, the local production has cultivated a reputation for excellence, and for offering a “Nutcracker” experience unlike any other.

The company takes a twist on the second act that respects the tradition of the Tchaikovsky ballet while also keeping things fresh for the audience.

“It’s unique and so unlike the traditional Nutcracker that it makes it more personal,” said this year’s Flower Faerie, 15-year-old Josette Serrill.

Act One brings audiences to a traditional

Victorian-era Christmas celebration filled with dozens of cousins, aunts and uncles dancing. The party is held by Clara’s family and includes a visit from Clara’s mysterious uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer.

It’s that visit and the gift of a nutcracker that sets Clara’s mind dreaming and brings the rest of the story into play.

There’s still that famed battle between a swarm of mice and an army of toy soldiers, but after that Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s production travels in a different direction.

Like the traditional version, Clara’s dream transports her to the world of the Nutcracker Prince — only this world is a forest where faeries, dragons, mermaids, firebirds and other enchanted creatures roam.

In this second act the show turns into more than just a ballet. It’s when Whidbey Dance Theatre utilizes South Whidbey’s many dancers of other disciplines by including tumblers and jazz dancers to portray the forest’s colorful sprites.

“I wish that more people realized that our production is different from others,” said Brittany Falso, 17, who will dance the Snow Queen role.

“To me, ours is more fun with an enchanted forest and all its creatures,” she said. “We’ve truly made this our own.”

The show is choreographed by co-artistic directors Susan Campbell Sandri and Charlene Brown, along with resident choreographers Susan Vanderwood, Leigh-Anne Cohen and Jennifer Bondelid.

Every year, the cast and crew of more than 100 work to update costumes, choreography, sets and other production elements to keep the show growing.

The production has been in preparation for most of the year. Rehearsals have been going on for months.

In recent weeks, rehearsals have become more frequent and the set crew’s schedule more frantic.

This year, the directors decided to do a complete redesign of the second act’s setting, which was headed by Mary Ellen O’Connor and Gary Kay.

“We’d had the former set for over five years, and it as more surreal than anything,” Campbell Sandri said. “We just want to continue to keep things fresh and give people even more reasons to come back and see the show.”

The new backdrop transforms a former forest cave to castle ruins and also includes a scene of water, which the directors feel will better tie in with Clara’s adventures.

“The Nutcracker set is incredible,” said dancer Shane Tice, 16. “It’s definitely one of the best I’ve seen in the companies I’ve danced with.”

Tice, son of international ballet dancers Ronn Tice and Magali Messac, will dance the male paus de deux roles as the Snow King and Forest King.

Partnering with Tice will be Falso as the Snow Queen and new WIDT principle dancer Sarah Poppe, 17, as the Fairie Queen.

This year’s performance includes a number of guest dancers and new faces to the company, including Tice, Poppe and her younger brother, Christian, who will play a baby firebird, and Ty Molbak, 12, as Clara’s younger brother Fritz.

Additionally, audiences familiar with the company will see a number of experienced Whidbey Island Dance Theatre performers continuing to mature.

“I run into ladies in the community who ask me about the kids, and ask me if certain ones are returning or that they remember when they were just little mice but now they have principle roles,” Brown said. “That’s part of what’s so great about a community production, we all grow together.”

Some of those familiar face will include Mattens as Clara, Jon Transue as Drosselmeyer, Carl Massey as the Nutcracker Prince, Chelsea Matthews as the Rat King and Serrill as the Flower Fairie.

A team of fabric artists are needed to create all “The Nutcracker” characters’ dresses, suits, bumble bee outfits, dragons, soldiers’ uniforms, mouse outfits, a dress big enough to fit a 10-foot tall woman and numerous pretty ballerina tu-tus.

Working the threads are Tarey Kay of Tarey Togs, Alloria of Scattered Threads, Dana Antognini, Gretchen Jacobsen-Lee and Collette Riggs, along with masks designed by Diana Shirley.

“The Nutcracker” is one of only two shows the Regional Dance America accredited company regularly produces each year. The other is the spring Choreographer’s Showcase. Because of this, the company relies heavily on ticket sales to ensure that the company can continue to provide the same excellence in training, pay for guest choreographer fees, and all the costs of putting on each of the productions.

People can show their support for Whidbey Island Dance Theatre and help give the gift of dance by purchasing tickets that are then given to children and families who receive assistance through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County and through the Family Resource Center.

Brown encourages anyone who has seen the show to come and enjoy the dream again.

“I run into people who say they’ve seen the show and don’t need to see it again. But that was five years ago,” Brown said.

“Five years ago? We’ve changed so much from last year alone, each year just keeps getting better,” she said.