‘A Nutcracker Christmas’: ‘Center Stage’ Star Sascha Radetsky Comes to Hallmark Channel with Amy Acker

Mandi Bierly

If the movie Center Stage still holds a special place in your heart, A Nutcracker Christmas is the Hallmark Channel original you’ve been waiting for.

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Premiering Dec. 10, the new “Countdown to Christmas” entry stars Amy Acker as rising ballet star Lily James, who was set to dance the coveted role of Clara in The Nutcracker until opening night, when her dance partner/boyfriend, Mark (Center Stage‘s Sascha Radetsky), took her out of the show. Feeling betrayed, Lily vowed to never dance again. But wait! Years later, her niece (Sophia Lucia, from So You Think You Can Dance and Dance Moms) is asked to play Clara for a different ballet company. Who’s the director? Mark. And who, for whatever reason, will have to put back on her pointe shoes and play the Sugar Plum Fairy? Lily, of course.

A Nutcracker Christmas premieres Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel.