NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" has cast a black dancer to play Marie for the first time.

The New York Times reports Charlotte Nebres will star in this year's rendition of the company's production, which started in 1954

Nebres is a student at the School of American Ballet. Her mother's family is from Trinidad and her father's family is from the Philippines.

The 11-year-old Nebres says she remembers being inspired by Misty Copeland becoming the first African-American female principal at American Ballet Theater.

Nebres will be joined by a diverse group o...