Swing into the holidays with The Nutcracker Suite!

The Nutcracker Suite or, a rhythmaturgical evocation of the super-leviathonic enchantments of Duke and Billy’s supreme adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece that tells a tale of a misunderstood girl who kills a king and meets a queen and don’t forget oooo-gong-chi-gong-sh’-gon’make-it- daddy, and that it ain’t so bad after all (2019)

Performance schedule:

december 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 27th @ 2Pm
december 23rd and 26th @ 7:30pm

Jack H. Skirball Center For The Performing Arts

566 LaGuardia Pl, New York, NY

The Nutcracker Suite created by Michelle Dorrance, Hannah Heller, and Josette Wiggan set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's extraordinary interpretation of the Tchaikovsky score is a transformation of the classic tale trading pointe shoes for tap shoes in this high-energy, large ensemble reimagining of a seasonal favorite. In the music, the "March of the Toy Soldiers" becomes the "Peanut Brittle Brigade" and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” becomes “Sugar Rum Cherry.” Join Dorrance Dance for an unforgettable trip to the land of sweets filled with surprises, humor, and the rhythmic symphony of world-class tap dancers.

the nutcracker suite cast

Clara Gisele Silva
Her Mother Josette Wiggan
Her Father Leonardo Sandoval
Her Brother, Fritz Alaman Diadhou
Her Godfather, Drosselmeyer (Drossy) Case Prime
Party Guests Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Asha “DaHomey” Griffith, Aaron Marcellus, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Veronica Simpson, Matthew “Megawatt” West
“Mechanical” Dolls Maddie Murphy, Matthew “Megawatt” West
The Nutcracker Elizabeth Burke
Rat King Hannah Heller
Rat Deputy Sterling Harris
The Rats Megan Gessner, Addi Loving, Aaron Marcellus, Dario Natarelli, Maddie Murphy, Emiko Nakagawa, Gregory Richardson
The Snow Passage Alaman Diadhou, Asha Griffith, Sterling Harris, Addi Loving, Emiko Nakagawa, Case Prime, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Leonardo Sandoval
Sugar Rum Cherry Josette Wiggan
Her Cavalier Leonardo Sandoval
Sugar Rum Blossoms Megan Gessner, Maddie Murphy, Veronica Simpson
Mother/бабушка Gingembre Claudia Rahardjanoto
Stepperi of the Volga Company
Danseurs of the Floreadores Company
Alchemist Matthew “Megawatt” West
Understudy Sophie Savelli
Swing Michelle Dorrance

a tap dancing nutcracker for the whole family!

Co-Created by Michelle Dorrance, Hannah Heller, and Josette Wiggan
Choreography by Michelle Dorrance and Josette Wiggan with solo improvisation by the dancers
Additional Choreography by Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Hannah Heller, Matthew “Megawatt” West, and Joseph Wiggan 
Choreographic Advisor: Risa Steinberg
Original Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arr. Ellington/Strayhorn by arrangement with G Schirmer, INC. publisher and copyright owner. Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment, all rights reserved. 
Lighting Design by Kathy Kaufmann
Costume Design by Andrew Jordan
Scenic Design by Sean Sanford
Additional Scenic Design by Peiyi Wong
Assistant to Peiyi Wong: Maya Topping Weed
Mother Ginger Design & Build by Carolyn Mraz
Rat Puppet Design & Build by Ariel Lauryn and Peiyi Wong
Additional Puppet Fabrication by Amelia Lang and Mele Borges
Sound Design by Christopher Marc