A New York City themed Nutcracker features famous landmarks woven into the time-honored tale performed by students at a pre-professional ballet school and professional guest artists. Based on the jocular story by artist Elliott Arkin, the first act opens with a satirical animated film narrated by Tony award winner Michael Cerveris with imaginative contemporary visual scenarios and characters inspired by the Nutcracker story. In the second act, modern NYC arts, sports, fine dining, parks and even pigeons are cleverly intertwined with the classic Tchaikovsky movements of Candy Canes, Coffee, Waltz of the Flowers and more.

Classic Nutcracker scenes like “The Land of the Snow” are transformed into a snowy frenzy of shoppers dancing in and out of stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s for last minute gifts. “Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles” is played by the Statue of Liberty and dancing immigrants who just arrived from Ellis Island.

⏱ 1 hour 10 minute