2:00 pm | $12/$10 members/$6 kids 12 under | 1 hr 15 min
“A high-voltage swinging and sophisticated adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s fairytale ballet “ – TheMusicHall
“A refreshing rendering of the classic Christmas-time story inspired by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s swing version of Tchaikovsky’s immortal score” Best Things NY.
“Not all Nutcrackers march with the same step–in fact this one taps! “Clara’s Dream: A Jazz Nutcracker,” is a refreshing rendering of the classic Christmas-time story inspired by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s swing version of Tchaikovsky’s immortal score. Clara’s Dream” is a video capture of an original retelling of the beloved Holiday Tale with Brenda Bufalino in a starring role as Auntie Groove and was recorded before a live audience in 2004 at The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH by Robert Pierce. A series of rich terpsichorean gifts, “Clara’s Dream” unfolds at a Christmas party and at family nightclub scene featuring: an African drummer and dancer, Irish dancers, jazz and hip-hop dancers, body-percussionists, lindy hoppers and tap dancers. This show doesn’t need mice!
The original production premiered in 2000 and was a collaborative effort by a group of performing artists known as MaD Theatricals. The principal artists involved (all of whom appeared in “Clara’s Dream’) are the internationally acclaimed Ms. Bufalino, classical tap dancer and Paul Draper protege Dean Diggins, funky tap groove master Josh Hilberman, and comedic/eccentric dancer Bob E. Thomas, with musician and composer Paul Arslanian—who made the music arrangements as well as original music for the production. The project was directed and produced by Drika Overton. “Clara’s Dream” toured annually in Decembers from 2000 to 2006 in the North-East appearing for over 25,000 people.