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 “The Brooklyn Nutcracker” Brings New Choreography to the Kings Theatre for One-Night-Only this Holiday Season

NEW YORK, July 31, 2018 — Brooklyn Ballet, a unique and interdisciplinary dance company rooted in the classical idiom, presents an expanded, one-night-only performance of The Brooklyn Nutcracker, at the majestic Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn, December 14, 2018. The critically acclaimed production fuses ballet, hip-hop and an array of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today’s audience. A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant multicultural history of Brooklyn. 

With a strong commitment to honoring the borough’s cultural traditions, the company premieres Spanish Hot Chocolate performed by first place winner of Flamenco Certamen 2016, Aliesha Bryan, and Margaret Yuen’s Red Silk Dancers in Chinese Tea. Fit for the Kings Theatre’s stately space, the production’s first act party scene is expanded with a cast of multi-national dancers merging together both hip hop and baroque movement in dances inspired by the 18th century French court. 

Unique to The Brooklyn Nutcracker are collaborations with tech-based artists and designers providing audiences with a multi-sensory experience, exploring ground-breaking technology of light and motion-responsive costumes. Within moments, the digital set and backdrop transports the plot from historical old Dutch Brooklyn to the iconic Flatbush Avenue—in an homage to Kings County. 

“The Brooklyn Nutcracker was born in 2010 on a Brooklyn street corner, a dance collaboration between a petite ballerina and a large hip-hop dancer. Passersby were mesmerized so I knew we were on to something,” explains artistic director Lynn Parkerson. “Past years’ sold-out seasons confirmed that Brooklynites love seeing a holiday classic, dedicated to the people and places they call home.”

For Nutcracker traditionalists, a Victorian-style holiday party for Clara and friends, Snow Scene, Waltz of the Flowers, and Grande Pas remain true to Petipa’s and Ivanov’s vision. In the re-imagined scenes, choreographer and Brooklyn Ballet artistic director Lynn Parkerson, inject an unmistakable and symbolic Brooklyn culture. Clara’s mysterious uncle Drosselmeyer is portrayed by hip-hop pop and locker Michael “Big Mike” Fields, and each snowflake is donned in LED wired tutus that illuminate with the sweep of Tchaikovsky’s rich score. Native American performer Nakotah LaRance, a 6-time World Hoop Dance Champion, returns with his sensational mix of traditional hoop and hip-hop dance to open the second act. With a cast of over 50 dancers, audiences will enjoy divertissements from Sira Melikian, an authentic Middle Eastern belly dancer, African-based modern dancers, Brooklyn’s top pop and lock, gliding and flex’n dancers, as well as Brooklyn Ballet School’s own students. 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The Brooklyn Nutcracker takes place on Friday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m.

An additional student performance for public schools is Friday, December 14 at 11:30 a.m.

TICKETS and VENUE INFORMATION

Tickets are on sale. Prices start at $25.

Tickets available for purchase at http://bit.ly/BKNutcracker2018

The Kings Theatre is located at 1027 Flatbush Avenue, between Tilden and Duryea in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. The theater is accessible by Subway: Q to Beverley Road, or the 2, 5 and B to Church Avenue.

REPERTORY DETAILS

The Brooklyn Nutcracker

Concept/Choreography: Lynn Parkerson

Music: Pytor IIyich Tchaikovsky

Art Director/Set Design: Avram Finkelstein

Costume Design: Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Leila Ligougne, Sylvia Nolan, YMX by Yellowman

Technologist: Nicholas Vermeer, NYC Resistor

Lighting Design: David Forni

Collaborating Choreographers: Thomas Baird, Aliesha Bryan, Michael “Big Mike” Fields, Miera Goldberg, Claudia Jeschke, Nakotah LaRance, Sira Melikian, Sydnie Mosley, Margaret Yuen

Length: 110 minutes

A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and a myriad of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today’s audience. The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of melting pot Brooklyn. Starting from the point of view of old Dutch Brooklyn and leading to the iconic Flatbush Avenue, the production is fresh and full of virtuosity—in essence, a moving Christmas card to the borough Brooklyn Ballet calls home.

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ABOUT BROOKLYN BALLET

Founded in 2002 by Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson, Brooklyn Ballet brings a contemporary vision to the treasured art form of ballet, with repertory and programs that revitalize and re-imagine the classical form. The first-of-its-kind in Brooklyn in more than 40 years, the organization is committed to artistic accomplishment, education and community engagement. In 2009, Brooklyn Ballet opened the doors to its first permanent home at The Schermerhorn—

built and managed by Common Ground and The Actors Fund. The ground level space provides Brooklyn Ballet with a storefront dance studio, access to a 99-seat black box theatre, dressing rooms, and administrative space. As a community dance institution, the Brooklyn Ballet School offers youth and adult ballet classes, allowing dancers to learn and develop their skills alongside professionals of all backgrounds. The school’s Elevate and Brooklyn Ballet in the Houses programs offers children scholarships and opportunities to participate in the rigors of ballet training. Brooklyn Ballet can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @brooklynballet.

ABOUT THE KINGS THEATRE

The historic Kings Theatre reopened its doors in 2015 as Brooklyn’s premiere performing arts venue.  Providing a destination for large-scale popular entertainment and serving as a resource for local arts groups and community organizations, the City-owned Theatre is a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community and a major fixture to Brooklyn’s vibrant cultural landscape. The Kings Theatre was originally designed by Rapp & Rapp in 1929 and was one of the five Loew’s ‘Wonder Theatres’ built in New York and New Jersey during that period. Featuring high curved ceilings, ornate plaster walls, wood paneling, and a glazed terra-cotta ornamental façade, the classic 20th-century movie palace was inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House. The redevelopment project both revived the historic structure’s original splendor and transformed the Theatre into a state-of-the-art facility with over 3,000 seats—the largest of its kind in Brooklyn. The Theatre was selected as a recipient of the 2014 New York State Historic Preservation Award for excellence in preservation and revitalization and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Kings Theatre is operated by The Ambassador Theatre Group. Follow @kingstheatrebklyn on Facebook / @kingsbklyn on Twitter & Instagram for announcements and updates!

Brooklyn Ballet’s programs are made possible in part by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, Council Member Alan Maisel, Council Member Stephen Levin, Council Member Mathieu Eugene, Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr., Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Sills Family Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Corcoran Cares, The Curtis W. McGraw Foundation, Boston Consulting Group, Breukelein Institute, Eicholz Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation,  The John N. Blackman Foundation, Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Con Edison, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Alloy, Board Assist, Park Avenue Charitable Fund.