Holiday theater preview: 'Nutcracker,' 'Christmas Carol' and more must-see shows
New York City Ballet soloist Brittany Pollack and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return to New York Dance Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Credit: MCA Photos LLC /Angel A. Perez
Bring on Ebenezer Scrooge and the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with assorted other holiday characters — think a famous reindeer, a beloved comic book character and the big guy himself (yes, we mean Santa). Oh, and this season we have a few nuns thrown into the mix, as local theater and dance companies celebrate the holidays.
'Nutcrackers' and 'Nuncrackers'
James Street Players gets into the holiday spirit with "Nuncrackers" through Nov. 23 at the United Methodist Church of Babylon. The lighthearted musical is part of the successful "Nunsense" franchise, which includes titles like "Meshuggah-Nuns" and "Nunset Boulevard." In this one, the Little Sisters of Hoboken decide to tape a television special, which for some reason includes a parody of the ballet.
Carol Spallone-Smith, as the Rev. Mother Mary Regina, rehearses a scene with Richard Miller from the "Nunsense" Christmas musical "Nuncrackers" at the United Methodist Church of Babylon. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
Taking artistic liberties with "The Nutcracker" has been a thing in recent years, and several local dance companies are giving it a shot. Ballet Long Island is doing the traditional version, but also branching out with an extra production, "Hot Cocoa" (Dec. 12-13 at the school in Ronkonkoma), incorporating dances like the limbo and the Electric Slide. There’s also Dance Connection’s "Nutcracker Remix" (Dec. 14 at CM Center for the Performing Arts in Oakdale), where jazz, tap and hip-hop join the party.
In more traditional productions, the Eglevsky Ballet changes things up this year (Dec. 20-21 at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts) with choreography by new artistic director Peter LeBreton Merz, who has reimagined the second act as a celebration of holiday traditions around the world. New York Dance Theatre is adding an immersive pre-show experience to its performance (Dec. 20-21 at Hofstra's John Cranford Adams Playhouse), featuring students from the Long Island High School for the Performing Arts singing in the lobby.
So many Scrooges
Also popular on Long Island stages is "A Christmas Carol," based on Charles Dickens’ beloved novella. The show is already running at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson through Dec. 27.
After performing Scrooge more than 1,600 times, executive artistic director Jeffrey Sanzel revamped the show this year, sharing the character with a younger actor who portrays the cold-hearted miser in his early years.
Julianna Rezza as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Jeffrey Sanzel as Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. Credit: Ally Humanitzki, Theatre Three Productions Inc.
Meanwhile, "A Christmas Carol, the Musical," is at the Engeman Theater in Northport through Dec. 28, joined next month by a production at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale (Dec. 6-27) and a live radio version at Hampton Theatre Company in Quogue (Dec. 12-14), where audiences will be treated to cocoa and cookies.
Here comes Santa Claus
A touring company of "Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical" comes to the Tilles Center Dec. 3-5, while other local productions feature Charlie Brown, the Happy Elf and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
"Santa Claus: the Musical" makes its local premiere at Manes Studio Theater in Lindenhurst Dec. 19-30. It’s all about Santa deciding to retire after faithfully serving for thousands of years, but don’t panic. It’s Christmas, so there’s bound to be a happy ending.
WHAT TO SEE
'A CHRISTMAS CAROL'
- Theater Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, through Dec. 27, $25-$45; 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com
- John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, through Dec. 28, $91-$101; 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com
- CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, Dec. 6-27, $40-$46; 631-218-2810, cmpac.com
- Hampton Theatre Company, Quogue Community Call, 125 Jessup Ave., Dec. 12-14, $18; 631-653-8955, hamptontheatre.org
- The Minstrel Players, Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport, Dec. 12-14, $15-$20; 516-361-7232, theminstrelplayersinc.org
"THE NUTCRACKER"
- Eglevsky Ballet, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale, Dec. 20-21, $66.80-$99.45; 516-299-3100, tillescenter.org
- New York Dance Theatre, John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Hofstra University, Hempstead, Dec. 20-21, $43.50-$53.50; 631-462-6266, ohmanballet.org
- Ballet Long Island, CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, Dec. 28, $45; theballetcenter.org. [The group is also doing "Hot Cocoa Nutcracker" (Dec. 12-13) and Act 2 only (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) at 1863 Pond Rd., Ronkonkoma, $15-$25; 631-737-1964.]
- Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts and Leggz Ltd. Dance, Madison Theatre at Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre, Dec. 5-7, $40-$65; 516-323-4444, madisontheatreny.org
- Diamond Dance, Stage 74 at the Suffolk Y JCC, Dec. 6, 74 Hauppauge Rd., Commack, $40; 631-368-0299, diamonddanceli.com
- Lumiere Ballet, Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, 37 W. Main St., Bay Shore, Dec 7, $25-$40; 631-969-1101, boultoncenter.org
- American Dance Theatre of Long Island, Van Nostrand Theater at Suffolk Community College, 1001 Crooked Hill Rd., Brentwood, Dec. 13-14; $40-55; 631-472-3455, adtli.org
- Peconic Ballet, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St., Dec. 13-14, $34; 631-288-1500, whbpac.org
- Posey School of Dance, Elwood Middle School, 100 Kenneth Ave., Greenlawn, Dec. 13-14, $30-$45; 631-757-2700, poseyschoolofdance.com
- Hampton Ballet Theatre, Guild Hall, 158 E. Main St., East Hampton, Dec. 12-14, $40-60; 631-237-4810, hamptonballettheatreschool.com
- Dance Connection, Nutcracker Remix, CM Center for the Performing Arts, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, Dec. 14, $31-$46; 631-218-2810, cmpac.com
Other shows
- NUNCRACKERS, James Street Players, United Methodist Church of Babylon, 21 James St., through Nov. 23, $25 ($20 at door); eventbrite.com
- MEREDITH WILLSON'S MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, THE MUSICAL, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale, Dec. 3-5, $39-$159; 516-299-3100, ticketmaster.com
- A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St., Dec. 5, $50-$80; 631-207-1313, patchoguetheatre.org
- HARRY CONNICK JR.'S THE HAPPY ELF, Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Nov. 22-Jan. 4, $27-$29; 844-631-5483, argyletheatre.com
- RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, Sunrise Theater, Bellmore Movies and Showplace, 222 Pettit Ave., Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 21 and Bayway Arts Center, 265 Main St., East Islip, Dec. 27, $14; 516-218-2782, sunrisetheatreli.com
- RUDY, THE COSMETICALLY CHALLENGED REINDEER, South Shore Theatre Experience, 115 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, $27; 631-669-0506, southshoretheatre.com
- SANTA CLAUS, THE MUSICAL, Manes Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Dec. 19-30, $15-$25; 631-226-8400, studiotheatrelongisland.com
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