Photography done by Mark Shelby Perry
You get to a certain age and you feel as though you have seen every variation of the holiday productions a thousand times. Can you really sit through another performance of Handel’s Messiah, A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker? Well, if you are willing to venture out to Bushwick, the answer is decidedly yes!
Photography done by Mark Shelby Perry
Company XIV, a dance/theater troupe of about 20 members, will astound you with their intimate holiday interpretation of the familiar dance classic, but you’ll hardly recognize it here. This variation on The Nutcracker theme has acrobatics above your head a la Cirque de Soleil, some light bulb magic, juggling and corseted male and female ballet dancers in tutus, as well as French baroque costumes. It’s a feast of dance, song and bodies in motion, some very naughty; others dazzlingly nice. There is not a moment when you will not be entranced.
Photography done by Mark Shelby Perry
I saw a previous production of Alice in Wonderland by Company XIV, which was founded by Julliard-trained Austin McCormack, in the fall, and I was entertained and impressed, but this Nutcracker is absolutely one-of-a-kind and worth the trek to Brooklyn. The show runs through January 26th (and there is a special New Year’s Eve performance which I believe there are still tickets for), so if you are in the tri-state area while the show is running, get yourself tickets. They make excellent Christmas presents too.