Debbie Allen, Arturo Sandoval, Raven Symone, Jaleel White, et al. Set for The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

Actress Raven Symone, pianist Chau-Giang Thi-Nguyen, and jazz trumpeter and pianist Arturo Sandoval will be guest performers at the December 9 performance of Debbie Allen’s new dance-theater piece, The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Proceeds from this performance, as well as from its run December 10-11 will benefit the children of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

The piece centers on a young spirited girl who receives a Nutcracker filled with hot chocolate for the holidays. Cascading into a deep slumber, Kara takes the audience on a mystical, magical journey, from Candy Cane Lane to the Land of the Kimona Dolls to Bollywood. Her tale is told by three narrators, played by Allen, Carlo Imperato and Jaleel White.

Mariah Carey, Arturo Sandoval, Chau-Giang Thi Nguyen, James Ingram, Shiamak Davar, Tena Clark and Thump have provided the original music for the show.

The Debbie Allen Dance Academy is a nonprofit committed to expanding the reach of dance and theater arts to enrich, inspire and transform the lives of thousands of young people in the Greater Los Angeles Area, across America and around the world.

For further information, visit: www.thehotchocolatenutcracker.com.