About This Show

StageRight Productions presents Clara’s Christmas Dreams, a new adaptation of the timeless classic, The Nutcracker. E. Thomalen’s new adaptation, published by Baker Plays, features music by Tim Starnes and direction by Bruce Merrill. More than a simple tale of sugar plum fairies, dancing toys and figures brought to life, the work is also a cautionary tale against temptation, a coming of age story, and the battle for the very life and soul of a deathly ill young girl.

The story begins Christmas Eve 1812 in Hamburg, Germany, against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. At the Yuletide party of a well-to-do family, a young girl named Clara is presented with a Nutcracker in the shape of a toy solider. However, her brother becomes jealous, and wanting the solider for his make-believe army, tries to snatch it away. As he tries to do so, the Nutcracker is damaged. That night Clara sinks into a high fever, one she contracted when she brought Christmas presents to the nearby soldiers hospital. In her delirium, figures from her bedtime stories, such as the Mouse King, the Snow Queen, and the Sugar Plum Fairy come to life and attempt to steal her soul with sweet promises of peace, tranquility and release. And if that doesn’t work – force. The only thing standing in the way is the valiant Nutcracker who tries to stop Clara from falling under the spell of what the Nutcracker/Prince calls “happy illusions.” But while he attempts time and again to save the day, it is up to Clara, herself, to learn the difference between good and evil and choose to live.

Adapted from the Dumas version of The Nutcracker story, which Tchaikovsky used for his ballet, Clara’s Christmas Dreams is told all in verse, complete with music, costumes, dancing and song as it spins a gentle tale of good vs. evil, and a morality play to which people of all ages can relate.

Recommended for children from 4-14 and for adults of all ages.

No performances: Saturday, December 25th or Sunday, December 26th and no 7pm performance on Friday, December 24th.

Preview performances: Wednesday, November 24th at 7pm and Friday, November 26th at 2pm.

Opening night performance: Friday, November 26th at 7pm.

Additional performances: Friday, December 21st at 5pm & 9pm; Thursday, December 23rd at 1pm, 4pm & 7pm; Tuesday, December 28th and Wednesday, December 29th at 2pm, Thursday, December 30th at 2pm & 7pm and Friday, December 31 at 5pm and 9pm.

Show Details

Running Time: 1hr 15min (0 intermissions)
Dates: Opening Night: November 24, 2004 Final Performance: December 31, 2004

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