Holiday Family Show at Saint Clements Church

StageRight Productions is proud to present the inaugural production of what they hope will become a perennial holiday event, CLARA'S CHRISTMAS DREAMS, E. Thomalen's new adaptation of The Nutcracker, published by Baker Plays. With music by Tim Starnes and direction by Bruce Merrill, the show will begin performances on November 24th at the Theatre at Saint Clements Church, located at 423 West 46th Street.

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

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.

E. Thomalen is an award-winning poet and playwright. His work The Metamorphosis, A Play, written as a verse-drama, was a winner of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Unpublished Play Reading Project (AATE/UPRP l996-97) and was produced Off-Broadway at New York's Jose Quintero Theatre in January of 2003. Other productions include Tale of Two Murderers (2001 American Theatre of Actors and 2003 Theatre Studio Inc.), Seed for Planting (1987 Baltimore Playwrights Festival) and El Tigre (2001 Texas) The Night Watchman (winner, New Century Writer's Awards competition). His play The Platform will be performed by Chicago's Infamous Commonwealth Theatre this December.

Artistic Director and co-Founder of Manhattan Children's Theatre, Bruce Merrill has directed The Selfish Giant, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Elves & the Shoemaker, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Snow Queen, as well as adapted and directed productions of Rikki Tikki Tavi, Aesop's Fables, Goblin Market, and Treasure Island. While Director of Children's Theatre for Vital Theatre Company his credits included The Swineherd, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The Last of the Dragons, and The Snowmaiden (also adapted). Other New York directing credits: The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Gallery Players); January 1, 1973 (American Theatre of Actors); The Committee (Access Theatre) and Running from the Red Girl (Brass Tacks Theatre Company).

Having worked mostly in film music, Tim Starnes is eager to make his musical theatre composing debut with CLARA'S CHRISTMAS DREAMS. Tim musically assisted film composer Howard Shore on Martin Scorcese's The Aviator and Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King feature films and DVDs. Currently, Tim is working with Shore on Jackson's King Kong. For composer Stephen Endelman, Starnes orchestrated and arranged And Starring Pancho Villia As Himself (HBO), Blue Butterfly (Galafilm, 2003), and De-Lovely (MGM, 2004).

Co-founded by Maitely Weismann, StageRight Productions is a young theatre company made by and for artists who seek to create their own opportunities for professional and creative growth. Previous productions in New York include The Metamorphosis (Jose Quintero Theatre), Say What!? (Pantheon Theatre), Cafe Encounters (American Theatre of Actors), and Bedlam (Producers Club).

CLARA'S CHRISTMAS DREAMS will run from November 24th - December 31st and be performed at the Theatre at St. Clements Church, located at 423 West 46th Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues). Show times are Friday at 2pm & 7pm, Saturday at 1pm, 4pm & 7pm, Sunday at 2pm & 5pm and Monday at 7pm. There are no performances on Saturday, December 25th or Sunday, December 26th and no 7pm performance on Friday, December 24th. Preview performances are Wednesday, November 24th at 7pm and Friday, November 26th at 2pm. Opening night performance is 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. Press is invited beginning 7pm on November 26th.

Tickets are $50.00. Reservations: 212-352-3101 or www.theatermania.com. (Discounts are available for groups of ten or more via StageRightPdn@aol.com.) Running time for the show is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

CLARA'S CHRISTMAS DREAMS is a timeless tale of wonder, beauty, danger and knowledge as a young girl comes of age while fighting for her very life. It's a haunting and beautiful story which is sure to become a holiday classic.