Brooklyn Theatre Roundup- December 2014 Edition

Plenty of theatre happens daily outside of Manhattan's theatre district. Below, check out BroadwayWorld's roundup of theatrical events playing in Brooklyn this December!

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American Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
Through December 21, 2014
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

American Ballet Theatre offers the final performances ever in New York City of Alexei Ratmansky's acclaimed The Nutcracker when it concludes its five-year engagement at BAM this December.

As the lights dim and Tchaikovsky's beautiful score fills the air, join young Clara for a dreamlike journey amid colorful, larger-than-life scenery, magical toy soldiers, mischievous mice, sparkling snowflakes, and a glittering Christmas tree! With an impressive cast of over 100 performers, ABT's The Nutcracker features sets and costumes by Richard Hudson (Tony Award-winner, The Lion King) with choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. It is no wonder The New York Times praised it: "a production like no other, made with complete theatrical authority from first to last. The poetry of Alexei Ratmansky's vision is very striking. I'm impatient to see it again."

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PHILADELPHIA AND OTHER STORIES
December 18, 2014
The Bushwick Starr theater: 207 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY

Writer Paul Rome and composer Roarke Menzies present a new work of performance literature about road trips, relationships and an irritating rash. A disgruntled writer grapples with the existential angst brought on by the appearance of a mysterious skin condition. A casual New Year's Eve hook-up turns into a spur-of-the-moment day trip to the City of Brotherly Love, complete with the songs-Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Drake, Talking Heads-and memories encountered on the car ride there and back. A young musician revisits an ex-lover, while a young American recalls her time spent living in France post-college.

With Philadelphia and Other Stories, Rome and Menzies, along with performer Katie Schottland, deliver new works of fiction accompanied by original music. Taking cues from audio storytellers like Ira Glass, Jad Abumrad and Garrison Keillor, as well as innovative monologists like Joe Frankand Spalding Gray, Rome and Menzies draw equally on the traditions of radio drama, literary readings, performance art and theatre in this intimate new stage work. The evening also features solo performances by guitarist David Kammerer and singer-songwriter Katie Mullins.

Created and produced by Paul Rome and Roarke Menzies, Philadelphia and Other Stories features text by Rome and music by Menzies, with additional songs by David Kammerer and Katie Mullins, respectively. The production is directed by Mark Jaynes, with dramaturgy and production assistance by Rachel Levens.

Tickets are $18.00 at www.thebushwickstarr.org

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JEWMONGOUS: Unkosher Comedy Songs
December 20, 2014
BAMcafé

Former Rockapella co-founder and lead singer Sean Altman affectionately skewers Jewish identity in his hilarious hit show. Featuring tuneful, bitingly satirical songs with titles like "Just Too Jew for You," "Be My Little Shabbos Goy," and the Passover sing-along "They Tried to Kill Us (We Survived, Let's Eat)," Altman's delightfully warped tunes are irreverent fun for Jews and gentiles alike.

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ShapeShifterLab welcomes Ourida
December 18, 2014

Ourida is a french algerian singer songwriter. Her urban songs (in French, English, even Russian and Berbere) mix the groove of jazz to the powerful rythmic sounds of world and modern music. Years of performances in parisian venues and cariocas cafés had confirmed an hypnotic voice and a charismatic presence.

She's performing in trio in NYC with two amazing creative musicians influenced by indie rock, free jazz and jungle, giving to the band a truly unic sound.

For more, go to www.ourida.com.

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Peter and the Wolf
December 27, 2014
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

The Little Orchestra Society, in association with BAM, presents an enchanting new production of Prokofiev's masterpiece. Written in 1936, Peter and the Wolf depicts each character musically with a particular instrument of the orchestra and musical theme. This version sets the classic work in a winter wonderland, with repertoire from other great Russian composers including Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Kabalevsky.

For tickets and information about The Little Orchestra's Society's 3-Concert subscriptions,which include Four Seasons: a Spinning Planet and Cinderella and the Prince Who Slays the Magic Dragon, in addition to Peter and the Wolf, visit littleorchestra.org or call 212-971-9500.

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