'Nutcracker (not so) Suite' Returns to The Cowles Center

Lauded as last year's "Christmas miracle for the Twin Cities," MyRon Johnson's "Nutcracker (not so) Suite" returns to the stage this holiday season, presented by James Sewell Ballet and The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts.

This year's dazzling new costumes and choreography - complete with an over-the-top, Broadway-style opening number - promise even more thrills for audiences looking for something different from the standard holiday fare. Meanwhile, Steven Rydberg's wild and wacky depiction of 1960s New York City transports audiences from the swanky Upper East Side into a beatnik downtown, all while accompanied by a life-size Barbie doll.

The Cowles Center's Executive Director Lynn Von Eschen said, "Myron never rests on his laurels. He's always innovating, which is what makes it so exciting to bring his 'Nutcracker' back to The Cowles Center. Even audiences who saw the show last year have some big surprises in store."

James Sewell, Artistic Director of James Sewell Ballet, added, "There's something exhilarating about the fact that this is a non-traditional holiday tradition - it's a new adventure every time."

For even more adventurous audiences, there are four performances designated as "Naughty Nutcrackers" that feature a bawdier, racier version of the show, complete with a different local celebrity each evening. "Naughty Nutcracker" performances are indicated below, along with the full list of performances and ticket information.

About The Cowles Center

The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts serves as the Twin Cities' flagship for dance, presenting 20+ productions each season in its historic Shubert Theatre in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis. Furthermore, the Center's campus includes three performance spaces, education studios, and administrative offices for more than 20 arts and nonprofit organizations - making it a dynamic and vibrant hub for the Twin Cities' performing arts community and a place where dance can grow and thrive.

At a Glance

WHAT: "Nutcracker (not so) Suite" presented by James Sewell Ballet and The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts

WHERE: The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, Goodale Theater, 528 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

PRICE: $25-$50

TICKETS: www.thecowlescenter.org

DATES:

December 2 @ 7:30 p.m.

December 3 @ 7:30 p.m.

December 4 @ 2 p.m.

December 8 @ 7:30 p.m.

December 9 @ 7:30 p.m.**

December 10 @ 7:30 p.m.**

December 11 @ 2 p.m.

December 15 @ 7:30 p.m.**

December 16 @ 7:30 p.m.

December 17 @ 7:30 p.m.**

December 18 @ 2 p.m.

**Indicates Naughty Nutcracker performance - parental discretion advised.

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