PiPe Dream Theatre Opens Steam-Punk Show THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING Off-Broadway

PiPE DREAM THEATRE has announced the world premiere production of Liz Muller and Collin Simon's THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING, directed by Liz Muller. THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING will play a limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Beckett Theatre (Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street). Performances began Wednesday, November 28 and continue through Saturday, December 15. Opening Night is tonight, December 1 (8 p.m.). $25 tickets are available at telecharge.com.

In the steam-punk world of THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING where Clara-Marie lives, she doesn't fit in, surrounded by cruelty, ugliness, and people who don't understand her. One Christmas, in a loving gesture, her Godfather Armand, gives her a Nutcracker to protect her. That evening, Clara-Marie travels to the land of Colossus, where toys are larger than life-including her Nutcracker-and humans small. As she journeys through the land, she encounters evil characters including the Mouse King and his cronies who are trying to enslave Colossus' dolls. At last she meets the Mouse Queen and her children who are trying to thwart the king's evil plans.

Upon returning home to the Land of the Great Reach, Clara-Marie tells her family of all that she's seen. They don't believe her, thinking her imagination is useless, except for her twin brother Colby. Intrigued by her story and wanting to hear more, the two fall asleep while recounting the story. To their surprise, they awake in Colossus and help take down the Mouse King and regain control of Colossus.

Told through music and dance (not ballet) THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING is a classic holiday story told through the re-envisioning of these dedicated group of artists.

The production features scenic design by Liz Muller, costume design by Vanessa Price, and lighting design by Stephanie Goldman. Collin Simon is the sound engineer and Stephanie Goldman is the stage manager.

THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, December 15:

Tuesdays at 7p.m.
Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and are now available online at www.Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre Row Box Office, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Running Time: 90 minutes no intermission

For more about the show, visit www.pipedreamtheatre.com.

BIOGRAPHIES

Liz Muller (Director/Musical Director/Producer/Lyrics) has had the fortune of being able to play in the theatre for most of her life. She has directed college and community theatre throughout NY including: Urinetown, The Mikado, Into the Woods, Godspell, 12 Angry Men, The Seagull, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Wait Until Dark, Midsummer, Mrs. Warren's Profession, and Once on this Island. Favorite acting roles include Lady Macbeth (Macbeth A Musical), Pitti-Sing (The Mikado) and Olivia (Twelfth Night). Muller is the lyricist for four full-length musicals (Macbeth, Briar Rose- the Tale of Sleeping Beauty, 3 Ghosts, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King) two oratorios (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Masque of the Red Death) as well as songs for a number of plays and movies. She is currently the Musical Director and Production Supervisor for Wine Lovers The Musical (directed by Holly-Anne Ruggiero). Muller is the lyricist for www.JusticeWoman.com. Muller has a full length CD - It's Only Me, released in 2004, and has sung on all the original cast PiPE DREAM recordings - Lady Macbeth (Macbeth A Musical) The Ghost of Christmas Past (3 Ghosts), Avarice (Briar Rose), Katrina (Sleepy Hollow), Fountine (Red Death), and Olivia (Twelfth Night).

COLLIN SIMON (Composer/Producer/Graphic Design) began writing for community theaters when he was 13, composed the music for his first documentary when he was 16, and his first film when he was 18. By the time Collin was 20, he worked in a professional theater in California arranging, performing, and composing original musicals. After moving to New York in 2005 he and Liz Muller began working on various theater projects together. Eventually they began writing one-act musicals; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Masque of the Red Death, and full length original musicals; 3 Ghosts, Macbeth, Briar Rose, and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, all of which Collin wrote the music and co-wrote the book for. Collin has written music for plays, films as well as nationally aired commercials. He also continues to write underscoring for PiPE DREAM shows as well as arranging songs for their Shakespeare productions such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night. You can hear more of Collin's music at collinsimon.com.

DIANA PETTERSEN (Choreographer/Mutant Soldier) a NYC-based emerging choreographer. She graduated Manhattanville College's Dance & Theatre department with the honor of Distinction and a special award for ''Excellent Academic Achievement and Notable Investigations as an Emerging Choreographer''. In the past year, Pettersen's work has been showcased at SUMAC Choreographer's Workshop, ARTs East New York "Her Love Made Visible Event", PiPE DREAM theatre's More Dance, QMAD's Itinerant Performing Arts Festival, Left Hip Choreography Showing, The GRC Dance Lab and the 3rd Annual Suite Summer In-Sight Dance Festival.

STEPHANIE GOLDMAN (Producer/Production Manager/Stage Manager) is an elementary school teacher at Harrison Central School District. An avid theatre enthusiast, Stephanie can be found working in various theatre venues throughout Westchester County and the 5 boroughs as a stage manager and technical director. Notably she is a member of the board of directors of a small Production Company in Armonk, organizing concerts in the park and play readings, and is the stage manager of Be Mused children's theatre in Westchester. She has worked shows ranging from Annie, Footloose, and Little Shop to Peter Pan, Millie, and Beauty and the Beast. Stephanie was the stage manager and producer of PiPE DREAM's off off Broadway premieres of Briar Rose, Macbeth and 3 Ghosts as well as their performances of Dreams, The Mikado, Greater Tuna, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 3GD, Twelfth Night, and Masque of the Red Death.

PiPE DREAM theatre is dedicated to the creation of meaningful productions that challenge the way people view theater. Our cast and crew is comprised of both professional and community players.

We are constantly challenging what is considered traditional moments and moods for the musical numbers. Our view of the music, as well as the story lines we tackle, is not only to be easily enjoyed by everyone, but to have a depth that will give it a timeless appeal. The music is melodic, but with energy and excitement, and the story lines are scrutinized to keep the pacing high, even in dramatic situations. We strive to embrace any part of a story even if it isn't something you would typically see in a musical, such as epic fight scenes or magical elements.