LOS NUTCRACKERS: A CHRISTMAS CARAJO Returns to BAAD! Tonight

BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance presents LOS NUTCRACKERS: A CHRISTMAS CARAJO, written by Charles Rice-González, directed by Mark Finley, and choreographed by Richard Rivera. The play, returning to BAAD!'s stage for the ninth exciting year, interweaves two holiday classics, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, and creates a queer, Latino play about a gay couple who go on a psychedelic trip through their lives one Christmas Eve. The play will be presented tonight, November 30, December 1, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8pm at BAAD!, 841 Barretto Street in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx.

Tickets are $25 with discounts offered for seniors, groups and Bronx residents and members of BAAD!, BCA and NALAC. For reservations call 718-842-5223 or visit www.BronxAcademyOfArtsAndDance.org. To purchase tickets online visit BrownPaperTicekts.com. BAAD! can be reached by the #6 train to Hunts Point Avenue.

This gay, Latino comedic play centers around a couple, Carlos and Gabriel, who have been together for 15 years. Their arguing and fighting has reached the queer heavens from which comes a ghetto thug/diva spirit who guides them on a trip through their lives. They travel to the first time they met back in 1986 at a white party at the Palladium dancing to Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam to a catastrophic trip to City Center to see The Nutcracker, to a dinner party with Martha Stewart fanatics, and more.

The play also features a talented and sexy cast of Latino actors with Johnathan Cedano, Robert Maisonett, Gabriel Morales, Ray Quiñones and Yosvany Reyes. Returning this year to bring some holiday cheer is the legendary Bronx drag sensation Appolonia Cruz as the Christmas Diva. Los Nutcrackers spent three years in development at BAAD!, then had its premiere production in 2004.

Charles Rice-Gonzalez has written several plays including PINK JESUS, THE ARTIST and I JUST LOVE Andy Gibb. His debut novel called CHULITO is about a 16 year old, Latino thug coming out in the South Bronx and he co-edited the anthology FROM MACHO TO MARIPOSA: NEW GAY LATINO FICTION. He received an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College.

Mark Finley is the artistic director of TOSOS (The Other Side Of Silence) which was founded by the legendary Doric Wilson. He made is Off-Broadway directorial debut with Chris Weikel's PENNY PENNIWORTH produced by Emerging Artists Theatre, has directed dozens of plays including five Doric Wilson plays: AND HE MADE A HER, A PERFECT RELATIONSHIP (2003 OOBR Award) and the popular STREET THEATER about the Stonewall Riots, and the historic production of Lanford Wilson's THE MADNESS OF LADY BRIGHT featuring Michael Lynch. Mark is also a playwright and his play THE MERMAID was published by United Stages. He is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

BAAD! is a 70 seat workshop and performance space that presents cutting-edge and challenging works that are empowering to women, people of color and/or from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. BAAD! is home to Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre and the Bronx Dance Coalition.

For more information, go to www.CharlesRiceGonzalez.com and www.BronxAcademyofArtsAndDance.org.

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