PORTLAND — As night descends on a snowy evening, the dancers take their places. The story is familiar, yet new. Set in the contemporary world, a holiday party for an IT office is mistakenly held at a dive bar on the outskirts of town.

The Nutcracker Prince is a mild-mannered office worker who falls for a waitress, Clara, and struggles to work up the courage to make his move. When the Rat King and his biker gang come and crash the party, a combination of magic and mischief provided by the mysterious Drosselmeyer takes us on a whirlwind adventure through the night.

Adapted in satire from the original Nutcracker, “The Nutcracker Burlesque” inverts the conventions of traditional holiday shows. Performed by a live band at St. Lawrence Arts on Munjoy Hill, the show will feature a wide array of dance genres including ballet, gogo dancing, disco, hoedown, and classic burlesque.

The music is adapted from the classic Nutcracker ballet to fit a keyboard, drum set, electric guitar and bass. Some patrons will recognize their favorite standards reinvented as Tchaikovsky never could have imagined.

“The Nutcracker Burlesque” will be performed at St. Lawrence Arts, 76 Congress St. The show dates are Dec. 13-15, 18-21. Curtains open at 7:30 p.m. This show is for adults only. Tickets for all performances are $15 and can be purchased online at www.vividmotion.org or by calling 1-800-838-3006.


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