Ellen's "Klezmer Nutcracker" running at Vital Theatre through Jan. 3rd!

[ekushner.an...@gmail.com]

Critics love it and shows are selling out for

THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER
Book by Ellen Kushner
with Ellen Kushner as "Tante Miriam"
December 6th - January 3rd
Vital Theatre Company
2162 Broadway, 4th Floor, at 76th Street, on the Upper West Side

so get your tickets now!


TICKETS & INFORMATION:
Get tix online at: http://www.vitaltheatre.org or call Vital: (212)
579-0528
Now through January 3rd - shows have been added!

Sunday, December 21 at 11 am 1pm and 4pm**
Monday, December 22nd at 7pm*
Friday, December 26th at 7pm*
Saturday, December 27th at 11am and 1pm
Sunday, December 28th at 11am and 1pm
Monday, December 29th at 1pm and 3pm**
Tuesday, December 30th at 11am** and 1pm
Wednesday, December 31 at 1pm
Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 1pm
Friday, January 2nd at 1pm
Saturday, January 3rd at 11am and 1pm

* Special discounts for 7 p.m. shows: code KLEZPM10
** Show just added!


The STORY:

This summer New York's Vital Theatre ( http://www.vitaltheatre.org )
commissioned me to adapt my book THE GOLDEN DREYDL (based on my piece
with Shirim Klezmer Orchestra) as a fully-staged show for the holiday
season. It's been a thrill working with director Linda Ames Key,
choreographer Dax Valdes, and the rest of the professional staff, crew
& talent at Vital. And what's more, I'm in the show!

To my delight, they cast me as the mysterious aunt, Tante Miriam, the
Drosselmeier figure (and yes, I have a fabulous cape to swirl), who
gives little Sara the gift of a Golden Dreydl at the family Chanukah
party. The dreydl is, of course, an enchanted girl, who spins Sara
off into a world of magic and adventure, riddles and demons . . . .


The REVIEWS:

"Casting the author as Tante Miriam was a stroke of genius as she
gives the entire play a spiritual and essentially Jewish quality that
sets it apart from the fluff of the original Nutcracker . . . The
music is truly brilliant." - CurtainUp ( http://www.curtainup.com/klezmernutcracker.html
)

"The Klezmer Nutcracker is a vibrant show. . . there's plenty in it
for grownups to enjoy too, including remarkable sets, a few jokes
meant to go over kids' heads, some great choreography and at least one
achingly sweet moment of song. For kids there's a surprising amount
of plot that definitely won't insult their intelligence, a few
obligatory moments of gross-out humor and plenty of magic." - Gather
( http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977537166 )

"Winning characters and enthusiastic cast …. This sort of thing is the
true magic of the theater, the reason to take kids out to a show
rather than plop them in front of a DVD." - Blogcritics.com (
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/12/08/103404.php )

"'“The family party that you can actually go to.'" - Jewish Week
( http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c346_a14194/The_Arts/Theatre.html
)

"The enterprising Vital Theatre Company’s production ….contained a
theatrical innocence I love..." - New York Observer (
http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/dreaming-yiddish-christmas-sugarplums-and-klezmer-soundtrack
)


FAQ

- Is it a ballet?
No. But there is lots of fantastic dancing, and we reference the
classic "Nutcracker" a lot.

- Is the music live?
No. But Vital re-mixed the original tracks Shirim recorded for WGBH,
and they sound fantastic! It's all Tchaikovsky - kinda - arranged by
Michael McLaughlin & David Harris with a klezmer twist.

- Is it just for Jewish audiences?
Come on! I figure, if I can sing "Messiah" and watch "The Nutcracker"
every year, it's time to open up the season to a few more traditions
for everyone. We have a multi-cultural cast of great splendor; see
photos here: http://www.sun-productions.com/Klezmer_Nutcracker_photos.html

- Is this a children's play?
Yes, but it's got enough lissome dancers & grownup in-jokes to delight
even you. I strongly recommend it for kids 5-11.

- How long is it?
The show runs an hour, with no intermission.

- What if I want to avoid an audience full of small children?
Come to one of the 7 p.m. shows. I'm doing a "Conversation with the
Author" after the ones on Dec. 18th & 22nd. Check the Vital page
( http://www.vitaltheatre.org/2008Klezmer.php ) for dates & details.

- Are there discounts available?
$10 discounts for all 7:00 p.m. shows! Just use code KLEZPM10 in
advance or at the door.

- Where should I sit?
I recommend the 4 back rows. It's a 9-row theatre, with seats highly
raked, so all sightlines are great. If you're too close to the front
you can miss some of the staging. If you book online (http://
www.vitaltheatre.org/2008Klezmer.php ), you can see which seats are
still available & pick the ones you want.

- Where did you get the idea for this story?
Please see my "Golden Dreydl" FAQ at: http://www.sff.net/people/kushnerSherman/Kushner/dfaq.html

- What else?
Books & CDs will be on sale in the lobby, and the cast & I will be out
there signing programs after each show.


Happiest of holidays to you! Please feel free to pass this message on
to anyone you think might be interested, and I hope to see you at THE
KLEZMER NUTCRACKER!

Ellen

*********************
Ellen Kushner
http://www.EllenKushner.com
'THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER' at NYC's Vital Theatre, Dec. 3-Jan. 6, 2008
THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD, available from Small Beer Press & Bantam
Books


LINKS:
Vital Theatre
http://www.vitaltheatre.org
Ellen Kushner (Golden Dreydl book, CD & show)
http://www.sff.net/people/kushnerSherman/Kushner/dreydlsplash.html
Photos & Press Release
http://www.sun-productions.com/Klezmer_Nutcracker_photos.html