Kurtis Blow brings hip-hop to 'The Nutcracker' this November
"The Hip Hop Nutcracker," which has garnered positive reviews during its 12 years of putting a unique spin on the Tchaikovsky masterpiece, will return to Columbus for a show at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., on Nov. 24.
Emceed by hip-hop trailblazer Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to be signed by a major label in 1979, the contemporary holiday spectacular is a mashup of hip-hop and classical music featuring a dozen dancers, an electric violinist and a DJ.
Known for hits including "Christmas Rappin'," "The Breaks" and "Basketball," Blow will open the show with a short set.
As in the source work, "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" follows the story of Maria-Clara as she battles a gang of mice and journeys to the Land of Sweets with the Nutcracker Prince.
Digital graffiti and other visuals transform the setting from traditional 19th-century Germany to the streets of modern-day New York City.
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Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" has been performed more than 250 times in 70 cities.
Tickets, which start at $38, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday and can be purchased at at the CBUSArts ticket center at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., by calling 614-469-0939 or at cbusarts.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Rapper Kurtis Blow brings 'Hip Hop Nutcracker' to Columbus
