ORLANDO — The beloved holiday musical The Nutcracker is returning to Orlando this month, but with a special production designed to showcase the enormous talents of Central Florida’s African American singers, dancers and actors. On Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m., the traveling production of the Orlando Community Arts Inc. musical Clare And The Chocolate Nutcracker will be back on stage.
More than 100 dancers and actors will be performing inside the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts that night. Tickets already on sale for the show, which has been gracing the stage at Dr. Phillips Center every holiday season for years.
What is Clare And The Chocolate Nutcracker?
Clare And The Chocolate Nutcracker is “soulful, colorful, exciting, lovely and delightful,” the production team notes on its website, while adding that the show promises to be “a holiday treat for the entire family.”
Based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s classic Nutcracker Ballet, it tells the story of Clare, an African-American girl who takes the audience on a magical Christmas journey set against a backdrop of 19th-century brownstones and high-rises in Harlem, New York. The show opens with her family’s traditional holiday party. Clare then falls asleep, and her dream brings her to the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy as they tour the world, visiting Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, India, Brazil and other lands on their way to the Kingdom of Toys.
As Orlando Community Arts notes, “This holiday production recaptures the rich pageantry of traditions and the flair that epitomizes culture and diversity.”
The production was created by Beverly Page, author of the children’s book Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker and president & CEO of Orlando Community Arts, a 501©3 organization that works to make the arts accessible to the undeserved communities.
“Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker is a production with elements of African American culture, Asia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Haiti, and the Caribbean,” OCA notes. “This year the extremely talented dancers and actors with sensational energy will travel the world visiting international cultures with music and dance. OCA has maintained an unwavering commitment to presenting a memorable and magical production.”
What Is New To the Production This Year?
Even for those who have seen this production in recent years, Orlando Community Arts is promising something new for audiences this month.
“Every year the show and production is different with fresh and exciting scenes with the addition of local and national stars,” OCA notes. “This year, there will be some special guest artists such as Jaquay Pearce, violinists who has performed at several musical festivals and other pop, rock, and R&B events. The Mime boyZ will also perform with other musical guest. Some of the cast members dancing are Sairi Witherspon as Clare, Xavier Logan as The Chocolate Nutcracker Prince, Charisma Tran as Sugar Plum Fairy, and Sa’ Naa Natalia Brahimi as the Snow Queen.”
Orlando Community Arts calls this production “an investment in the arts, the community, parents, supporters, and families. This will be a great evening of multi-cultural art and Black history. This holiday production captures the rich pageantry of traditions that epitomizes culture and diversity.”
Where Can I See Clare And The Chocolate Nutcracker?
Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker is being staged on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at Dr. Phillips Center of the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Orlando.
For more information about the show or to buy tickets, call the Box Office at (407) 358-6603, or visit the website at www.clareandthechocolatenutcracker.com.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright, and author of the book A Christmas Eve Story. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
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