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≡ Menu * About * Reviews * Cast * Creative * Contact Tour Dates THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER TCHAIKOVSKY’S SCORE, HIP HOP DANCE, NYC STYLE ABOUT THE SHOW A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season as it returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. And to add to the excitement – inspired by the live stage show – the Original Special “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” from Disney Branded Television will stream this holiday season, only on Disney+. Just like the original, in The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City. Grab your family and friends and let the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker take you on a journey that celebrates love, community and the magic of the holiday season. HIP HOP NUTCRACKER 2022 TOUR SIZZLE BREAKDANCING TO TCHAIKOVSKY IN THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER -THE ATLANTIC ALSO FEATURED ON: “A GENEROUS DOSE OF CONTEMPORARY SPIRIT SURE TO HEAT UP EVEN THE MOST RESTLESS AND WINTRY OF SOULS.” – THE NEW YORK TIMES “THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER TURNS TCHAIKOVSKY ON HIS HEAD, IN THE COOLEST POSSIBLE WAY.” -CBS “A TRULY ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE, FILLED WITH HIGH-POWERED CHOREOGRAPHY AND A VERY MODERN STORYLINE” – ELLE MAGAZINE THE CAST SPECIAL GUEST MC KURTIS BLOW TOY/ENSEMBLE ANTHONY “OMEN” CABRERA SWING ETHAN EVARO DAD BRYAN LONGCHAMP FLUTE, ENSEMBLE TYLER SINGLETARY TEA/ENSEMBLE JACKIE “JK-47” AGUDO MARIA-CLARA ANN-SYLVIA CLARK MOUSE KING/ENSEMBLE/ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER RANDI “RASCAL” FREITAS CHOCOLATE/ENSEMBLE JON “GIFTED” JIMENEZ DROSSELMEYER LISA “LBOOGIE” BAUFORD SWING HALIMA DODO MOM LILY FRIAS VIOLINIST VIVEK MENON PERFORMANCE DJ DJ BOO THE NUTCRACKER GABRIEL EMPHASIS RUSSIAN/ENSEMBLE SETH “REAKTION” HILLARD TOY/ENSEMBLE ZUCE MORALES THE CREATIVE TEAM Meet the amazing creative team behind the scenes of The Hip Hop Nutcracker. Directed & Choreographed by Jennifer Weber Adapted by Mike Fitelson Based on “The Nutcracker” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Lighting Designer Brandon Stirling Baker Video Designer Moe Shahrooz Original Beats and Remixes DJ BOO Associate Director Ashleigh King Associate Choreographer/Dance Captain Randi Freitas Stylist Laurien De Munck Production Stage Manager Samantha L. Robbins Production Supervisor John Fortunato Production Manager Shane Cassidy Wardrobe Supervisor Chloe Cadarette Wardrobe Consultant Cambria Chichi Original Costume Design Whitney Adams Original Company Associate Director/Choreographer Taeko Koji Physical Therapy NEURO TOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC. Kennedy Gray, LAT, ATC Public Relations John Tellem, Tellem Grody PR Marketing Jennifer Gallagher Social Media Biz Chica Media Produced by NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER John Schreiber, President & CEO David Rodriguez, Executive Producer Simma Levine, Producer Eva Price, Executive Producer General Management MEP Broadway & Beyond Theatricals InHouse Booking TOUR DATES Track to get concert, live stream and tour updates. Upcoming Dates BandsintownBandsintown Fist Logo BandsintownBandsintown Fist Logo Wed, NOV 16 Dolby Theatre Hollywood, CA RSVP Tickets Thu, NOV 17 Paramount Theatre Oakland, CA RSVP Tickets Sat, NOV 19 Mount Baker Theatre Bellingham, WA RSVP Tickets Sun, NOV 20 Pantages Theater - Broadway Center for the Performing Arts Tacoma, WA RSVP Tickets Tue, NOV 22 Morrison Center Boise, ID RSVP Tickets Fri, NOV 25 Overture Center for the Arts Madison, WI RSVP Tickets Sat, NOV 26 Marcus Performing Arts Center Milwaukee, WI RSVP Tickets Sun, NOV 27 DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids, MI RSVP Tickets Wed, NOV 30 Benedum Center for the Performing Arts Pittsburgh, PA RSVP Tickets Thu, DEC 1 Taft Theatre Cincinnati, OH RSVP Tickets Fri, DEC 2 Hip Hop Nutcracker Cleveland, OH RSVP Tickets Sat, DEC 3 Clark State PAC Springfield, OH RSVP Tickets Sun, DEC 4 Palace Theatre Columbus, OH RSVP Tickets Tue, DEC 6 Flynn Center For the Performing Arts Burlington, VT RSVP Tickets Wed, DEC 7 PPAC Providence, RI RSVP Tickets Thu, DEC 8 Altria Theater Richmond, VA RSVP Tickets Sat, DEC 10 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sarasota, FL RSVP Tickets Sun, DEC 11 The Center Coral Springs, FL RSVP Tickets Mon, DEC 12 Florida Theatre Jacksonville, FL RSVP Tickets Tue, DEC 13 Hip Hop Nutcracker Atlanta, GA RSVP Tickets Wed, DEC 14 Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts Greensboro, NC RSVP Tickets Thu, DEC 15 Chrysler Hall Norfolk, VA RSVP Tickets Sat, DEC 17 New Jersey Performing Arts Center Newark, NJ RSVP Tickets Mon, DEC 19 The Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD RSVP Tickets Tue, DEC 20 The Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD RSVP Tickets Wed, DEC 21 The Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD RSVP Tickets Thu, DEC 22 The Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD RSVP Tickets Fri, DEC 23 The Hip Hop Nutcracker Durham, NC RSVP Tickets Fri, DEC 23 The Hip Hop Nutcracker Durham, NC RSVP Tickets Mon, DEC 26 Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Charlotte, NC RSVP Tickets Tue, DEC 27 Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Charlotte, NC RSVP Tickets Thu, DEC 29 Hip Hop Nutcracker Worcester, MA RSVP Tickets Fri, DEC 30 Shubert Theater New Haven, CT RSVP Tickets Sat, DEC 31 William H. Mortensen Hall Hartford, CT RSVP Tickets Request a Show CONTACT For booking inquiries, please contact Tracey McFarland at Broadway & Beyond Theatricals. For press inquiries please contact: John Tellem Tellem Grody PR john@tellemgrodypr.com 310-210-8779 For marketing inquiries, please contact Jennifer Gallagher at JGallagher@alliedglobalmarketing.com Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Fields marked with an * are required Name * Email * Phone * Message If you are a human seeing this field, please leave it empty. © 2019 The Hip Hop Nutcracker Ann Sylvia Clark ANN-SYLVIA CLARK (Maria-Clara) was born and raised in Norway. She started out as a gymnast at an early age, but later on focused her interest more toward dance. She studied dance at Flow Dance Academy (DK). She performed with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Denmark. Since moving to New York, Ann-Sylvia has toured the U.S. and the United Kingdom. She has also performed on television shows including, “Good Day New York” on Fox 5, CBS, PBS, ESPN, Telemundo and “Fake Off” on TruTV. She has also performed in music videos for artists such as Alicia Keys, Styles P, JBalvin and Ben L’Oncle Soul. TV viewers can find her in commercials for the US Open, Samsung, Verizon, Digicel and Reebok. Ann-Sylvia also has played the role of the Queen in the Bridgerton experience “The Queen’s Ball” a Netflix and Shondaland immersive Production. × GABRIEL EMPHASIS GABRIEL EMPHASIS (The Nutcracker) Born in the Dominican Republic, Gabriel’s passion for the arts started at an early age. In 2005, he discovered Breaking, the street dance that inspired him to pursue a career in dance. Fascinated by the acrobatics and stylish movement, his drive to develop this passion led him to NYC, a mecca to many artists. There, his passion caught the eye of many companies, agents, and producers, who got him to collaborate with many artists from different backgrounds. Having never taken a dance class before, these opportunities inspired him to explore new ways of movement, which along with his dedication lifted his career to what it is now. Today, his career has allowed him to bring his love for the arts to more than 20 countries around the world, and has given him countless opportunities to work for productions, brands, and artists he could have only dreamed of as a kid. × Claudius Agrippa Claudius Agrippa (Violinist) × LILY FRIAS LILY FRIAS (Toy/Ensemble) Born and raised in Mexico, Liliana (Lily) Frias has been dancing for 13 years and is currently working as a professional dancer in Los Angeles. Beginning her career as a technical dancer, Lily found her true calling when she mastered the hip hop styles and the art of freestyle specifically the styles of whaacking and popping. She has been featured in a variety of productions, including “So You Think You Can Dance” (Season 12), “America’s Best Dance Crew” (Season 7), Cirque du Soleil, dance battles, national commercials, and Red Bull BC One 2018. She is also known for teaching and performing in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Japan, individually and as a part of her crew known as Femme Fatale. × BRYAN LONGCHAMP BRYAN LONGCHAMP (Dad), Brooklyn native, has danced professionally for over a decade in styles ranging from hip hop to Krump and popping. Bryan is a core member of the dance company iLuminate, known as Team iLuminate on popular television show “America’s Got Talent.” With the company, he has traveled and performed in countries such as Mexico, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Bahamas, and Saudi Arabia to name a few. He has also performed on some of the biggest Broadway stages right here at home. You may have seen Bryan in music videos such as “Can You Hear Me” by Omarion or “Tout et Goure” by Luz and the Yakuza or even in his performances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. As a dance educator, Bryan has been teaching for over seven years, and trains both children and adults to fall in love with dance and be the best that they can be! × LISA “LBOOGIE” BAUFORD LISA “L-BOOGIE” BAUFORD (Drosselmeyer) is an LA-based dancer, choreographer, writer, actor, and educator who hails from St. Petersburg, Florida. Lisa recently finished a production on a Las Vegas residency at The Stratosphere with iLuminate. Lisa also completed her Third year with the national tour of the Hip-Hop Nutcracker as Drosselmeyer, which also features hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow. In 2012, Bauford appeared Off-Broadway for iLuminate, a company that fuses dance and technology, in the Artist of Light series at Duke Theatre, and later at New World Stages. Performing as Starlight Jones, the character Lisa created for Artists of Light, Bauford appeared in a CBS March Madness commercial, which she choreographed. Lisa has also appeared in Google’s Made with Code commercial, on the Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, and on “America’s Got Talent.” She is a member of iLuminate’s World Tour corporate cast as an educator, performer, and dance captain, roles which have taken her to China, Egypt, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Uzbekistan. × RANDI “RASCAL” FREITAS RANDI “RASCAL” FREITAS (Mouse King, Ensemble, Associate Choreographer, Dance Captain) is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and master educator based in Los Angeles, CA. Randi has performed with artists such as Justin Timberlake, SZA, Travis Scott, Karol G and Kaytranada, and she can be seen in commercials for AT&T, Toyota, and Target. She has performed on Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden, The Ellen Show, The American Music Awards, The Kid’s Choice Awards, The Grammy’s, and more. “Rascal” Randi toured the nation as Associate Director/Choreographer of the Emmy Award winning The Hip Hop Nutcracker, toured Japan with the Breaking theater show The Battle, and recently wrapped filming on Spirited, Apple’s newest musical starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, and Disney+ The Hip Hop Nutcracker Holiday film, both to be released Christmas 2022. In the underground scene Randi is still active and was not only the 2021 RedBull BC One Boston Winner, but was also a 2021 RedBull BC One US National Finalist. Recently she placed as a Bronze Medalist in the Arizona Open Regional Olympic Qualifiers. As an educator, Randi taught Hip Hop at The University of Southern California and CalArts, has taught throughout the US, and internationally in France, Belgium, Canada, Thailand, and Mexico. In addition to her work in the industry, community, and institution, she is currently in partnership with NIKE as a consultant for branding and specialty shoe building. Randi most recently is the Founder and Director of OMEGA Flow Floorwork, a training program, company, and curriculum for dancers worldwide. While her training program is not exclusive to womxn, it stands as a space of integrity for them to learn and grow. × JACKIE “JK-47” AGUDO JACKIE “JK-47” AGUDO (Tea/Ensemble) aka Bgirl JK-47 of Diamonds In The Rough, Supreme Beingz and sponsored dancer for Monster Energy, can serve as a role model for multi-talented, hard-working artists everywhere. A recognized international competitor, she took top prize at Red Bull’s very first BC One Camp USA B-Girl Cypher in 2018. In addition, she has performed on a plethora of stages and is now currently on tour with The Hip Hop Nutcracker. She tours throughout the U.S. and the world as a workshop facilitator teaching, encouraging and inspiring people of all ages with her love and passion for the culture and art of street dance. × ZUCE MORALES ZUCE MORALES (Toy/Ensemble). Born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, where she began her formal dance training at the age of 15, and moved to Los Angeles in 2016 when she was 19 years old in order to pursue her dreams as a professional dancer. She is trained in Hip Hop, Whacking, Popping, House, and other dance forms but her specialty is Locking. While she trained at the legendary Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios, Movement Lifestyle and Millennium, she attended Glendale College where she got two certifications, one in Dance Teaching and another in Choreography and Dance Technique Studies. Currently, Zuce is focused on making the Locking dance community grow in Los Angeles, by teaching at professional studios and hosting free community sessions in the area called “Let’s Lock!” Her goal is to give opportunities to the new generation of dancers who care and respect the legacy of the street dance OGs. × ANTHONY “OMEN” CABRERA ANTHONY “OMEN” CABRERA (Toy/ Ensemble) was born on November 7, 1983. A vivacious child, he always loved to dance — it didn’t matter if it was a family gathering or a large party. While growing up in Boston and the Dominican Republic, he discovered hip hop and breakdancing (Bboying) through television, but it wasn’t until his high school years that he started training in Bboying. Soon after, he realized his natural ability for dancing and improved rapidly. With the body awareness to control the acrobatic elements of Bboying and the creativity to develop an original style, Omen was quickly recognized by peers and established Bboys of the dance community. Currently, Omen is part of the world-renowned Bboy crew based out of New York City, Supreme Beings. In addition to winning numerous solo and group competitions at both the national and international level, Anthony has contributed to the dance community by sitting on judging panels and conducting workshops. As a performer, he is part of both G-Force Entertainment and Raw Miami Entertainment. When he is not on board a Carnival cruise ship as a performer, Anthony keeps busy performing for music artists, corporate parties, clubs and street shows. His other professional interests include modeling and acting. × SETH “REAKTION” HILLARD SETH “REAKTION” HILLARD (Candy, Ensemble) attended Toledo School for the Arts where he crafted his love for dance and choreography. Combining uncanny flexibility, imaginative versatility, and meticulous musicality he made a name for himself as B-boy Reaktion, winning Midwest and National Bboy competitions. While evolving his craft in dance Seth also developed other skills in tumbling, skateboarding, and martial arts like Capoeira. In 2012 he packed up his dream and moved to LA to pursue a career in Dance. Within a matter of a few months Seth landed his target agency, booked his first audition, and was working as a professional dancer. Michael Jackson’s video, “Love Never Felt So Good” and Nick Cannon’s video, “Looking For A Dream” are just some of the work Seth has on his blooming resume. Featuring in commercials for Pepsi, Men’s Warehouse, and a VH1 Super Bowl spot, the extremely humble and always smiling Seth has grown fast in the entertainment industry. He credits his advances in dance to working with top choreographers such as Chuck Maldonado, Tone & Rich, Oth’than Burnside, and many more. × Ethan Evaro ETHAN EVARO (Swing). A San Diego, California native, moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry while getting an education. He graduated with a BFA in Commercial Dance from Hussian College In Studio, Los Angeles in 2021. Though specializing in break dancing, Ethan has trained extensively in a variety of dance styles and prides himself on his versatility. He recently completed a Europe and United Kingdom tour for the renowned drag queen, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, and has also performed in Janet Jackson’s “Unbreakable” tour. Along with these accomplishments, Ethan has also performed and worked at a variety of charity events including, A Salute to Teachers and The Natural High Anniversary. Ethan strives to bring his break dancing roots and a calm, hardworking attitude into all his professional endeavors. × JON “GIFTED” JIMENEZ JON “GIFTED” JIMENEZ (Chocolate/Ensemble). Born in El Paso raised in Dallas, Texas, Jon grew his movement artistry in the heart of the Dallas metroplex, becoming one of the most influential leaders in the community. He now shares his knowledge, love & experience for dance & how it contributed to his mental health along his path. Providing insight into the culture while exposing the depths of where movement can ignite the human spirit. Fun Fact: Does a lot of interesting voices. Sometimes funny. × DUSTIN PAYNE DUSTIN “D-PAYNE” PAYNE (Flute/Ensemble) is very humbled and excited to join the cast of HHN for his 3rd year. Since starting his dance journey with his church’s “Praise Dance” team at age 12, Payne has been featured on Season 15 of “So You Think You Can Dance” as part of top 10 men and represented “World of Dance” as a judge and dancer. His recent adventures include but are not limited to live performances and music videos with artist DaBaby, as well as his first national commercial with Starbucks. Payne is looking forward to creating a memorable experience for the audience again this holiday season × KURTIS BLOW Kurtis Blow (Special Guest MC) is one of the founders and creators of recorded rap. A timeless artist and hip hop legend, Kurtis blazed the trail for early hip hop artists and continues to carry the torch for hip hop music in new arenas. Kurtis is credited with many accolades, and was the first rapper to ever be signed to a major label, release a certified gold rap album (The Breaks), tour the United States and Europe, record a national commercial (Sprite), use the drum machine, sample and sample loop, release a rap music video, and become a millionaire. In 1979, at the age of 20, Kurtis Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label. He released Christmas Rappin’, which sold over 400,000 copies and became an annual classic. Its gold followup, The Breaks, helped ignite an international “rap attack,” solidifying the new art form. He released 10 albums over 11 years and his early projects made him an instant success at home and across Europe. Pioneering records like Party Time introduced the fusion of rap and go-go. Hit songs like“8 Million Stories”, “AJ”, and “Basketball” were simply ahead of their time, and still get spins by DJs today. Fellow rap legend Nas debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts with a cover of Kurtis’ “If I Ruled the World” in 1997. Beyond his own hits, Kurtis contributed to the success of The Fat Boys and Run DMC. In fact, Run began his career billed as “The Son of Kurtis Blow.” Among countless others, Wyclef Jean, Love Bug Starski, Sweet Gee, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Full Force, and Russell Simmons all have been produced by or have worked with Kurtis in the past. Kurtis’ multidisciplinary skillset has taken him across the country and overseas to score, produce, and act in various films. Most notably, he played a large role in the production of the hit film Krush Groove. The New York Daily News called his cinematic works a “noteworthy, dynamic presence.” Kurtis Blow’s reach transcends that of your typical entertainer. He has completed multiple world tours since the turn of the new millennium, and continues to work on other creative endeavors. His innate ability to reach people is evident in his work as an activist, radio personality, and most recently, an ordained minister and leader of the Hip Hop Church. Artists still pay their respects to Kurtis’ trailblazing in a number of ways. His influence has been mentioned in seemingly every important Hip-Hop film in the past decade, from Get Rich or Die Tryin’ to Notorious and Straight Outta Compton. He has a prominent presence on Television as well, with his music appearing on shows such as Dancing With The Stars & SportsCenter. He also was an associate producer on the Netflix hit series The Get Down. Outside of music, Kurtis has long been a very spiritual man. He went back to school to become an ordained minister, and has been preaching at churches around the world. His work with The Hip-Hop Church has helped bridge the gap between the art form and the church. Education has long been important to Kurtis. He was been a champion of higher education, and advocates for bringing Hip-Hop culture into the curriculums of our institutions. The rap pioneer has given talks at schools such as Berklee College of Music in Boston and CalArts in California and plans to continue to carry the culture into the classroom. × Sarah Goshman SARAH GOSHMAN (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be touring with the Hip Hop Nutcracker for the first time. Favorite credits include Another Rose (Virgin Voyages); Disaster!, Kinky Boots, The Addams Family (Weathervane); A Chorus Line (Reagle Music Theatre); RENT (John W. Engeman Theatre); I See London, I See France (NYMF), and several national tours with Flamenco Vivo. Proud member of AEA. sarahgoshman.com × BRANDON STIRLING BAKER BRANDON STIRLING BAKER (Lighting Designer) is an award-winning lighting designer for theatre, opera and dance. His work can be seen on stages throughout the country and abroad including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Guggenheim Bilbao, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsballett Berlin and many others. Recent collaborations include new works by Justin Peck, Sufjan Stevens, Savion Glover, William Forsythe, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Shepard Fairey, Benjamin Millepied, Jamar Roberts, and Daniel Buren. In 2019 Baker received the prestigious Knight of Illumination Award for Dance. stirlingbaker.com × OTH’THAN BURNSIDE OTH’THAN BURNSIDE (Stylist) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She moved to California in 1992 to pursue her dream in the entertainment industry. Starting her dance career on tours for major recording artists such as Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliot, Ne-yo, Ciara, and TLC she quickly solidified herself as a working dancer in Los Angeles. Oth’than’s love for the creative aspects of dance and her ability to create long and lasting relationships led her to artist development, creative direction, choreography and wardrobe styling. One of her greatest joys is to work with others to see the collective vision of an artist come to life. Some of Oth’than’s credits include Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Usher, Ciara and Rihanna. × Samantha Robbins SAMANTHA L. ROBBINS she/her (Production Stage Manager). Credits include Off-Broadway: A Delicate Balance (Transport Group), Sanctuary City, runboyrun/ In Old Age (New York Theatre Workshop), Much Ado About Nothing (The Public Theater); Bard’s SummerScape Dom Juan; Touring: Barbra Streisand’s The Music The Mem’ries The Magic. Happy to be joining the Hip Hop Nutcracker team! Forever grateful to my friends and family for their support. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. × John N. Fortunato JOHN N. FORTUNATO (Production Supervisor) is thrilled to be joining the Hip Hop Nutcracker team! Broadway: Mr. Saturday Night, Off-Broadway: Exception To The Rule, National Tour: Cats, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical, Disney’s The Lion King, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical and others. Other Credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein: A Broadway Celebration with The Transport Group, Mamma Mia! at Skylight Music Theatre, Productions with Nevada Ballet Theatre, and Syracuse Opera. Thank you to my family for their endless support. Ithaca College Alum. Proud member of Actors Equity Association. × JENNIFER WEBER JENNIFER WEBER (Director & Choreographer) Broadway/West End: & Juliet (Olivier Nomination), KPOP. Off-Broadway: KPOP (Ars Nova, Lortel Nomination), Teenage Dick (The Public), Cruel Intentions (LPR). Film: Disney Zombies 2, While You Were Gone (Emmy Win) The Hip Hop Nutcracker (PBS Special Live Capture, Emmy Win). Weber recently collaborated with Disney as Executive Producer and Choreographer to create a new film version of The Hip Hop Nutcracker coming this holiday season to Disney+. TV: America’s Got Talent, Good Morning America, Strictly Come Dancing (UK). Choreography commissions include work for New York City Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center and Tulsa Ballet. @jenniferwebernyc www.jenniferwebernyc.com × MIKE FITELSON MIKE FITELSON (Writer/Co-Creator) is the executive producer at the United Palace, the 91-year-old Wonder Theatre in Washington Heights, Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre. In 2014 as the executive director of the nonprofit United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) he co-created The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Jennifer Weber, adapting the story and supplying the images for the scenery, and produced its premiere. Fitelson has worked to build the Northern Manhattan arts community for 18 years. He co-founded the annual arts festival, the Uptown Arts Stroll, in 2003; served in every capacity of the Manhattan Times, the bilingual community newspaper of Washington Heights and Inwood, from 2002-2011; and helped found the nonprofit Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance in 2006. He is thrilled the show is returning to the Paramount Theatre in his hometown of Oakland, CA, where he watched his first Nutcracker in the early 1980s. × NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, NJ, is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey, where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted nearly 10 million visitors (including over 1.7 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. × EVA PRICE EVA PRICE (Executive Producer) is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer of over 18 Broadway plays, musicals, and concerts, a member of The Broadway League’s Board of Governors, and on the producing team of Killer Content and Abigail Disney’s venture Level Forward. Credits: Oklahoma! (2 Tony Awards, Best Musical Revival), Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill (A.R.T., Broadway); What the Constitution Means to Me (2 Tony Nominations); Angels in America (Tony-winning revival starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield); Dear Evan Hansen (6 Tony Awards including Best Musical); On Your Feet!; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards); Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld); Annie (Tony-Nominated Musical Revival); The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino (Tony-nominated Play Revival); Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking; The Addams Family; Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical; Drama Desk-nominated Found; The Lion (Drama Desk-winner, Off-West End-winner); Small Mouth Sounds. × MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT(General Manager) is a producing, developing and management company founded by Avram Freedberg, Mary Beth Dale and Eva Price; and is joined by Managing Director/General Manager Carl Flanigan. Select Broadway, Off-Broadway and Touring credits include What the Constitution Means to Me (National Tour 2020); Jitney (National Tour 2019-20); Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical; Small Mouth Sounds; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; The Hip Hop Nutcracker; The Lion; Verso; Black Light; Born for This (LA and Boston); 50 Shades! The Musical; Ivy + Bean The Musical; Voca People; and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short. www.maximumcompany.com × JARVIS L. BENSON JARVIS L. BENSON (Violinist) comes from a family of musicians and covers a lot of musical ground in the artistic world. The classically-trained New York-based musician has had the opportunity to collaborate with many major artists—most notably Solange, Chris Martin, Regina Carter, Why Don’t We, and many others. He was part of the Emmy Winning production of “Jesus Christ Superstar—LIVE” featuring John Legend, and also part of the Grammy winning album GUMBOUnplugged by PJ Morton. He currently serves as principal violist/violinist and Personnel Manager for Rootstock Republic, a string production company based in New York City. For this tour, Jarvis is playing a violin on loan from Lukas Wroński Violins in New York City. × DJ BOO DJ BOO (Original Beats & Remixes/ Performance DJ) is a-NY based Fil-Am DJ/musician who has shared the stage with Ghostface Killah, DJ Kool Herc (The Godfather of Hip Hop), KRS-1, Snoop Dogg, and Common. He has backed wordsmiths like Eternia, The Juggaknots, and Omar Offendum. In 2014 he served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. in Nepal, Mozambique, and Swaziland where he performed and conducted Hip Hop workshops alongside The Nomadic Wax Collective as part of the American Music Abroad Tour. He has also had the honor of performing at Jacob’s Pillow backing Brooklyn-based Hip Hop dance company, Decadancetheatre. × DJ BOO DJ BOO (DJ) is a Filipino-American artist born and bred in New York who lives and breathes music. From high school, as a drummer who marched in both the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, to the present, his passion for music has led him to the success he enjoys in this field. Boo has shared the stage with Hip Hop luminaries like Ghostface Killah, DJ Kool Herc and Common. He has backed many wordsmiths, including Eternia, The Juggaknots and Omar Offendum. As a member of The Nomadic Wax Collective he served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. in Asia and Africa as part of the American Music Abroad Tour. For over a decade he has been the resident DJ for “WORDS: Hip Hop & Poetry Showcase & Open Mic” at Nuyorican Poets Café, a New York staple in the spoken word/poetry/music and theater scene. Additionally, Boo had the honor of being involved with “One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide,” the first international Hip Hop festival at The Kennedy Center in which he not only performed, but also created a promotional mix featuring artists who performed throughout the multi-day event. As a music producer, Boo, along with director and choreographer Jennifer Weber, helped bring holiday phenomenon The Hip Hop Nutcracker to life. And if that weren’t enough; he is also performing in the production as the show’s DJ. × MOE SHAHROOZ MOE SHAHROOZ (Video Designer) is a video artist based in New York City. He specializes in animation, editing, and interactive video design. He has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from television shows, award shows, fashion shows, music videos, and numerous theatrical productions. His work has been showcased in more than 100 theaters throughout the world. He holds a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is also known for performing and producing music under the moniker I. Sheik. He is proud to be working with The Hip Hop Nutcracker. × TYLER SINGLETARY TYLER SINGLETARY (Flute, Ensemble) started his dance journey in Saint Petersburg, FL and is now based in Los Angeles. He’s been dancing for 10+ years, starting off in the street community, and soon after finding himself in the commercial industry. He works as a commercial dancer and battles/judges street style dance events. Some of his accomplishments include winning WOD Orlando and Red Bull DYS LA. He’s danced for artists including The Jacksons, Kirk Franklin, Giveon and more. Tyler’s involvement in both communities gives him a unique perspective on hip-hop dance. He recognizes this dance as a culture and a way of life. × Ashleigh King ASHLEIGH KING (Associate Director) is a DC-area performer, Helen Hayes award-winning choreographer, and teaching artist. Most recently, she served as Assistant Director to Moritz Von Stuelpnagel and Movement Coordinator for Teenage Dick at Woolly Mammoth. Her work has been seen in Working: A Musical with the Labor Heritage Foundation at Black Lives Matter Plaza, Fairview at Woolly Mammoth, Second City’s Love Factually at the Kennedy Center, and Artscentric, Adventure Theatre MTC, and Toby’s Dinner Theater. Her performance credits include multiple productions at The Kennedy Center, Olney Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Signature Theatre. × Stylist LAURIEN DE MUNCK (Stylist) A young female from Belgium, Laurien transitioned from being a dancer to pursue her passion for styling. Since the beginning of her journey in this field, her dedication to the work and motivation to grow has led her to exceptional projects and experiences. She took her time to explore a combination of collaborations, commissioned work and side projects. Throughout her career, she’s had the great fortune to work on some truly inspiring projects, while meeting many influential and creative individuals along the way. Laurien believes in working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. She has worked and styled for multiple magazines and brands such as DOLLS KILL. Her personal touches for individuals in the industry have changed careers and have helped booked numerous jobs. Laurien will continue to strive to link personal happiness from the inside to radiating a personal beauty on the outside, whilst always respecting the soul and energy of the clientele. × VIVEK MENON (Violinist) VIVEK MENON (Violinist) is a violinist based in New York City. Since he first picked up a violin at the age of three, Vivek has used music as a spiritual form of self-expression. He is classically trained, and has worked with notable classical musicians such as Jennifer Koh, Ray Chen, and members of the Kronos and Emerson string quartets. Vivek loves to experiment with what is possible on the violin, which has led to collaborations in several genres. Most recently, his violin arrangements on Lei Line Eon, the latest album by British electronic musician Iglooghost, were described as “gorgeous” (Loud and Quiet Magazine), “haunting” (ourculture), and “eloquent and inviting…[lending] a bittersweet timelessness” (The Guardian). Vivek is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in violin performance at Stony Brook University, where he studies with Phil Setzer. × Halima Dodo Swing HALIMA DODO (Swing) is a dance artist who captivates audiences on screen and on stage. She has performed for major recording artists like Meek Mill, DJ Khaled, Justin Beiber, Daddy Yankee, Anitta, and Yemi Alade, web shows on Pop Sugar and Steezy, and various indie/feature films—including Ryan Murphy’s The Prom and Beyonce’s Black Is King. Through dance, Halima has enjoyed a career that goes beyond the limits of commercial and community—immersing her passion in culture-driven spaces at Movement Lifestyle, Vessel and Voyage Dance Company, Motus the Company, Cambio Studio, and more. Halima currently shares time between Los Angeles and Miami, Florida where she continues to explore and celebrate genuine expressions in Hip Hop, House, Dancehall, and Experimental Fusions in dance culture. ×