Holiday Musical The Nutcracker and the Mouse King Begins Previews Off-Broadway

The Christmas musical The Nutcracker and the Mouse King begins previews at off-Broadway's Beckett Theatre in Theatre Row on November 29. Featuring music and a book by Collin Simon and lyrics by Liz Muller (who also directs), the comedy will officially open on December 1, playing a limited engagement through December 15.

Told through music and dance, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a somewhat dark comedy, set in a fantasy steam-punk world where Clara-Marie is surrounded by cruelty, ugliness and people who don’t understand her. One Christmas, her godfather Armand gives her a Nutcracker to protect her. That night, Clara-Marie travels to the land of Colossus, where toys are larger than life—including her Nutcracker—and humans are small. As she journeys through the land, she encounters evil characters including the Mouse King, who is trying to enslave Colossus’ dolls.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King features scenic design by Muller, costume design by Vanessa Price, lighting design by Stephanie Goldman and sound engineering from Simon.