OPENING: The House Theatre Nutcracker Opens This Friday!

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO PRESENTS THE RETURN OF ITS HOLIDAY CLASSIC AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY THEATRICAL ADAPTATION OF THE NUTCRACKER, NOVEMBER 5 – DECEMBER 31,

AT THE CHOPIN THEATRE

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: 

Best Chicago Family Holiday Shows

ChiIL Live Shows on Our Radar

Here at ChiIL Mama/ ChiIL Live Shows, The House Theatre's version of The Nutcracker has been a family favorite of ours for years! It's a beloved family tradition with dancing, singing toys, creepy giant, multi headed rat puppets and NO BALLET whatsoever. We adore this utterly unique holiday take on The Nutcracker, overcoming grief, and conquering fears. Highly recommended. We'll be back on Friday the 13 for the press opening so check back soon for our full review. 

We'll also be giving away TWO Family Four Packs of Tickets to the House Nutcracker shortly, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

The House Theatre of Chicago once again brings holiday cheer with its sixth annual return of the all-original, family-friendly The Nutcracker playing at the The Chopin Theatre Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division, November 5 – December 31. The show created by Company Members Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O’Donnell and Tommy Rapley. Company Member Rapley reprises his role as director and choreographer of the holiday production based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story. 

Previews take place November 5 – 12 following the regular schedule, excluding matinees. The press opening is Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Additional holiday weekend performances are Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.. NOTE:  The House hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve extravaganza following the closing 7 p.m. performance December 31 and will last until 1:00am. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.  Preview tickets are $15 with regular run tickets $25 - $45. Student and industry same-day discounted tickets are available for $10 for all dates, based on availability. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.769.3832 or by visiting www.thehousetheatre.com.

The House’s fantastical expansion of this holiday classic centers on young Clara’s journey to celebrate Christmas in the face of grief after the death of her brother. With the help of a magical nutcracker, this brave little girl will fight the Rat King and save her family. The House’s modern holiday theatrical production weaves together riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry, original song and spellbinding spectacle to tell a heartwarming, darkly moving story of magic and hope -- a fun outing fit for the whole family.

The House’s original play version of The Nutcracker has become a Chicago Holiday tradition for many families. It premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007 under the Visiting Company Initiative and enjoyed highly acclaimed new productions at The House from 2010 through 2014, as well as simultaneous 2012 productions in Chicago and Miami.

About the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza:

Following the closing performance Thursday, Dec. 31, The House  hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. The party features music from House Company members, led by Kevin O’Donnell, a dance floor, full table-top and party game room, photo booth and savory and sweet eats and drinks. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The Nutcracker is adapted by Jake Minton and Phillip Klapperich from “The Nutcracker and the Mouse,” a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann with original music by Kevin O’Donnell. 

The cast for The Nutcracker features the return of House Company Members Chris Matthews in the role of “Monkey” and Marika Mashburn as “Martha/Really Scary Rat” and welcomes Company Member Abu Ansari as “David/Quite Scary Rat.” Returning to the cast are guest artists Jaclyn Hennell as “Clara” and Andrew Lund as “Hugo the Robot.” Rounding out the cast and new to The Nutcracker this year are guest artists James Houton as “Drosselmeyer/Really Quite Scary Rat,” Rachel Shapiro as “Phoebe the Babydoll” and Desmond Gray as “Fritz the Nutcracker.” 

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (19 wins) and became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2013 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

The House Theatre of Chicago once again brings holiday cheer with its sixth annual return of the all-original, family-friendly The Nutcracker playing at the The Chopin Theatre Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division, November 5 – December 31. The show created by Company Members Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O’Donnell and Tommy Rapley. Company Member Rapley reprises his role as director and choreographer of the holiday production based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story. Previews take place November 5 – 12 following the regular schedule, excluding matinees. 

The press opening is Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Additional holiday weekend performances are Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.

NOTE:  The House hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve extravaganza following the closing performance December 31 and will last until 1:00am. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.  Preview tickets are $15 with regular run tickets $25 - $45. Student and industry same-day discounted tickets are available for $10 for all dates, based on availability. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.769.3832 or by visiting www.thehousetheatre.com.