Keep Nutcracker Suite & Spicy Kicking in CT

THE NUTCRACKER SUITE & SPICY is celebrating SUITE 16 years in Hartford! It is a rousing, toe-tapping, high-kicking spin on the classical holiday classic created and directed by Carolyn Paine. Set to an eclectic mix of music inspired by the traditional Tchaikovsky score, the production features ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, breakdancing, and ballroom. With a diverse cast of professional dancers, exciting choreography, innovative technology, and a sense of humor it is a truly unique, relatable, and memorable show for all ages!

The only immersive Nutcracker of its kind! It was collaboratively re-booted in 2024 in partnership with Emmy-winning filmmaker Ryan Glista, so the production is a fully immersive show that features projections on stage as well as throughout the whole theater. The impressive visuals integrate with the dancers and choreography in jaw-dropping ways using innovative technology. This production is truly in the vanguard of bringing immersive arts and technology to live theatre. The design won the production a Telly Award and a Muse Creative Award.

“THE NUTCRACKER SUITE & SPICY” and our non-profit umbrella of RiseUp for the Arts are both organizations committed to ensuring professional artists from CT are given opportunities to share their talents in an impactful way within their own community. Our production uniquely represents diverse types of dancers and dance styles in a holiday show that not only delights audiences but inspires them. It truly represents the power of the arts as a unifying force that can bring together people of all backgrounds-a message that is more important now as ever.

We need your help to keep kicking! Our continued responsibility to our community and our artists pushes us to not only sustain, but to grow. And we are in dire need and are depending solely on the fiscal support of businesses and individuals. So please consider donating so we can ensure we are able to continue to present this unique home-grown holiday spectacular!