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Lincoln Center has seen its fair share of sugar plum fairies, but has it ever seen this?
For just one night, on December 18, The New York Nutcracker, a decidedly grown-up twist on the holiday classic, will shimmy its way into the David Rubinstein Atrium. It’s the first time the institution has ever presented a parody of its own marquee holiday productions.
The show, which has built a downtown following through sold-out runs at The Paradise Factory in past years, reimagines Clara’s journey as a downtown-meets-uptown fever dream set in performer Pearls Daily’s first New York apartment on Christmas Eve in Harlem. Cabaret, burlesque, comedy, dance and original shadow puppetry all come out to play in the 90-minute spectacular that’s guided—sometimes gently, sometimes not—by Tchaikovsky’s score.
Daily anchors the production as its creator, producer and star, playing an alter ego navigating a night of glamorous misfits and trickster spirits. Her version of the classic leans into humor, nostalgia, sensuality and transformation, all while riffing affectionately on the ballet’s underdog origins. With choreography by Peekaboo Pointe and puppetry by Foreshadow, the show brings a bit of downtown artistry to one of the city’s most buttoned-up holiday traditions.
The cast draws from some of New York’s most inventive performers across multiple genres, including burlesque, cabaret and physical theater—meaning you can expect a few “whoa, they’re doing that at Lincoln Center?” moments, plus a wink at the audiences who have watched the holiday season expand to include more irreverent fare each year. Even Lincoln Center seems ready for a little chaos; hosting this production signals a new willingness to let the institution's famously polished holiday lineup have a little fun around the edges.
If you’ve ever wondered what The Nutcracker might look like if it snuck out after midnight, this is your chance. Just don’t bring the kids—this one definitely earns its adults-only billing, with partial nudity and themes meant strictly for ages 18 and up.