Troy University’s Department of Theatre & Dance and the College of Arts & Humanities will present “Clara’s Nutcracker,” a new and original adaptation of the beloved holiday classic, Thursday, Nov. 20, to Saturday, Nov. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Trojan Center Theatre. 

This year’s “Sounds of the Season” performance of “Clara’s Nutcracker” will be Dec. 2 and is a free-but-ticketed event due to limited seating. The performance, which is offered as a special gift to the TROY community from the College of Arts & Humanities, will also be streamed at troy.edu/live.

Set in 1945 postwar New York City, “Clara’s Nutcracker” unites the magic of this timeless tale with a magical time in U.S. history when everything felt possible. Seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Clara, caught between childish wonder and young womanhood, the tale of first love will transport audiences to a world of hope and possibility.

The production’s co-director, Dominique Angel, said she has enjoyed revisiting the traditional production that she grew up with and danced in many times.

“We have tailored it to showcase the unique talents of our Theatre and Dance Department students while also bringing the production to an American setting,” Angel said. “It has been fun combining the classic version and the more contemporary vision into one production.”

Jordan Lewis, a dance major from Madison, Alabama, will perform as Clara and shared her excitement to play the role for the first time in her life.

“I’ve been so excited to be Clara,” Lewis said. “I have been doing ‘Nutcracker’ since I was 8, so that’s 11 years of ‘Nutcracker’ and I’ve never gotten to be Clara. So, this is my childhood dream to be able to play this role.”

Tickets for the November performance dates are $10 for general admission and can be purchased here. Tickets for the “Sounds of the Season” performance can be found here.

For more information, contact the Department of Theatre and Dance by calling 334-808-6142 or emailing theatreanddance@troy.edu.