Looking to sprinkle a little extra magic into your weekend plans? Two Queens stages are set to usher in the season with their own takes on a holiday classic — each offering a family-friendly twist on “The Nutcracker.”
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College, located at 31-10 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City, will present a festive double feature: Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” paired with a visit to Santa’s Toyland, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. on LPAC’s Mainstage.
The production, presented with the Joffrey Ballet School’s Children’s and Youth Ballet in collaboration with its Ballet Trainee Program, trims the beloved ballet into a one-hour adaptation designed for audiences of all ages.
In the show, Clara’s journey through swirling snow and shimmering sweets unfolds to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score as she sets out to break the spell over the Nutcracker Prince.
After the final bow, families are invited to step directly into Santa’s Toyland — an LPAC tradition for more than two decades — where the theater transforms into a glittering holiday escape created by longtime technical director Carmen Griffin and the LPAC team. There, children can meet Santa, portrayed by Robert Lowmark, explore the whimsical setting and leave with a special gift. Guests will also have a chance to greet the principal dancers from the Joffrey Ballet School.
“At its heart, this event is about bringing families together,” said Andrew Ronan, LPAC’s executive director. “‘The Nutcracker’ and Santa’s Toyland have become beloved traditions at LPAC, and we’re thrilled to welcome our community back to experience the joy, imagination, and wonder of the season with us.”
This year, LPAC donated 100 tickets to the city’s Department of Homeless Services for children and families living in Queens shelters, Ronan told the Chronicle.
Tickets for the performance are $30 for general admission and $15 for students with the code “STUDENT.” They are available for purchase online at lpac.nyc.
Those looking for another spin on the holiday staple can head to Queens College, where New York Theatre Ballet will bring Keith Michael’s ”The Nutcracker” to Colden Auditorium at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing, on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m.
The performance is presented by New York Theatre Ballet. Tickets are $32, and the Kupferberg Center offers a range of discounts, including half-price admission for Queens College students and savings for groups, seniors, first responders, healthcare workers and alumni. Tickets are available online at kupferbergcenter.org.
The one-hour staging, suited for children as young as 3, per the Kupferberg website, reimagines the ballet through the Art Nouveau aesthetic of 1907. Michael’s choreography adds playful flourishes — from mischievous imps to bold, stylized characters — while keeping Tchaikovsky’s score at the heart of the storytelling.