The MeshugaNutcracker!

The MeshugaNutcracker! The Chanukah Musical

“The MeshugaNutcracker!” is a full-length musical comedy that features the wonderfully silly sensibilities of the folklore of Chelm (a fictional town of fools) underscored by an invigorating Klezmer-ized orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” including original lyrics that celebrate Chanukah.

Judah Maccabee’s triumphant saga and accounts of perseverance during the Holocaust as well as the celebration of the first Chanukah in the new state of Israel emerge with a genuine sense of wonder as the Chelmniks tell eight stories that pay tribute to the holiday. Add in dancing dreidels, singing sufganiot, and surprise guest stars and you have the perfect recipe for a holiday outing! Jews and non-Jews alike will delight in this original musical celebrating all things Chanukah.

The cast includes (in alphabetical order) Jackson Davis, Lynda DiVito, Shannon Guggenheim, Stephen Guggenheim, Susan Gundunas, Jeremy Kreamer, Benjamin Pither, and Krista Wigle. Emmy Award®-winning and Broadway star Bruce Vilanch will be the special guest.

“The MeshugaNutcracker!” is written and directed by Scott Evan Guggenheim, Shannon Guggenheim, and Stephen Guggenheim. The production team includes Julie Engelbrecht (set and costume designs), Derek Duarté (lighting design), Steven Cahill (sound designer), and Thomas Tomasello (orchestrations). The stage managers are Ronn Goswick and Morgan Zupanski. The production was filmed by 4Leaf Media and edited by Kyle Burke