The Nutcracker Prequel: A Hard Nut to Crack
A MUSICAL adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King"
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Darryl G. Bojanowski
Orchestrations by Ned Paul Ginsburg; Additional Orchestrations by Bill Corcoran
Performance Time
approx. 1 hr. and 30 minutes + intermission
Casting
4 M, 3 F (OR 2 F with doubling) and 1 adult any gender (non-speaking or singing); Featured Boy (age 10-12) and Featured Girl (age 14-17); and Child and Adult Chorus any size; Dancers (non-singing)
Songs Include:
It's A Christmas; You Don't Believe In Magic; A Princess In Every Way; Something Familiar About Him,
The King Has Called For A Banquet; Sausages; Pitiful Pirlipat; Krakatuk; Nuts!; R-E-V-E-N-G-E, more
Libretto/Vocal Scores
(must be purchased at JW Pepper)
18 Copies Minimum Purchase of Libretto/Vocal Scores @ $10 each
Synopsis
Godfather Drosselmeier gives his goddaughter Marie a nutcracker for Christmas. She falls asleep and dreams about a battle between the mice and her nutcracker. She tells her uncle, and he tells her the story of how it all came to be. He says that after the Queen ran all the mice from the castle because they stole the King’s sausages, the Mouse Queen (Mouserinks) sneaked in and placed a spell on the King’s and Queen's baby girl, Pirlipat, making her as ugly as a nutcracker. Pirlipat can only be restored to beauty by eating the fabled nut Krakatuk, which must be given to her by a young man who has never shaved and never worn boots. It takes 16 years, but the court astrologer Arnold finds Krakatuk and the young man. But just as she is about to eat the nut, Mouserinks appears and knocks the young man over. Pirlipat is now beautiful, but the young man has been changed into a nutcracker! To be changed back into a young man, he must battle the 7-headed Mouse King. When the nutcracker seems to have lost the fight, Marie is upset and throws her shoe at the Mouse King, slaying him and winning the day! The Nutcracker Prequel: A Hard Nut To Crack is full of magic and fun and music, perfect for a winter's night at the theatre.
Production History
A Premiere Playhouse, Columbus, OH, 12/3-20, 1992
All PRODUCTION PACKAGE materials will be digitally delivered 8 weeks before your first rehearsal.
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Piano / Vocal Score: Casting/Vocal Ranges, Synopsis, Scenes and Songs List, Tracks Guide
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Full Orchestral Score (not just cues!) with Keyboard Patch lists, Percussion Lists, Tacet Lists
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Three Flexible Instrumentation Choices are included:
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Full Orchestra
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15 Instrumental Part Books:
REED 1: Flute, Piccolo
REED 2: Oboe, English Horn
REED 3: Clarinet in Bb
REED 4: Bassoon
BRASS: Trumpet in Bb, Horn in F, Trombone
STRINGS: Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
HARP
PIANO/KEYBOARD
PERCUSSION
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Director/Educator Production Resources
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Director Script
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Costume Notes (with production photos)
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Set Design Notes (with production photos)
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Prop List
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Study Guide for Director, Cast Teachers (includes lesson ideas and more)
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Promotional Tools
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Logo
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Editable Program Template (provided in Canva)
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Promotional Video Trailer customized for your theatre
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