Keith Michael's The Nutcracker — New York Theatre Ballet at Kupferberg Center, Queens

About this adventure

New York Theatre Ballet brings its one-hour Nutcracker, choreographed by Keith Michael, to Colden Auditorium at Queens College's Kupferberg Center for the Arts for a Friday evening performance. The production sets Tchaikovsky's score in the Art Nouveau style of 1907 with cut-out scenery, bright costumes, quick scene changes, mice, dancing imps and other surprises, and it is deliberately made for young children: the company recommends it for ages 3 and up, and reviewers note a tolerant atmosphere for chattering little audience members. At an hour long it is a far easier first ballet than a full-length Nutcracker, and much cheaper — tickets are $25 plus fees, with reduced fees for phone or in-person orders at the box office (718-793-8080) and group discounts for 10 or more.