Synopsis

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” with original lyrics that celebrate Chanukah. Add in dancing dreidels and surprise guest stars and you have the perfect recipe for a holiday gathering for all faiths and all ages. Some might call it crazy…we call it  The MeshugaNutcracker!

An original musical by San Jose Playhouse’s own Scott, Shannon, and Stephen Guggenheim, The MeshugaNutcracker! premiered in 2003 and has performed somewhere in the country every winter since. The production was filmed for Fathom Events running in over 400 theaters nationwide and is now streaming on BroadwayHD.  “Members of the tribe” will devour its Jewish artistry and traditions while those who grew up celebrating in December without dreidels and latkes will delight in this new take on the very familiar Nutcracker tunes. 

Synopsis

Night after night in the 1950s and ’60s, network game shows kept Americans glued to their sets waiting to see who would become the next big winner. With original music that celebrates a bygone era, audience participation, unpredictable contestants, and fabulous prizes, THANKS FOR PLAYING! brings this fast-paced world to life. This original musical is a kick for anyone who loves TV game shows like “What’s My Line,” “Price is Right,” “Queen for a Day,” “Beat the Clock,” “I’ve Got a Secret” and “Match Game.” The creators pay homage to all of those game shows and many more in this new musical, which combines the excitement of live TV game shows with the scandal of the 1950s rigged quiz show investigations.