Date & Time: Sat, Dec 19, 2026, at 7:30PM
Location: Cobb Great Hall Stage
Tickets: From $45; MSU Student $22
Ticket Office: whartoncenter.com
517.432.2000 or 1.800.WHARTON
EAST LANSING, MI—Maximum Entertainment Productions today announced the The Hip Hop Nutcracker (www.hiphopnutcracker.com) 2026 tour, including a return to East Lansing’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts for one show only on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 7:30PM. Kurtis Blow is set to host and MC the family-friendly holiday mash-up and contemporary holiday dance spectacle that has performed more than 250 times in 70 cities and brings a modern twist to Tchaikovsky’s 130-year-old ballet. A dozen all-star dancers join Blow on stage, as well as an on-stage DJ and an electric violinist. Tickets went on sale Monday, August 10, at 10AM, at Wharton Center’s Ticket Office, online at whartoncenter.com, or by calling 517.432.2000 or 1.800.WHARTON.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker is directed, choreographed, and co-created by Jennifer Weber, an Emmy winner and two-time Tony® and Olivier award-nominee who also choreographed the international hit musical, & Juliet currently playing on Broadway. Executive producing is four-time Tony® winner and two-time Olivier award-winning producer Eva Price, whose productions have garnered six Olivier Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy Awards, and 20 Tony Awards®. The re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic story turns the beloved Nutcracker score on its head. Hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music blend together for a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event that takes audiences on a journey celebrating love, community, and the magic of the holiday season.
“What makes this show so special is watching audiences experience the holidays in a completely new way,” says Blow. “The energy, the music, the dancers, and the heart behind the story create something that’s fun for every generation. It’s become a holiday tradition that celebrates the history of hip hop while bringing people together through one unforgettable night of live entertainment.” Blow paved the way for generations of hip hop artists and fans after scoring the first certified gold record rap song in 1980. He is also responsible for “Christmas Rappin,” acclaimed for being the first rap holiday song.
Just like the original, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets, and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City.
Created in 2013 by Weber and writer Mike Fitelson, the production has evolved into a masterpiece due to the creators’ never-ending commitment to enhancing the production, and dancers who continue to raise the bar each year.
For tour dates and more information about where to purchase tickets to The Hip Hop Nutcracker, visit www.hiphopnutcracker.com. For the latest news and updates follow The Hip Hop Nutcracker on Facebook and Instagram; #HipHopNutcracker.
About Eva Price (Executive Producer)
Eva Price is an NYCLU/ACLU honoree and Tony® and Olivier Award-winning producer. Select Broadway credits include & Juliet, Titaníque, Liberation, Redwood, Jagged Little Pill, Oklahoma!, What the Constitution Means to Me, Dear Evan Hansen, and Peter & The Starcatcher. Off-Broadway, touring, and international credits include Titaníque (NYC, London, Canada, Australia, Paris), The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Shit. Meet. Fan., Mindplay, and Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical.
About Jennifer Weber (Director/Choreographer)
Jennifer Weber’s Broadway, West End, and international credits include & Juliet, 13 Going on 30, KPOP, Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical, and Kane and Abel. Additional credits include Take the Lead, American Idiot, Bring It On!, Teenage Dick, and Cruel Intentions. Film and television credits include Disney’s Zombies 2 and the Emmy Award-winning While You Were Gone. Weber also co-created, directed, and choreographed the annual international holiday touring phenomenon The Hip Hop Nutcracker, and executive produced and co-choreographed The Hip Hop Nutcracker television special for Disney+.
About Mike Fitelson (Writer/Co-Creator)
Mike Fitelson is the CEO of the United Palace, the 96-year-old Wonder Theatre in Washington Heights, Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre. In 2014 as the executive director of the nonprofit United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) he co-created The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Jennifer Weber, adapting the story and supplying the images for the scenery, and produced its premiere. Fitelson has worked to build the Northern Manhattan arts community for 24 years. He co-founded the annual arts festival, the Uptown Arts Stroll, in 2003; served in every capacity of the Manhattan Times, the bilingual community newspaper of Washington Heights and Inwood, from 2002-2011; and helped found the nonprofit Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance in 2006.
About Maximum Entertainment Productions (MEP)
MEP (General Management) is a producing and management company founded by Avram Freedberg, Mary Beth Dale, Eva Price, and joined by Director of Operations Brent McCreary in 2024 and COO Michael Page in 2026. Select general management credits include Titaníque, Small Mouth Sounds, Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, The Lion, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short. maximumcompany.com.
