Blow Performs on Several Dates While Da Brat Makes Her First Appearance with the Show in D.C. and Chicago; Tickets Currently Available
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Maximum Entertainment Productions has unveiled the 2026 national tour of “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” which will deliver its fresh, high-energy spin on the classic holiday tale to 20 U.S. cities during the upcoming holiday season. The tour launches on Saturday, November 14, in Purchase, New York. This year, two pioneering hip hop figures will serve as special guest MCs. Hip hop legend Kurtis Blow is back with the production for several shows along the tour, while Da Brat makes her premiere with “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” performing at the Washington, D.C. and Chicago stops. Tickets are on sale now at www.hiphopnutcracker.com.
With a talented ensemble of dancers, a live DJ, and an electric violinist, this family-friendly holiday show offers a contemporary reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s 130-year-old ballet, having captivated audiences in more than 250 performances across over 70 cities.
Da Brat brings her trailblazing legacy to the stage. Her 1994 debut album, Funkdafied, debuted at number one on the rap albums chart and achieved platinum status, making her the first female solo rapper to reach one million in sales. Her extensive career spans music, television, radio, and theater, with collaborations and live shows alongside artists such as Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Aaliyah, and The Notorious B.I.G. “I’m so excited to step into The Hip Hop Nutcracker for the first time and bring my own energy to such a creative celebration of hip hop and the holidays,” says Da Brat. “The show has so much movement, personality, and spirit, and I can’t wait to experience it with audiences in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.”
Blow, celebrated as the first King of Rap, is a founding figure and innovator of recorded Hip Hop. In 1979, he made history as the first rapper to sign with a major label and the first Hip Hop artist to tour internationally, spreading the genre worldwide. His classic tracks include “Christmas Rappin’” and “The Breaks,” which became Hip Hop’s first certified gold record. Blow’s pioneering influence continues to shape the genre and inspire new generations. “The Hip Hop Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition, and after more than a decade with the production, it still feels special every time I step onstage,” says Blow. “I love sharing the history and spirit of Hip Hop alongside these dynamic dancers and bringing generations together. The love and energy from our audiences is amazing, and I’m excited to celebrate another season across the country.”
“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 on Broadway. The executive producer is Eva Price, a four-time Tony winner and two-time Olivier Award-winning producer, whose projects have earned six Olivier Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy Awards, and 20 Tony Awards. This remixed and reimagined version of the classic story flips the familiar Nutcracker score, blending hip hop dance with Tchaikovsky’s timeless compositions to create an emotionally resonant and inspiring holiday event that leads audiences through a story of love, community, and seasonal enchantment.
As in the original, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince embark on a dreamlike adventure, battling a gang of mice, visiting the Land of Sweets, and learning the true meaning of the holidays. Cutting-edge digital graffiti and visuals shift the setting of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved tale from 19th-century Germany to the vibrant and diverse energy of modern New York City.
First created in 2013 by Weber and writer Mike Fitelson, the production has evolved over the years thanks to the creators’ dedication to refining the show and a cast of dancers and breakers who elevate the performance annually.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker 2026 tour schedule includes:
November 14 | Purchase, NY | SUNY Purchase PAC
November 15 | New Brunswick, NJ | State Theatre
November 17-22** | Washington, D.C. | National Theatre
November 24-29** | Chicago, IL | Cadillac Palace Theatre
December 2-3 | San Jose, CA | San Jose Center for the Arts
December 4-6 | San Diego, CA | Balboa Theatre
December 10 | Spokane, WA | First Interstate Center for the Arts
December 11-12 | Seattle, WA | Moore Theatre
December 15 | Omaha, NE | Orpheum Theater
December 16 | Kansas City, MO | Midland Theatre
December 17 | St. Louis, MO | Fox Theatre
December 18 | Columbus, OH | Palace Theatre
December 19 | East Lansing, MI | Wharton Center
December 20 | Detroit, MI | Fisher Theatre
December 22 | New Haven, CT | Shubert Theatre
December 23 | Brooklyn, NY | Kings Theatre
December 26 | Atlanta, GA | Fox Theatre
December 27 | Durham, NC | Durham PAC
December 28 | Greensboro, NC | Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
December 29 – January 3 | Charlotte, NC | Knight Theatre
**Da Brat will appear in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Kurtis Blow will appear at all other tour engagements.
For tour dates and additional details on ticket purchases for “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” visit www.hiphopnutcracker.com. For the latest news and updates, follow “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” on Facebook and Instagram; #HipHopNutcracker.
Note to media: press assets are available to view and download here.
About Eva Price (Executive Producer)
Eva Price, an NYCLU/ACLU honoree and Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer, counts among her Broadway credits & Juliet, Titaníque, Liberation, Redwood, Jagged Little Pill, Oklahoma!, What the Constitution Means to Me, Dear Evan Hansen, and Peter & The Starcatcher. Her Off-Broadway, touring, and international work includes 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 feature Take the Lead, American Idiot, Bring It On!, Teenage Dick, and Cruel Intentions. Her film and television work includes 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 show The Hip Hop Nutcracker, and executive produced and co-choreographed its television special for Disney +.
About Mike Fitelson (Writer/Co-Creator)
Mike Fitelson serves as CEO of the United Palace, a 96-year-old venue in Washington Heights and Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre. In 2014, while executive director of the nonprofit United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA), he co-created “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” with Jennifer Weber, adapting the narrative and providing the visuals for the set, and produced its premiere. Fitelson has spent 24 years fostering the arts community in Northern Manhattan. He co-founded the Uptown Arts Stroll festival in 2003, held various roles at the Manhattan Times, the bilingual newspaper for Washington Heights and Inwood, from 2002-2011, and helped establish the nonprofit Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance in 2006.
About Maximum Entertainment Productions (MEP)
MEP (General Management) is a production and management company founded by Avram Freedberg, Mary Beth Dale, Eva Price, with Brent McCreary joining as Director of Operations in 2024 and Michael Page as COO 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. maximum.com
John Tellem
Tellem Grody PR
email us here
