Blow Performs on Numerous Stops While Da Brat Joins the Show for the First Time 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,” delivering its fresh, energetic spin on the classic holiday performance to 20 cities across the U.S. this festive season. The tour commences on Saturday, November 14, in Purchase, New York. This year, two pioneering hip hop artists join the production as special guest MCs. Hip hop legend Kurtis Blow returns for multiple tour dates, while Da Brat makes her inaugural appearance with “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” during the Washington, D.C. and Chicago stops. Tickets are available for purchase now at www.hiphopnutcracker.com.
With a stellar ensemble of dancers, a live DJ, and an electric violinist, this family-friendly holiday production reimagines Tchaikovsky's 130-year-old ballet with a contemporary edge, having captivated audiences across more than 250 performances in over 70 cities.
Da Brat brings her trailblazing background to the stage. Her 1994 debut album, Funkdafied, debuted at number one on the rap albums chart and achieved platinum status, establishing her as the first female solo rapper to sell one million copies. Her career has spanned music, television, radio and theatre, featuring collaborations and performances with 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, hailed as the first King of Rap, is a founding figure and trailblazer of recorded Hip Hop. In 1979, he became the first rapper signed to a major label and the first Hip Hop artist to tour internationally, playing a key role in spreading Hip Hop worldwide. His legendary tracks include “Christmas Rappin’” and Hip Hop’s first certified gold record, “The Breaks.” Blow’s pioneering influence continues to shape Hip Hop 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. Executive producing is four-time Tony winner and two-time Olivier Award-winning producer Eva Price, whose productions have earned six Olivier Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy Awards and 20 Tony Awards. This remixed and reimagined version of the classic tale flips the beloved Nutcracker score on its head. Hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky's timeless music merge for a moving and inspiring holiday event that guides audiences through a journey celebrating love, community, and the enchantment of the season.
As in the original, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince embark on a dream adventure, battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and discovering the true meaning of the holidays. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals shift the setting of E.T.A. Hoffmann's cherished story from traditional 19th-century Germany to the vibrant, varied sights and sounds of today's New York City.
Originally created in 2013 by Weber and writer Mike Fitelson, the production has evolved through the creators' dedication to refining the show and a cast of dancers and breakers who elevate the performance each year.
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 perform in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Kurtis Blow will appear at all other tour stops.
For tour dates and additional details on purchasing 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.
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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. maximum.com
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