The Nutracker Nightmare

A tale of Christmas joy & horror

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but oh, little children, the toys beware. The Doll Queen is coming with her icy stare, into your dreams creeps the Nutcracker Nightmare.

In a world where dolls come to life and little children dream of sugar plum fairies, a new evil has emerged from the toy box. It's up to one young girl, a rag doll, a toy soldier and a ballerina mouse to prevent the total destruction of Christmas. Where's the Nutcracker when you need him?

Strangeloop's holiday production provides a sequel to E.T.A. Hoffmann's classic holiday tale, but this time Marie and the toys face an enemy far worse than mice that threaten to chew up dresses and eat sugar toys — and all without her precious Nutcracker to save them.

The cast includes: Lauren Bourke, Carrie Campana, Elana Elyce, Ticha Guillaud, Jaclyn Jensen, Tim Lee, Allison McCorkle, Carolyn Minor, Mark Edward Penzien, Holly Robison, Andrew Todaro and Chad Wise.

Written and directed by Strangeloop company member Maria Burnham, Nutcracker Nightmare runs two nights only: Sunday, December 15, and Monday, December 16, at 8 p.m. at Mary's Attic, 5400 N Clark St. in Chicago, (above Hamburger Mary's). Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets.