‘The MeshugaNutcracker,’ a Musical Comedy Celebrating Chanukah, Arrives in Cinemas Nationwide for One Night This Holiday Season
Featuring a Klezmer-ized Orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” the Popular Production Comes to the Big Screen on December 19 Only
DENVER – An “enchanting festival of light-hearted glee and meaningful warmth” (Los Angeles Times) arrives in celebration at the end of Chanukah when the musical comedy, “The MeshugaNutcracker!,” debuts in movie theaters nationwide on December 19, putting a unique spin on the classic Nutcracker ballet.
Presented by Fathom Events, in partnership with Guggenheim Entertainment, “The MeshugaNutcracker!” will be shown in U.S. cinemas for one night on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. local time. During this screening, Emmy Award®-winning and Broadway star Bruce Vilanch will appear on screen as a special guest.
Tickets for “The MeshugaNutcracker!” can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 350 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
"It's a show that's really never been done before," says Susan Gundunas, one of the stars of the ensemble cast. "Not just because there's finally a big, beautiful show about Chanukah in the same way there are big, beautiful shows celebrating Christmas, but also because the cast is singing an amazing challenging score that was originally intended for musical instruments! We get to sing the piccolo line and clarinet line of melodies you've had in your head forever but that have been wordless for hundreds of years. It's a real treat to sing such melodious, grand music."
“The MeshugaNutcracker!” showcases eight stories that pay tribute to the first celebration of Chanukah in the new state of Israel, as well as Judah Maccabee’s triumphant saga and accounts of perseverance. Written and directed by Scott Evan Guggenheim, Shannon Guggenheim and Stephen Guggenheim, the full-length musical comedy 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.” Alongside original lyrics in honor of Chanukah, “The MeshugaNutcracker!” includes dancing dreidels, singing sufganiot and special guest stars bringing audiences delight as they celebrate this holiday season.
“We are always thrilled to embrace the holiday spirit with audiences and celebrate such a special time of year, and this year there’s no better way than watching a fun twist on a beloved classic,” Fathom Events VP of Programming Kymberli Frueh said. “This performance is a fun way for audiences to learn more about the history and traditions of Chanukah in a kitchy spin, using the Nutcracker’s classic music in a way they’ve never experienced it before.”
"No matter what religion you are, no matter what you celebrate this time of year - it's about finding the light in people, finding light in yourself, letting the holidays truly illuminate everything around you,” Shannon Guggenheim, lyricist and one of the co-producers, said. “And yes, it does sound schmaltzy but that's why we balance it with a lot of schmaltz in our show! That really is what we're trying to do: give families something bright and fun but also poignant and meaningful to celebrate this time of year."
This absolutely joyful musical event is produced and directed by Scott Evan Guggenheim, with music adapted, lyrics, and choreography by Shannon Guggenheim; musical direction and arrangements by Stephen Guggenheim and Thomas Tomasello; costume and set designs by Julie Engelbrecht; lighting by Derek Duarte; sound design by Steven Cahill; and film editing by Kyle Burke.
For artwork/photos related to “The MeshugaNutcracker!,” visit the Fathom Events press site.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas®, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live, sporting events like “Canelo Álvarez vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr.,” concerts with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics film series, inspirational events such as To Joey With Love and Facing Darkness, and anime titles such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 897 locations and 1,387 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About Guggenheim Entertainment
Guggenheim Entertainment, Inc. is a theatrical production company based in California’s San Francisco Bay Area celebrating 30 years of producing musical theatre, events, and serving the needs of clients throughout the West Coast. The team at the helm of Guggenheim Entertainment is composed of directors, producers, writers, performers, and designers who produce and present full length and one-act musicals; design and teach classes for students of all ages; provide custom event design for a variety of clients; and originate educational arts programming. Since 1986, the Guggenheims have been at the forefront of Theatre In Education, having won an Antoinette Perry Award (giver of the coveted Tony Award) for Excellence in Theatre in Education. They’ve made “TheMeshugaNutcracker!” available to non-profit organization as a fundraiser helping raise over $250,000 for West Coast non-profit organizations. In 2009, Guggenheim Entertainment opened The Retro Dome and premiered their original musical, “Thanks For Playing...The Game Show Show!” The team will open a venue in Downtown San Jose on New Year’s Eve 2017: 3Below Theaters & Lounge will offer the Bay Area another opportunity to enjoy live theater, interactive movie experiences, theatre conservatory for aspiring young actors, intimate operas, and film festivals.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has named HealthInsight as one of 10 recipients nationwide of a five-year cooperative agreement worth $6.8 million to expand coverage of and participation in the CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program. Through the National Diabetes Prevention Program, public and private organizations work collectively to build the infrastructure for the delivery of an evidence-based lifestyle change program for people with prediabetes or who are at risk for type 2 diabetes. The structured yearlong lifestyle change program focuses on long-term changes and lasting results.
HealthInsight is partnering with a broad array of groups to increase infrastructure and reach of in-person and online CDC-recognized organizations in 23 rural, underserved counties in New Mexico, Oregon and Utah. An emphasis will be on reaching priority populations, with specific focus on engaging Medicare beneficiaries, American Indian and Latino individuals. The company has been working in its region specifically to promote uptake and spread of diabetes self-management education opportunities in disadvantaged communities since 2014 and has conducted projects supporting diabetes care and served as a neutral convener of health care and community stakeholders for many years.
"We are excited to engage in such vital prevention work in our communities," said Marc Bennett, president and CEO of HealthInsight. "We’re building on our existing work with diabetes self-management education, and we are confident that by moving further upstream we can slow the progression and reduce toll of this disease in our communities."
HealthInsight will provide technical assistance, training and financial support to new program providers. They will implement value-based pilots with health plans and employers to develop the business case for making the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change series a covered benefit for their employees or members. Regional, virtual learning sessions will be held for stakeholders and partners, which will include training on how to become a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program supplier and bill for their services, and opportunities to share challenges and best practices.
Prediabetes is a growing national health care concern affecting one in three adults. Without lifestyle changes to reduce weight and increase physical activity, a significant number of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Those who eat healthy and become more active can cut their risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half. Recent increased health coverage for evidence-based lifestyle change programs by insurers and planned coverage by Medicare in January 2018 provide an environment conducive to expanding the CDC National Diabetes Program.
The effective date of the contract is Oct. 1, 2017. For more information on the CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program visit cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention.
About HealthInsight
HealthInsight is a private, non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to improving health and health care that is composed of locally governed organizations in three western states: Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The HealthInsight enterprise holds contracts, grants and accreditation in key areas of healthcare improvement. HealthInsight is a recognized leader in quality improvement; transparency and public reporting; health information technology programs; healthcare system delivery and payment reform efforts; and human factors science research and application. Visit our website at www.healthinsight.org.
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A weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else — spiced with a dash of irreverence — from the nation’s leading voice on education innovation and opportunity.
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Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
