Press Release
The Charleston Gaillard Center today announced tickets go on sale this Friday, September 9th, for Cracked Nuts!, a Vegas-style circus-themed retelling of the classical Nutcracker holiday tale, featuring acrobats, aerialists and jugglers by critically acclaimed circus/variety/burlesque/ theater company Stinky Monkey, throughout the entire month of December 2022. The month of performances will take place on the Gaillard's lawn, activating the performing arts center's campus as a must-visit destination for the holiday season, under an elaborately ornate 2,000-piece Spiegeltent or Belgian “mirror tent.”
Performances run December 1st to December 23rd, with tickets starting at $55. Tickets are available Friday, September 9th at 11 am at gaillardcenter.org. Gaillard Center Members receive presale access beginning Tuesday, September 6th.
Cracked Nuts!, is the Spiegeltent's anchoring show, hosted by Las Vegas legends Matt and Heidi Morgan of the critically acclaimed Las Vegas show Absinthe, hailed as “#1 greatest show in Las Vegas history” by Las Vegas Weekly. The family-friendly Nutcracker-inspired performance is billed by the company as “a joyous ride full of acrobatics, circus, laughs and classical theater.” With a sharp focus on artistic direction, dynamic music, audience interaction, and exquisite Spiegeltent interiors, Stinky Monkey performances utilize elements of circus, vaudeville, and performance art to create unique, vibrant, heart-stopping theatrical experiences.
The Gaillard Spiegeltent will feature a variety of soon-to-be-announced performances and festivities that evoke the magic of the holiday season, with elements of surprise, enchantment, and distinctive Southern charm to captivate Charlestonians of all ages. Upcoming programming and performances include cabaret and burlesque, children and family programming, musical performances by local artists, and festive holiday gatherings. Winter holiday-themed events include a special tree lighting on November 30th to kick off the month-long Spiegeltent engagement. The tent will also include a full bar and be available for private rentals and parties.
The Gaillard Center's Spiegeltent is an architectural marvel not-to-be-missed, meticulously comprised of mirrors, stained glass, and hand-painted woods. This tent, dating back to 1947, has traveled to locations all over the country including Fisher Center at Bard on Annadale on Hudson, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. This engagement marks the tent's debut in the South.
In what the performing arts center plans to make an annual holiday tradition, the Gaillard Center campus' transformation into a whimsical winter wonderland will make it the new epicenter of Charleston's holiday season. For more information on the Gaillard Center's December programming, visit gaillardcenter.org. For more information about booking the Spiegeltent for private functions, contact sales@gaillardcenter.org or (843) 242-3094.
