FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Phil Rosenthal
Phil Rosenthal | 323.823.1637 | prosenthal@texasperformingarts.org
TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS ADDS TWO SHOWS IN BASS CONCERT HALL
THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER FEATURING MC KURTIS BLOW ON TUE, NOV 23
AND
THE CAPITAL CITY TAKEOVER HOSTED BY GARY OWEN FEATURING
LAVELL CRAWFORD AND KOUNTRY WAYNE ON WED, DEC 29
Both shows on sale this Fri, July 16 at 10am
AUSTIN, TX – Texas Performing Arts continues to add events to the 2021-22 season with two dynamic holiday shows, both of which go on sale this Friday, July 16th. Hip hop legend Kurtis Blow embarks on his first national tour since his 2020 heart transplant with the seventh iteration of the holiday dance spectacle, The Hip Hop Nutcracker on Tuesday, November 23rd at 8pm. Tickets available from $29.50 - $65.00.
Gary Owen, who Ebony Magazine proclaimed to be “black America’s favorite white comedian” will host an evening of side-splitting fun with Lavell Crawford and Kountry Wayne as the ‘Capital City Takeover - The NYE Comedy Kick-Off Edition’ hits Bass Concert Hall on Wednesday, December 29th at 8pm. Tickets available from $49 - $99.
ABOUT HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
The Music Pioneer who Created Christmas Rappin’ and The Breaks is Hitting the Road This Holiday Season. Everything old is new again. Tchaikovsky’s 129-year-old ballet is reimagined as a holiday dance spectacle in The Hip Hop Nutcracker, hitting the road for a seventh season. The production features hip hop pioneer Kurtis “The Breaks” Blow, the first rapper to be signed by a major label in 1979. 42 years and a heart transplant later, this hip hop founding father is still performing as MC of The Hip Hop Nutcracker. A cast of a dozen all-star dancers, an on-stage DJ and an electric violinist turn the beloved score on its head. “Through the isolation of the pandemic and for me, personally, the gift of receiving a new heart, it is time to hope again,” says Kurtis Walker, known professionally as Kurtis Blow. “And the season of hope is Christmas.” On December 6, 2020, he had a heart transplant that has given him a new life.
Blow has paved the way for generations of hip hop artists and fans after scoring the first certified gold record rap song in 1980, “The Breaks.” He was also the first rapper to be signed to a major label. Blow is also responsible for “Christmas Rappin’, the perennial first rap holiday song. “It’s incredible for me to meet fans, and their kids, and their kids’ kids who love hip hop music,” says Blow. “It reminds me of how The Nutcracker brings people of all ages together too. I hope everyone makes holiday memories for a lifetime when they come to our show.” Just like the classic Nutcracker story, in The Hip Hop Nutcracker Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of a colorful and contemporary New York City. Through the modern, self-expressive gaze of hip hop culture, the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker celebrate the magic of the entire holiday season on the most inclusive holiday of them all - New Year’s Eve, a time for new beginnings.
ABOUT CAPITAL CITY TAKEOVER
Get ready to ring in the new year with laughter! The NYE Comedy Takeover kicks off on December 29th in the Capital City of Austin, Texas. Hosted by the legendary Gary Owen, with special performances by Lavell Crawford and Kountry Wayne, you’re sure to experience a night of hilarity, witty banter, and downright fun.
Gary Owen has been entertaining American audiences for more than a decade with his side-splitting comedy. Having performed to sold-out audiences in all the major comedy clubs and theatres across the country, Owen is one of America’s most beloved comedians and was proclaimed by Ebony magazine as Black America’s “Favorite White Comedian.”
Lavell Crawford is a SAG Award Winning actor, writer, and producer who is best know for playing Saul Goodman’s bodyguard, “Huell Babineaux” on AMC’S Breaking Bad. Lavell has repeatedly guest-hosted the Steve Harvey radio show and has had regular appearances on Chelsea Lately, Tosh.0, and Workaholics.
Wayne Colley, better known as “Kountry Wayne,” is not your average standup comedian. If you asked him to describe himself, he would say he is just a reserved vegan and father of eight who wants what’s best for his kids. He initially started performing in small clubs in Atlanta and by 2016 had embarked on a 45 city sold-out tour (2016 Child Support Tour). Since then Wayne has consistently performed year-round, regularly selling out clubs & theaters across the country to a diverse, wide-reaching audience with his unique brand of high energy, and clean content.
ABOUT TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
Texas Performing Arts is the performing arts presenting program of The University of Texas at Austin and operates campus venues including Bass Concert Hall and McCullough Theatre. It is the home of the Broadway in Austin series, a curated program of performing arts, and a host of comedy and concert events. In the calendar year 2019 Bass Concert Hall had the highest number of tickets sold of any theater in Austin, was #2 in the State of Texas, and #22 in the world, according to industry publication Pollstar. Following a national search, Tony Award-winning producer Bob Bursey was appointed Executive Director in January of 2020.
IMAGES
Hip Hop Nutcracker: https://utexas.box.com/s/eq9s1ow5ghp00wlpslruqzx33kb1eg4w
Capital City Takeover: https://utexas.box.com/s/qs3v6c9f0budut81mf9zvot6irtkc0gr
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