Duke Elington Nutcracker and Holiday Cabaret

New Canon Chamber Collective presents The Duke Ellington Nutcracker & Holiday Cabaret on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pompano Beach Cultural Arts Center. Now in its third year of production, this holiday experience makes its Broward County debut, blending live big band music, dance, and original storytelling with the unmistakable swing of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Nutcracker Suite. The story unfolds in a festive nightclub inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, with the glamour of a cabaret and the warmth of a neighborhood juke joint. 

Audiences meet Clarese, a young woman drawn to Prince, a charming horn player whose kindness captures her attention. Their budding romance plays out under the watchful eye of a bartender who sees everything, while club kingpin Mr. Ratz and his glamorous fairy dames, Miss Suga and Miss Plum, bring humor, intrigue, and a little mischief to the evening. A holiday cabaret adds to the celebration, pairing seasonal spirit with the energy of a live jazz ensemble.