Three Christmas Plays Many thoughts come to mind when the word Christmas is mentioned. Snowmen, Elves, and Nutcrackers are not only three images fondly connected to Christmas, but a collection of three Christmas plays that illustrate how those three words have become synonymous with Christmas around the world. A DIFFERENT KIND OF NUTCRACKER - Children’s show / 8m, 9f, extras / Simple sets It’s Christmas Eve, Godfather Hoffmann has some special gifts for Fritz and Marie, including a Nutcracker. As Marie tucks in the handsome prince for the night, the room fills with mice, led by the Mouse King, who seems to be at war with the Nutcracker. Is it all a dream or is the story real as Godfather Hoffmann explains to Marie how the Nutcracker became the way he is. The ballet only tells half the story of Godfather Hoffmann’s wonderful toys and the strange adventures of Marie on Christmas Eve, when the toys come to life and she finds herself in another world, where she must save her Nutcracker Prince from a terrible curse. ELSON, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS ELF - Children’s show / 9m, 7f / Simple sets Is Christmas about to end? Santa Claus is considering no longer building and delivering toys to the good children around the world. The job has just become too big for him and Mrs. Claus. A call for help is sent out by Mrs. Claus via the reindeer to all dwarfs and elves. Elson wants to be the first to the North Pole to help Santa, but he must first get permission to leave his elf colony. When the Elder Elf refuses permission Elson’s Elf Grande goes against the Elder Elf’s decision and helps Elson put together an expedition team to the North Pole. Getting there isn’t going to be easy as the Elder Elf has also put together a team to beat Elson there. And the evil elfin Spirit, Excy, will have a say in who becomes the first Christmas Elf and whether Christmas will even survive. CRYSTAL AND THE CHRISTMAS SNOWMAN - Children’s show / 4m, 3f / Simple sets Lauren is stuck spending Christmas with her father, stepmother, and her half brother and sister. She learns the importance of family from a snow angel, a Christmas snowman, a TV weather man, and Santa Claus.