Name: Katrina Cunningham

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Education: SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory BFA

Select Credits: Singer, dancer, and actress with Company XIV.

Why theater?: It is an incredibly grounding experience to perform a show night after night. I am playing a candy in Nutcracker Rouge, (a glass of champagne to be exact,) and yet I am never satisfied with what I have found in my character or my experience portraying her.  It takes me a long run to decide I’m done justifying the story, however seemingly thin the plot. Theater is the medium that provides me with that slow and lustrous coming undone.  

Tell us about Nutcracker Rouge: It’s the perversion of the Nutcracker you know and love, with an emphasis on the perversion of Marie Claire. Most nutcrackers save the sweets for the second act. Nutcracker Rouge uses the sweets to represent a slew of sexual proclivities and fetishes. From the traditional blushing burlesque-y Cherries (which is a flirty duet between Lea Helle and I) to the violent S&M Licorice Boys, we hope that no audience member goes the whole show without a red-faced moment. Not to mention the fact that we shamelessly use your libidos to get you in the door, leaving you with the surprise of an artful experience in the highest form of many different skills. And if you feel that it’s not Nutcracker without ballet, worry not. We find that sexuality and traditional ballet fit very nicely together.

What is it like being a part of Nutcracker Rouge?: A little girl’s dreams… and a grown woman’s fantasies… come true.  

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: It is important to me to see individuals on stage. I am not interested in theater where people sing and look and speak in a certain manufactured homogeny. I am excited by the messiness of the human on stage.  I am also excited by the utilization of a performers many abilities. There is no reason a contemporary dancer can’t also be your singer and deliver a straight monologue to close the show. I would like to see more roles created with the clever and purposeful combination of these things in mind.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I like to explore the fragile dynamo of women. It is often strong women who are driven to madness because the world is not made for them. I relate to those characters. Ophelia is one. Helen McCormick. Hedda Gabler.  

What’s your favorite showtune?: The 1940’s hit “Wait ‘Till You See Her.” It’s really killing.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Leonardo DiCaprio. He is my spirit animal.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Riley Keough stars in “Goldilocks.”  It was my first starring role at age 6 after all… Hoping I haven’t peaked.  

What show have you recommended to your friends?: "Masters of Sex"!!!! "Orange is the New Black"!!!

What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: “The Way I Feel” by Asa

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Truffle macaroni and cheese. I am hoping to have a 3 tier mac-cake when I get married.

What’s up next?: Le Petit Chaperonné Rouge, further recordings and a single/cover of “Yayo” on sale during the run!  

For more on Katrina, visit www.KatrinaCunningham.com

The Nutcracker has been a Christmas staple for generations. The ballet with Tchaikovsky’s music is iconic with its sweeping score and jubilant choreography. But what happens if The Nutcracker ended up on Santa’s naughty list? You get Company XIV’s sexy burlesque inspired Nutcracker Rouge, a hot and heavy evening of dance and celebration.
The very second you enter the Minetta Lane Theater’s lobby, red lights set the mood. Above the bar, in the bathrooms, even the house lights are red. The mood lighting sets up the environment you’re about to witness. Things are about to get naughty. Dramaturgically, the evening is set up with the source material as the clear bookends. A young girl receives a nutcracker as a gift and at the end she is rescued by the Nutcracker Prince. Unfortunately this through line needs to be present more. While the music is notable and you’re well aware of the title, more references to the actually nutcracker will aid when he arrives in the flesh for his triumphant duet. The night, broken up into two actors, with the Drosselmeyers serving as emcees presenting acrobats and dancers with acts like Turkish Delight, the Licorice Boys, and the Sugarplum Fairy. There is no doubt that there is talent beyond compare on the stage. Each member of the ensemble shines in their respective discipline when given center stage. The only complaint would be some of the brilliant circus acts are forced to the edges of the stage due to the architecture of the space.
Austin McCormick you’ll be still have a fantastic time watching has his hands filled as he conceived, directed, and choreographed the production. With the burlesque feel ever-present, there are occasional jarring moments including the random song and dance to “Material Girl”. But luckily, the production is a stunning spectacle. Nutcracker Rouge is an aesthetic wonderland of color and splendor. Jeanette Yew’s lights are vibrant and variant, showcasing Zane Pihistrom’s costumes on the scantily clad ensemble.
If you’re looking for something that will put you in the festive spirit Nutcracker Rouge is definitely for you. Even if a sexy night at the theater is not your cup of tea, you’ll still have your sweet tooth satisfied.