Savion Glover and Lizz Wright Star in THE ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN NUTCRACKER Today at NJPAC

Savion Glover

NJPAC will welcome Newark's own virtuosic tap dancer Savion Glover for a special holiday presentation featuring the music of Duke Ellington today, December 8 at 4 pm in Prudential Hall. Glover, who holds the unofficial title of Newark's tap master, will be joined by singers Lizz Wright and Priscilla Baskerville, the David Berger Jazz Orchestra, and Dance Theater of Harlem students. Adding to this magical afternoon -- 48 students from the Arts High Advanced Choir will perform David Berger's arrangement of Ellington's "Sing Out".

Tickets are $25-$79 and can be purchased at www.njpac.org, by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or by visiting the box office at One Center Street in Downtown Newark.

This holiday celebration, produced by the Apollo Theater Foundation, will be a spirited celebration of the music of Duke Ellington. For a jazzy twist on a seasonal classic, there will be a live performance of the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite- a jumping interpretation of Tchaikovsky's score featuring the 16-piece David Berger Jazz Orchestra and students of Dance Theater of Harlem. Also included on the program is Ellington's rarely performed Sacred Music, narrated by actor Keith David and accompanied by orchestra, choir and the soaring voices of Lizz Wright, Priscilla Baskerville and Glover.

Glover was born on November 19, 1973, in Newark, New Jersey, and made his Broadway debut at 12 in The Tap Dance Kid, followed by Black and Blue. Glover won a choreography Tony for Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk in 1996. The Tony Award winning dancer, is also credited with starring roles in major motion pictures like "Jelly's Last Jam", a role for which he made history as the youngest ever recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Musical Director David Berger is a jazz composer and arranger who has been recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from 1988-1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings, including 500-plus works by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

About NJPAC: New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey -- where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey's Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State's and the world's best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over seven million visitors (including more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit www.njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.

For more, go to: www.njpac.org/events/detail/the-ellington-nutcracker.

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