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MeshugaNutcracker! stars Shannon Guggenheim (in pink) and her brother-in-law, opera-singer
and cantor Stephen Guggenheim (in red).

Chanukah season throughout the
West Coast. In 2016, the live show
was filmed in front of an audience in
Los Angeles — now, the filmed pro-
duction will screen in more than 350
theaters nationwide for one night
only at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19. Presented
by Fathom Events, in partnership
with Guggenheim Entertainment,
the MeshugaNutcracker! pops
with colorful, elaborate costumes
designed by Julie Engelbrecht.
At fathomevents.com, an activity
guide can be downloaded with quiz
and discussion questions and kids
can enter a national coloring contest.
“We want everyone who comes
to see what we produce to take the
experience beyond the curtain call
and have a little trigger to help fami-
lies spark conversation,” Shannon
says. “I can’t believe we’re still talk-
ing about oppression in 2017.”
Growing up in Alameda, Calif.,
Shannon studied ballet and danced
in The Nutcracker each winter.

“I knew the music intimately.
But when I didn’t grow past 5 feet 2
inches, I knew I wasn’t going to be
a leggy ballerina, so I started taking
tap and jazz,” she says.
Shannon’s mom was Irish and her
dad was raised Mormon.
“When they both left their
upbringings, they told us to find
our own way,” Shannon says of her
siblings. “We had a lot of Jewish
friends and went to their bar mitz-
vahs and confirmations. I found out
more about the culture and history
and just embraced it, so when I was
going to marry Scott, it just made
sense to convert.” A Jew by choice,
Shannon now has two daughters
with her husband.
Her family and fellow cast mem-
bers will watch the Dec. 19 film
premiere together at the Oakridge
Theatre in San Jose, Calif.
“We’re doing the red carpet and
all that night,” Shannon says. “It’s
going to be great fun.” •

details

MeshugaNutcracker! will screen 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the Maple Theater in
Bloomfield Hills. Not recommended for children under age 6. Purchase advance tick-
ets, download the activity guide and enter the coloring contest at fathomevents.com.

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December 14 • 2017

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