The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, which competed with approximately 60 other productions of The Nutcracker across the country, receives "The Nutty" statuette as well as a cash prize to benefit the organization's education programs.
The creative team for The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, starring Debbie Allen and Carlo Imperato, included Mariah Carey, Arturo Sandoval, Chau-giang Thi Nguyen, James Ingram and Thump. The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker was performed Dec. 14-15 at Royce Hall at UCLA in Los Angeles.
The Debbie Allen Dance Academy also took home "The Nutty" in 2010.
The Goldstar National Nutcracker Award is the annual initiative "to shine a spotlight on the wide variety of nationwide productions of the holiday classic The Nutcracker."
Previous winners of "The Nutty" Statuette include: The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker in 2011 and 2012; Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker in 2010; Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker in 2009; The Kirov Ballet's The Nutcracker in 2008; and The House Theater of Chicago's The Nutcracker at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007.