The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College will present Firecracker, devised as a Chinese answer to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, for two performances, Dec. 8-9 at the PepsiCo Theatre at SUNY Purchase College.

The story follows Tiny and Junior, twin sister and brother with a Chinese mother and Jewish father in International Shanghai, 1937. When Tiny receives a firecracker and takes it to bed, the twins enter a dream world led by the FirePrince. Together they travel around the world and back.

Michael Mao, who has conceived and directed the show, has brought together a star roster, including set design by Ming Cho Lee (K2, For Colored Girls ...) and narration by Tony Award-winner B.D. Wong (M. Butterfly). Costumes will be designed by Linda Cho, original music will be by Jonathan Faiman with a script by Marcelle Clements. The music for the production was recorded by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets and information can be obtained by calling (914) 251-6200 or by visiting the Purchase Arts Center Web site at www.artscenter.org.

— By Steve Luber