The Buttcracker, A Nutcracker Burlesque at The Greenhouse Theater Center

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...In the meantime, this iteration of The Buttcracker is well worth seeing, whether you’re a connoisseur of the genre or a burlesque virgin, as was one adventurous elder in the front row on opening night. After all, it’s never too late to spice things up—a sentiment Clara, Drosselmeyer, and the Buttcracker would surely share."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...The show is done in a cabaret style in the front, With regular theater seats in the rear. You really need to come early for this show. During the first hour there is everything you want to know about burlesques, funny displays, and a great area for pictures. At your table local magicians will perform their trade. "

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...This zesty, eclectic holiday production runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes, plus an intermission. It’s an entertainment that’s plenty of fun, but definitely intended for liberal-minded adult audiences, 18 and over. Emcee Jaq Seifert encourages the audience to applaud, whoop, whistle and holler in reaction to the various performers, and many of the specialty acts are definitely worthy of this unbridled response. So for theatergoers who like their Nutcracker a little saltier than usual, get your tickets early because this show sells out fast."

Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended

"...Burlesque combines circus, vaudeville, opera, and theater for the so-called common folk. The art is derived from classical composers and theater performers as far back as the mid-19th century. One could even say that Shakespeare's plays were burlesques with intrigue, role-switching, and absurd situations. SubVersion Productions turns the dial to 10 with the spectacle that is The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque. Sara Scanlon directs a crack ensemble of professionals in a nicely paced spoof of Tchaikovsky's ballet classic. You will need to hold on to your hat and your pasties for a rowdy good time."

Splash Magazine - Not Recommended

"...The Nutcracker, like A Christmas Carol, is one of those holiday stories that’s so omnipresent it’s impossible to avoid the occasional parody. The Buttcracker, produced by (Sub)Version Productions, offers a burlesque twist on the classic tale. Unfortunately, this attempted mix of the erotic and the comedic falls flat."