Nielsen takes on the (red) mantle for iconic Nutcracker role

Words may be the weapon most closely associated with an actor’s trade, but for P. Tyler Nielsen taking on the iconic role of The Nutcracker in Nutcracker Nightmare meant acting with his body…and with actual weapons.

“I love the physical challenge of portraying such an iconic character who has so few lines,” Nielsen said. “There is much to convey without the chance to verbalize the Nutcracker’s internal journey.

“In addition, the chance to discover how a nutcracker might move, fight and express love is a joy,” he added.

Nutcracker Nightmare is the featured play in Gingerbread Grindhouse, a theatrical a nod to the lurid, violent films popular in the 1930s through 1970s. Envisioned as a sequel to E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic holiday tale, Nutcracker Nightmare presents a world where dolls come to life, but not all of them are benevolent. It’s up to one young girl, a rag doll, a toy soldier and a ballerina mouse to prevent the total destruction of Christmas.

Though it’s about children and toys, the show isn’t for children (or toys, for that matter), Nielsen said. Running late nights at the Greenhouse Theater Center, Nutcracker Nightmare is dark comedy that deals with the themes of loss and recovery.

“It’s the perfect blend of comedy, horror and holiday cheer,” he said. “If you like Nightmare Before Christmas, Krampus, or any of the other wonderfully campy horror holiday films out there, you’re certain to feel right at home amidst the murder, mayhem and holiday greetings (of Nutcracker Nightmare). In short, what isn’t there to enjoy?”

Chicago-area theater goers may be familiar with Nielsen from his work with Prop Thtr in Chicago and Old World Theatre Company in Skokie, where he will be appearing in As Time Goes By: An Old World Cabaret in April.

Cary residents, however, may remember Nielsen from theater productions at Cary-Grove High School, from which he graduated in 2008.

“I loved our theatre program and specifically my dramatic and technical directors: Laura Whalen and Chris West,” he said.

Nielsen now lives in the Avondale neighborhood in Chicago and is a writer and visual artist, in addition to being an actor.

“I love how old school Chicago my neighborhood is,” he said. “Avondale is a great little artistic and classic Chicago neighborhood just far enough from the Loop that you don’t feel claustrophobic, but close enough that you can still get anywhere you’d need.”

Catch Nielsen on stage in Nutcracker Nightmare as part of Gingerbread Grindhouse, running on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. Dec 8-16 at Greenhouse Theater Center in Lincoln Park. More information is available at GhostlightEnsemble.com.

More information about Old World Theatre Company’s cabaret is available at OldWorldTheatre.com.