Rap legend and MC Kurtis Blow shares his love for Tchaikovsky and his musical ministry as ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ hits the Shubert Theater and The Bushnell

Outside of a few alarming interruptions, such as the COVID pandemic and heart surgery, pioneering rapper Kurtis Blow has been touring as the MC for “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” for a decade now.

The show plays twice in Connecticut before the end of the year: Dec. 30 at the Shubert Theater in New Haven and Dec. 31 at The Bushnell in Hartford. It’s an eagerly awaited return since both theaters had to cancel theirbookings a year ago due to illness in the show’s cast.

Besides a lively new dance vision of the Tchaikovsky classic, featuring a dozen performers plus several musicians and a DJ, audiences get to hear Blow perform his hits “The Breaks” and “Christmas Rappin’” as well as a medley of other early hip-hop classics.

The Courant spoke to Blow about touring with the show, his recent heart surgery and his lifelong love of Tchaikovsky.

You’ve been with this show almost since it began?

Yeah, I came on after the first year, I believe it was, and man, I remember it like it was yesterday. They invited me to come over and check out the rehearsal. I saw all of the breakdancers and B-boys and B-girls just doing their things with the many styles — from poppin’ and lockin’ to electric boogaloo and kicking, from power moves from headspins to windmills. All of this done to the incredible Tchaikovsky classic soundtrack that was a fusion with hip-hop funky beats. It was amazing. I had to be a part of it, and now it’s been 10 years.

Have some of the dancers been with the show year after year like you?

Oh, yes, yes. [Ann-Sylvia Clark who stars as] Maria-Clara has been there from the beginning, and Gabriel [Gabriel Emphasis, who dances The Nutcracker] and Seth [Seth Hillard, aka “Reaktion,” who dances as the Russian] and Lily [Lily Frias who plays “Mom”] and JK [Jackie “JK-47″ Agudo, who does the “Tea” dance]. Many of the dancers have been there for years. They do have interchangeable parts and additions. We just keep growing, from the talent to the choreography. As a matter of fact, I want to shout out to our new violinist. His name is Vivek Menon, and he is incredible. He has a master’s degree in violin and he’s going for his doctorate and he is just amazing. To see this fusion of classical music and hip-hop is unbelievable.

What’s your part in all this?

I am the host and MC. I come out in the intro and start out with the Christmas rap. Then I take them back to the old school and sing a whole medley of old-school hip-hop songs. We’re just having fun. I sing a song called “New Year’s Eve” at the end of the intro, and we count down from 10 to 1 and I have them scream really loud “Happy New Year!” Then the show starts. I come back at the end at the finale and sing “The Breaks” with the whole cast and crew. Everyone’s doing solos, the crowd’s going crazy throwing their hands in the air. ... It’s a fun, fun, fun show.

Are you looking forward to playing back-to-back shows in Connecticut?

I will always love Connecticut. I have many friends, many family who have moved up to Connecticut through the years. I have a close friend who is one of the heads of the NAACP up there as well. I think of Connecticut as part of the tri-state area. You’re right there with New York and New Jersey. We’re all family.

Are you in the new TV version of ‘Hip Hop Nutcracker’?

Yes! It started streaming Nov. 25 on Disney+. The television edition is incredible. It’s featuring Rev. Run of Run-DMC, who was called “the son of Kurtis Blow” from back in the day, and I have a cameo in it and again I sing “The Breaks” at the end. The story is similar, but it’s made for TV so there [are] a lot of special effects, a lot of great scenery and fashion as well. Still, it’s definitely a version of the stage play.

Do you still have a ministry?

Yes. I still am a minister, preacher [and] teacher. What’s most incredible is that I was recently blessed with a heart transplant. God spared my life. I’m a walking, living, breathing testimony that God is still in the miracle business, because I was diagnosed with heart failure and I got a second chance. A change of heart changed my heart. I’m still alive, and able to get out there and represent hip hop.

Did you grow up seeing ‘The Nutcracker’?

Oh, yeah. As a kid, I remember seeing the toy soldiers and of course Drosselmeyer and the Mouse King, of course, and Clara.

This is a modernized version of the classic. It’s the story of two people falling in love and who release a special magic that defeats evil. We have all the characters, but instead of the Mouse King, we have a Mouse Queen. Her name is Randi [Randi “Rascal” Freitas”] and she’s also a great choreographer working alongside Jennifer Weber who is our creator and choreographer. Shout out to those two.

Jennifer Weber comes up with these changes that are so amazing. It seems like every year she comes up with a change that’s for the better. I remember when we started out she made this amazing addition to Drosselmeyer, who came out one night and had these strings attached to the Mouse Queen, and it’s like she was a puppeteer and they did this routine like a puppeteer and a puppet. Every year she comes up with stuff like that. This year, there’s a surprise in the choreography. I can’t give it away. You guys have to come out to see it.

This is a wonderful holiday experience for the whole family to come together and just celebrate the message that love conquers all. That’s our mission. We just want to get out there and make people feel good inside and just revitalize and get back to spreading the love this holiday season. That’s what it’s all about.

Do you dance in this yourself?

Backstage, yes. I would love to get involved with some of the routines in the show. I’ll talk to Jennifer about that for next year. Put in a good word for me!

“The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” hosted by Kurtis Blow, is at the Shubert Theater, 247 College St., New Haven, on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. ($40-$76, shubert.com) and at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ($23-$92, bushnell.org).

Reach reporter Christopher Arnott at carnott@courant.com.