When Jazz St. Louis and Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT) joined forces last year to reimagine Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the result was a holiday classic in its own right.
The production itself was an homage to another reimagination. Nearly 75 years after Tchaikovsky’s original, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn gave the work a jazz edge with their 1960 interpretation, The Nutcracker Suite.
Presenting Ellington and Strayhorn’s version as a holiday performance has been a tradition for Jazz St. Louis for more than a dozen years. But last year’s collaboration—with original music by Jazz St. Louis President and CEO Victor Goines and a full-scale ballet by STLDT—infused the work with St. Louis history. From nods to the Gaslight Square entertainment district to tributes honoring Mill Creek Valley’s own Josephine Baker, the show became a love letter to the city’s cultural legacy.
In the program notes, Saint Louis Dance Theatre Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd promised audiences a production that would weave live jazz and dance theatre into a celebration of St. Louis’s heritage and future. The production delivered on that promise—and offered so much more through its music, choreography, and overall experience.
The masterpiece returns to the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts on December 19 and 20—this time under a new name: Gaslight Dreams.
The title honors both the city’s vibrant nightclub era and the production’s St. Louis-centered narrative. Set against the backdrop of Gaslight Square, Gaslight Dreams imagines a tale of love and music, spotlighting Billy Strayhorn’s genius and a fateful encounter with Josephine Baker.
“Yes, there were complexities that came with that troubled time in America with respect to racism, segregation, and homophobia,” Douthit-Boyd said. “But I wanted us to create something that celebrated him—as well as his life and his art.”
Douthit-Boyd noted that much of Duke Ellington’s catalog bears Strayhorn’s imprint.
“And he was an openly gay Black man,” Douthit-Boyd said. “Mr. Ellington gave him agency—which was not the popular thing to do in his day.”
Douthit-Boyd presents Strayhorn as an artist who was confident in what he contributed to the world.
“What we went through as a people is well documented, but still we created,” he said. “We used our creativity to be defiantly joyful.”
Adding to the magic is acclaimed jazz vocalist Denise Thimes, whose career includes headlining the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York and sharing stages with Tony Bennett and David Sanborn. Her voice brings authenticity to the show’s celebration of St. Louis’s musical heritage and cultural contributions.
“The collaboration between Saint Louis Dance Theatre and Jazz St. Louis allows us to bring the vibrant world of Gaslight Square to life in a way that feels connected to the very best of our city,” said Douthit-Boyd.
With live music from the Jazz St. Louis Big Band conducted by Goines, choreography by Douthit-Boyd, and a dazzling set designed in collaboration with The Muny’s T3 Program and Peter and Margery Spack, Gaslight Dreams offers a sophisticated, sultry alternative to traditional holiday fare.
“This music tells a story,” said Goines. “We’re not just playing notes; we’re continuing a conversation Ellington and Strayhorn started decades ago. The choreography connects with the music and vice versa, reminding us of the love affair between the two.”
The return of Gaslight Dreams underscores the strength of collaboration between two of St. Louis’s world-class arts organizations. It is a holiday celebration that is distinctively—and proudly—St. Louis.
“We’re celebrating artists who broke barriers with their talent, and that energy creates a truly joyful and inspiring holiday experience you won’t find anywhere else,” Douthit-Boyd said.
Jazz St. Louis and Saint Louis Dance Theatre will present Gaslight Dreams on December 19 and 20 at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts, 425 S. Lindbergh, 63131. For more information, visit saintlouisdancetheatre.org or jazzstl.org.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
