Nutty ballet update ‘The Hard Nut’ returns to BAM

“The Hard Nut,” grooves into the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House from Dec. 14 to 23.

BAM and Mark Morris Dance Group once again present the holiday classic — a cheeky yet reverent homage to “The Nutcracker.” For this updated classic fairytale, Morris sets the action in the groovy ’70s, complete with go-go boots, G.I. Joe soldiers, a dancing Barbie doll, and inspired gender-bending casting.

“The Hard Nut” takes its title from the story-within-a-story from Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” wherein an evil Rat Queen promises to restore the Princess Pirlipat’s beauty if a young man can crack the “hard nut” with his teeth.

“The Hard Nut,” Dec 14 and 15, 20–22 at 7:30 pm; Dec 15 and 22 at 2 pm; and Dec 16 and 23 at 3 pm. Tickets start at $25. Suitable for ages 4 and up.

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street in Fort Greene, www.bam.org).