SEASON 37 | december 2024

The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!)
december 20 - January 4, 2024

The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!) provides the most extraordinary original, holiday entertainment in Austin for the holidays at The VORTEX. This year’s production stars brilliant and talented rescue dogs including our newest stars, Dragonfly and Firefly. Darren Peterson brings his masterful juggling and unicycling, as well his gifted dog-training.

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is written and directed by Melissa McKnight. Tyler Mabry’s live original score also includes bits of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite. Producing Artistic Director, Bonnie Cullum.

Circus Chickendog is an Austin-based troupe that has been entertaining audiences for decades. Previously featured nationally on David Letterman, Pet Star, and Donny and Marie (Osmond), Circus Chickendog performs regularly in Austin and around Central Texas. Six-time Ironman Darren Peterson received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin after interrupting his college studies for two years to join the Royal Lichtenstein Circus where he was the main juggler and unicyclist. After graduation, Darren taught High School math for three years and worked as an editor of math textbooks for four years. While editing math books, Chicken Dog began winning Disc Dog competitions, and Darren combined her tricks with his circus skills and became so popular that he no longer had time to edit math books. Chickendog.net

The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!) is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, and by the City of Austin Economic Development Department. We are a proud member of ATX Theatre.


All ticket sales are final. However, we can exchange your tickets for a different night or a different performance, for a $3 fee, depending on availability. We do not sell your private data.