Sugar plum dreams return to the Lyric when The Joffrey Ballet’s "The Nutcracker" opens December 5 (through December 28). Each December, the Joffrey revisits this holiday staple with renewed wonder, but this season carries extra sparkle: the company is celebrating its 70th anniversary as a national dance force, and its 30th year based in Chicago.
This version of The Nutcracker is not a dusty retelling but a bold reinvention. Since 2016, the Joffrey has adopted the Christopher Wheeldon–commissioned reimagining, which re-sets the magical tale among the glitz and ambition of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, a fitting homage to the city that hosts it. From toy soldiers to twirling snowflakes, from Clara’s dreams to the final pas de deux in the Land of Sweets, every scene is steeped in historical resonance and theatrical glamour.
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For Chicago audiences, this production has become something of a beloved homegrown institution. The Civic Opera House becomes, for three weeks, a portal to childhood wonder, holiday magic and thrilling choreography. The Joffrey’s dancers bring to life Nutcracker’s pageantry with technical precision and dramatic warmth, matched by sumptuous sets, imaginative costumes and the musical elegance of the accompanying orchestra.
Children from the city and suburbs often join the ensemble in roles like snow babies and party guests, giving the ballet a vibrant community dimension; many kids see their first taste of dance magic here.
Tickets are already on sale here, and audiences can expect a range of performance times, from evening shows to Sunday matinees, with prices varying by seating.
Whether you come as a longtime ballet lover or a first-time holiday theatergoer, The Nutcracker by the Joffrey will light up your holidays.
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