The Joffrey Ballet brings 'Eugene Onegin' to Chicago

The Joffrey Ballet will conclude its celebrated 2025–26 season with the Chicago premiere of Eugene Onegin, a powerful full-length ballet inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s enduring poetic novel. The production runs for ten performances only from Thursday, June 4 through Sunday, June 14, at the historic Lyric Opera House in downtown Chicago. 

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian aristocracy, Eugene Onegin tells a rich and emotionally charged story of love, loss, and what it means to live with the weight of one’s choices. At its center is Eugene Onegin, an enigmatic and aloof aristocrat whose chance encounter with the sincere and thoughtful Tatiana launches a chain of events—romantic confession, tragic duel, profound loss, and a fateful reunion—that forces him to confront his own regrets and the fragility of the human heart. 

The narrative, long celebrated in Russian literature and opera, finds new expression here as ballet, combining dramatic storytelling with vivid choreography and evocative design. 

Eugene Onegin reunites the acclaimed creative voices behind the company’s beloved Anna Karenina, another full-length ballet that earned widespread praise. The production is a co-production with San Francisco Ballet, marking the first full-length collaboration between these two distinguished companies. 

Key artists include:

• Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov, whose dynamic and expressive choreography has been seen on world stages. 

• Composer: Ilya Demutsky, award-winning creator of an original score expressly for this ballet. 

• Librettist: Valeriy Pecheykin, shaping the narrative journey. 

• Design Team:

  • Tom Pye (set design), Tim Yip (costume design, Oscar winner), Jim French (lighting), and Finn Ross (projection design) — an international lineup elevating the visual and atmospheric world of the ballet. 

Live music will be performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet. 

Performance Schedule & Tickets

Eugene Onegin will be presented at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago, with performances scheduled throughout the run including evening and matinee options. 

Tickets are available from The Joffrey Ballet—the official and best source for both pricing and availability. The company cautions patrons to avoid secondary sellers that may offer invalid or overpriced tickets. 

This production closes out the Joffrey’s 70th anniversary season, a year that also marked three decades of the company’s residency in Chicago. The season’s programming reflects a blend of innovation and tradition, honoring ballet as a living, evolving art form.