The Joffrey Ballet gives its ‘Nutcracker’ a World’s Fair refresh

The Joffrey Ballet is bringing back one of Chicago’s favorite holiday traditions, with a few new visual surprises in store. Christopher Wheeldon’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker returns to the Lyric Opera House December 4–27, with refreshed projections that take audiences back to the spectacle of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

For the first time since the production’s world premiere in 2016, projection designer Daniel Brodie has reimagined the visuals, giving the ballet a fresh look while preserving the Chicago history at the heart of the production. Among the additions is a newly created three-dimensional Golden Statue, replacing the two-dimensional version featured in previous seasons.

Wheeldon’s interpretation puts a distinctly Chicago spin on Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday classic. The story follows Marie and her Nutcracker prince on a Christmas Eve adventure that begins with an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and the Rat King before whisking them away to the fantastical grounds of the 1893 World’s Fair.

There, audiences encounter a dazzling array of attractions and characters inspired by the historic exposition, including the Golden Statue, an Arabian enchantress, Venetian masked dancers, Chinese dragons and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The production combines the familiar magic of the holiday favorite with a colorful tribute to the city’s past.

The 27-performance run will feature live music by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, music director of The Joffrey Ballet. Performances take place at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive.

There is also a new way to see more of Wheeldon’s work this season. The Joffrey has introduced a two-show subscription package pairing The Nutcracker with the North American premiere of Wheeldon’s The Sleeping Beauty, running May 13–23, 2027. Three additional performances have been added to the ballet’s regular two-week engagement.