The Joffrey Ballet's critically acclaimed reimagined classic, The Nutcracker by two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, returns to the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, in 25 performances, December 2 – 27. Set in Chicago's World's Fair in 1893, Wheeldon's The Nutcracker highlights the rich cultural heritage of Chicago and the wonder of the season.
The Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker," will return to the Lyric Opera House Dec. 2. | Photo by Cheryl Mann for The Joffrey Ballet
"This glorious production only gets better with time," said Ashley Wheater, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director. "Now, seven years since its debut, the holiday magic of the Joffrey's Nutcracker by Christopher Wheeldon is perhaps more poignant than ever, a Chicago story of family and adventure. But more than anything, it is an homage to a city we deeply cherish, and we look forward to celebrating another incomparable holiday season."
Wheeldon's American tale of an immigrant family during the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and opens as young Marie and her mother, a sculptress creating the Fair's iconic Statue of the Republic, host a festive Christmas Eve celebration. After a surprise visit from the creator of the Fair, the mysterious Great Impresario, Marie embarks on a whirlwind adventure with the Nutcracker Prince through a dreamlike World's Fair.
A ballet in two acts set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, The Nutcracker features an award-winning creative team, including Tony Award®-nominated set and costume designer Julian Crouch, Caldecott Medal Award-winning author Brian Selznick, Obie and Drama Desk award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist, Tony Award®-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz and Tony Award®-winning projection designer Ben Pearcy/59 Productions. The production was adapted in 2021 by Wheeldon to fit the larger Lyric Opera stage.
The Nutcracker features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.
Schedule
The Joffrey Ballet performs The Nutcracker Saturday, December 2–Tuesday, December 27, 2023.
The full schedule is as follows:
Saturday, December 2 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Sunday, December 3 at 2:00 PM; Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 PM; Friday, December 8 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, December 9 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Sunday, December 10 at 2:00 PM; Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 PM; Friday, December 15 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Sunday, December 17 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM; Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 PM; Thursday December 21 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Friday, December 22 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Saturday, December 23 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; Sunday, December 24 at 2:00 PM; Tuesday, December 26 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; and Wednesday, December 27 at 2:00 PM.
Single tickets start at $36 and are available for purchase online at Joffrey.org/Nutcracker, by telephone at 312.386.8905 or at Lyric Opera Box Office located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr.
(1) comment
Thank you for sharing this with your readers. I have been taking my daughter Michaela (also a contributor to Chicago Star) to the Joffrey Nutcracker since she was 1. She is now turning 21 and looks forward to this event every year. As soon as September rolls around I get reminders from her on an almost daily basis reminding me to purchase tickets. We had a long standing box at the Auditorium Theatre. Although we miss the boxes we never miss a performance. I have met numerous mothers who also maintain this tradition with their daughters. Some have been doing it for 20 to 30 years and every once in a while we get seated to a mother daughter who is just beginning their tradition and I remember how my daughter would sit on the edge of her seat with her little legs not able to reach the ground swinging her feet to the music trying to mimic the ballerinas. She would always take a nap during the second act but never missed the ending. We are continuing the tradition this year and once again I will be able to remember my little girl sitting on the edge of her seat swinging along with the ballerina's on stage.
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