Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker

A new NUTCRACKER for chicago!

This year sees The Joffrey Ballet's classic return as a major reinvention choreographed by the iconic Christopher Wheeldon (Swan Lake, An American In Paris)! The previous Joffrey version ran for many years, becoming the Number One Chicago Christmas tradition, and returned annually to the Auditorium Theatre to wow their die-hard fans since 1987.

This brand new production sees an award-winning team breath new life into the iconic ballet, with set design by Julian Crouch (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Big Fish the Musical ), puppetry by New York puppeteer Basil Twist, lighting by Tony-Winner Natasha Katz as well as multimedia productions by a talented team.

During the performance the entire Company will be joined on-stage by young dancers from the Chicago area, and beyond as well as vocalists from local children's choirs, who will also perform for guests. It's time to revel in the awe-inspiring Nutcracker with brilliant costumes, larger than life scenery, entrancing storytelling and of course, Tchaikovsky's famous score, played by the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra.

what is tHE NUTCRACKER about?

Set in 1890s Chicago, our story follows a poor young girl named Marie who is presented with a beautiful wooden nutcracker soldier by her uncle, Drosselmeyer . Together, Marie and the Nutcracker embark on a magical adventure that starts right in her home city, Chicago, and takes them both to Land of Sweets, where awaits the benevolent Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier and a host of new friends from across the world are ready to put on the dance spectacle of Marie's wildest dreams...

Did you know?

Christoper Wheeldon received a Tony Award for his work on the choreography of the Broadway hit, An American in Paris.