Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker – A Glorious 2024 Holiday Production

The Nutcracker, The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble, Photo by Katie Miller
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Experience magic this 2024 holiday season with two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker! Wheeldon’s American tale relocates Marie and her immigrant family to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, where Marie embarks on a whirlwind adventure with the Nutcracker Prince. 

The Nutcracker, Lauren Quinn, Photo by Katie Miller

On a magical Christmas Eve, mere months before the opening of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, Marie and her mother, a sculptress creating the fair’s iconic Statue of the Republic, participate in a festive celebration with a surprise visit from the mysterious Great Impresario. That evening, Marie is woken up from her slumber to an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and The Rat King. She is then swept away by a Nutcracker Prince on a whirlwind journey to the dreamlike fairgrounds of the World’s Columbian Exposition, with sprawling attractions represented by countries from around the globe.

The Nutcracker, The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble, Photo by Katie Miller

The Nutcracker is set to Tchaikovsky’s classic, iconic music, that just about anyone can recognize. Two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, 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, all creatively contribute to this breathtaking and beautiful production. 

The Nutcracker, Anabelle de la Nuez and Jose Pablo Castro Cuevas, Photo by Katie Miller

The new theme of having the Nutcracker take place in Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair is inspiring and original, providing the classic ballet story with a refreshing new perspective. Being a native Chicagoan myself, it is very enjoyable to have the ballet pay homage to my home city. With the Joffrey Ballet performing The Nutcracker at the Lyric Opera, it just does not get better than that. Even with the same score and storyline, each year, I feel that the Joffrey Ballet finds new, creative ways to make The Nutcracker even more amazing and dazzlingly entertaining.  

The Nutcracker, Anabelle de la Nuez, Alberto Velazquez, and Victoria Jaiani Marie, Photo by Katie Miller

While this new contemporary version of The Nutcracker does take place during the World’s Fair during the late 19th century, the company stays true to the classic tale and vision of the story itself. As the audience, you are spoiled with breathtakingly beautiful backgrounds, costumes, and dance numbers, as if you are really traveling back in time to the fair itself. The set was mesmerizing, offering multi-layered projections that were utilized to create dynamic visual elements, and incredibly well integrated into the performances on stage. 

The Nutcracker, Anabelle de la Nuez and Alberto Velazquez, Photo by Katie Miller

I have seen The Nutcracker numerous times over the years, and the Joffrey Ballet members never fail to impress me with their endless talent and dedication to their craft. These individuals are some of the best dancers in the country, and each of them help contribute to a flawless, exquisite performance. 

Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2022

Also continually impressive is the extremely diverse cast of dancers from all over the world that make up the Joffrey Ballet company. The dancers are from a wide variety of countries all over the world including the United States, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, United Kingdom, South Korea, Georgia, Australia, Spain, The Philippines, Puerto Rico, Italy, Cuba and Estonia. I think such a diverse cast enhances the Chicago World’s Fair theme. This is referring to the city of Chicago’s reputation for being well known as a melting pot of different cultures, traditions, countries, and languages. 

The Nutcracker, Joffreys Academy Students, Photo by Katie Miller

The Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker is a tradition and classic production in Chicago. Once you see it, you will know why. The Nutcracker leaves you feeling happy, content, and with a much more hopeful perspective on life. 

Photos: Katie Miller and Todd Rosenberg

The Nutcracker runs December 6-28, 2024 at the Lyric Opera House. 

Get information and tickets at the Joffrey Balley website.

Running Time: 2 hours

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