Displaying items by tag: THE JOFFREY BALLET

Chicago continues to produce some of the most exciting work in the country this Summer, offering a wide variety of plays and musicals, as well as comedy, dance, music, and more. To highlight these productions, The League of Chicago Theatres is publishing its Summer Theatre Guide, which showcases more than 100 productions; not just in Chicago's iconic theatre districts, but also across vibrant suburban communities. From Oak Park to Naperville, Glenview to Des Plaines, theatres across the region offer top-tier performances that make it easier than ever to experience the magic of live theatre close to home.

For additional details about this summer's performances and the Summer Theatre Guide visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Many summer shows will also be available at HotTix.org, Chicago's local, discounted ticketing service.

The following is a selection of notable work playing in Chicago this Summer, organized by location.

A selection of productions playing in theatres located Downtown are:

Brokeback Mountain

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

May 28 – June 28, 2026

When Ennis and Jack take jobs on the isolated Brokeback Mountain, all their certainties of life change forever as they flounder in unexpected emotional waters. This intense tale of a hidden love spans 20 years and is interwoven with soulful, original Country Western songs, performed live onstage.

Eugene Onegin

The Joffrey Ballet at Lyric Opera House

June 4 – 14, 2026

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian society, this cautionary tale follows the enigmatic and aloof aristocrat after his fateful encounter with the earnest Tatiana. Richly layered and deeply human, Eugene Onegin explores the fragility of the human heart and how unspoken words can shape destinies.

Untitled Vampire Play

Lookingglass Theatre Company

June 4-July 12, 2026

This romantic-comedy-meets-horror-story world premiere by Kevin Douglas explores love, commitment, codependency...and, of course, vampires.

Champions of Magic

Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building

June 6 – July 5, 2026

The production that critics have described as 'the most spectacular show,' 'two hours of mind-twisting, logic-defying entertainment' and 'the summer blockbuster of magic shows.'

SUFFS

Broadway In Chicago at CIBC Theatre

June 7– 19, 2026

Direct from Broadway comes the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical Suffs about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote.

Kinky Boots

Broadway In Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre

June 9 - 21, 2026

Kinky Boots follows the journey of two people with nothing in common—or so they think. As Charlie and Lola work together to turn a shoe factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they realized.

Iceboy!

Goodman Theatre

June 20 – July 26, 2026

Broadway's brightest star of 1938, Vera Vimm, is at the top of her game. But when she adopts a 40,000-year-old Neanderthal discovered frozen in the Arctic, the spotlight begins to shift. As Iceboy thaws, he unexpectedly becomes a theatrical sensation, inspiring Eugene O'Neill and challenging his legendary mother for center stage.

A Musical Tribute to John Williams & Steven Spielberg

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

June 23, 2026

Celebrate the legendary collaboration between composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. From Jurassic Park and Jaws to Indiana Jones and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the scores born of this 50-year creative partnership have captured imaginations around the world.

Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

June 25 – 27, 2026

Embark on an epic adventure to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: A New Hope! Experience the iconic film like never before as CSO performs John Williams' legendary Oscar-winning score live.

& Juliet

Broadway in Chicago at Auditorium Theatre

July 22 - August 2, 2026

Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there's life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.

Theatres are located in almost every neighborhood in Chicago.  A selection of productions playing throughout Chicago are:

Always...Patsy Cline

American Blues Theater

Playing through June 13, 2026

This musical play, complete with down home country humor and big-heart ed emotion, includes hits "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "Walkin' After Midnight" and more!

LOKI-The End of the World Tour

Lifeline Theatre

Playing through June 13, 2026

In this World Premiere musical, Loki arrives at Asgard, bringing chaos, comedy, and three monstrous (maybe) children. In an us vs. them world, can we envision a new mythology?

The Targeted

A Red Orchid Theatre at Chopin Theatre

Playing through June 14, 2026

Welcome to the Solidarity and Truth Summit. A gathering of the most persecuted, tortured, and misunderstood people in the entire world. They call themselves Targeted Individuals, and they are victims of a vast and covert program of systematic torture, surveillance, and harassment by global intergovernmental powers.

OCTET

Raven Theatre Company

Playing through June 14, 2026

Hailed by the New York Times as "the most original and topical musical of the year" for its 2019 Off Broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.

Antigone

Promethean Theatre Ensemble at The Den Theatre

May 31 - June 27, 2026

A timely production of the classic WW2 era adaptation made all the more relevant by recent local and national events.

Catch As Catch Can

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

June 4 - July 12, 2026

When a prodigal son returns to blue collar New England, his homecoming sets off a spiraling crisis for two families, threatening not only their relationships but their very identities. Spanning hilarity, stunning virtuosity and outright horror, this ferocious Chicago premiere—featuring an all-ensemble cast—must be witnessed to be believed.

As You Like It

Midsommer Flight

June 26 – August 2, 2026

Free outdoor performances of Shakespeare's As You Like It will be presented outdoors in six Chicago Parks District parks – Chicago Women's Park and Gardens, Gross Park, Nichols Park, Kelvyn Park, Winnemac Park, and Touhy Park. Banished from court by her uncle, Rosalind escapes to the Forest of Arden, where she disguises herself as man in order to win over her lover by trying to convince him he should forget her. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.

Hair

Kokandy Productions at Chopin Theatre

July 2 - September 13, 2026

Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

Marble
Gift Theatre at Copernicus Center

August 2 – August 30, 2026

Marble follows two married couples, Ben and Catherine, and their friends Art and Anne, whose comfortable lives begin to splinter after a shared dream triggers suspicion and desire.

A surreal and haunting exploration of two couples whose lives collide through shared dreams, this production anchors the company's homecoming to the neighborhood where it was founded.

Productions playing in the suburbs of Chicago include:

Nunsense
Drury Lane Theatre

June 10 – August 2, 2026

Get ready to laugh the summer away with nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken. This beloved revue, directed by E. Faye Butler, will have you in stitches as the five sisters stage a variety show fundraiser filled with outrageous musical numbers and zany comedy. 

A Little Night Music

Marriott Theatre

Playing June 17 – August 9, 2026

Set in 1900 Sweden, A Little Night Music explores the tangled web of affairs centered around actress Desirée Armfeldt, and the men who love her. Amid a flurry of jealousy and suspicion, infinite possibilities of new romances and second chances bring endless surprises. Stephen Sondheim's witty, brilliant masterpiece.

Leopoldstadt

Writers Theatre

June 4 - July 19, 2026

At the dawn of the 20th century, Vienna is the heart of European culture. While an extended family gathers in the elegant Merz home for the holidays, two brothers-in-law passionately debate their conflicting visions for the future of their family and the Jewish people–a tension that will echo through the generations that follow.

The Producers

BrightSide Theatre at Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall

June 12 – 28, 2026

Mel Brooks' outrageous musical comedy about two schemers trying to stage the biggest Broadway flop of all time—only to accidentally create a smash hit!

The Last Five Years

Oil Lamp Theater

June 6 - July 5, 2026

This widely beloved show takes audiences on the romantic rollercoaster of Jamie and Cathy as they fall in...and out of love over the last five years.

BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical

Highland Park Players at McGrath Family Performing Arts

July 17 – 26, 2026

Before she was hit-maker Carole King—she was Carole Klein, a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical takes you back to where it all began and takes you on the ride of a lifetime. 

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Available discounted tickets will be listed at HotTix.org.

About Chicago theatre 

Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 6 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago's theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Mission Statement

Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

The Joffrey Ballet concludes its 2025-26 season with the highly anticipated Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin, a richly layered and deeply human exploration of love, loss, and redemption inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s poetic novel. From the acclaimed creative team behind Anna Karenina, Eugene Onegin—a co-production with San Francisco Ballet—features an original score by the award-winning composer, performer, and conductor Ilya Demutsky and an immersive set design that plunges audiences into the fragility of the human heart. Eugene Onegin takes place for ten performances only at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago, from June 4 to 14, 2026.

“Our longstanding creative partnership with Yuri Possokhov has reached a new height with Eugene Onegin, supported by an extraordinarily hands-on collaboration with San Francisco Ballet that elevated every element of the production. The precision of detail and emotional storytelling come together to create a fully immersive experience - one that speaks with striking clarity to the world we live in today, and reflects the very best of The Joffrey’s artistic ambition,” says The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE.

“As we close our 70^th anniversary season, Eugene Onegin is both a celebration and a statement of what shared ambition can achieve. At every level, our ability to move audiences depends on the strength of the relationships behind the work, and we are particularly grateful to our partners at San Francisco Ballet for taking the leap with us. Mounting a production of this scale signals the new heights The Joffrey continues to reach, and the stability of the organization as we lay the foundation for our next 70 years,” said Greg Cameron, President and CEO.

Set against the backdrop of 19^th-century Russian aristocracy, the cautionary tale centers on Eugene Onegin, an enigmatic and aloof aristocrat whose life is forever altered after his fateful encounter with the earnest Tatiana. The events that follow – a tragic duel, a devastating loss, and a chance reunion force Eugene Onegin to confront the weight of his choices. Considered a classic work of literature, Eugene Onegin and its protagonist have served as models for literary heroes across time with a worldly and personal narrative style.

A frequent guest choreographer of The Joffrey Ballet, Possokhov returns to the Lyric Opera stage following 2019’s incredibly favored full-length commission of Anna Karenina, a co-production of the Joffrey and the Australian Ballet. Eugene Onegin reunites the award-winning team behind Anna Karenina, including Possokhov and Demutsky; plus, librettist Valeriy Pecheykin, set designer Tom Pye, costume designer Tim Yip (an Oscar-winner in Art Direction for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), lighting designer Jim French, and projection designer Finn Ross.

Eugene Onegin marks the first full-length co-production between The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet and received its World Premiere in San Francisco in January 2026.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful to Eugene Onegin Presenting Sponsors Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark, Anne L. Kaplan, Lynda Sue Lane, M.D., Rudolf Nureyev Fund at The Joffrey Ballet, and Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson; Major Sponsors Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Dancing Skies Foundation, Ethel Gofen, Audrey L. Weaver, and Alexandra C. Nichols; Production Sponsors Holly Palmer Foundation, Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson, and Bill and Orli Staley Foundation; Costume Sponsor Jane Ellen Murray Foundation; and Commissioned Score Sponsors The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music and Marion A. Cameron-Gray and J. Douglas Gray.

Eugene Onegin features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

Tickets and Schedule

The Joffrey Ballet presents Eugene Onegin from Thursday, June 4 to Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The full performance schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 4 at 7:30PM;
Friday, June 5 at 7:30PM;
Saturday, June 6 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM;
Sunday, June 7 at 2:00PM;
Thursday, June 11 at 7:30PM;
Friday, June 12 at 7:30PM;
Saturday, June 13 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM;
and Sunday, June 14 at 2:00PM.

The Joffrey Ballet is the only official seller with the best prices. Be aware of ticket re-sellers offering overpriced or invalid tickets. Tickets are available for purchase at the Lyric Opera Box Office, located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr., by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org.

About The Joffrey Ballet 
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 70 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works. Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2025–2026 70^th Anniversary Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Gallagher, The Florian Fund, Anne L. Kaplan, and Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation. Live Music Sponsors Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO and Chicago Athletic Clubs.

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2026-2027 season at Lyric Opera House, featuring the North American premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's The Sleeping Beauty, set to Tchaikovsky's greatest score, and the Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's landmark narrative ballet Liliom. The Joffrey will be the first American company to bring both ambitious, larger-than-life productions to life.

The Joffrey Ballet begins its 2026-2027 season with the Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's Liliom, September 17–27, 2026. Inspired by Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play and later the basis for the musical adaptation Carousel, Liliom traces a haunting story of love and redemption set against the faded glamour of a Depression-era amusement park, featuring an evocative score by multi-Academy Award®-winning composer Michel Legrand. Soon after, two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker returns with its unmistakable sense of magic, December 4–27, 2026, followed by Notes on Love, February 4–14, 2027, a program exploring love through four distinct lenses—with favored works by Liam Scarlett and Nicolas Blanc, alongside a world premiere by Winning Works alum Houston Thomas. Closing the season in glorious fashion is the North American premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's The Sleeping Beauty, a timeless fairy tale transformed into a theatrical spectacle, featuring Jerome Kaplan's lavish costume and set design and Tchaikovsky's greatest score. The beloved classic is a magical celebration for audiences of all ages, May 13–23, 2027.

"The 2026–2027 season places the Joffrey at the forefront of dance, with works of rare theatrical scale," says The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. "We are proud to be the first American company to present the Chicago premiere of Liliom, John Neumeier's masterful, heartbreakingly beautiful narrative ballet rarely seen in the United States, as well as the North American premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's The Sleeping Beauty. Set to Tchaikovsky's greatest score, this magnificent season finale reminds us that light always prevails over darkness. Alongside these landmark productions is our winter program, which welcomes the return of Liam Scarlett's breathtaking Hummingbird, and a world premiere by Winning Works alum Houston Thomas—speaking to the Grainger Academy's lasting impact on artistic futures." Wheater continues, "This season brings the full breadth of the art form on one stage, performed by a Company dancing at the highest level."

"Following the Joffrey's 70th Anniversary, the 2026–2027 season sets the tone for the next 70 years," says President and CEO Greg Cameron. "With a Chicago premiere, a North American premiere, and a world premiere, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE has curated a season that reflects an organization operating at scale—investing in artists, pairing artistic ambition with structural strength, and asserting Chicago's role as a center for creative leadership. This season expresses the confidence and continuity of the Joffrey, with audiences at the center of it all."

All season performances take place at the Lyric Opera House in downtown Chicago at 20 North Upper Wacker Drive. All programs throughout the season feature live music performed by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.   

About the 2026–2027 Season 

Liliom | September 17–27, 2026 

Choreographer: John Neumeier | Music: Michel Legrand

Chicago Premiere 

One of the most influential artists of our time, Neumeier brings his landmark narrative ballet, Liliom, to the Joffrey for its Chicago premiere. Inspired by Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play and later the basis for the musical adaptation Carousel, Neumeier's adaptation follows Liliom, the charismatic but self-destructive carnival barker whose fierce love for Julie is unraveled by pride, poverty, and rage. Set amid the dreamlike, faded glamour of an American amusement park during the Great Depression, passion turns toward crime—and ultimately, tragedy.

Granted a chance to return to Earth after death, Liliom confronts the consequences of his choices and attempts one final act of grace. What remains is a stark reckoning with guilt and the fragile possibility of redemption. Rarely presented in the United States, Liliom is among Neumeier's most profound artistic endeavors. Distinguished by his signature emotional depth and theatrical nuance, Liliom takes shape through multi-Academy Award®-winning composer Michel Legrand's evocative score, blending classical and jazz influences that echo a restless America.

From the choreographer of The Little Mermaid and other celebrated works, including Sylvia and the Lyric Opera's first collaboration with the Joffrey, Orphee, Neumeier's masterpiece Liliom makes its Chicago premiere with the Joffrey, the first American ballet company to bring the production to life. Learn more about John Neumeier here.

With gratitude to Liliom Presenting Sponsor Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson, Major Sponsor Pamela Crutchfield, and Production Sponsor Holly Palmer Foundation. 

The Nutcracker | December 4–27, 2026 

Choreographer: ©Christopher Wheeldon | Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  

This holiday season, step into the spellbinding world where history and dreams intertwine. Join Marie and her Nutcracker prince on a fantastical adventure in Christopher Wheeldon's kaleidoscopic reimagining of The Nutcracker, set amid the wonder of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. On a magical Christmas Eve, after awakening to an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and the Rat King, a flurry of snowflakes sweeps Marie away on a whirlwind journey to the dreamlike fairgrounds of the World's Columbian Exposition. Set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, experience sprawling attractions from around the globe: the radiant Golden Statue, the mystique of an Arabian enchantress, vibrant Venetian masked dancers, Chinese dragons, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Learn more about Christopher Wheeldon here.  

With gratitude to The Nutcracker Presenting Sponsor Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company.

Notes on Love | February 4–14, 2027

Notes on Love explores a word that refuses a single definition. Winning Works alum Houston Thomas, alongside choreographers Liam Scarlett and Nicolas Blanc, consider the feeling through four distinct lenses: love as place, as longing, as memory, and as nostalgia—each revealing love in all its depth and beauty.

The full program is as follows: 

Dear Chicago: A Love Letter

World Premiere

Choreographer: Houston Thomas | Music: Jonathan Bingham

This world premiere from 2024 Winning Works choreographer Houston Thomas places Chicago front and center. Conceived as a love letter to the city that shaped him, the work translates its rhythm and creative drive into movement. An original score by Jonathan Bingham with layered poetry adds emotional depth to this ensemble piece, capturing the scale, energy, and pulse of Chicago itself. Learn more about Houston Thomas here.

With gratitude to Houston Thomas's World Premiere Commissioned Score Sponsor Zell Family Foundation.

All that Remains

Chicago Premiere 

Choreographer: Nicolas Blanc | Music: Ezio Bosso  

Beneath an imagined sky of clouds and rain, three dancers move through cycles of attachment and separation, love, and the memories that linger between them. Set to music by Ezio Bosso, whose compositions have long inspired Blanc and are celebrated for their beauty, sensitivity, and emotional power, All that Remains extends a deep artistic bond, allowing Bosso's resonance to live on through dance. Learn more about Nicolas Blanc here.  

Hummingbird

Choreographer: Liam Scarlett | Music: Philip Glass 

Scarlett's Hummingbird is a breathtaking exploration of human connection, blending classical form with emotional immediacy. Set to Philip Glass's Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, the work articulates love and longing through a progression of three pas de deux. Sweeping ensemble patterns give way to a searing second movement that pushes the dancers to visible exhaustion, revealing the strenuous demands of intimacy. Framed by John Macfarlane's hand-painted stage designs, Hummingbird feels both expansive and intimate—a precise, powerful meditation on what it means to connect. Learn more about Liam Scarlett here.  

Les Boeufoons

Choreographer: Nicolas Blanc | Music: Darius Milhaud

In 1920s Paris, no place captured the city's flourishing, eclectic spirit more vividly than the cabaret bar Le Boeuf sur le Toit. A cultural crossroads, it drew artistic luminaries from Cole Porter to Igor Stravinsky and took its name from Darius Milhaud's theatrical, Brazilian-inflected composition. Les Boeufoons draws inspiration from the surreal, uninhibited world of Jean Cocteau's original choreography and from the famed Fratellini brothers, the circus clowns who first brought the work to life.

Les Boeufoons is a co-commission with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The Sleeping Beauty | May 13–23, 2027  

Choreographer: ©Christopher Wheeldon | Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

North American Premiere 

A timeless fairy tale transformed into a theatrical spectacle, The Sleeping Beauty conjures a world of grandeur and enchantment. The beloved classic frames the enduring struggle between good and evil, as Princess Aurora falls under a spell that threatens to still an entire kingdom—only to be awakened by true love's kiss. Upon her return, the realm is restored, and light prevails over darkness. Choreographed by two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon, The Sleeping Beauty blends classical elegance with vivid, cinematic storytelling. With dazzling choreography, Jerome Kaplan's lavish costume and set design, and Tchaikovsky's unforgettable score, Joffrey's season finale blossoms into a magical celebration for audiences of all ages.  From the choreographer of the critically acclaimed Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.

With gratitude to The Sleeping Beauty Presenting Sponsors Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark, and Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson, Major Sponsor Mary Jo and Doug Basler, and Production Sponsor Holly Palmer Foundation.  

Other Engagements 

Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet: Fall Program | November 2026  

ART on THE MART | December 2026 

ART on THE MART celebrates Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker. Figures of the re-imagined Chicago World's Fair-themed production will dance across the imposing facade of THE MART.   

Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet: Winning Works | March 2027 

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the Seventeenth Annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition. The culminating performances follow a national call for emerging choreographers whose unique perspectives inspire creativity in the form of original works of dance.

With gratitude to Winning Works Sponsors Pritzker Foundation and Rita Spitz.

Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet: Spring Program | May 2027 

The Joffrey Ballet's touring dates are to be announced.

Tickets and Subscriptions for the Joffrey's 2026–2027 Season Performances  

Three-program subscriptions for the fall, winter, and spring season productions, which do not include The Nutcracker, start at $138. Subscriptions are available for purchase online at joffrey.org, by mail (Joffrey Ballet Subscriptions, The Joffrey Ballet, Joffrey Tower, 10 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601), by telephone at 312.386.8905, by fax at 312.739.0119 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Single tickets for the September, February, and May performances, as well as The Nutcracker, will be available starting this summer. Single tickets are available by telephone at 312.386.8905 or online at joffrey.org. Please visit joffrey.org for updates.  

All performances are subject to change.  

About The Joffrey Ballet  

The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 71 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works. Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2026–2027 Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Gallagher, The Florian Fund, and Anne L. Kaplan. Live Music Sponsors: Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO and Chicago Athletic Clubs.

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

The Joffrey Ballet concludes its 69^th season with two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's enchanting and family-friendly Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Set to Joby Talbot's hallucinatory sound world of sweeping melodies and ticking clocks, the production features vibrant stagecraft and puppetry by Tony Award®-winning designer Bob Crowley, transforming Lewis Carroll's classic tale with a modern twist. The production run has been extended for the first time in the Company's history, with 14 performances across three weekends at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, from June 5 to 22, 2025 (originally scheduled to close June 15). 

Based on Carroll's beloved story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland takes audiences on a magical journey through a fantastical world filled with iconic characters, including the high-strung Queen of Hearts, the entrancing Caterpillar, and the tap-dancing Mad Hatter. Through a seamless fusion of humor, whimsy, and fantasy, Wheeldon makes Wonderland wonderfully real in this audience-favorite dance adventure.

A highlight of the year, the Joffrey is the first American company to bring Wheeldon's whimsical Wonderland to life. Premiering in 2011 at the Royal Opera House in London, the ballet has since toured internationally with some of the world's most prestigious ballet companies.

Renowned for blending popular culture with artistic brilliance, Wheeldon also choreographed The Joffrey Ballet's reimagined holiday classic The Nutcracker, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. The Joffrey first collaborated with Wheeldon on Swan Lake in 2014.

"The Joffrey holds a special place in my heart. I can't think of a more fitting U.S. company to premiere Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," says choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. "The Joffrey dancers lead the way in storytelling through dance, approaching choreography with enthusiasm and energy. Their passion allows them to fully inhabit the zany and colorful characters of Wonderland. Each year, I'm in awe of their growth in The Nutcracker; it remains one of my proudest achievements. These dancers are artists of curiosity and great integrity."

The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE said, "Collaborating with Christopher is always extraordinary. We are honored to be the first American company to perform Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a production that dazzles on every level. This spectacular finale to our record-breaking season bursts with theatricality, whimsical stagecraft, and inspiring design. The versatility, theatricality, and technical prowess of the Joffrey artists will bring the iconic characters of Wonderland to life in the most magical way."

President & CEO Greg Cameron added, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland embodies the Joffrey's commitment to artistic excellence and accessibility. For the first time, we've added four extra performances to expand our Joffrey for All initiatives. These added performances provide more opportunities to engage with our Community Engagement partners and affiliated schools, offering equitable access to arts education for Chicago's youth. Wonderland is a joyful and imaginative showcase of the very best the Joffrey has to offer."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

Special thanks to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Producing Sponsor Margot and Josef Lakonishok; Presenting Sponsors Ethel Gofen, The Negaunee Foundation, and Sonja and Conrad Fischer; Major Sponsors Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Dancing Skies Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III, Audrey Weaver, and the Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet; Production Sponsors Lynda Sue Lane, M.D., Holly Palmer Foundation, Jeanette Stevens, Richard and Diane Weinberg, and an anonymous Production Sponsor; and Costume Sponsor Jane Ellen Murray Foundation.

Tickets and Schedule
The Joffrey Ballet presents Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 22, 2025; the full performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, June 5 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 6 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 7 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 8 at 2:00PM; Thursday, June 12 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 13 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 14 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 15 at 2:00PM; Thursday, June 19 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 20 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 21 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 22 at 2:00PM.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Lyric Opera Box Office located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr. by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org.

About The Joffrey Ballet 
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 69 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.  

Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron. 

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2024-2025 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, Gallagher, Anne L. Kaplan, and Live Music Sponsors: Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges Season Partners: Chicago Athletic Clubs, and Athletico Physical Therapy, official provider of physical therapy for The Joffrey Ballet. 

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

There is something magical about Chicago at Christmastime. Even if there is no snow on the ground, there is an energy in the atmosphere, peaceful and whimsical. Whether you take in the colorful zoo lights at The Lincoln Park Zoo, or stroll the Christkindl markets downtown, or ice skate in the shadow of Wrigley Field, there is magical nestled in every corner of the city. December winds bring a chill to The Windy City and signals the arrival of the holiday season with lights, cozy fires, warm drinks, and the most cherished of holiday traditions, The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker, now playing at the Lyric Opera.

For those who are unfamiliar with The Nutcracker, the fairy-tail-like ballet follows the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve from a magical guest at the party. Clara's reality and dreams merge as she and her nutcracker embark on a magical adventure. The nutcracker transforms into a prince, and Clara and the prince travel to the Land of Sweets, where they meet the Sugarplum Fairy.

Joffrey’s Nutcracker follows a similar storyline with a magical Chicago twist. 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, partake in a festive celebration with a surprise visit from the mysterious Great Impresario. That evening, after awakening to an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and The Rat King, Marie is 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. Set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, The Nutcracker features a celebrated creative team, including 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. 

I have been seeing The Nutcracker every holiday season, moving from dancing in the ballet and watching in the wings, to the balcony seats to enjoy the performance. There is nothing quite like The Joffrey’s rendition of the classic ballet. The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 storyline works incredibly well with the production, from the humble beginnings of fair workers and their families, a kind and wealthy benefactor bequeathing the nutcracker doll, and a dreamlike world with Clara exploring the World’s Fair and all it had to offer. The 1893 World’s Fair inspired Frank E. Baum, utilizing the famed White City of the fair to inspire the Emerald City of Oz in The Wizard of Oz. The fair introduced the world to the Ferris Wheel, brownies, cracker jack popcorn, and the zipper. There were countries and states represented that visitors could only dream to have visited, right in their own backyard. Historical documents and first-hand accounts mention how magical and awe-inspiring the fair was, it’s easy to see how The Joffrey could look at the fair as a backdrop to The Nutcracker and see magic.

But even with the artistic direction The Joffrey took, it still begs the question of why do we see the same performance year after year after year? Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, MBE pondered the same thing. “I have asked myself, ‘How can we make this a special experience for people who have seen the Nutcracker before and for those attending for the first time?’,” says Wheater. “Part of the beauty of this Nutcracker: it is a Chicago story! We set the scene during an important time in the history of our city: the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1892. We identify with the working spirit of the people. We understand that joy can be found in simple things. We appreciate that magic is all around us, if only we look. The real “magic” of this Nutcracker, though, is that it changes every time we watch it. Each of us in the audience is different. We have loved, lost, struggled, succeeded, grown. We bring our own story to the theater. The beauty of live theater is that no two performances will be the same.”

The year’s opening night of The Nutcracker was nothing short of magical. Joffrey’s current company has to be one of their best in years with outstanding principles including Amanda Assucena, the mother and sculptress for the Fair (the Sugar Plum Fairy) and Alberto Velazquez, the Great Impresario of the Fair, and the darling Anabelle de la Nuez as Marie (Clara) and Maxwell Dawe as The Nutcracker. Each scene is a feast for the eyes with the entire company dancing exquisitely amount wreaths, glittering snow, and before giant Ferris wheels. Whether this is your first time seeing The Nutcracker, or your hundredth, there is nothing in the world like Joffrey’s Nutcracker. It is truly one of a kind and the perfect addition to any holiday plans. But much like The World’s Fair of 1893, the magic won’t be here forever, so don’t delay and get your tickets today.

The Nutcracker is now playing at The Lyric Opera House, (20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago) through December 28^th. The Performance run time is 2 hours, includes one 20-minute intermission. Tickets are available at www.joffrey.org.