For questions and general inquiries, email nccadmin at joffrey dot org all auditions take place at joffrey tower 10 east randolph street. The thing that always boggles my mind is how big it was, said mark. Windy city times news archive dancin feats robert joffreys nutcracker takes final bow december means nutcracker in the dance world, and the chicago area has dozens of choices. The joffrey ballet performs christopher wheeldon s chicagothemed reinvention of the nutcracker. Joffrey ballets reimagined nutcracker continues to dazzle and. The joffreys new nutcracker spellbinds amid the snow. In the early nineties, vlasov created the great russian nutcrackers land of peace and harmony and the dove of peace role which are both exclusive to moscow ballets great russian nutcracker. Join narrator neve campbell and the creative team behind the joffrey ballets new production of chirstopher wheeldons the nutcracker, a bold reimagining of the christmas classic that. Nutcracker childrens cast auditions joffrey ballet. When joffrey ballet s nutcracker was revised for chicago, artistic director ashley wheater, choreographer christopher wheeldon and storyteller brian selznick choose to set it at the 1893 world. The joffrey ballet is one of many dance companies to recognize and respond to this cultural need in its redesign of this treasured classic. This highly original reimagining of the classic holiday tale is a monumental.
Featuring a story by brian selznick, an awardwinning childrens book author and illustrator who specializes in historical fiction, wheeldons the nutcracker takes place in 1892 chicago during the. Click here for more information 2019 nutcracker childrens cast auditions. Galvin artistic director, to discuss the company s interpretation of the classic tale. It s not just ponies and butterflies anymore, dylan gutierrez, a dancer for the joffrey ballet said of their new nutcracker. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. In the decade and a half that joffreys nutcracker has been presented in chicago, however, it has emerged as the definitive version.
How the joffreys new nutcracker chose chicagos worlds fair for. Rather than a privileged little girl in the midst of a fancy holiday party, this. A hoffman s early 19th century german tale, the nutcracker and the mouse king, the late robert joffrey s original production of his chicago famous ballet focuses on hoffman s classic story line along with a few spectacles of imagination brought to life. Choreographed by christopher wheeldon, a living legend in the ballet world, the new take on the old classic brings the action to chicago in the months before the 1893 worlds fair. Outside of its regular season, the joffrey ballet annually celebrates the winter holidays with a monthlong run of the nutcracker. The joffrey ballet is no stranger to reimagining the rules. In its own way, the joffrey ballets highly original reimagining of the nutcracker which debuted in 2016, and is now in its fourth, monthlong, holiday season run at the auditorium theatre was a transformative event as well the joffrey ballet production of the nutcracker. For joffreys nutcracker the magic remainsit has just been transformed into a delightfully new holiday experience. Featuring choreography by christopher wheeldon and an updated story and art by brian selznick, this nutcracker is set in chicago during the 1893 worlds fair. It is difficult to revamp a cherished holiday tradition, but doing so allows for the possibility of renewed spirit that often comes with a fresh perspective. Its not just ponies and butterflies anymore, dylan gutierrez, a dancer for the joffrey ballet said of their new nutcracker.
The triumph of the joffrey ballet nutcracker at the dorothy chandler pavilion through dec. When joffrey ballets nutcracker was revised for chicago, artistic director ashley wheater, choreographer christopher wheeldon and storyteller brian selznick choose to set it. On november 30, 2019, chicagos joffrey ballet opened its annual nutcracker season with a matinee performance at the auditorium theatre, 60 e. Featuring a story by brian selznick, an awardwinning children s book author and illustrator who specializes in historical fiction, wheeldon s the nutcracker takes place in 1892 chicago during the. Jeraldine mendoza of the joffrey ballet performs christopher. At that point in time, the ruth page nutcracker had held sway here since 1965, but ceased in 1997, six years after pages death.
The nutcracker once again cast its magic spell when the joffrey ballet offered the new york premiere of its version of the holiday classic last night at the city center. Set in chicago, the christmas ballet should soon top the list. Galvin artistic director, to discuss the companys interpretation of the classic. Hoffman and alexandre dumas, its a holiday masterpiece set in. The joffrey ballet unveiled a daringly new chicagocentric version of.
Chicagos joffrey ballet looks to citys immigrant history. The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. Joffrey ballets reimagined nutcracker continues to. Hoffmanns story is darker and more troubling than the version that reached the stage. Joffrey ballet in chicago gets inspiration from citys immigrant history. Travel to the 1893 worlds fair through a special conversation on the joffrey ballets 2018 production of the nutcracker, set during the columbian exposition in chicago. When joffrey ballets nutcracker was revised for chicago, artistic. According to the chicago tribune, former artistic director gerald arpino added an accessible role for a party boy in 1997 when 8yearold stephen hiattleonard, who had cerebral palsy, auditioned for the children s cast. The joffrey ballets criticallyacclaimed reimagined classic, the nutcracker, by tony awardwinning choreographer christopher wheeldon, returns to open the holiday season at the historic. Their fresh take on the nutcracker, which debuted in 2016, has became a seasonal staple in chicago. The chicagos world fair storyline of wheeldons nutcracker is beautiful, and his addition of another worker girl reinforces the joffreys commitment to accessibility, following in the.
Photo by cheryl mann choreographed by the tony awardwinning christopher wheeldon, and set to the. A radiant moment in chicago history key to magic of. A story for everyone 23 december 2019 photo courtesy of the joffrey ballet. According to the chicago tribune, former artistic director gerald arpino added an accessible role for a party boy in 1997 when 8yearold stephen hiattleonard, who had. From the first notes of the familiar classical score, allow yourself to be transported to christmas 1892, just five months before the columbian exposition of 1893 would open. A radiant moment in chicago history key to magic of joffreys. I wanted a meaning other than sugar, ashley wheater says of the joffreys new nutcracker.
Click the image below to view the nutcracker digital program book. Joffrey ballet the nutcracker auditorium theatre, chicago, il. Magic abounds in christopher wheeldons the nutcracker, the joffrey ballets magnificent holiday gift that keeps on giving, playing at the auditorium theatre through december 29th. Wheeldon s acclaimed turnofthecentury tale opens on christmas eve, 1892, mere months before the grand opening of the 1893 world s fair, as young marie and her mother prepare for a christmas eve potluck celebration. The joffrey ballets 2016 version of the nutcracker returns, cirque du soleil debuts a new holiday spectacular at the chicago theatre. The joffrey ballet, based in chicago, illinois, is a premier dance company. Robert joffrey s version of the nutcracker also used to include a role for a student with a disability. The joffreys modernization premiered last year, choreographed and directed by christopher wheeldon reimagines the nutcracker set in a modest chicago home rather than in a wealthy familys mansion. Inside christopher wheeldons workingclass nutcracker.
Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. When it premiered in 2016, some greeted wheeldons reimagining of the nutcracker, with skepticism. How the joffreys new nutcracker chose chicagos worlds. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. Joffreys nutcracker production, which he oversaw despite being too ill to attend rehearsals, is, like the companys repertory, a blend of the old and the new. Yet when the joffrey ballet presented the world premiere of christopher wheeldons new nutcracker last year, audiences got a uniquely chicagoan production that turns the original story on its head. Joffreys the nutcracker puts the emphasis on mother love. Wheeldons announcement that his nutcracker would be set in worlds fairera chicago only increased excitement. The splendor, invention in joffreys nutcracker grows. Joffrey ballets nutcracker cast stars children from.
The joffrey ballets reimagined classic the nutcracker. Documentary on joffrey ballets new nutcracker set for. For 28 years, chicagos joffrey ballets nutcracker, created by founder robert joffrey, was the gold standard for the traditional version of the ballet set in a beautiful mansion with a. Robert joffreys version of the nutcracker also used to include a role for a student with a disability. Anchoring the production is tchaikovskys timeless, evocative score.
The joffrey ballet is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its holiday production of the nutcracker, which means audiences have enjoyed an. Photo by cheryl mann the wonderful story of the nutcracker and the mouse king written. The joffrey ballets nutcracker has a new role for dancers. Joffrey ballets new nutcracker leaves some tradition. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king designed by julian crouch every december at the joffrey ballet in chicago, illinois.
Photo by cheryl mann now in its third season, the joffrey ballet s radiant and altogether ingenious production of choreographer christopher wheeldon s chicagothemed reinvention of the nutcracker is more luminous than ever. Ashley wheater, hedy weiss, and alison hinderliter delve into how this new productions imagery and dance evoke the historical event of the 1893 chicago worlds fair. Here, marie is a poor polish immigrant whose family lives in a shack on the construction grounds of chicagos 1863 worlds columbian exposition. Last year, the joffrey ballet gifted chicago with the phenomenal premiere of a new nutcracker. Hoffmann fantasy story the nutcracker and the mouse king, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. Wheeldons acclaimed turnofthecentury tale opens on christmas eve, 1892, mere months before the grand opening of the 1893 worlds fair, as young marie and her mother prepare for a christmas eve potluck celebration. Its a christmas tradition so long and familiar that the new version produced in 2016 was a welcomed change of tack for dancers and audiences. The magic remains joffreys nutcracker transformation. Joffrey ballets nutcracker a magical gift that keeps on. Chloe hamilton so when he decided to create a new nutcracker for the joffrey ballet, where he is artistic director, he wanted a production that reimagined the holiday classic as a more inclusive, meaningful story. Joffrey artistic director ashley wheater, music director scott speck and dancers amanda assucena and yoshihisa arai discuss what makes robert joffreys the nutcracker magical. Wheeldons new take, beautifully executed by joffrey ballet, is imaginative and thrilling, emotional and sweet but never saccharine, and a flawless. Joffrey ballet in chicago gets inspiration from citys. The joffrey ballet unveiled a daringly new chicagocentric version of the nutcracker in 2016, moving the action to five months before the worlds columbian exposition in 1893 a grand.
The story of the nutcracker is loosely based on the e. And watching this years opening performance of the. Pbs documentary of wheeldons nutcracker at joffrey. This ones set at the worlds fair choreographer christopher wheeldon has a fresh take on the classic christmas. The must see tradition has been boldly reimagined for the new generation, with a revamped storyline taking our characters to. Joffreys chicagoset nutcracker has become truly alive. This is the season when ballet companies in the united states present the nutcracker by tchaikovsky, the holiday classic tells the story of a young girl.
And watching this year s opening performance of the. Now in its second season with the kinks worked out, choreographer christopher wheeldon s revisionist holiday ballet is wonderfully alive. The magic of the season takes hold when a visit from the. Christopher wheeldons the nutcracker, by the joffrey ballet, features two full childrens casts. The nutcracker gets a spectacular update in choreographer christopher wheeldons world premiere for joffrey ballet.
As weve grown, weve held onto the joy inspired by that perfect cup. Joffrey ballets reimagined nutcracker inspired by chicago. The joffrey ballet performs christopher wheeldons chicagothemed reinvention of the nutcracker. Photo by cheryl mann now in its third season, the joffrey ballets radiant and altogether ingenious production of choreographer christopher wheeldons chicagothemed reinvention of the nutcracker is more luminous than ever. About 100 children from the chicago area have roles in joffreys seasonal production, which tells the classic story of a girl and her magical nutcracker with. Choreographer christopher wheeldon set the joffrey ballets nutcracker in chicago, as the city prepares for the opening of the 1893 worlds fair. The moment has finally arrived, and nothing about this nutcracker disappoints. The company was invited by taiwans president lee to taipei, off of mainland china, and soon after came the annual north american tours. Joffreys epic, reimagined nutcracker takes over hancher. The film will be a behindthescenes look at the creation of choreographer christopher wheeldons new take on the nutcracker for the joffrey ballet a production that had its world. The original story takes place in germany, during a christmas party of an upper class victorian family. Choreographed by christopher wheeldon story by brian selznick based on e. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. Members of the joffrey ballet performing in the nutcracker at the.
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