The Joffrey Ballet is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its acclaimed production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. The production runs December 5–28, 2025, at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. It features its unique setting at the 1893 World’s Fair, and continues to celebrate its decade-long run as a beloved Chicago tradition.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble and Children’s Cast)
There is nothing more magical than celebrating the holiday season with Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s unique version of The Nutcracker! Wheeldon’s American tale relocates young Marie and her immigrant family to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Marie then is taken on an amazing whirlwind adventure with the Nutcracker Prince.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Gayeon Jung, Stefan Goncalvez, Amanda Assucena, Hyuma Kiyosawa)
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.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Amanda Assucena and Hyuma Kiyosawa)
The Nutcracker continues to be the ultimate holiday treat for Chicagoans. It is a joyful and magical story that never grows stale, complete with breathtaking scenery, special effects, dancing, costume, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic musical score. The costumes are always lovely, and compliment the choreography, by providing the right amount of sparkle and movement.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez)
The set design is a star all of its own, with props, lighting, shadows, and projections, which help transform the stage, while enhancing how the performers tell the story.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Yumi Kanazawa, Nae Kojima, Ao Wang)
As always, The Lyric Opera Orchestra is exceptional. It plays Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music, which is a great compliment to the dancing, as it carries the emotions of the dancers through the theater.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble)
What I personally always find impressive about this particular Nutcracker, is the very diverse cast of dancers that make up the Joffrey Ballet company. The dancers are from a wide variety of countries 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.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Stefan Goncalvez, Gayeon Jung)
The dancers never fail to impress, with their immaculate and graceful dancing. Even when their faces are difficult to see onstage, you are able to interpret the emotions and storytelling of the characters through their dancing. A great example is the way that The Great Impresario of the Fair (Stefan Gonçalvez), or think of him as this version’s Drosselmeyer. The way Gonçalvez uses his cape helps accentuate his dancing.
© Cheryl Mann 2025 The Nutcracker (Amanda Assucena, Stefan Goncalvez, Gayeon Jung)
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: Cheryl Mann
Get information and tickets at the Joffrey Ballet website.
