Nearly a decade later, on december 10, the joffrey will premiere wheeldons reimagining of the holiday. The joffrey ballet christopher wheeldons the nutcracker. The joffreys new nutcracker spellbinds amid the snow christopher wheeldons update of the classic puts class consciousness at the forefront, to illuminating effect. Christopher wheeldons nutcracker runs december 10 to 30 at the. In 1997, former artistic director gerald arpino created an accessible role for then8yearold stephen hiattleonard, a boy with cerebral palsy, who auditioned for the childrens cast of robert joffreys version of the nutcracker. A wholly new production of the nutcracker is in the works for december 2016, and it is to be created by christopher wheeldon. Be part of dance history as we celebrate our beloved city and unlock a world of wonder for the 21st century. The joffrey ballet in christopher wheeldons the nutcracker. Christopher wheeldons allnew production of the nutcracker for the joffrey ballet of chicago is shaping up to be quite a broadwaystyle extravaganza.
The joffrey ballet continues performances of its new nutcracker by choreographer christopher wheeldon, into a fourth year since its inception. A new production, for the joffrey ballet of chicago, moves the. Joffrey ballet opens season with christopher wheeldons. Our 2018 production of the nutcracker runs december at the. Joffrey will be live streaming rehearsal for the new nutcracker sep 8 from 11. The joffreys nutcracker abandons plot, pathos, and. The joffrey ballet long had a traditional nutcracker by its founderchoreographer, robert joffrey, which it continued to perform after moving to chicago from new york in 1995. The joffreys new nutcracker spellbinds amid the snow. Inside christopher wheeldons workingclass nutcracker the. This year, christopher wheeldon, creator of our reimagined version, unveiled a new role that honors the joffrey tradition of inclusivity. Nearly 10 years in the making, the joffreys new nutcracker promises. Joffrey ballets nutcracker a magical gift that keeps on giving lynn colburn shapiro dec 1, 2019 australias bangarra dance theatre gives its chicago debut at the harris theater nov.
The splendor, invention in joffreys nutcracker grows stronger. Joffrey ballet new christopher wheeldon nutcracker. Christopher wheeldon to choreograph new nutcracker for. Join us this holiday season for what the chicago suntimes calls truly the stuff of magic. They did this with wheeldons swan lake a few yrs ago and it was fun to watch. Christopher wheeldon s reimagined take on the nutcracker for the joffrey ballet has proven to be a huge hit with audiences. Saying goodbye to joffreys nutcracker everybody dancenow. A radiant moment in chicago history key to magic of joffreys. Christopher wheeldons masterpiece is back december at the auditorium theatre. The choreographer christopher wheeldon guiding christine rocas in rehearsal. Christopher wheeldon forges a nutcracker that dreams for. Click the image below to view the nutcracker digital program book. Galvin artistic director ashley wheater to create a new. But as real snow blanketed the city, and wheeldon arrived with his leg.
Joffrey ballets nutcracker, new this year by choreographer christopher wheeldon, tells its story from the chicago worlds fair of 1893. Discover the magic of chicagos mysterious 1893 worlds fair through the eyes of a child in the joffreys astounding new nutcracker brilliantly reimagined by tony award winning choreographer wheeldon. Wheeldon was interested in directing the nutcracker, so the two started brainstorming. The joffrey ballet celebrates the 28th annual, and final, presentation of robert joffreys the nutcracker, chicagos most popular holiday tradition, in a 24performance engagement at the. And then she falls asleep and dreams of more, says wheeldon. Curtain up on the joffreys third season of christopher wheeldons nutcracker, which resituates the popular christmas ballet in chicago during. Pbs documentary of wheeldons nutcracker at joffrey. Inside christopher wheeldons workingclass nutcracker. Joffrey ballet presents the nutcracker see chicago dance. Joffrey ballets reimagined nutcracker continues to. The joffreys nutcracker abandons plot, pathos, and palatable. The joffrey nutcracker rises from the 1893 worlds fair in chicago. The magic of the season takes hold when a visit from the. Jeraldine mendoza of the joffrey ballet performs christopher wheeldons chicagothemed reinvention of the nutcracker.
How to reboot a holiday classic chicago magazine december. Robert joffreys the nutcracker plays final season in. The columbian exposition setting was the brainchild of joffrey artistic director ashley wheater, and both he and wheeldon found the traditional nutcracker storys message somewhat troubling. Christopher wheeldons update of the classic puts class consciousness at the forefront, to illuminating effect. Next year the holiday classic will be transformed by renowned choreographer christopher wheeldon. Christopher wheeldons the nutcracker november 30december 29, 2019 at the auditorium theatre subscri. The snow scene from christopher wheeldons the nutcracker. Wheeldon notes that the protagonist is typically a privileged, wealthy child. The nutcracker program book 2019 by the joffrey ballet issuu. The joffrey ballet performs christopher wheeldons chicagothemed. The drops for the snow scene and the second act were threadbare, the paint.
The joffreys new nutcracker spellbinds amid the snow performing. Christopher wheeldons reimagined take on the nutcracker for the joffrey ballet has proven to be a huge hit with audiences. Windy city times news archive joffrey ballet opens season with christopher wheeldons swan lake chicago september 6, 2018 on the heels of the highest grossing season in its history, the. Stop, please, christopher wheeldon called out patiently for the umpteenth time as the technical team of his new production of the nutcracker, for the joffrey ballet of chicago, worked. The nutcracker christopher wheeldons nutcracker was conceived specifically for the great city of chicago. Wheeldon s 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. Christopher wheeldons the nutcracker joffrey ballet.