Local Kids to Perform 'The Nutcracker' for Renowned Chicago Ballet Company

A handful of local kids will be performing in The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago in December. 

Among them are: Addison Reznar, 12, of Algonquin; Layla Porter, 9, of Algonquin; and Destin Johnson, 10, Algonquin, according to a Joffrey Ballet press release. 

The Joffrey Ballet will be celebrating its 25th year performing The Nutcracker and will hold 22 performances between Dec. 7 and 27 at its auditorium theatre at Roosevalt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway in Chicago. Tickets are available on Joffrey Ballet's website. 

“Every year for the past quarter century, thousands of families have made a place for the Joffrey’s Nutcracker in their holiday traditions, creating treasured memories that last a lifetime," said Christopher Clinton Conway, Joffrey Ballet's executive director. "In this day and age of uncertainty on so many levels, we need the warmth, beauty and magic that this ballet brings into our lives.”

Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker replaces the traditional European setting with a 19th century American home and has become America's number one Nutcracker since premiering in 1987. The ballet is described as having brilliant costumes, larger than life scenery, entrancing storytelling and features Peter llyich Tchaikovsky’s famous score. 

 “I danced with The Joffrey Ballet when this production was created in 1987,” said Ashley C. Wheater, Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director.  “(Robert Joffrey’s) Nutcracker is a celebration of American Christmas traditions, as meaningful today as they were during their first performance in 1987.  Whether you are seeing The Nutcracker as a child for the first time, or grew up with the story, there is always something familiar and something brand new."