The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker Magic Brings the Joy of the Holidays to Chicago

Maybe it’s been my increasingly cynical reception of life—with riots in Ferguson, injustice in New York, and protests on our very own Lake Shore Drive, I have found it very difficult to get into the holiday spirit. The magic seems to be just out of reach, and frustrations are higher than I remember them ever being this time of year.

All my worries lifted, however, with the rising of the curtain at the Auditorium Theatre for the Joffrey Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. A beautiful set was revealed, inviting me to a Christmas Eve celebration with children leaping around and adults letting themselves enjoy a dance or two with their loved ones. Dr. Dosselmeyer’s (Fabrice Calmels) grand entrance and presence are an exciting sight as his large cape mystifies both the audience and the guests at the party. Dosselmeyer leads his enthusiastic goddaughter Clara (Caitlin Meighan) on an experience of a lifetime that the audience just happens to be watching.

The Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra is phenomenal: the musicians, conducted by Scott Speck, have a symbiotic relationship where the musicians in the pit both give and take from the performers on stage in a gorgeous cyclical relationship that is evidence of long and hard days of rehearsal. All of the popular Tchaikovsky pieces we’ve come to know and love and look forward to occur in the second act. Tucked into the end of Act 1, however, is the Land of Snow scene (Act 1, Scene 3), which features one of the most beautiful acts I have ever seen. Joffrey Ballet Co-Founder Gerald Arpino’s choreography is outstanding and forever embedded in my memory. The Snow Queen and King, Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili, execute Arpino’s choreography magnificently; I almost want it to snow now.

Following intermission, the scenes of the second act flow together nicely, as Clara and her godfather travel to the Kingdom of Sweets where the dolls from under Clara’s Christmas tree come to life and show her dances from all over the world. The children who introduce each act remind the audience how beautiful diversity is—and all the dancers inspire the same hope and joy that I have been missing.

The magic is alive and well, Chicago—and it can be found through December 28 at the Auditorium Theatre.

Disclosure: I did attend the press opening. My words and opinions are my own.

The full performance schedule is: Friday, Dec. 5, 7 pm; Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 pm; Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 pm; Friday, Dec. 12, 7 pm; Saturday, Dec. 13, 2 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, Dec. 14, 1pm and 6 pm; Thursday, Dec. 18, 7 pm; Friday, Dec. 19, 7 pm; Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, Dec. 21, 2 pm and 7 pm; Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2 pm and 7 pm; Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2 pm; Friday, Dec. 26, 2 pm and 7 pm; Saturday, Dec. 27 at 2 pm and 7 pm; and Saturday, Dec. 28 at 2 pm. Tickets range from $32 to $134 and are available at The Joffrey Ballet’s official Box Office located in the lobby of Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University box office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at (800) 982-2787 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Photo Credit: Joffrey - Nutcracker, Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili as Snow Queen and King - Photo by Herbert Migdoll