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Joffrey Ballet: Nutcracker

Dance

Joffrey Ballet: Nutcracker Tickets

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Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 480 reviews

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About

Collaboration conceived
and directed: Robert Joffrey
Music: Peter llyich Tchaikovsky
Don’t miss the glorious Chicago holiday
tradition: America’s #1 Nutcracker!
A grand production with Tchaikovsky’s
celebrated score played live by
The Chicago Philharmonic.

Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 480 reviews
  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    Sadly much has been removed from original play...

    by ChiMama12 on 12/16/17Auditorium Theater - Chicago

    I've been going to the Nutcracker for over 8 years and always look forward to it. I've taken my daughter for the past 4 years (she is now 6). Last year the play changed. Many of our favorite and famous scenes have been removed. I hate to admit this but the first act was quite boring and dragged on for much longer than needed. Scenes like the Sugar plum fairy, the huge puppet that spans the stage, the children opening gifts from under the tree, the rat being dragged off the stage, have all been removed. SO SAD! My daughter kept asking when these scenes would appear. I really wish they would return these favorite scenes.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    Waste of Money

    by Wopswife on 12/5/17Auditorium Theatre - CHICAGO

    The Nutcracker is timeless - the music, the dancing, the set. Until 2016 when the Joffrey decided to shake it up a bit. The new choreography and adaptation is horrible. We have come to see this every year for 10 years and will not be back (not unless it is changed back to the traditional theme). My daughter was so disappointed and confused - and I spent the entire show trying to translate this into what she knew. I am 100% behind updating things so they are fresh and new, but this was so bad! A waste of $300, and a sad child to boot.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    So sad!!

    by GIgiDub on 12/12/16Auditorium Theater - Chicago

    Let me start by saying we have seen the Joffrey Nutcracker every year for the past 10 years. We brought our daughter for the first time when she was only 3 and were all completely enchanted by the talented company, brilliant choreography, the beautiful sets and costumes and the magical quality of the perfomance. It was opulent, over-the-top eye candy!! We looked forward each year to planning our new Christmas tradition and learned which dancers we enjoyed in specific parts. Our dream team was Fabrice as the Nutcracker Prince and Victoria Jaiani as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Grand Pas De Deux!!! We were stunned when we heard last year was the last time we'd see the show as we knew it but looked forward to the new iteration. Well...to say we were disappointed last night is an understatement. I understand Christopher Wheeldon had a problem with the notion of a rich girl who has everything falling asleep and getting more. As a result, the reimagined Nutcracker is dull and dreary. The first act was in a word - gloomy. Gone is the joy of the opening party scene, the hilarity of the life-sized toys come to life, the battle between the mouse king and the nutcracker prince and Clara hitting the mouse king with her shoe. Even the Land of Snow scene that was once lush and magical seemed tired. The second act was much of the same. All of the divertissements have been changed. With the exception of Coffee, all were dull and flat. Mother Ginger is now a campy obvious man sitting on top of a house. Buffalo Bill was humorous but the 3 floozies were completely out of step and looked like strippers!! White thigh highs and garter belts? Seriously?? The Waltz of the Flowers, once so enchanting with all of the dancers throwing petals in the air was distracting with dancers again out of sync. The sugar plum fairy needs a sparkly tutu, not a long, gold dress!! We heard this was a "brilliant" reimagination to the tune of $4 million. We didn't see brilliance. We saw change for sure, but not for the better. We did see many empty seats, maybe due to the weather, but can't imagine anyone thinking this new production is an improvement. Our tradition has sadly, ended.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Nutcracker was breath taking

    by Htown27 on 1/15/16Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    It was worth paying extra to sit closer. I sat on the ground floor, center section around row P by the isle. I could see the entire stage, no one blocked my view and I was close enough that you could see the sparkles on the costumes. The dancers are so talented and I would recommend anyone to go see the Joffrey Ballet Company do any of there performances. I took my mother and she enjoyed it as well, and had no problem seeing or having distracting children around.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Joffrey ballet: The Nutcracker

    by llambro on 1/3/16Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    I loved it! Mezzanine seats were not so good because view of the stage was obstructed by heads.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Nutcracker

    by Icedancer61 on 12/31/15Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    I decided to treat my 5 year old granddaughter and my daughter to the Sunday afternoon performance just before Christmas. What a wonderful experience! Our seats were in the 2nd row, and for a 5 year old, were perfect for her to see and enjoy all aspects of this wonderful ballet. The Auditorium itself is an old theatre, with old seats! and very few bathroom facilities, so be forewarned if you are going with small children. Give yourself plenty of time to tackle those lines. But all is forgiven when the Sugar Plum Fairy comes to dance, absolutely magical! This was the last time that Robert Joffery's choreography for the Nutcracker was performed. Next year there is a new choreographer at the Joffrey, and we are excited to see this ballet again, and may even make it an annual event.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Joffrey's Nutcracker not quite as I recall

    by Barb8 on 12/30/15Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    The dancing was fabulous but the scenery and number of background characters was greatly paired down this year. My family goes every year, but this performance was not up to the usual standards. No male Spanish dancer, missing many of the beautiful background scenery additions and no mouse being hauled off on a stretcher after the battle!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    What a wonderful performance of the Nutcracker!

    by GeorginaG on 12/30/15Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    Every aspect of this performance was wonderful! The music was perfect, the dancers were phenomenal. I often found myself wondering how the heck they were able to stay on their toes with all that "snow" and confetti on the floor! How sad that this is the last performance of Robert Joffrey's Nutcracker. However, knowing of the professionalism and mastery of dance of this troupe, I don't doubt that next year's Nutcracker will be just as spectacular! I'm already making plans to see it.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Nutcracker

    by Puzzums on 12/29/15Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    What a wonderful production. The orchestra was perfect, the dancers delightful and the production was superb. I loved the sets, costumes, dancers, musicians, all of it. I thought that the dancers were engaging and totally captivating. A very memorable experience and well enjoyed. The Auditorium Theater is incredible, the sound system great and the temperature of our seating area was good also. A bit stuffy at first as we were pretty high up, but then some air came on and it was sufficient.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Best Christmas Gift!

    by AbMaMs on 12/29/15Auditorium Theatre - Chicago

    I thoroughly enjoyed my night at the Joffrey's production of The Nutcracker. I bought the tickets for my Mother's Christmas gift, and we simply had the best time! The theater is absolutely stunning, our seats were great, the staff of the theater kind and helpful, and the company was simply wonderful! I grew up going to ballet productions in NYC, but this was my first time in Chicago, and I will be going again. My Mother and I were so taken with the incredible talent, and performance, that we bought tickets to see the company's production of Cinderella, in the spring. A truly wonderful evening, and an awe-inspiring show. Made me feel 5 years old again, all wonder and awe! I would recommend this show, and this company to anyone who appreciates the arts, young and old alike!