Chicago Tribune
- Highly Recommended
"...Launched in 2016, this “Nutcracker” replaced Robert Joffrey’s beloved version, which the company retired after three decades of performances. It is Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s first and only “Nutcracker,” custom-crafted for our ballet company and our city with a vision executed by the Joffrey team, plus a pack of high-profile designers and Caldecott-winning author Brian Selznick."
Chicago Reader
- Recommended
"...Again, I’m here for the nostalgic holiday magic: the gentle snowfall onstage, the brilliant colors, the gorgeous practical sets (designed by Julian Crouch, who also created the costumes and masks) and puppetry (designed by Basil Twist), the hilarious walnut children, the breathtaking dancers. It’s those—and not so much the lassoing cowboy, the gimmicky projections, and the romantic storyline of the Impresario—that might draw me back for a second viewing during a future holiday season."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...One of my favorite holiday traditions has always been attending “The Nutcracker”. As a child, my parents would pack us into the station wagon and drive to the Airie Crown Theatre at McCormick Place, where Ruth Page—Chicago’s own pioneering ballerina—brought Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece to life. After the Arie Crown closed in 1997, my holiday fix moved to the Auditorium Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet. But when the Joffrey introduced its own full-length production in 2016, I found myself drifting to Chicago Ballet’s version instead."
Buzz Center Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...On a magical Christmas Eve, after awakening to an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and the Rat King, a flurry of snowflakes sweeps Marie away on a whirlwind journey to the dreamlike fairgrounds of the World's Columbian Exposition. Set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, experience sprawling attractions representing countries from around the globe: the dazzling Golden Statue, the mystique of an Arabian enchantress, vibrant Venetian masked dancers, Chinese dragons, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. This holiday season, enter the spellbinding world where history and dreams intertwine."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...This year's production was shorter than previous ones, but just as impactful. It was thrilling to walk into the Lyric building and see the giant Christmas tree made of wrapped presents, and scores of little girls dressed in tulle, ribbons, and velvet, perhaps seeing the ballet for the first time. The spell was cast as I sat for two hours of whimsy and beautiful dancing set on the grounds of the World's Columbian Exposition, aka the 1893 Chicago World's Fair."
BroadwayWorld
- Highly Recommended
"...The stunning costumes and masks created by Julian Crouch are a feast for the eyes. Many of the attendees were dressed to the nines, especially the children. The beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby is a must for photos. The Lyric is dressed and ready for the holidays. This production will make you feel anything can happen, especially in December."
NewCity Chicago
- Recommended
"...It all adds up to a spectacular theatrical experience that embodies the maximalism of the season. The tone is set in the lobby, where an enormous pile of gifts in the shape of a Christmas tree towers as an irresistible photo op. Dazzling projections by 59 Productions enhance the movement on stage and extend the set beyond the proscenium arch. The dancing hits all the marks—particularly Gayeon Jung as Marie’s mother and the Queen of the Fair (aka the Sugar Plum Fairy), whose precision and fluid grace were a standout—and the orchestra has never sounded better."
