"...This time around, the ballet seemed shorter than ever. Indeed, at two hours, including a 20-minute intermission, it’s one of the most condensed Nutcrackers anywhere. That comes at a cost, including the deletion of the soldier’s and ballerina’s novelty dances in the first act, some of the Snowflakes’ ensemble music in the second, and much of the pas de deux in the final act. This may be fine for children’s attention spans, but Tchaikovsky and adults deserve more." Read Full Review
Lawrence Bommer
NewCity Chicago- Recommended
"...The holiday season is all about tradition. From trimming the tree to baking cookies to replaying tunes already heard too many times to count, each year as the days shorten and the chill of the frost finds us, we find ourselves craving the familiar comfort of the known. The ballet, “The Nutcracker,” holds high rank among America’s holiday favorites alongside hanging stockings on the mantel and drinking too much eggnog at office holiday parties." Read Full Review
Alyssa Motter
WTTW- Highly Recommended
"...Now in its third season, the Joffrey Ballet’s radiant and altogether ingenious production of choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s Chicago-themed reinvention of “The Nutcracker” is more luminous than ever. And watching this year’s opening performance of the holiday classic it was impossible not to think back to the ballet’s world premiere, and to recall what a miracle that opening night in 2016 turned out to be." Read Full Review
Hedy Weiss
Chicago Theater and Arts- Highly Recommended
"...The old, traditional “Nutcracker” story is likely to continue in stories put on by dance groups everywhere. But the Joffrey’s new “Nutcracker” is delightfully fresh, beautifully performed and artistically presented." Read Full Review
Jodie Jacobs
Chicago On Stage- Highly Recommended
"...I can tell you a lot about The Nutcracker, but I’ll never quite be able to find the words to describe the look on my eight-year-old daughter’s face as she watched this beautiful ballet… how it moved her… what it meant to her. And I’ll never be able to describe the dreams she dreamed the night after we went together to go see the Joffrey’s modern holiday masterpiece." Read Full Review
Karen Topham
Picture This Post- Highly Recommended
"...Rich and whimsical, The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker is a splendid event for all ages. Audiences familiar with the piece or new to its magic will likely be spellbound by its smartly updated setting and evocative execution. With a rotating cast of principals throughout its run (visit the Joffrey Ballet's website for a listing of performers by date), this is a holiday treat many won't want to miss." Read Full Review
