The Joffrey Ballet opens its 70th anniversary season with the U.S. Premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Carmen, a tale of love, betrayal, and defiance set within the gritty confines of a cigarette factory in 1930s Spain. Amid the chaos of a nation on the brink of civil war, the uncompromising and seductive Carmen, who insists on loving whom she chooses, meets Don José, whose consuming devotion ignites a blaze of passion and peril. From the choreographer of the critically acclaimed Frankenstein, Scarlett infuses new depth into the timeless story of a woman who dares to live on her own terms. Carmen takes place over two weekends, in ten performances only, at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, from September 18 to 28, 2025.
In this adaptation of Bizet's opera, Scarlett brings new intensity to a performance that pulsates with life—and ends in tragedy. With striking designs by Jon Bausor and Scarlett's signature focus on evocative storytelling, Carmen commands the stage into a tempest of desire and destruction. Learn more about Scarlett here.
Carmen features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.
Special thanks to Carmen Production Sponsor, Holly Palmer Foundation.
The 2025-2026 season marks three historic milestones: The Joffrey Ballet’s 70th anniversary as one of the world’s premier dance companies, 30 years of calling Chicago home, and 10 years of Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker. After Carmen, The Joffrey Ballet continues its season with The Nutcracker (December 5 – 28, 2025) followed by a program of ballets by four trailblazing artists of the 20th century– Martha Graham, Glen Tetley, and The Joffrey Ballet co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino– in American Icons (February 19 – March 1, 2026). Closing out the season is the Chicago premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin, a co-production with San Francisco Ballet (June 4 – 14, 2026).
Title: The Joffrey Ballet presents Liam Scarlett’s Carmen
Dates: Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 28, 2025
Thursday, September 18 at 7:30PM; Friday, September 19 at 7:30PM; Saturday, September 20 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, September 21 at 2:00PM; Thursday, September 25 at 7:30PM; Friday, September 26 at 7:30PM; Saturday, September 27 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, and September 28 at 2:00PM.
Location: Lyric Opera House
20 North Upper Wacker Drive
Box Office: Tickets will be available for purchase by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org beginning July 7, 2025.
About The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 70 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.
Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2025–2026 70th Anniversary Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, Anne L. Kaplan, and Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation.
Live Music Sponsors Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO and Chicago Athletic Clubs.
For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit www.joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Image: Carmen, Photo by Carolyn McCabe