***** Highly Recommended ***** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Chicago-centric” version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is quite simply magnificent. By setting The Nutcracker amidst Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Wheeldon gave the city a unique gift. It’s become a holiday tradition at my house! No matter how many times I see The Nutcracker, I never get tired of the feeling of anticipation and excitement before a performance, waiting for that first chord of Tchaikovsky’s glorious music! The Nutcracker is absolutely perfect in every way. 4 BIG Spotlights
As the lights dim, The Nutcracker logo is replaced by projections of real Chicago newspaper headlines/stories proclaiming the Columbian Exposition – the Chicago World’s Fair. One of those headlines just happens to mention that building the Fair is creating jobs for immigrants.
Please note that the dancers I saw performing opening night might not be the same at your performance.
The Great Impresario of the Fair (Alberto Velasquez), flourishing his cape, assisted by his apprentice, Peter (José Pablo Castro Cuevas), shows VIPs around the site, also pointing out important features on a model. Outside the site, people go about their business, passing the fences around the construction.
Some teenaged boys (Zachary Manske, Wictor Hugo Pedroso) have managed to sneak onto the grounds. After crawling out through the fence, they jostle each other around as Peter passes by pulling a wagonload of packages. Franz (Elliot Angsurat) steals a tall, red box. His older sister, Marie (Anabelle de la Nuez), tries to grab it, but he tosses it to one of the boys and they play keep-away. Hiding the package under his jacket, Franz runs away. Meanwhile, the Fair’s Rat Catcher (Dylan Gutierrez) terrifies Marie.
At home, their Mother (Amanda Assucena) has been working on a sculpture for the Fair. When the children come home, Franz hides the package in a cupboard while Marie helps Mother get ready for the holiday potluck she’s hosting.
Other Fair Workers and their families begin to arrive, bringing decorations and food for a Christmas celebration. The Fair Workers are: Coco Alvarez-Mena, Anais Bueno, Valeria Chaykina, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Nae Kojima, Naali That, Edson Barbosa, Evan Boersma, Fernanco Duarte, Stefan Gonçalvez, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Valentino Moneglia Zamora and Ryo Sasaki.
When the Great Impresario and his apprentice arrive, they project a silhouette of the Fair on a sheet, entertaining the workers with a glimpse of what they’re building. With Peter’s help, the Impresario rewards the workers with bonus envelopes, then he gives each child except Marie a gift. When he finally gives Marie a very familiar red box, Franz runs to check the cupboard, which is empty. Marie is thrilled with her nutcracker until Franz knocks it to the floor, breaking it. When the Great Impresario fixes it, Marie hugs him. After the gifts, everyone began to dance. Eventually the party wound down leaving the family alone.
Mother tucks Franz and Marie – with her nutcracker –into bed. Marie has a really vivid dream about rats. The Fair’s Rat Catcher (Dylan Gutierrez) is transformed into the Rat King. He and his giant Rats (Fernando Duarte, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Zachary Manske and Wictor Hugo Pedroso) surround her. Suddenly the Rats are battling toy soldiers (Jonathan Dole, Stefan Gonçalvez, Jackson Miles, Davide Oldano, Valentino Moneglia Zamora and Aaron Renteria). A life-sized Nutcracker (Maxwell Dawe) is fighting the evil Rat King when he miraculously transforms into a real Prince.
Suddenly, the Great Impresario appears, whisking Marie and the Prince into a giant sleigh and they sail across the icy lake. On the ice, the Snow Soloists Lucia Connolly, Gayeon Jung, Yumi Kanazawa and Natali Taht are joined by the Ice Cavaliers, Edson Barbosa, Evan Boersma, Stefan Goncalvez and Zachary Manske.
Wearing gorgeous ice blue costumes, they are joined by the Snowflakes: Tenley Connors, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Amanda Illuminati, Nae Kojima, Lindy Mesmer, Lauren Quinn, Basia Rhoden, Ao Wang, Hannah Jane Case*, Seehyun Kim*, and Kyra Stafford*. The soloists, the Cavaliers and the Snowflakes are all involved in one of the most exquisite dances of the whole show, The Snow Dance.
As their ship makes land, the Queen of the Fair (Amanda Assucena) welcomes them with an incredibly graceful solo. The Great Impresario leads Marie and the Prince through the exhibits of the Fair, but not before Marie and the Prince have a chance to dance together.
As they travel around the Fair, they are frequently joined by the Fair visitors: Lucia Connolly, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Lindy Mesmer, Lauren Quinn, Natali That, Ao Wang, Maxwell Dawe, Jonathan Dole, Reed Henry, Blake Kessler, Hyuma Kiyosawa, Valentino Moneglia Zamora, Xavier Núñez and Aaron Renteria.
The Great Impresario escorts Marie and the Prince to various pavilions:
- In the Spanish Pavilion, Spanish Dancers Jeraldine Mendoza and Evan Boersma, Anais Bueno and Stefan Goncalvez stomp with a flamenco flair.
- In the Arabian Pavilion, Dancers Victoria Jaiani and Edson Barbosa take sensual to a whole new level.
- A Chinese Dancer (Wictor Hugo Pedroso) and two Chinese Dragons (Alexiane Fivas**, Paul Rivard*, Derek Wippel*, William Hanford**) celebrate Chinese New
- Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is a featured act on the Fair’s sideshow. Buffalo Bill (Dylan Guitierrez) demonstrates his roping and leaping skills while his Wild West Girls (Coco Alvarez-Mena, Amanda Illuminati and Basia Rhoden) dance backup.
- There are Venetian Masked Dancers, Valeria Chaykina, Gayeon Jung,and Nae Kojima
- Mother Nutcracker (Fernando Duarte) sits on the roof while the Walnuts dance below.
- Finally, The Queen of the Fair and her partner (Alberto Velasquez) return for a final dazzling pas de deux.
Tchaikovsky’s glorious music was played by the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Joffrey Music Director, Scott Speck.
Northwest Indiana audiences: Kelly Boersma, principal of Frank H. Hammond School in Munster, is very proud of her son, Evan, a member of the Joffrey company. In different performances this year, he’s a Fair Worker, a Toy Soldier, an Ice Cavalier, a Spanish Dancer and a Fair Visitor (wearing a Kelly green vest).
In most cases, I’ve credited the adult dancers above. I do think that everyone, including the child dancers should be recognized, so here they are. Note: these performers do not appear in every production.
Ragamuffins/Rats: Sasha Chatz, Sheppard Littrell****, Jaziel Peralta, Caroline Price****, Hiram Raigoza Galvan, Oliver Reeve Libke****
Worker Girls: Mabel Baker****, Selma Gonzalez****, Nieva Kaeding Valentine****, Selah Kim, Mckenzie Martin, Elie Nystrom, Lulu Verma
Teen Worker Girls: Jiwoo Cheong, Elle Stemler
Soldiers/Nutcrackers: Alexa Akkurt, Stella Francesca Caliendo, Julissa Flores, Chloe Fundis, Delilah Gulbrandsen, Madeline Maine
Cavalry/Dragons: Elin Kranz, Piper Matheny, Andrea Tollinche, Emily Xu
Walnuts: Mabel Baker****, Sasha Chatz, Nieva Kaeding Valentine****, Mckenzie Marting, Elie Nystrom, Caroline Price****
Waves/Dragons: Jiwoo Cheong, Sheppard Littrell****, Oliver Reeve Libke****, Elle Stemler
Junior Snowflakes: Mila Doland, Madeleine Leonard, Brooklyn Suzuki, Noemi Vázquez
Snowflakes: Elizabeth Asnis, Poppy Baker, Ella Boparai, Scarlett Carpenter, Hannah Fischel, Jimmy Gershenson, Bea Gonzalez, Winter James Reyhani, Elsie Mathews, Charlotte Melnyczenko, Amelia Slavik, Danielle Weiche
*Joffrey Studio Company; **Joffrey Academy Trainee; ***Joffrey Conservatory Student; ****Joffrey Academy Pre-Professionals
The Joffrey Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker runs through December 28th at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago. The best parking option I’ve found is the Poetry Garage, 201 W. Madison. Visit www.joffrey.org/performances-and-tickets/plan-your-visit/directions-and-parking/ for reduced rate. Running time is two hours with an intermission. Tickets start at $36. FYI (312) 386-8905 or www.joffrey.org.