Displaying items by tag: live theatre

David Salsbery Fry sings the role of Rev. Canon Chasuble in the Chicago Premiere of Chicago Opera Theater’s (COT) production of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s humorous and final stage work – a “sparkling operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s beloved play and a joyful tribute to the history of classical music itself.” Conducted by Kamna Gupta and directed by Brenna Corner, the acclaimed bass joins a cast featuring sopranos Vanessa Becerra and Erica Schuler, mezzo-sopranos Emily Treigle and Leah Dexter, and tenors Martin Luther Clark and Omar Najmi.

His fourth production with COT, Fry has previously appeared in the company’s productions of Shostakovich’s The Nose (2023) singing multiple roles (4th Janitor, 3rd Policeman, 3rd Student & 3rd Acquaintance); Chen/Simpatico’s The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (2023, as Don Bayley, Bobby & Prosecutor,); Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus (2021, as Donkey & Messenger); and in the 2019 Orchestral Workshop presentation of The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing.

Filled with romantic chaos and elaborate deceptions, Chicago Opera Theater’s December 2026 production of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s The Importance of Being Earnest is the Chicago premiere of this rarely performed gem.  Described by COT as “an opera where impeccable manners conceal outrageous secrets, romance blossoms in the most unlikely circumstances, and the greatest revelation of all may be the true importance of being 'Earnest'", further details of this scintillating production can be found on COT’s website here.

Chicago Opera Theater

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: The Importance of Being Earnest (Chicago Premiere)

Libretto by the composer after Oscar Wilde

The Studebaker Theater

Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 5 at 3:00 PM

Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 PM

3 hours, including intermission.

Tickets: click here. 

About David Salsbery Fry

Singer David Salsbery Fry continues to captivate audiences with each role. Acclaimed for his expressive, powerful bass voice, wide range and nuanced versatility, along with an authentic and engaging stage presence, Fry enjoys a diverse career as singer, actor, narrator, and recording artist. Having performed throughout the United States, in Europe, Canada, Thailand, and Israel, Fry continues to expand his relationship with orchestras and opera companies through a broad range of repertoire, from Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, and Britten, to Argento, Chen, Foss, Fussell, Honegger, Sondheim, and more.

His voice has been praised as “Incredible! …Truly remarkable and astounding…”, “darkly sonorous,” and possessing “almost impossibly deep tones.” In addition to performing traditional operas and arias, Fry has premiered works by numerous composers, including Robert Aldridge, Shawn Brogan Allison, Lembit Beecher, Justine F. Chen, Frank Corcoran, Chaya Czernowin, John David Earnest, Ruby Fulton, Juliana Hall, Jenny Olivia Johnson, Louis Karchin, Lowell Liebermann, Adam Maor, Eric Nathan, Osnat Netzer, Steve Potter, Arnold Rosner, Joseph Summer, Kristian Twombly, Nicholas Vines and Scott Wheeler. He has also collaborated with Mark Adamo, James Granville Eakin III, Oliver Knussen, Ari Benjamin Meyers, Nico Muhly, John Musto, Judith Shatin, and Charles Wuorinen.

Fry has created a name for himself in the recording arena as well, appearing on recordings for Albany, Navona, BMOP/sound, Naxos, New World and Odyssey Opera. Most recently recording with Boston Modern Orchestra Project for its 2025 release of Dominick Argento and Charles Nolte’s The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe (BMOP/sound 1107), Fry can be heard on 11 CDs.

The unique characteristics of Fry’s cross-genre voice has attracted engagements in other fields. In 2023, he voiced the character of Charles Xavier (Professor X) in the audio series “X-Men: Age of Orchis” for Marvel Entertainment.

A passionate advocate for performers with disabilities, Fry has written articles for and been featured in such media outlets as HowlRound, Classical Singer, The Liberated Voice, and Opera and Disability. A supporter of inclusion and diversity in all art forms, particularly the classical music industry, he believes in the importance of accessibility in the arts for artists with disabilities. Additional information may be found on his website.

From an internationally renowned chef and the world-famous rock frontman of Wilco, to a Pulitzer Prize-nominated author and a handful of Chicago's nationally decorated actors, holiday theatergoers find two new seasonal offerings at The Goodman this year. Alongside the perennial favorite A Christmas Carol, now in its 49^th year, a one-night-only reading and discussion of Thornton Wilder's The Long Christmas Dinner and a limited three-performance engagement of the tuneful E. Faye & Friends: A Holiday Cabaret take the stage in the Owen Theatre. These three projects, along with ongoing performances of David Byrne's Theater of the Mind and Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour, welcome more than 100 local artists to work at The Goodman during the holidays.

The Long Christmas Dinner is a reading and discussion of Pulitzer Prize winner Thornton Wilder's classic one-act, directed and hosted by Jeremy McCarter, Wilder's literary executor. The star-studded cast includes Rick Bayless (chef, restaurateur, author), Lorena Diaz (Chicago Med), Ora Jones (The Nacirema Society), Rebecca Makkai (author of The Great Believers), Natalie Moore (journalist, playwright, author of The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation), Anthony Rapp (RENT original cast), Namir Smallwood (Primary Trust) and Jeff Tweedy (musician and author). In the course of a single unbroken holiday meal, 90 years of a family's history fly by in this moving, funny, sometimes sorrowful, ingeniously theatrical 40-minute one-act play. Immediately following the reading, the artists and audience engage in conversation about family, tradition and what brings people together during the holiday season. With this reading, The Goodman joins a nationwide event—The Thornton Wilder Estate's The Long Christmas Dinner Festival, which launches today.

E. Faye & Friends: A Holiday Cabaret transforms the Owen Theatre main floor into a nightclub atmosphere, with special seating at cabaret tables. Chicago's longtime leading lady E. Faye Butler (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) stars in this celebration of the season, featuring timeless blues and jazz standards. Each night, Ms. Butler invites "Friends" to join her on stage—including Kelvin Roston Jr. (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), and more special guest artists to be announced. Musical Director, Conductor and Pianist Jeremy Kahn oversees the six-piece live band: Ron Haynes (trumpet), Charles Rick Heath IV (drums), Jeremiah Hunt (bass), Felton Offard (guitar) and Dudley Owens (woodwinds).

The Long Christmas Dinner appears December 15 at 7pm. Tickets ($39 - $59, subject to change) go on sale November 20; GoodmanTheatre.org/Dinner. E. Faye & Friends: A Holiday Cabaret appears December 18 and 19 at 7:30pm and December 20 at 2pm. Tickets ($44 - $89, subject to change) go on sale November 13; more details at GoodmanTheatre.org/Cabaret. A Christmas Carol appears November 13 – December 31; tickets are $34 - $188, subject to change. Visit the Box Office (170 N. Dearborn), call 312.443.3800 or purchase online at GoodmanTheatre.org/Carol. The Goodman is grateful for the support of PNC (Major Corporate Sponsor) and ITW (Corporate Sponsor Partner).

ABOUT THE GOODMAN

Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for Chicagoland, where bold stories spark connection, conversation and change. Now, as it enters its second century, The Goodman builds on that legacy with an eye toward the future. Under the leadership of Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater continues to champion new work—following hundreds of plays developed and a national reputation for commissioning and premiering original stories by living writers—while reimagining classics and produce large-scale musicals.

But The Goodman's reach today extends beyond its home in the heart of the Loop. From the intimate magic of The Magic Parlour, now in its third year, to the boundary-pushing world of Theater of the Mind—an immersive experience that blurs the lines between science, storytelling and sensation—and from citywide initiatives like 100 Free Acts of Theater to partnerships with artists and companies across Chicago and around the world, The Goodman is expanding what theater can be, and where it can live.

At its core, The Goodman is driven by a belief that a more empathetic, more connected city is built one story at a time. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime—from babies and young children to teens, adults and seniors—including Theater for the Very Young (ages 0–5) and the beloved annual A Christmas Carol, which has welcomed audiences for five decades. Education and Engagement programs, led by Clifford Director Jared Bellot and based in the Alice Rapoport Center, use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging—reaching thousands each year, the majority from underserved communities.

With nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman remains a defining force in American theater—and the first to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. The theater also frequently serves as a production partner—from national and international companies to Chicago's Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify a wide range of theatrical voices.

Founded by William O. Goodman and his family in memory of playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, the theater carries forward a legacy of artistic ambition and civic generosity. With the help of Mr. Goodman's descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—that spirit continues to shape its future as The Goodman expands its impact across Chicago and beyond. Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women's Board President; and Christopher Way is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.

Eclectic Full Contact Theatre is proud to announce the cast and crew for their first show of season 15, Socks & Co., by Alexander Attea at The Edge Theater, 5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640.

Casey is just trying to make ends meet working in a luxury sock store where the socks cost almost as much as their rent, and their manager is obsessed with her social media presence. Then an employee goes missing, the store’s tech bro owner starts acting stranger than usual, and the door to the back room now opens onto a portal to time and space! Can Casey solve the mystery, keep their job, and most importantly, make their rent? This brand new satirical farce explores the absurdity of trying to hold on to your humanity in a system that looks at it as just another commodity.

The cast includes:

Lenna Wren as CASEY

Ilsa Morales as HEATHER

Chloe Adamo* as VICKI

Faris El-Kildani as DELIVERY DAN

Bryan Breau as GRANT SACQUES

Austin Rambo as REGINALD B. RICHLEY

Paul Chakrin* as MR. HORNE

Nina Cajuste– CASEY u/s

Julia Yanosik Perez– HEATHER u/s

Moni Villalba– VICKI u/s

Ben Linville– GRANT SACQUES u/s

Ethan Evans– REGINALD B. RICHLEY u/s

Zach Riker– MR. HORNE u/s

The production team includes:

Director: Paige Mesina

Stage Manager: Shayla Woolsey*

Assistant Stage Manager

Sound Design: Kate Schnetzer*

Lighting Design: Michael Meschbach

Set Design: Jeremiah Barr

Costume Design: Emma Grace Li

Prop Design: Mary Aurora Moore

Dramaturg: Hannah Keeler*

Production Manager: Daniel Houle*

Casting Director: Jessica Lauren Fisher*

Socks & Co. runs November 6-21, 2026. Thu-Sat at 7:30 and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 presale; $35 walkup.

Information and tickets can be found at https://our.show/efctsocks

* denotes EFCT Company member  

Clark Week Productions is thrilled to continue its third season with a workplace comedy meets apocalyptic grief meditation, THE APIARY, written by Kate Douglass and directed by Anna Klos. THE APIARY will play November 6th through November 22nd at Bramble Arts Loft in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at www.eventbrite.com. Press is encouraged to join on preview night, 11/05/26.

The cast includes Betsy Pennington Taylor, Sangi Varsano, Nicole Villavicencio Gonzalez, and Kate Yee.

THE APIARY is a contemporary, cautionary tale which toes the line between comedy and tragedy. Set in a future 22 years from now, THE APIARY engulfs us in an unbalanced reality of a world without wild bees and the lengths humans will go to find their purpose in this uncertain life. Fluctuating between earnestly hilarious and emotionally heavy, this show asks the audience to walk through a meditation on loss, grief, connection and solidarity.

The production team includes Anna Klos (Director), Ember Sappington (Dramaturg), Clint Clark (producer), and Cat Evans (Violence Coordinator).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: The Apiary

Playwright: Kate Douglass

Director: Anna Klos

Cast (in alphabetical order): Aleeyah Enriquez (Pilar U/S), Betsy Pennington Taylor (Gwen), Charlotte Jaffe (Zora U/S), Kate Yee (Zora), Lo Miles (Cece/Kara/Anna/Bryn U/S), Mery Drilling-Coren (Gwen U/S), Nicole Villavicencio Gonzalez (Pilar), Sangi Varsano (Cece/Kara/Anna/Bryn).

Location: Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N Clark St. 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL, 60640

Dates: Regular Run: November 6th - November 22nd

Curtain Times: 7:00p

Press performance: Press are encouraged to attend Thursday, November 5th, but are welcome to opening weekend performances.

Tickets: $39. Tickets are currently available at eventbrite.com

Plan your visit:

Bramble Arts Loft is accessible via public transit from the red line train (Bryn Mawr stop), #22 Clark bus (Bryn Mawr & Catalpa stop), and #50 Damen bus (Clark & Bryn Mawr stop).

Metered street parking is available along Clark street and surrounding neighborhood streets. Valet parking not available.

Accessibility:

Bramble Arts Loft is ADA accessible with walk up sidewalk access and an elevator that will take you to the second floor performance space.

About the Artists

Kate Douglass (she/her) Kate Douglas is a writer, composer, and performer. Recent work includes The Apiary (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination), Tulipa (New York Stage & Film), Centuries starring opposite her co-writers Matthew Dean Marsh and Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez (Ancram Center for the Arts), and hag with Grace McLean (Vivace Award).

Anna Klos (they/she) Anna has been working in Chicago storefront theater since 2016. They have directed, stage managed, acted, and produced primarily through Trap Door Theatre since 2018, including but not limited to Antigonick (direction), Ghost Fetus (direction, Chicago world premier, 2025 and Philadelphia Fringe tour, 2026), Monsieur D'Eon is a Woman (stage management), The Martyrdom of Peter Ohey (stage management, Chicago premier and New York Tour), and Old Woman Broods (acting). Anna is grateful for all of the support of her collective theater community, her Trap Door family, and her partner Suz.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to launch its 25^th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of It's a Horrible Life – A Golden Girls Lost Episodes Musical Parody, the first-ever musical installment in the company's long-running Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes parody series. Written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by Ryan Kenney, It's a Horrible Life will play December 3, 2026 – January 3, 2027 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in  Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Single tickets are on sale here, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. Season subscriptions are available here.

The cast includes ensemble members Kelly Bolton*, David Cerda*, Grant Drager*, Ed Jones*, Scott Sawa* and Danne W. Taylor* with Britain Shutters and Honey West. Understudies include Nick Dorado and Gretchen Greear.

About the Production:

Following a string of holiday mishaps and a disastrous audition for the Miami Senior Center's production of It's a Wonderful Life, Dorothy (David Cerda*) begins to question her very existence. An angel intervenes, revealing that her roommates wouldn't last 20-minutes without her.

The production team includes Marcus Klein* (Scenic Designer), Ben Argenta Kress (Costume Design), Elizabeth Cooper (Lighting Design), Maggie O'Brien (Props Design), Syd Genco** (Make-Up Design), Keith Ryan* (Wig Design), Mealah Heidenreich* (Production Manager), Jason Pikscher (Technical Director), Julia Witty (Stage Manager), Max Ching (Assistant Stage Manager), Peter Neville (Videographer), Rick Aguilar* (Photography) and Michael S. Miller* (Graphics).

For a quarter-century, Handbag has served Chicago audiences its unique brand of camp and ridiculousness – earning a fiercely dedicated following and a recent induction into the 2026 Chicago LGBT+ Hall of Fame.

*Denotes Handbag Ensemble Member | **Denotes Handbag Associate Member

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: It's a Horrible Life – A Golden Girls Lost Episodes Musical Parody
Playwright: Artistic Director David Cerda*
Director: Ryan Kenney
Cast (in alphabetical order): Kelly Bolton* (Sophia), David Cerda* (Dorothy), Grant Drager* (Blanche), Ed Jones* (Rose), Scott Sawa* (Stan), Britain Shutters (Mary), Danne W. Taylor* (Nancy Drew) and Honey West (Angel).

Understudies: Nick Dorado and Gretchen Greear.

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago

Previews: Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 pm, Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 pm.

Opening performance: Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 7 pm
Regular run: Thursday, December 10, 2026 – Sunday, January 3, 2027
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be performances on Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day), Thursday, December 31 (New Year's Eve) or Friday, January 1 (New Year's Day); there will be added performances Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 23 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday. December 29 at 7:30 pm and Wednesday, December 30 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: Previews: $32 general admission, $40 VIP reserved seating (includes a drink). Regular run: $42 general admission, $54 VIP reserved seating (includes a drink). $35 seniors. Single tickets are on sale here, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. Season subscriptions are available here.

About the Artists

David Cerda (Playwright) is a founding member and Artistic Director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, now celebrating its 25^th anniversary. As resident playwright, he has written many Handbag productions, as well as acted in them. These works include POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical, The Birds, Scary Town, SCARRIE The Musical, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Joan Crawford Goes to Hell, Caged Dames, and many others. His play, The Drag Seed was produced at LaMaMa Experimental Theater and his Golden Girls Lost Episodes parody shows have been produced around the country and featured in Golden Con: Thank you for being a Fan, the world's first fan convention dedicated to all things Golden Girls at Chicago's Navy Pier. Cerda is a proud inductee into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame and recipient of a Jeff Award for lifetime achievement for his body of work and service to the community. He lives in Chicago with his partner, Christopher and Walter the Wonder Dog.

Ryan Kenney (Director) is a Chicago-based multi-hyphenate. Previous Hell in a Handbag credits include; Joan Crawford Goes to Hell and The Real Housewives of the North Pole. Additional directing credits include Effing It Up (Fat Theatre Project), Aunt Dan & Lemon, The Turn of the Screw, Phèdre, and Cain: A Mystery, all for 2W Holdings and Theatrics, LLC for which he is the Executive Director. As an actor, Ryan has performed in Three Sisters (Sandbox Theatre Collective), Vivi Mortes Motel (Green Shirt Studio), Machinal (Meat Machine) and Whiteᐧish: A Sketch Revue (The Second City), and created and performed his solo show Ryan Kenney's Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (former Playhouse Theater).

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.

Citadel will be visited by Clarence the Angel and the beleaguered George Bailey from November 13 – December 13, when the company presents IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE LIVE RADIO PLAY, based on the perennial favorite holiday film that starred James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore. When the film premiered in 1946, before the television era, it was a common practice for popular films to be performed as live radio plays, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was performed live on CBS's THE LUX RADIO THEATRE with Stewart and Reed recreating their film roles as George and Mary Bailey on December 23, 1947. This radio play adaptation by playwright Joe Landry not only brings the film's beloved story to the stage, but it also recreates the magic of the heyday of radio dramas. The cast of five will play radio actors who are performing all 50 roles of the "radio play within a play," recreating the tension and excitement of performing live before a studio audience and a nationwide radio audience of millions. Jack Hickey, the former Artistic Director of Oak Park Festival Theatre, who directed Citadel's THE COTTAGE in 2024, will return to Citadel to direct. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY will open on Friday, November 13 after previews on November 11 and 12, and play through December 13.
 
Hickey's stellar cast will be led by Brian Parry, known in Chicago for such iconic roles as Willy Loman, King Lear, and Richard Nixon. Parry has been cast in the equally iconic role of the villainous Mr. Potter, created in the film by Barrymore. Jake and Sally – the radio actors playing George and Mary Bailey  - will be Jake Harrison Murphy (Puck in BrightSide Theatre's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM) and Rachel J. Jones (seen earlier this year in Writers Theatre's LEOPOLDSTADT, and as Juliet in Oak Park Theatre's ROMEO AND JULIET). Parry, along with John Dooley (of Citadel's ADMISSIONS and THE COTTAGE) and Cait Kelly (of POOR BEHAVIOR and CRY IT OUT with Oil Lamp Theatre), will be the radio actors playing all the other characters of the film. Caleb Ryan Jones will create the Foley sound effects and play the radio stage manager. Understudies are Bob Sanders (Freddie/Mr. Potter and others), Zach Kunde (Harry, Jake/George Bailey and others) and Ariel Dooley (Sally/Mary Bailey). The final cast members, it should be noted, will be the Citadel audiences themselves – who will play the studio audience.

The IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE design team that will take audiences back to a radio studio of the 1940's includes Jeff Award winners Bob Knuth (Scenic Design) and Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design); Joel Zishuk (Lighting Design), Alex Trinh (Sound Design), and Reiley Duffy (Props Design). Also on the production team are Abby Austin (Stage Manager), Jason Clark (Master Carpenter), Adri Andreolas (Scenic Charge), Natalie Barowsky (Stage Crew), and Scott and Ellen Phelps (Production Managers).
 
Flex passes, which can be used in any combinations for any Citadel Main Stage shows, are available for four admissions at $140.00, or three admissions for $115.00 or two admissions for $80.00. Preview flex passes are also available for $45 (two shows), $55 (three shows), or $65 (four shows). Subscriptions and single tickets priced at $50 (plus ticketing. Fees) are on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org. 
 
Citadel Theatre is in residence in the West Campus of the Lake Forest School District at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Further information and ticketing is available on the company's website at www.citadeltheatre.org.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY
Adapted by Joe Landry
Based on the story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip van Doren Stern
Directed by Jack Hickey
Friday, November 13 – Sunday, December 13, 2026
(Previews November 11 and 12 at 7:30 pm)

Thursdays*, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on November 18 and December 2, Saturday matinees at 3 pm on November 28 and December 12. Understudy performance Wednesday, December 2 at 6:30 pm.
* No show on Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day)
Preview ticket prices $27.15 including ticketing fee. Regular run prices $53.40 including  ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students..
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
 
On one fateful Christmas Eve, George Bailey teeters on the edge of despair, until an unexpected visitor reveals the extraordinary impact of his life. The immortal story of the classic film is told as a lively 1940s radio broadcast. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY blends humor, nostalgia and heart into a timeless reminder that the choices we make can change everything.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for A Christmas Carol, with a Metropolis Family Series run December 3 - 19 and a limited run of the full-length Metropolis Main Stage production on December 13, 20 and 24. A Christmas Carol is adapted by Johanna McKenzie Miller with original music and lyrics by Cory Goodrich. Goodrich also serves as the director and music director for the production. The family series (85 minutes) includes performances starting December 3 with Thursdays - Saturdays at 10 a.m. and additional 12:30 p.m. performances on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 17. The full-length performance (105 minutes w/ intermission) schedule is Sunday, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 24 at 2 p.m. The performance on Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. will be closed-captioned, and there will be ASL interpreted performances by request. Tickets are now on sale for the Metropolis Family Series production for $16 general admission, and the limited-run Metropolis Main Stage production tickets are $29-49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121.

Metropolis' holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, returns for its 25th year. One cold Christmas Eve, the miserly Scrooge receives a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes him on a journey that will change him forever. Through the visitation of three ghosts – Christmas Past, Present and Future, Scrooge realizes that his greedy, selfish behavior has alienated and hurt everyone around him and resolves to change his ways. He awakes on Christmas morning renewed with the spirit of Christmas – generosity, kindness, community and love.

The cast of The Christmas Carol includes Cayenne Johnson (Fan); Patrick Dollymore (Scrooge); Jon Parker Jackson (Bob Cratchit/ensemble); Maya McEntyre (Belle/ensemble); Quinn Rigg (Marley/ensemble); Emily McCormick (Christmas Present/ensemble); Elsie Christiansen (Christmas Past/ensemble); Ben Brown (Christmas Past/ensemble); Spencer Curtis (Peter Cratchit); Lena Soszynski (Tiny Tim/ensemble); Harper Richards (Tiny Tim/ensemble); Ginger Johnson (Mrs. Cratchit/ensemble); Eldon Warner-Soriano (Fred/ensemble); Maya Hillman (swing) and Jacob Alexander (swing).

A Christmas Carol's creative team includes Cory Goodrich (director/music director); Samantha Flipp (stage manager); Caroline Mueller (assistant stage manager); Lauren Volkart (SM/ASM swing); Dan Frank (lighting designer); Christopher Kriz (sound designer); Emma Cullimore (costume designer); Kelli Lawrence (props designer); Renae Richmond (wig & hair designer); Lucas Banks (youth supervisor); Eddy Finch (youth supervisor swing); Carly Meyer (A1); Maya Reter and Elie Bufford (A1 swings) and Venus Petter (wardrobe supervisor).

ABOUT CORY GOODRICH, DIRECTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR

Cory Goodrich makes her directorial debut at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre with A Christmas Carol. Her career encompasses acting, singing, music direction, painting and composition. She is a Jeff Award recipient for her performances in Ragtime at Drury Lane Theatre and Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at Mercury Theater Chicago. Goodrich previously served as music director and composer for Metropolis' 2025 production of A Christmas Carol, creating original music for the production. Her Chicago credits include work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Mercury Theater and Ravinia Festival. She can be seen in "Chicago Fire," "Chicago Med," "Chicago Justice" and in the recently released movie "The OG Bootcamp." You can hear her folk albums W.O.M.A.N., Wildwood Flower, Long Way Around and an array of singles on your favorite streaming service and her book, "Folksong: A Ballad of Death, Discovery, and DNA" is available on Amazon.

ABOUT METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub that enriches the community through inspiring live performances, creative arts education and impactful partnerships. It fosters artistic excellence, cultivates multi-generational connections and offers inclusive experiences that engage and uplift all community members. Located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, Metropolis is not just a theatre, it is the cultural pulse of the area, surrounded by premier shopping, dining and nightlife. Metropolis offers a dynamic year-round season of professional theatre, comedy, concerts and cabaret performances along with engaging arts education for ages 3 to 85 years old. Serving more than 65,000 patrons annually from across Chicagoland and beyond, Metropolis plays a pivotal role in the community. It provides arts education programs that support thousands of aspiring young artists, as well as community engagement initiatives like the Third Act Players (musical theatre for thespians over 50), Crescendo Chorus (for singers over 55), Flourish in the Footlights (for young artists with disabilities) and Clearbrook on Cue (for artists with disabilities). Metropolis is proud to partner with local organizations such as Endeavor Health, Arlington Heights Senior Center and Clearbrook. Scholarships are available for students at the School of the Performing Arts to ensure access to the arts for all.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for A Christmas Carol, with a family series run December 3 - 19 and limited full-length run December 13, 20 and 24. A Christmas Carol is adapted by Johanna McKenzie Miller with original music and lyrics by Cory Goodrich. Goodrich also serves as the director and music director for the production. The family series (85 minutes) includes performances starting December 3 with Thursdays - Saturdays at 10 a.m. and additional 12:30 p.m. performances on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 17. The full-length performance (105 Minutes w/ intermission) schedule is Sunday, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 24 at 2 p.m. The performance on Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. will be closed-captioned, and there will be ASL interpreted performances by request. Tickets are now on sale for the Metropolis Family Series production for $16 general admission, and the limited-run Metropolis Main Stage production tickets are $29-49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for The Christmas Schooner, November 24, 2026 - January 3, 2027. The Christmas Schooner is presented with book by John Reeger and music and lyrics by Julie Shannon. The Metropolis production is directed by Patrick Tierney, music directed by Kailey Rockwell and choreographed by Jenna Schoppe. Previews are Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. (no preview on Thursday, Nov. 26), Saturday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The performance on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. will be closed-captioned, and the performance on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. will be ASL-interpreted. There will be no performances on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, Thursday, Dec. 31 or Friday, Jan 1. Tickets are now on sale from $25 to $49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121.

It is Christmastime in Manistique, Michigan, in the late 1880s, and a German-American family is preparing their home for the holidays. They receive a fateful letter from a cousin in Chicago, who writes with longing about her desire for a Christmas tree to rekindle the beauty and magic of their childhood holiday traditions. As it turns out, there are more than enough trees to go around in Manistique, and one man is brave enough to captain the journey through the treacherous Lake Michigan waves. His voyages become a yearly tradition, despite his wife's misgivings – until a fateful voyage makes her realize the true importance of his mission. The Christmas Schooner is a heartfelt tale of compassion, bravery and the commitment to make the world a better place, based on the real-life stories of the sailors who brought magic to Chicago families all those years ago.

The cast of The Christmas Schooner includes Arlo Beckwith (Karl Stossel, age 9);

Bennet Angsurat (Karl Stossel, age 9); Daniel Houle (Gustav Stossel); Jared Hoover (Peter Stossel); Jenece Upton (Alma Stossel); Cameron McCabe (Karl Stossel, age 15/Young Man); Xander Mendez (Karl Stossel, age 15/Young Man); Korey White (Rudy/Man #1); Ian Rigg (Oskar/Man #2); David Blakeman (Steve/Man #3); Matt Frye (Hans/Officer Wells/Man #4); Laura Quiñones (Enid/Woman #1); Amelia Tam (Martha/Kate/Woman #2); Janelle Sanabria (Olive/Rose/Woman #3); Molly Hamada (Mary Claire Daugherty/Young Girl); Layla Grace Robinson (Mary Claire Daugherty/Young Girl); Annie Beaubien (Swing); Kameron Rojas-Schueneman (Swing) and Xander Ramirez (Swing).

The Christmas Schooner's creative team includes Patrick Tierney (director); Kailey Rockwell (music director); Jenna Schoppe (choreographer); Katie Pohlheber (stage manager); Emma Lipson (assistant stage manager); Caroline Mueller (SM/ASM swing); Angela Weber Miller (scenic designer); Dan Frank (lighting designer); Sarah Ramos (sound designer); Ryan Suarez (assistant sound designer); Rachel Sypniewski (costume designer); Kelli Lawrence (props designer); Amber Wuttke (intimacy coordinator); Trevor Turner (technical director); Renae Richmond (wig & hair designer); Brett Baleksi (scenic artist); Taylor Repak (youth supervisor); Eddy Finch (youth supervisor swing); Maya Reter (sound engineer); Elie Bufford (sound engineer swing); and Venus Petter (wardrobe supervisor).

ABOUT PATRICK TIERNEY, DIRECTOR

Patrick Tierney is a longtime Chicago theatre artist, born and raised on the city's southwest side. Previous directing credits include: Little Women (Roosevelt University), Oliver! A Staged Concert (Metropolis), Gypsy (Beverly Theatre Guild), The Sound of Music and Hello, Dolly! (Beverly Arts Center), The Music Man (Children's Theatre of Winnetka) and Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish (Ghostlight Theatre). As an actor and proud member of Actors Equity, he has worked with the Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, Marriott Lincolnshire, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Metropolis and Chicago Kids Company, where he is currently directing several shows in their 26/27 season.

ABOUT KAILEY ROCKWELL, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Kailey Rockwell earned a bachelor of music from Columbia College Chicago and now works all over the Chicagoland area music directing, performing, arranging and teaching. Notable companies include: Paramount Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Music Theater Works, Goodman Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, North Carolina Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre and American Theatre Company. Rockwell is a proud member of AFM and MAESTRA.

ABOUT JENNA SCHOPPE, CHOREOGRAPHER

Jenna Schoppe returns to Metropolis after choreographing 9 to 5. Her other Chicago-area choreography credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Godspell and Once Upon A Mattress (Theo Ubique), Nunsense, Call Me Madam and Do Re Mi (Porchlight Music Theatre), Spongebob the Musical (Kokandy Productions), Mamma Mia and Kinky Boots (Highland Park Players) and Yank! A World War Two Love Story (Pride Films and Plays). In 2025, Schoppe made her directorial debut with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Clinton Area Showboat in Clinton, IA. She is currently on staff at Roosevelt University as an adjunct professor of dance.

ABOUT METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub that enriches the community through inspiring live performances, creative arts education and impactful partnerships. It fosters artistic excellence, cultivates multi-generational connections and offers inclusive experiences that engage and uplift all community members. Located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, Metropolis is not just a theatre, it is the cultural pulse of the area, surrounded by premier shopping, dining and nightlife. Metropolis offers a dynamic year-round season of professional theatre, comedy, concerts and cabaret performances along with engaging arts education for ages 3 to 85 years old. Serving more than 65,000 patrons annually from across Chicagoland and beyond, Metropolis plays a pivotal role in the community. It provides arts education programs that support thousands of aspiring young artists, as well as community engagement initiatives like the Third Act Players (musical theatre for thespians over 50), Crescendo Chorus (for singers over 55), Flourish in the Footlights (for young artists with disabilities) and Clearbrook on Cue (for artists with disabilities). Metropolis is proud to partner with local organizations such as Endeavor Health, Arlington Heights Senior Center and Clearbrook. Scholarships are available for students at the School of the Performing Arts to ensure access to the arts for all.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for The Christmas Schooner, November 24, 2026 - January 3, 2027. The Christmas Schooner is presented with book by John Reeger and music and lyrics by Julie Shannon. The Metropolis production is directed by Patrick Tierney, music directed by Kailey Rockwell and choreographed by Jenna Schoppe. Previews are Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. (no preview on Thursday, Nov. 26) and Saturday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The performance on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. will be closed-captioned, and the performance on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. will be ASL interpreted. There will be no performances on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, Thursday, Dec. 31 or Friday, Jan 1. Tickets are now on sale from $25 to $49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121.

The Auditorium (Chicago’s landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly presents comedian Nate Jackson as part of Jackson’s international “Big Dog Tour”. The two-performance evening takes place on Friday, December 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM and a late-night show added at 11 PM at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. Tickets on sale now at auditoriumtheatre.org or by calling The Auditorium’s Ticket Service Center at 312.341.2300.

Nate Jackson is one of the fastest-rising stars in comedy, with over 4 million TikTok followers and 700 million global views. Known for his viral content and electric stage presence, he’s currently selling out theaters across the U.S. and Australia on his Big Dog Tour. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Nate Jackson and his Big Dog Comedy Tour to The Auditorium for two shows,” said Rich Regan, CEO of The Auditorium.  “As we continue to expand the variety of comedy experiences we bring to our stage, welcoming a rising star like Nate is an exciting step forward. The Auditorium has always been a place where people come together to share unforgettable experiences, and we look forward to bringing Chicago audiences together for an evening of laughter with one of comedy’s most exciting emerging talents.”

On July 8th, 2025 Nate released his one-hour Netflix special, Nate Jackson: Super Funny which premiered to #3 on the Netflix Top 10. In his high-energy debut special, comedian Nate Jackson delivers bold, unfiltered comedy as he tackles everything from racially questionable cookies to everyday absurdities. Known for his sharp wit and undeniable charisma, Jackson seamlessly flows between masterfully honed material and his unique style of hilarious crowd work—fearlessly diving into taboo topics and leaving no subject off-limits.

In addition to his stand-up, Nate is currently shooting season 2 of Apple’s Bad Monkey and recurred in Peacock’s The Paper. He also shared the screen with Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer in Aziz Ansari’s Lionsgate feature Good Fortune. He previously had a recurring role on NBC’s hit series Young Rock as The Junkyard Dog and has made memorable appearances on Spirited (Apple TV+), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Nick Cannon Presents: Wild’N Out (MTV), All Def Comedy (HBO), Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City (Comedy Central), and Comic View (BET).

About The Auditorium

The Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of downtown Chicago, is a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to bringing people together through extraordinary performances, education, and community engagement. Since opening in 1889, The Auditorium has been a defining part of Chicago’s cultural and architectural legacy, presenting world-class music, dance, theater, and a broad range of artistic and civic programming within its iconic building designed by legendary architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler. Located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive - the center of Chicago, The Auditorium is committed to preserving and protecting its extraordinary historic home through ongoing preservation, restoration, stewardship, and care. Honoring its remarkable past while creating new experiences for audiences today, The Auditorium continues to inspire and connect people from Chicago and around the world.  For more information and a complete calendar of events, visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

The Joffrey Ballet announces the return of two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker this holiday season. For the first time since its 2016 world premiere, The Nutcracker features all-new, immersive projections by projection designer Daniel Brodie that dazzle audiences amidst the spectacle of Chicago World's Fair. New features also include a three-dimensional Golden Statue (upgraded from two dimensions in previous years). A beloved family tradition where history and dreams intertwine, The Nutcracker is a fantastical adventure that captures the wonder of the season. The Nutcracker will be presented at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago, in 27 performances, from December 4–27, 2026.

The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE says, "We are proud to present an experience that is more immersive, vibrant, and captivating than ever before. The investment in new projections brings the magic and grandeur of Chicago's 1893 World's Fair to life with remarkable depth and detail, enhancing Christopher Wheeldon's visionary production in exciting new ways. Combined with the extraordinary artistry of our dancers, who are performing more boldly than ever, audiences will experience The Nutcracker with a renewed sense of wonder and theatrical magic."

"Chicago's holiday traditions carry a deep sense of place, and we are proud that families have made the Joffrey part of their celebrations," says Greg Cameron, President and CEO. "This year, spectacular new projections give audiences even more to anticipate, while our partnerships with the Driehaus Museum and Oberweis carry The Nutcracker into more corners of the season, from the treasures of the World's Fair to a scoop of the Nutcracker Peppermint Swirl. We look forward to celebrating the rich history of the city we call home and the traditions that bring Chicagoans together."

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, Marie and her Nutcracker Prince 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.  

A ballet in two acts set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, The Nutcracker features an award-winning creative team, including Tony Award®-nominated set and costume designer Julian Crouch, Caldecott Medal Award-winning author Brian Selznick, Obie and Drama Desk award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist, Tony Award®-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, and new projections by Daniel Brodie. The production was adapted in 2021 by Wheeldon to fit the larger Lyric Opera House stage.

The Nutcracker features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

With gratitude to The Nutcracker Presenting Sponsor Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company, and Production Sponsors AARP and Robert's Pizza and Dough Company. Additional thanks to The Nutcracker Official Hotel Partner, The Langham, Chicago.

Experience The Nutcracker Across Chicago

Driehaus Museum

On view from December 2, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the Driehaus Museum invites visitors to step into a world of Nutcracker-inspired history and wonder with an immersive installation of World's Fair memorabilia, souvenirs, and printed materials drawn from the Museum's permanent collection. The installation reflects on the material design and culture of the Gilded Age, including objects from the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company and Gorham Manufacturing Company, and will be presented in the first-floor galleries of the 1883 Nickerson Mansion. The Driehaus Museum will engage children and families with a story time featuring costumed dancers from Joffrey's The Nutcracker (December 12, 9:00am-12:00pm), a World's Fair scavenger hunt, and The Nutcracker-themed photo opportunities in the bedecked halls of the Museum. Learn more HERE.

Langham Nutcracker Tea
Experience the magic of the holidays at The Nutcracker Afternoon Tea in partnership with The Joffrey Ballet. Delight in the wonder and whimsicality of the season with an afternoon of culinary delight. Sip on proprietary teas and crisp bubbly while savoring artisanally crafted festive pastries and treats. Relax with loved ones as The Pavilion's expert tea sommeliers provide unmatched service, creating the perfect setting to embrace the spirit of the holidays. Enhance the experience with live musical entertainment and special appearances by acclaimed dancers from the iconic Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet on select dates in December, bringing the timeless wonder of The Nutcracker to life. Learn more HERE.

Robert's Nutcracker Pizza

Recognized as #35 among the top 100 pizzerias in the world, Robert's Pizza and Dough Company offers a slice of holiday magic with Robert's Nutcracker Pizza, inspired by The Joffrey Ballet's reimagined The Nutcracker. This festive favorite includes an olive oil base, fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola, dates, figs, finished with Calabrian pepper oil, burrata, speck, pistachios, toasted walnuts, and a balsamic glaze—available December 1-31 for dine-in or by ordering the Nutcracker Pizza Kit. Learn more HERE.

Oberweis Nutcracker Peppermint Swirl

Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy and The Joffrey Ballet are bringing back a sweet holiday tradition. Nutcracker Peppermint Swirl, the limited-edition ice cream first created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker, returns this December. The rich, sweet sugar cookie ice cream swirled with a festive crimson peppermint ribbon will be available during performances at the Lyric Opera House and at Oberweis scoop shops and select grocery stores.

Schedule

The Joffrey Ballet performs The Nutcracker Friday, December 4–Sunday, December 27, 2026:

Friday, December 4 at 7:00 PM;

Saturday, December 5 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Sunday, December 6 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM;

Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 PM;

Friday, December 11 at 7:00 PM;

Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM;

Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 PM;

Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 PM;

Friday, December 18 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Sunday, December 20 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM;

Tuesday, December 22 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Wednesday, December 23 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Thursday, December 24 at 2:00 PM;

Saturday, December 26 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM;

Sunday, December 27 at 1:00 PM.

Tickets and Subscription Package

The Joffrey Ballet is the only official seller with the best prices. Be aware of ticket re-sellers offering overpriced or invalid tickets. Tickets are available for purchase at the Lyric Opera Box Office, located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr., by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org.  

This year only, The Joffrey Ballet's 2-show subscription packages for The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty start at $86.

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 71 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 2026–2027 Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, Gallagher, Anne L. Kaplan, Lynda Sue Lane, M.D., and The Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet. Season-long sponsorship of the Company Artists is generously made possible by Margot and Josef Lakonishok.

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 joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.