***** 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! 4 BIG Spotlights
This year I noticed several minor changes which made for big results. I’m not exactly sure what they did, but the Nutcracker v Rat King battle didn’t seem quite so awkward. The Ice Dance always looked crowded to me – too many dancers, not enough spaces – but this year it looked smoother. The dancers seemed to flow much more gracefully across the ice. And this year, the golden Statue of the Republic is an actual statue, not a cardboard cutout.
As you read this review, please note that the dancers I saw performing opening night might not be the same at your performance.
The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble and Children's Cast. Photo by Cheryl Mann
So, 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 which just happens to mention that building the Fair is creating jobs for immigrants fades into the construction site where the Great Impresario of the Fair (Stefan Gonçalvez), flourishing his cape, assisted by his apprentice, Peter (Hyuma Kiyosawa), 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 (Alan Ruesch) steals a tall, red box. His older sister, Marie (Amanda Assucena), 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.
The Nutcracker: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
When they get home, their Mother (Gayeon Jung) is working on a sculpture for the Fair. 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: Lucia Connolly, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Laila Madison, Lindy Mesmer, Basia Rhoden, Natali Taht, Jonathan Dole, Fernando Duarte, Guillem Cabrera Espinach, Hansol Jueng, Blake Kessler, Jackson Miles, Aaron Renteria, Valentino Moneglia Zamora.
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. Marie’s gift, a very familiar red box, makes Franz run to check the cupboard, which is empty. Marie is thrilled with her nutcracker until Franz knocks it out of her hands, breaking it. When the Great Impresario fixes it, Marie gives him a big hug. After the gifts, everyone began to dance. Eventually the party winds down leaving the family alone.
The Nutcracker: Amanda Assucena & Hyuma Kiyosawa. Photo by Cheryl Mann
After Mother tucks Franz and Marie – with her nutcracker – into bed, Marie has a really vivid dream about the Rat Catcher (Gutierrez) who has become the Rat King. He and his giant Rats (Fernando Duarte, Guillem Cabrera Espinach, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Zachary Manske, Wictor Hugo Pedroso) surround her. Suddenly the Rats are battling toy soldiers (Jonathan Dole, Derek Drilon, Davide Oldano, Scott Reed, Aaron Renteria, Valentino Moneglia Zamora) led by a life-sized Nutcracker (Hyuma Kiyosawa) is fighting the evil Rat King, then 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 (Coco Alverez Mena, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Ao Wang) are joined by the Ice Cavaliers (Evan Boersma, Jonathan Dole, Zachary Manske, Jackson Miles). All wearing gorgeous ice blue costumes, they are joined by the Snowflakes (Dayla Bowman, Tenley Connors, Amanda Illuminati, Seehyun Kim, Nae Kojima, Laila Madison, Lindy Mesmer, Lauren Quinn, Basia Rhoden, Julia Rust, Natali Taht, Hannah Jane Case**. The soloists, the Cavaliers and the Snowflakes are all involved in one of the most exquisite dances of the whole show, The Snow Dance.
The Nutcracker: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
As their ship makes land, the Queen of the Fair (Gayeon Jung) 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, Tenley Connors, Dara Holmes, Amanda Illuminati, Lindy Mesmer, Lauren Quinn, Basia Rhoden, Aoi Morohashi**, Derek Drilon, Reed Henry, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Jackson Miles, Xavier Núñez, Aaron Renteria, Paul Rivard**.
The Nutcracker: Gayeon Jung, Stefan Gonçalvez, Amanda Assucena, and Hyuma Kiyosawa. Photo by Cheryl Mann
The Great Impresario escorts Marie and the Prince to various pavilions:
- In the Spanish Pavilion, Spanish Dancers Seehyun Kim & Davide Oldano, Natali Taht & José Pablo Castro Cuevas stomp with a flamenco flair.
- In the Arabian Pavilion, Jeraldine Mendosa and Dylan Guiterrez take sensual to a whole new level.
The Nutcracker: Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez. Photo by Cheryl Mann
- A Chinese Dancer (Wictor Hugo Pedroso) and two Chinese Dragons (Rose Grim**, Jake Lapham*, Allyson Schmitt-Vallejo*. Devin Griffith**) celebrate Chinese New
- Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is a featured act on the Fair’s sideshow. Buffalo Bill (Valentino Moneglia Zamaora) demonstrates his roping and leaping skills while his Wild West Women (Coco Alvarez-Mena, Laila Madison, Julia Rust) dance backup.
- There are Venetian Masked Dancers, Yumi Kanazawa, Nae Kojima, Ao Wang.
The Nutcracker: Yumi Kanazawa, Nae Kojima, Ao Wang. Photo by Cheryl Mann
- Mother Nutcracker (Fernando Duarte) sits on the roof while the Walnuts dance below.
- Finally, The Queen of the Fair (Gayeon Jung) and her partner (Stefan Gonçalvez) 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 The Great Impresario, a Fair Worker, a Toy Soldier, an Ice Cavalier, a Spanish Dancer, a Fair Visitor (wearing a Kelly green vest) and Mother Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker: Stefan Gonçalvez and Gayeon Jung. Photo by Cheryl Mann
In most cases, I’ve credited the adult dancers above. I do think that everyone, including the children’s cast should be recognized, so here they are. Note: these performers do not appear in every production.
Ragamuffins/Rats: Jalissa Almonte, Lily Burch, Olivia Christopherson****, Mairah Lopez, Daisy Polo, Hiram Raigoza****
Worker Girls: Mabel Baker****, Norah Cuevas****, Delilah Gulbrandsen****, Mckenzie Martin, Lulu Verma, Kaylie Yong
Teen Worker Girls: Gia Perona****, Nanaka Wada****
Soldiers/Nutcrackers: Lyla Foster****, Alisha Hopkins****, Madeleine Leonard****, Cadence Ostrowski****, Olivia Torres****, Josephine Wolski
Cavalry/Dragons: Ruri Kishi****, Ariana Monserrat Rivera****, Sophia Sobek, Maelyn Stoner****
The Nutcracker: Amanda Assucena, Stefan Gonçalvez and Gayeon Jung. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Walnuts: Mabel Baker****, Norah Cuevas****, Mairah Lopez, Mckenzie Martin****, Lulu Verma****, Kaylie Yong
Waves/Dragons: Olivia Christopherson****, Gia Perona****, Daisy Polo, Nanaka Wada****
Junior Snowflakes: Camila Arellano, Tala Dresser****, Coco Garcia****, Hailey Grace Ocampo
Snowflakes: Sofia Amara****, Adelina Amineva****, Anne Bieselin****, Ana Sofia Calucin****, Emma Didricksen, Jimmy Gershenson****, Greta Gonzalez****, Valerie Lin, Caroline Roccasalva****, Mia Roman, Grace Rule****, Victoria Wong****
*Joffrey Studio Company; **Joffrey Academy Trainee; ***Joffrey Conservatory Student; ****Joffrey Academy Pre-Professionals
The Nutcracker: Amanda Assucena, Stefan Gonçalvez, Gayeon Jung, and Alan Ruesch. Photo by Cheryl Mann
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. Valet parking is also available. Running time is two hours with an intermission. Tickets start at $36. FYI (312) 386-8905 or www.joffrey.org.