Jack Reed Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) A look at the forum shows I've been commenting on this production for eleven years now. It's a little different each time, and I won't know what changes to report about this year's until I catch up with it, which I surely will. Long story short, I was underwhelmed by the complicated and fussy new Wheeldon version for the Joffrey Ballet last weekend, and I look forward to B.C.'s more dancey, more musical approach as an antidote - although to be fair it must be said that as B.C. is primarily a school, one of the best Balanchine-oriented ballet schools in the country, I think it's fair to say, with slightly younger dancers than Joffrey, the seasoned strength in excellence of the professional Joffrey performers - from the top of the large cast right down to the smallest role (and on down into the orchestra pit) will not likely quite be matched - B.C.'s values are considerable: This Nutcracker is about dance and music! (It's value for money, too, at about $25 - $35 a ticket.) And when they dance, they reveal that the line between student and professional can be pretty fuzzy. So check it out: Evening shows are on December 16 and 17 at 7:00, matinees on December 17 and 18 at 2:00, and the Athenaeum Theater is at the intersection of Lincoln, Wellington, and Southport Avenues in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. (Here's a link to their current Nutcracker photo gallery, with some more images, as well as a few repeats from the link above; I haven't any new identifications, though.) Edited December 14, 2016 by Jack Reed to stress B.C.'s Balanchine orientation Link to comment
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