The Joffrey Ballet 2017-2018 Season Brochure

2017–2018 SEASON

SUBSCRIBE

TODAY

FEEL INSPIRED. FEEL JOY. FEEL HOPE.

MOVE WITH US

“ Our upcoming season marks my tenth year as Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet. During that time, we have worked tirelessly to redefine ballet and dance at the highest level. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, ‘The Joffrey…has never looked better.’” — Ashley Wheater

HERE AT THE JOFFREY BALLET, WE BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DANCE. Our 2017–2018 season celebrates love, joy, and the human spirit as only the Joffrey can— a powerful antidote to these uncertain times.

Surrender to the youthful passion of Giselle, one of the Romantic era’s most beloved story ballets.

Revel in the boundary-breaking of modernist pioneers. Rediscover wonder with Christopher Wheeldon’s wildly successful, Chicago-based Nutcracker. Bask in the Scandinavian midnight sun with Alexander Ekman’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, a tour de force that is seducing a new generation with the power of dance.

From timeless classics to daring world premieres, this is a season to feed your soul.

FEEL INSPIRED. FEEL JOY. FEEL HOPE.

Ashley Wheater Artistic Director

Greg Cameron Executive Director

The best reasons to subscribe to The Joffrey Ballet: SEE THE PERFORMANCES • Free, unlimited, hassle-free exchanges and lost ticket replacement • Discounts on all additional tickets during season, including The Nutcracker • Discounted parking near theater • Priority seating and guaranteed seats • Exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets to our gala performance MEET THE ARTISTS • “Meet the Artists” discussions at designated performances • Exclusive subscriber season preview presentation and reception at Joffrey Tower • Subscriber Appreciation Day: an exclusive behind-the-scenes event at the Auditorium Theatre GET THE SAVINGS • Subscribers save 15% or more • Joffrey Preferred Partners discounts at top restaurants and hotels

JOFFREY.ORG | 312.386.8905 SUBSCR IBERS

SAVE 15% OR MORE

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SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Giselle Staged by: Lola de Ávila Music: Adolphe Adam A sweeping tale of passion beyond the grave, de Ávila’s visionary Giselle elevates one of the greatest Romantic ballets to new heights. When a young peasant girl discovers her lover is betrothed to another, she dies of grief, only to be enlisted by the vengeful Wilis, a ghostly army of maidens who haunt the forests, dancing to death any male mortal who crosses their path. When her beloved wanders into their grasp, Giselle carries out the ultimate act of love to free him from his fate. An ethereal descent into madness, desire, and sublime beauty that will leave you breathless.

Joffrey Premiere

“ A dramatic and moving treat.”

— Ballet Dance Magazine

Giselle O C TO B E R 18 – 29, 2017

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Modern Masters Kammermusik No. 2 Choreographer: George Balanchine Music: Paul Hindemith This iconic Balanchine gem shatters convention with furious energy and stylized movements. A true feat for dancers—and a dizzying treat for audiences. Joffrey Premiere

Body of Your Dreams Choreographer: Myles Thatcher Music: Jacob ter Veldhuis A madcap play on fitness crazes, this inventive piece brings wit and whimsy to our obsession with physical perfection.

World Premiere Choreographer: Nicolas Blanc Music: Mason Bates Joffrey Ballet Master Blanc transports us through five mesmerizing worlds amid Bates’ lush orchestral and electronic soundscape.

IN ADDITION, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary Jerome Robbins’ birthday, we will be performing one of his signature pieces.

Modern Masters FE B R UA RY 7–18, 2018

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Midsummer Night’s Dream Choreographer: Alexander Ekman Music: Mikael Karlsson This is not Shakespeare’s midsummer.

Swedish trailblazer Ekman astounds with this ode to the longest day of the year.

Delight in joyful abandon and romance under the Scandinavian sun as dancers celebrate and let their imaginations run wild. A tour de force that took Stockholm by storm. North American Premiere

“ Ekman possesses a heightened sense of theatricality, allowing him to use his movement to interpret comedic impulses in the music.”

— Houston Press

Midsummer Night’s Dream A PR I L 25 – M AY 6, 2018

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A D D N O

The Nutcracker Choreographer: © Christopher Wheeldon Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Journey inside Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair with Wheeldon’s critically acclaimed holiday masterpiece. When young Marie and her mother, a sculptress who is creating the fair’s iconic Statue of the Republic, host a holiday party, a surprise visit from the charming Great Impresario sets off a Christmas Eve dream of whirlwind romance and adventure.

A must-see tradition boldly reimagined for a new generation.

Producing Sponsors Margot and Josef Lakonishok The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa

“ This extraordinarily ambitious and complex production demonstrated the highest level of artistry and inspired immense joy.”

— Chicago Sun-Times

The Nutcracker D EC E M B E R 1– 3 0, 2017

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A D D N O

Joffrey Gala Performance Come together to celebrate with our vibrant creative community at this season’s breathtaking gala performance, open exclusively to Joffrey subscribers and gala package donors.

This special one-hour, one-nightonly performance will include pieces hand selected by Artistic Director Ashley Wheater. Celebrate the end of another successful season with the Joffrey community.

EXCLUSIVE FOR

SUBSCRIBERS JOFFREY.ORG

312.386.8905

Joffrey Gala Performance A PR I L 20, 2018

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HIGHLY ANTICIPATED COLLABORATION WITH LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO

IMPORTANT TICKETING INFORMATION • Not part of Joffrey season and tickets not available through The Joffrey Ballet.

• Contact the Lyric Box office at 312.827.5600 with code JOFFREY20 to receive 20% off tickets.

• Performances take place at the Civic Opera House.

• For more information visit lyricopera.org.

Orphée et Eurydice Fully reimagined by Director and Choreographer: John Neumeier Music: Christoph Willibald Gluck One of opera’s most beautiful masterpieces, Gluck’s exquisite drama introduces us to Orpheus, the poet and musician whose every word and note communicate the most overwhelming love for his Eurydice. Refusing to accept her death, he courageously journeys to the Underworld to bring her back to life. Lyric presents Orphée et Eurydice in the Paris version, which contains thrilling ballet sequences that will come to vivid life under the direction and choreography of the legendary John Neumeier. This highly anticipated production marks Lyric’s first collaboration with The Joffrey Ballet.

Orphée et Eurydice SE P T E M B E R 23 – O C TO B E R 15, 2017

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How To Order Season Ticket Packages

PROGRAMMING SUBJECT TO CHANGE | MUSIC BY THE CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC

1. Choose Your 2017–2018 Series

Subscribe Today!

ALL PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE AT

312.386.8905

WEEK 1 WEEK 2

WED. 7:30PM

FRI. 7:30PM

SAT.* 2:00PM

SAT. 7:30PM

SUN. 2:00PM

SERIES

S1

S2

S3

S4

S5

Giselle

10.18.17

10.20.17

10.21.17

10.21.17

10.22.17

Modern Masters

02.07.18

02.09.18

02.10.18

02.10.18

02.11.18

Midsummer Night’s Dream

04.25.18

04.27.18

04.28.18

04.28.18

04.29.18

THU.* 7:30PM

FRI. 7:30PM

SAT. 2:00PM

SAT.* 7:30PM

SUN. 2:00PM

SERIES

STH

S6

S7

S8

S9

Giselle

10.26.17

10.27.17

10.28.17

10.28.17

10.29.17

Modern Masters

02.15.18

02.16.18

02.17.18

02.17.18

02.18.18

Midsummer Night’s Dream

05.03.18

05.04.18

05.05.18

05.05.18

05.06.18

50 East Congress Parkway UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

joffrey.org/subscriptions The Joffrey Ballet Subscriptions 10 East Randolph Street | Chicago, IL 60601 Please include a one-time $10 handling fee

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the generous support provided by our sponsors and partners.

*”Meet the Artists” discussions take place prior to the performances in this series.

SEASON SPONSORS

2. Choose Your Seating Level SEASON TICKET PRICES AA $405

A $267

B $219

C $156

D $87

Auditorium Theatre orchestra level (balcony not pictured in the diagram to the right and below)

LIVE MUSIC SPONSORS

STAGE

The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music Cheryle and Joel V. Williamson SEASON PARTNERS

3. Add Joffrey Gala Performance 2018 GALA PERFORMANCE PRICE FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

| FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 | 6:30PM

ALL SEATING $20

OFFICIAL PROVIDER OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

4. Add The Nutcracker and Save

| DECEMBER 1–30, 2017 | 2:00PM & 7:00PM

NUTCRACKER PRICES FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

DECEMBER 2017

P $128

I $106

II $85

III $72

IV $51

V $30

SUN. MON. TUE.

WED. THU.

FRI. 1 7PM

2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM STAGE

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2PM

3

4

5

6

10

11

12

13

17

18

19

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24

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26

7PM

2PM 7PM

2PM

27

15

14 7PM

7PM

7PM

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7 7PM

2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM

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28

2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM

22

29

SAT. 2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM 2PM 7PM 2PM

To learn more about Joffrey sponsorship opportunities call 312.386.8952.

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Photo Credits: Cover: Fabrice Calmels & Christine Rocas | Inside Cover: Hans Nilsson/Royal Swedish Opera | Benefits: Yoshihisa Arai & Rory Hohenstein Giselle: Ansa Deguchi/Oregon Ballet Theatre, Blaine Truitt Covert | Modern Masters: Carla Körbes & Batkhurel Bold/Pacific Northwest Ballet, Angela Sterling | Midsummer Night’s Dream: Hans Nilsson/Royal Swedish Opera | The Nutcracker: The Joffrey Ballet | Gala: Dylan Gutierrez & Victoria Jaiani Orphée et Eurydice: Painting Isle of the Dead by Arnold Böcklin | Back Cover: Dara Holmes Photography by Cheryl Mann except where noted | © The Joffrey Ballet 2017. All rights reserved.

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FEEL INSPIRED. FEEL JOY. FEEL HOPE.

2017–2018 SEASON

JOFFREY.ORG | 312.386.8905

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