Joffrey Ballet Premieres 'Atonement' in Chicago: A Q&A with Artistic Director Ashley Wheater on Bringing Ian McEwan’s Novel to the Stage

This week, The Joffrey Ballet brings Atonement to the Lyric Opera stage. This is the first ballet adaptation of Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel turned Academy Award®-winning film, choreographed by Cathy Marston in a co-production with Ballet Zürich. Make It Better (MIB) spoke with Joffrey’s Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director, Ashley Wheater MBE, last week before […]

The Joffrey Ballet Returns to Live Performance at Lyric Opera House

The Joffrey Ballet’s 2021-2022 season marks a triumphant return to the stage. The fall program entitled Home: a Celebration, Oct. 13–24, 2021, includes original works with three inspired, new-to-the-stage works. They include: Bolero by Joffrey Company Artist Yoshihisa Arai, Under the Trees’ Voices by Joffrey Rehearsal Director Nicolas Blanc, and Swing Low by Winning Works choreographer Chanel DaSilva; along with the […]

Weekend 101: Feb. 15-17

It’s almost time for the world premiere of Joffrey Ballet’s highly anticipated “Anna Karenina,” and don’t miss a new Evanston festival, a City Winery concert, the end of Chicago Theatre Week, and more. “Anna Karenina“ Feb. 13-24 Chicago Based on Leo Tolstoy‘s novel, Joffrey Ballet, in collaboration with The Australian Ballet, presents the world premiere […]

'Novel' Ballets: 6 Stunning Ballets Inspired by Classic Books

Joffrey Ballet’s production of “Anna Karenina,” a world premiere collaboration between Joffrey Ballet and The Australian Ballet, will be gracing the Auditorium Theatre’s stage Feb. 13-24. Once you see Joffrey’s take on Tolstoy’s classic tale of political ambition and forbidden passion, you’ll come to understand that if a picture is worth a thousand words, surely a […]

Better Makers: Auditorium Theatre Fall Gala Raises More Than $355,000

Auditorium Theatre welcomes some of the biggest names in entertainment every year, and is also home to Chicago’s beloved Joffrey Ballet. On Nov. 3, the theater hosted its 2018 Annual Fall Gala, chaired by Lou and Jill Raizin and Lew Collens and Lee Ayers. The evening featured a cocktail reception at the Palmer House Hilton with music by […]

Theater Guide: Holiday Curtain Call

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Scrooge, George Bailey and the Sugar Plum Fairies appearing on local stages. But November and December also bring other theatrical gifts, including some promising comedies and dramas that have nothing to do with Santa Claus. “You Can’t Take It With You“ Nov. 6 – Dec. 13 A huge […]