We compare Chicago’s seven productions of the holiday ballet, sugar plums to sugar plums.
By Stevie Croisant and Matthew de la Peña
Published: November 17, 2011
Jack Gerling as the Nutcracker in Salt Creek Ballet’s production
Photo: Beverly Horne
Nearly drowning out the sound of sleigh bells ringing is the gentle thunder of ballerinas’ pointe shoes on Chicagoland stages. For dates, details and ticket information on seven locally produced versions of The Nutcracker playing the city and suburbs through December 27, click through the slideshow below—and learn a couple of fun facts about each production along the way.
The Nutcracker Index 2012 | Slideshow
Company Joffrey Ballet Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 4 Their average age 25 Cast size 104 Choreographer(s) Robert Joffrey, some scenes by Gerald Arpino Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Horseback Mouse King’s cause of death Shoe Number of dancing Snowflakes 12 Number of dancing Flowers 8 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Mother Ginger’s children (8) Setting United States, 1850 Tree transformation Grows Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 45
See Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre (50 E Congress Pkwy, 312-922-2110, auditoriumtheatre.org). Dec 7–27. $31–$132.
Photo: Herbert Migdoll012.ae.tock.NutcrackerIndex8.jpg748231
Company Ruth Page Civic Ballet Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 1 Her age 15 Cast size 98 Choreographer(s) Birute Barodicaite, Laura Wade and Dolores Long after Ruth Page Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch No Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Sleigh Mouse King’s cause of death Distracted by shoe, slain by sword Number of dancing Snowflakes 16 Number of dancing Flowers 13 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Bonbon children (8) and Mother Ginger Setting Germany, 1849 Tree transformation Spins Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 43
See Civic Ballet of Chicago's Nutcracker at:
Elgin Community College Arts Center (1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin; 847-622-0300, elgin.edu). Dec 8, 9 at 3pm. $32, ages 12 and under $20.
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts (19351 W Washington St, Grayslake; 847-543-2300, jlc.clcillinois.edu). Dec 15 at 1, 5pm; Dec 16 at 3pm. $21–$30, students and teens $15, under 12 $12.
Company Ballet Chicago Heroine Marie Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 1 Her age 12 Cast size 130 Choreographer(s) George Balanchine (Act II pas de deux), Patricia Blair, Daniel Duell Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Escort (Sugar Plum Fairy) Mouse King’s cause of death Shoe Number of dancing Snowflakes 16 Number of dancing Flowers 15 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Polichinelles (24) Setting European vilage, 1880s Tree transformation None Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 5 (2011)
See Ballet Chicago’s Nutcracker at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N Southport Ave, 773-935-6860, athenaeumtheatre.org). Dec 15 at 2, 7pm; Dec 16 at 2:30pm; Dec 21 at 7pm; Dec 22 at 2, 7pm; and Dec 23 at 2:30pm. $24–$30, students and seniors $16–$24, ages 14 and under $14.
Photo: Mark Niekrasz012.ae.tock.NutcrackerIndex1.jpg748053
Company Salt Creek Ballet Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 2 (Child Clara), 2 (Princess Clara) Their average age 10 (Child Clara), 16 (Princess Clara) Cast size 90 Choreographer(s) Dace Didonis, Sergey Kozadayev Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Gondola Mouse King’s cause of death Distracted by Clara, slain by sword Number of dancing Snowflakes 16 Number of dancing Flowers 11 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Bon Bons (8) Setting Germany, mid-1800s Tree transformation Grows Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 35
See Salt Creek Ballet’s Nutcracker at:
Center for the Performing Arts at Governors State University (1 University Pkwy, University Park; 708-235-2222, centertickets.net). Dec 8 at 1, 5pm. $15–$40.
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie; 847-673-6300, northshorecenter.org). Dec 15 at 1, 5pm; Dec 16 at 2pm. $24–$40.
Company Hyde Park School of Dance Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 1 Her age 10 Cast size 146 Choreographer(s) Gene Chua, Sarah Ford, Allyson Ratliff, Gayle Ratliff, Aimee Tye, August Tye Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Uncle Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Escort (Nutcracker Prince) Mouse King’s cause of death Sword Number of dancing Snowflakes 21 Number of dancing Flowers 15 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Mother Ginger and Polichinelles (14) Setting United States, 1892 Tree transformation Grows Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 4
See Hyde Park School of Dance’s Nutcracker at Mandel Hall (1131 E 57th St, 773-493-8498, hydeparkschoolofballet.org). Dec 15 at 2, 7pm; Dec 16 at 2pm. $20, students and seniors $10, ages 4 and under free.
Photo: Courtesy of Hyde Park School of Dance012.ae.tock.NutcrackerIndex4.jpg748115
Company Dancenter North’s The Magic of the Nutcracker Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 1 Her age 16 Cast size 75 Choreographer(s) Cheri Lindell with Greg Begley, Julie Cartier, Annie Haan and Jennifer Callaghan Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Candy sleigh Mouse King’s cause of death Distracted by Clara, slain by sword Number of dancing Snowflakes 14 Number of dancing Flowers 13 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Gingerbread children (10) Setting Germany, 1892 Tree transformation Grows Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 5
See Dancenter North's The Magic of the Nutcracker at:
Libertyville High School (708 W Park St, Libertyville; 847-367-7970, themagicofthenutcracker.com). Dec 8, 9 at 3pm. $15–$32. A shortened version for ages 6 and under, Clara’s Dream: A Storybook Ballet, plays Dec 8 at 10:30am ($12–$15).
Genesee Theatre (203 N Genesee St, Waukegan; 847-367-7970, geneseetheatre.com). Dec 15, 16 at 3pm. $35–$76.
Photo: Courtesy of Dancenter North012.ae_.tock_.NutcrackerIndex7.jpg748196
Company Ballet Légere Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 2 Their average age 12 Cast size 110 Choreographer(s) Allen Desterhaft, Nicole Kawell, Terri Louis-Konley, Donna Vittorio Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch No Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Sleigh Mouse King’s cause of death Sword Number of dancing Snowflakes 14 Number of dancing Flowers 12 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Bon Bons (8), Mother Ginger, Jesters (10) Setting Germany, 1890 Tree transformation No Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 70
See Ballet Légere’s Nutcracker at Dominican University's Lund Auditorium (7900 W Division St, River Forest; 708-488-5000, dom.edu). Dec 15 at 2, 7pm; Dec 16 at 2pm. For ticket prices and more info call 773-237-1874, or email balletlegere@yahoo.com.
Company Joffrey Ballet Heroine Clara Stahlbaum Number of dancers playing her 4 Their average age 25 Cast size 104 Choreographer(s) Robert Joffrey, some scenes by Gerald Arpino Relation of Drosselmeyer to heroine Godfather Drosselmeyer wears an eyepatch Yes Method of transport to Kingdom of the Sweets Horseback Mouse King’s cause of death Shoe Number of dancing Snowflakes 12 Number of dancing Flowers 8 Act II allegro giocoso: characters and number Mother Ginger’s children (8) Setting United States, 1850 Tree transformation Grows Ticket sales’ percentage of the company’s earned annual income 45
See Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre (50 E Congress Pkwy, 312-922-2110, auditoriumtheatre.org). Dec 7–27. $31–$132.
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