The Factory Theater is proud to announce its 31st season of world premieres, including Marjorie Muller's The Sporting Life, October 10 - November 22; Zack Peercy's Kubrickian, February 13 - March 14, 2026; and Bill Daniel's Two Out of Three Falls, June 5 - July 18, 2026. Season Flex Passes are on sale now for the 31st season at TheFactoryTheater.com. All performances take place at Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. For more information, visit www.TheFactoryTheater.com. 

The Factory Theater's 31^st Season includes:

WORLD PREMIERE

The Sporting Life

Written by Marjorie Muller

Directed by Kayla Menz

October 10 - November 22

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St.

Previews: Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.

Press Opening: Friday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets: $30

The Sporting Life is a bloody coming-of-age play about a sixteen-year-old girl who seeks out the witch in the woods to finally get her period.

WORLD PREMIERE

Kubrickian 

Written by Ensemble Member Zach Peercy

Directed by AJ Schwartz

February 13 - March 15, 2026

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St.

Previews: Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 15 at

3 p.m.

Press Opening: Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at

3 p.m.

Tickets: $30

Kubrickian is an existential dark comedy about three men trapped in a white space waiting to have their vocal cords ripped out. And all

they seem to talk about is Stanley Kubrick.

WORLD PREMIERE

Two out of Three Falls

Written by Artistic Associate Bill Daniel

Directed by Ensemble Member Ashley Yates

June 5 - July 18, 2026

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St.

Previews: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 7 at 3 p.m.

Press Opening: Friday, June 12 at 8 p.m.

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets: $30

Two out of Three Falls is a gritty wrestling drama about a woman's ill-advised match up against her father's killer.

About The Factory Theater

For three decades, The Factory has created its shows from scratch, doing exactly the kind of theater they wanted to do. From writing workshops to the closing night bash, Factory shows are a unique experience that fits its exacting standards: original, bold and full-tilt. Its shameless ensemble are ambassadors of a good time, making certain that Chicago remains heartily entertained. For more information visit www.TheFactoryTheater.com.

Chicago - Jackie Taylor, the author of more than 100 plays and musical bios, thousands of poems, a screenplay, and two books, has been selected as the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s 2025 Fuller Award recipient in honor of her lifetime achievements. Taylor will be celebrated at a ceremony on Monday, October 20, at her Black Ensemble Theater (4450 N. Clark Street). Registration is open. Presenters will include Jeff Award-winning director Daryl Brooks, UIC Associate Professor of Theatre Lydia R. Diamond, poet and author Haki Madhubuti, and Harvey Young, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University. The American Writers Museum is a major partner in the program. 

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame selection committee consisted of past Fuller Award recipient Patricia Smith, Linda Bubon, Yoland Nieves, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, and Keehnen Owens. During the stringent selection process, the committee considered dozens of outstanding candidates, evaluating the quality of their literary output, the strength of their Chicago connections, and their greater contributions to Chicago’s literary life.

Born August 10, 1951 in Chicago, Taylor was raised in the Cabrini Green housing project. Taylor founded Black Ensemble Theatre in 1976, a year after she made her Hollywood acting debut in the now classic film Cooley High.  

Taylor majored in theater with an education minor, and after earning her B.A. from Loyola University in 1973, she began working with Free Street Theater. In addition to her acting break in 1975's Cooley High she produced and starred in television and film - as well as in theatrical productions with such companies as the Goodman Theater, Organic Theater and Victory Gardens Theater. Early in her career, Taylor concluded that Hollywood’s depiction of African Americans would continue to be largely negative, which led to her to found Black Ensemble Theater, according to her biography at History Makers. Since the start, Taylor has written, produced, and directed stories that cut across racial and cultural lines. Her mission, she says, is to bring people together.

Among Taylor’s many writing credits are The Other Cinderella, The Hoochie Coochie Man: Muddy Waters (co-written with Jimmy Tillman), The Marvin Gaye Story, The Jackie Wilson Story, All In Love Is Fair, I Am Who I Am (The Story of Teddy Pendergrass), Don’t Make Me Over (The Story of Dionne Warwick), Don’t Shed A Tear (The Billie Holiday Story), Somebody Say Amen, At Last: A Tribute To Etta James, and Precious Lord Take My Hand. She has had featured roles in several major films, including Hoodlum, Barbershop 2, The Father Clements Story, Losing Isiah and To Sir With Love: Part 2, and worked with such greats as Sidney Poitier, Laurence Fishburne, Vanessa Williams, Bill Dukes, Glynn Thurman, and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs.  

In 2010, Taylor broke ground on a new 20-million-dollar Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, which opened on November 18, 2011. The Free To Be Village development, introduced in 2023, aims to expand the existing campus, in part to offer affordable housing to artists in the community and establish an education program. The project’s goal is to reinforce and grow the theater’s mission of reducing inequality in the arts. 

Taylor earned a master’s degree in education and receive an honorary doctorate degree from DePaul University. She has worked for the Chicago Board of Education, the Illinois Arts Council, and Urban Gateways. Through the years, Taylor has taught every grade level from kindergarten through major universities. She served as president of the African American Arts Alliance and is on the board of the Betty Shabazz International Schools.

The City of Chicago honored her by naming a street after her, Jackie Taylor Street, and Governor Pat Quinn declared March 27, 2009, Jackie Taylor day in Illinois.

Taylor’s many awards include a Special Jeff Award for her cultural contributions and a League of Chicago Theater Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been named as an outstanding performer, director, and business woman by dozens of media outlets, including New City, Chicago Defender, Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times. She and her work have been featured in Jet, Variety, the New York Times, The Washington Post and Essence.

Registration closes when the theater reaches capacity.

Otherworld Theatre Company, the premier sci-fi and fantasy live theater production company in North America, today announced its smash hit original musical, "TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody" will begin a special six-week limited engagement at the Apollo Theater (2550 N Lincoln Ave) beginning Saturday, July 26. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, with a special fan presale beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 13. For tickets and more information, visit www.twihardthemusical.com.

Hailed as "too much fun" with a "surprising amount of heart" by the Chicago Tribune, "TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody" reimagines the beloved Twilight saga with uproarious humor and catchy original tunes. Written and directed by Tiffany Keane Schaefer with music by Brian Rasmussen, the smash hit "goes hard" (Chicago Reader) and recently concluded a sold-out run at Otherworld Theatre Company's Lakeview venue.

"Moving TWIHARD to the Apollo Theater is a significant milestone for us, and we're honored to share our musical parody in a venue with such a profound Chicago legacy," said Schaefer. "TWIHARD is such a celebration of creativity, passion and the enduring love for the Twilight saga, and we can't wait to create a magical experience that resonates with fans and newcomers alike."

Tickets to "TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody" will be available on Tuesday, June 17 at 10 a.m., with a special presale beginning Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m. For tickets and more information, please visit www.twihardthemusical.com. 

"TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody" will also release the original cast recording album on Friday, June 13, giving fans even more to take a bite out of ahead of the run. The recording will be available on Spotify.

About TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody
"TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody" is a hilarious reimagining of the iconic Twilight saga, blending catchy original songs, over-the-top humor, and a fang-filled twist on the story of Bella, Edward, and the supernatural world of Forks. Created by Otherworld Theatre Company—North America's premier sci-fi and fantasy theatre—this side-splitting parody delivers a wildly entertaining experience for die-hard fans and first-timers alike. Whether you're Team Edward, Team Jacob, or just in it for the chaos, "TWIHARD!" promises an evening of laughter, love and glitter.

Producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the highly anticipated return engagement of the smash-hit musical, MJ, will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28. MJ makes its Chicago return at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, August 12-31. Ticket prices start at $49 with a select number of premium seats available. Additional fees apply for online purchases. See below for more ticket information and the performance schedule.

Back by overwhelming demand, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical MJ is making a victorious return to Chicago. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond Michael Jackson’s singular moves and signature sound, offering a rare glimpse at the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It’s electrifying sold-out crowds on Broadway; in cities across North America; London’s West End; Hamburg, Germany; Sydney, Australia and once again at the Nederlander Theatre in August. 

The MJ creative team features Scenic Design by two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by seven-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by Tony Award winner Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe and Makeup Design by Emmy nominee Joe Dulude II. The creative team also features Musical Supervision by Tony Award nominee David Holcenberg, Orchestrations and Arrangements by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, and Music Direction by Nathanael Wilkerson and Jason Yarcho. Casting by The Telsey Office / Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Lindsay Levine, CSA.

The MJ First National Tour is general managed by Bespoke Theatricals. The stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Nicole Olson, Stage Manager Xavier Khan and Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Pierce, Christopher K Anaya-Gorman and Lauren Taylor Winston. The company management team is led by Company Manager Eric Armstrong and Assistant Company Manager Bianca Jean-Charles. 

For more information worldwide, visit: www.mjthemusical.com  ● Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
 

TICKET INFORMATION (as of 5/28/25, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets sales for MJ start tomorrow Wednesday, May 28 and range in price from $49 - $153 with a select number of premium seats available. Individual tickets may be purchased by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com, or any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Broadway In Chicago subscribers may add tickets to their subscription by  clicking here. Additional fees apply for online purchases.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of
entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Follow @BroadwayInChicago on Facebook,  Instagram , TikTok, and Bluesky #BroadwayInChicago

TICKETS HERE

See Chicago Dance, the dance industry's nonprofit service organization celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, is proud to announce organizations and performers participating in Chicago Dance Month, May 31 - June 28. Now in its 12th year, Chicago Dance Month provides more than 30 artists and companies the opportunity to share why Chicago’s dance scene is so strong. This summer celebration, featuring many free events, begins with a Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration, Saturday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

“For the last 20 years, See Chicago Dance has been connecting audiences to dance and dance artists to the resources they need,” said See Chicago Dance Executive Director Julia Mayer. “Dance Month is the most visible example of how we do both. This June, by partnering with Navy Pier and Night Out in the Parks, we are providing 34 artists and companies (out of 108 applicants) with performance opportunities in 14 different events. More than 50% of them are performing in Dance Month for the first time, demonstrating the relevance of this program and the vitality and growth of the Chicago dance community in recent years.”

Mayer continues, "Over the last 12 years of the program, curation decisions have been internally managed by SCD staffers. With recent organizational changes, we saw the opportunity to make the curation process more participatory and equitable. So, this year, we piloted the Community Curatorial Committee, a cohort of community members [makers, performers, administrators and the like] representing the breadth and dynamism of Chicago's dancing communities. We are thrilled with their selections and cannot wait for the larger public to experience this year's lineup!" In addition to the events listed below, See Chicago Dance will highlight the work of scores of artists and organizations during this citywide celebration. Chicago Dance 

Month events and Hot Deal discount offers will be added to future releases and updated regularly on the organization’s newly re-designed, state-of-the-art website, SeeChicagoDance.com.

EVENTS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED INCLUDE*:

Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration Navy Pier’s Lake Stage, 600 E. Grand Ave. Saturday, May 31 3 - 5 p.m. FREE

Chicago Dance Month begins with an opening celebration at Chicago’s Navy Pier featuring a dynamic mix of performances from companies and artists that span genres and cultural traditions. Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket, have a picnic and enjoy the performances.

The Chicago Kickoff Celebration performers include Ayodele Drum and Dance, Chicago Dance Crash**, Chicago Mexican Folkloric Dance Company**, Hiplet NEXT**, MOMENTA Dance Company, Natya Dance Theatre, Praize Productions, Inc. and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater.

Pier Dance

Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E. Grand Ave. Wednesdays, June 4 - 25 6:30 - 8 p.m. FREE

Enjoy free dance lessons on Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform every Wednesday in June. These sessions are great for those who love socializing, learning new dances, and being outdoors. Make it a date night or social event by sticking around for Navy Pier’s iconic fireworks display every Wednesday night following these exciting dance classes.

Companies and individuals participating in Pier Dance are Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m.: Bollywood Culture and Groove** Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m.: Traffic Jam Swing**

Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m.: Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas** Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m.: Movement Revolution Dance Crew

Wave Wall Moves

Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E. Grand Ave. Saturdays, June 7 - 28 4 - 5 p.m. FREE

In partnership with Navy Pier, dance comes to the Wave Wall stage, located across from the iconic Ferris Wheel grand staircase, with pop-up performances from a rotating roster of dance companies every Saturday in June.

Companies and individuals participating in Wave Wall Moves are

Saturday, June 7 at 4 p.m.: Dilshad Khan Kathak** and Phillip "Phree" Wood** Saturday, June 14 at 4 p.m.: Clinard Dance's Flamenco Project and Niko8** Saturday, June 21 at 4 p.m.: Chicago Tap Theatre and Yielded Vessels**

Saturday, June 28 at 4 p.m. - part of Navy Pier Pride: Fever Dream Dance Collective** and Queer Dance Freakout**

On the Move

Palmisano Park, 2700 S. Halsted St. Tuesdays, June 17 and 24 5:30 - 7 p.m. FREE

A series of short, site-specific performances that winds its way through public parks, inviting audience members to discover hidden pockets of movement.

•     Tuesday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. with Silambam Houston**, Aerial Dance Chicago, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council Ballet Folklórico, Chibuck Movement**,Raks Inferno and Shubukai.
•     Tuesday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m. with Bodies of Water**, Chicago Flying Fairies Culture and Arts Center, Anniela Huidoboro Castro**, Michelle Haskell**, Sildance/Acrodanza, Symbiosis Arts** and Winifred Haun & Dancers.

*Performers, companies and programs are subject to change.

**First-time Chicago Dance Month performer.

ABOUT JULIA MAYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEE CHICAGO DANCE

Julia Mayer, who was named Executive Director of See Chicago Dance in 2020, has been involved in and influencing Chicago’s cultural scene in a variety of capacities for more than 25 years, having worked at 3Arts Inc., The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Humanities Festival, Morrison-Shearer Foundation, and Museums In the Park. In addition, she has chaired and served on numerous committees from Links Hall to Chicago Dancemakers Forum to the Chicago Park District. Mayer has been a choreographer, teacher or consultant at Columbia College, University of Chicago and in Indiana at Valparaiso University and Saint Mary’s College. She has a master of fine arts degree in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Chicago.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CURATORIAL COMMITTEE

Chicago Dance Month programming is intentionally curated to ensure a diverse range of dance forms and performances, offering a large platform for a variety of companies and performers while reflecting the cultural richness of Chicago. In early 2025, See Chicago Dance convened a group of seven community leaders to serve as a new Community Curatorial Committee to assist in the curation of Chicago Dance Month, a task previously handled internally by staff. This group focused on developing performance rosters for Chicago Dance Month’s Kick Off performance on Saturday, May 31, 2025 and “On the Move” with Night Out in the Parks, and included representatives from Asian Improv Arts Midwest, Ishti Collective, the Peruvian Arts Center and ReinventAbility.

ABOUT SEE CHICAGO DANCE

See Chicago Dance is a nonprofit service organization with the mission to advocate for the dance field and strengthen a diverse range of dance organizations and artists through services and programs that build and engage audiences. Its vision is to fearlessly inspire an ever-growing inclusive community to share in and spread the power of dance in Chicago.

See Chicago Dance is the source for all things dance with the city’s most comprehensive resource for dance information and one of the largest–and newly designed–websites in the United States dedicated to the art form. Its two-pronged approach focuses on building audiences while developing a more cohesive dance community.

For audience members, See Chicago Dance offers a dynamic calendar of dance performances and experiences, Hot Deal ticket discounts, professionally written reviews and previews, and listings for more than 200 dance organizations.

For dance artists and organizations, See Chicago Dance provides a full range of Programs and Industry Resources to help build audiences, improve skills, and foster appreciation of dance in all its forms.

The critically acclaimed Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC), a Chicago-based company whose internationally-celebrated versatility and percussive power have been hailed as “impossibly complex” (The New York Times) and “sophisticated and commanding” (Los Angeles Times), will launch its 35th Anniversary season at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in May. Led by the consistent pioneering vision of Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard, the 35- year evolution of this company is leading to a flurry of major milestone moments - including the world premiere of groundbreaking work at the MCA, the company’s Jacob’s Pillow debut, and administrative and artistic expansion.

MCA 35th Anniversary Kick-Off: May 16-18

The highly anticipated main event will be the world premiere of The Sash, and its companion dance, Taking the Mick, which celebrated its premiere last spring at TIDC’s annual Auditorium Theatre performance.

Two years in the making, these companion works are inspired by the Irish on both sides of the pond: Taking the Mick, “whimsy meets percussive ferocity” (Chicago Reader) choreographed by Howard and Associate Artistic Director and dancer Chelsea Hoy, is set against a vaudevillian era narrative that dances amongst the madness between Irish immigrant insecurities, social mobility, one-upmanship and assimilation into America.

The Sash, choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard, Associate Artistic Director and dancer Chelsea Hoy and guest contemporary choreographer Stephanie Martinez, founder and Artistic Director of Chicago’s PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, presents an unprecedented movement vocabulary that brings the virtuosity and versatility of TIDC’s artists to a new level. Fusing Irish precision, traditions, and history with contemporary flair, The Sash brings to life Northern Irish composer Kevin Sharkey’s dream inspired by his childhood during the “Northern Ireland Troubles,” and reminding audiences that unity is stronger than conflict.

Set to a rousing score by Sharkey, the world premiere also features dialogue from the hit television series Derry Girls as well as spoken text provided by acclaimed Irish actress Eva Birthistle of the famed television series Bad Sisters.

“These companion works and their range represent a sort of ‘Sergeant Pepper’ moment for us,” says Howard. “Ours is a company that continuously and seamlessly re-grows to meet its expanding potential. Our artists’ movement vocabulary and prowess are developing at breakneck speed, and as choreographers, we love nothing more than to create new landscapes and open up new portals for our company members to soar through.”

The program will be rounded out with audience favorites that showcase the range of TIDC’s genre-defying repertoire, including Howard’s Push, an explosion of hard-driving percussive power demonstrates the company’s consistent message of female empowerment; and Michelle Dorrance and Melinda Sullivan's American Traffic, a hybrid of Irish step and American tap that plays at the intersection of rhythmic sensibilities and rebellious histories, amongst others. The program will feature original live music performed by TIDC’s band, fronted by Killarney-raised, New York City-based Brenoshea; company member Francisco Lemus who was named in Dance Magazine’s 2025 “Top 25 to Watch,” and a prelude that will introduce audiences to ten international dancers that make up TIDC’s brand-new Training Company, showcasing the high- powered athleticism of these new artists hailing from the US, Mexico, and Canada.

The four-performance series at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., May 16-18 will include:

• Friday, May 16: 7 m. - 11 p.m. - Opening night performance and 35th Anniversary gala celebration
• Saturday, May 17: 2 m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. performance
• Sunday, May 18: 1 m. matinee

The opening night performance and gala celebration will honor Trinity Warrior Award recipient Mark Kelly, former commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and Agnes Howard Award recipient Rie McGarry, who served as TIDC’s devoted costume manager and traveled with the company for more than a decade. The post- performance celebration will also feature drinks, light fare and celebrating with the artists.

Tickets for TIDC’s MCA engagement are on sale now and range from $40 to $80. Tickets for the opening night gala performance are priced at $275.

MAKING HISTORY - JACOB’S PILLOW

Following their MCA engagement, TIDC will celebrate their debut at Jacob’s Pillow, America’s longest running international dance festival, which celebrates its 93rd season in Summer 2025. Their engagement will feature six performances from July 10-13.

"Trinity Irish Dance Company embodies the spirit of tradition and innovation that we look for," said Jacob’s Pillow’s Executive and Artistic Director Pamela Tatge. “The company's commitment to blending the bold energy of Irish dance with contemporary sensibilities is unmatched. Their performances will mark the first time Jacob’s Pillow has presented a full program of Irish dance on the Ted Shawn Theatre stage. We can’t wait to celebrate their 35th Anniversary with their Jacob’s Pillow debut.”

For tickets and more information about their 35th Anniversary Season, please visit trinityirishdancecompany.com/performances.

EXPANSION

Leading into its 35^th Anniversary Season, TIDC is celebrating artistic and administrative expansion. The company recently welcomed a longtime leader in the Chicago dance community, former executive director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and River North Dance Chicago, Gail Kalver, to their team as Development Manager and Board Liaison. In response to growing interest from elite dancers around the globe to join TIDC’s mission and study Howard’s unique movement genre, known as progressive Irish dance, TIDC launched a new Training Company this fall.

The Joffrey Ballet concludes its 69^th season with two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's enchanting and family-friendly Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Set to Joby Talbot's hallucinatory sound world of sweeping melodies and ticking clocks, the production features vibrant stagecraft and puppetry by Tony Award®-winning designer Bob Crowley, transforming Lewis Carroll's classic tale with a modern twist. The production run has been extended for the first time in the Company's history, with 14 performances across three weekends at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, from June 5 to 22, 2025 (originally scheduled to close June 15). 

Based on Carroll's beloved story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland takes audiences on a magical journey through a fantastical world filled with iconic characters, including the high-strung Queen of Hearts, the entrancing Caterpillar, and the tap-dancing Mad Hatter. Through a seamless fusion of humor, whimsy, and fantasy, Wheeldon makes Wonderland wonderfully real in this audience-favorite dance adventure.

A highlight of the year, the Joffrey is the first American company to bring Wheeldon's whimsical Wonderland to life. Premiering in 2011 at the Royal Opera House in London, the ballet has since toured internationally with some of the world's most prestigious ballet companies.

Renowned for blending popular culture with artistic brilliance, Wheeldon also choreographed The Joffrey Ballet's reimagined holiday classic The Nutcracker, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. The Joffrey first collaborated with Wheeldon on Swan Lake in 2014.

"The Joffrey holds a special place in my heart. I can't think of a more fitting U.S. company to premiere Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," says choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. "The Joffrey dancers lead the way in storytelling through dance, approaching choreography with enthusiasm and energy. Their passion allows them to fully inhabit the zany and colorful characters of Wonderland. Each year, I'm in awe of their growth in The Nutcracker; it remains one of my proudest achievements. These dancers are artists of curiosity and great integrity."

The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE said, "Collaborating with Christopher is always extraordinary. We are honored to be the first American company to perform Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a production that dazzles on every level. This spectacular finale to our record-breaking season bursts with theatricality, whimsical stagecraft, and inspiring design. The versatility, theatricality, and technical prowess of the Joffrey artists will bring the iconic characters of Wonderland to life in the most magical way."

President & CEO Greg Cameron added, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland embodies the Joffrey's commitment to artistic excellence and accessibility. For the first time, we've added four extra performances to expand our Joffrey for All initiatives. These added performances provide more opportunities to engage with our Community Engagement partners and affiliated schools, offering equitable access to arts education for Chicago's youth. Wonderland is a joyful and imaginative showcase of the very best the Joffrey has to offer."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

Special thanks to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Producing Sponsor Margot and Josef Lakonishok; Presenting Sponsors Ethel Gofen, The Negaunee Foundation, and Sonja and Conrad Fischer; Major Sponsors Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Dancing Skies Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III, Audrey Weaver, and the Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet; Production Sponsors Lynda Sue Lane, M.D., Holly Palmer Foundation, Jeanette Stevens, Richard and Diane Weinberg, and an anonymous Production Sponsor; and Costume Sponsor Jane Ellen Murray Foundation.

Tickets and Schedule
The Joffrey Ballet presents Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 22, 2025; the full performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, June 5 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 6 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 7 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 8 at 2:00PM; Thursday, June 12 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 13 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 14 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 15 at 2:00PM; Thursday, June 19 at 7:30PM; Friday, June 20 at 7:30PM; Saturday, June 21 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, June 22 at 2:00PM.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Lyric Opera Box Office located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr. by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org.

About The Joffrey Ballet 
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 69 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.  

Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron. 

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2024-2025 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, Gallagher, Anne L. Kaplan, and Live Music Sponsors: Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges Season Partners: Chicago Athletic Clubs, and Athletico Physical Therapy, official provider of physical therapy for The Joffrey Ballet. 

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.