The Joffrey's 'Little Mermaid' reaches for audience with its largest non-'Nutcracker' production The ballet company is reporting a strong season so far and hopes the massive production. The Joffrey Ballet's The Little Mermaid - Mounts Chicago Premiere Of First created in 2005 for the Royal Danish Ballet, Neumeiers Little Mermaid was made in homage to Andersens 200thbirthday. Joffrey Ballets Little Mermaid unsettles as it entrances, 'Chicago Tribune' Review: Enchanting Little Mermaid is one of Joffrey Ballets most ambitious projects yet, Bravura Ballerina Leads a Strange but Stunningly Performed Take on The Little Mermaid. So, as much as the ballet is a story of a mermaid who longs for love and pines to be human, it is also about the power of fantasy, imagination and words. Yoshihisa Arai and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. This Little Mermaid is a macabre deep-dive into Hans Christian Andersens 1837 literary fairy tale. (Cheryl Mann / HANDOUT). Conductor Scott Speck is in top form, propelling the ballet forward and drawing the absolute best from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, which delivers in-the-moment playing that piercingly conveys the musics turbulent, ever-changing flavor. The Joffrey Ballet closes its 67th season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's beautifully haunting interpretation of The Little Mermaid. Magical sets. During the celebrations, the Sea Witch appears as part of a strange entertainment. She really does love him. Expanded Educational Programs. Wheater said its been wonderful to see the support from the audience and they feel encouraged as they stage the ambitious production of The Little Mermaid after putting it on hold for two years. April 19, 2023 After treading water since 2021 in response to pandemic concerns, " The Little Mermaid " will finally be on stage through April 30th in what the Joffrey Ballet says is one of the biggest non-Nutcracker productions in the company's history. Migrant children have been put to work in hazardous jobs, in violation of child labor laws, according to recent news reports. While largely following the original plot, it adds the Andersen-like character of the Poet (Stefan Goncalvez), an odd, anachronistic and socially inept figure who shapes and intervenes in the tale that follows but also fearfully shirks from it at times. What Should I Look For? Yoshihisa Arai, who retires at the end of the season, is magnificent as the conniving, evil Sea Witch. Note how the sets seem to close in on her, in contrast to the open expanse of the ocean. CBS-Chicago . The only real joy arrives at the very end, when the Poet and his mermaid creation come together in a mystical realm floating in the stars. Joffrey Ballet 'The Little Mermaid' performing final shows this weekend Adorned in an aquatic-hued bodice and extra-long, silky Hammer pants, Jaiani swims through an undulating, underwater playground with the assistance of three tall men dressed like Samurai. Lera Auerbachs glorious original score is the icing on this cake in what is likely the biggest, most ambitious of Joffreys projects to date (Christopher Wheeldons Nutcracker notwithstanding). Bells sound as a group of convent schoolgirls arrive at the seashore. Weaving in and among a corps de ballet that mimics swaying coral and schools of fish, the Mermaid saves Gutierrez, whos gone overboard to retrieve a golf ball inadvertently lobbed over the deck railing of his White Star-esque ship. The Joffrey Ballet caps a spectacular 2022-23 season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's "The Little Mermaid." Those headed to the Lyric Opera House hoping to. By Kyle MacMillen, Chicago Sun-Times April 20, 2023 Skonie Skoop on Twitter: "RT @cbschicago: Joffrey Ballet's 'The Little 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. 'Chicago Tribune' Review: Enchanting 'Little Mermaid' is one of Joffrey One major complication for the choreographer in creating this ballet was how to make dancers look like they had fins, not legs. (Cheryl Mann / HANDOUT). While the ballet and the Disney film share certain narrative landmarks, you wont find thingamabobs or dancing lobsters here. High drama. All casting is subject to change. This prologue serves as a framing narrative for the rest of the ballet and introduces us to the Poet and Edvard. . As the Mermaid watches in despair, the Prince falls for the Princess. Then theres Victoria Jaiani, who just two months ago was dancingthe lead role in Anna Karenina. I didnt think she could get better than that, but here we are. Intense theatricality. WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. That includes visual arts all across the art spectrum, so I think its even higher for the performing arts folks.. Victoria Jaiani and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. 10 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. The Joffrey Ballet The Little Mermaid' When: 7:30 p.m. April 21, with eight more performances through April 30 Where: Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive Tickets: $36-$200 Info: joffrey.org So, as much as the ballet is a story of a mermaid who longs for love and pines to be human, it is also about the power of fantasy, imagination and words. As the ship is about to depart, the Prince discovers the Princess among the passengers. Though its pacing and narrative may flounder, the sheer creative ingenuity and an enrapturing performance from Gayeon Jung make "The Little Mermaid" an unmissable entry in Joffrey's expansive repertoire. Because of that, and the sheer difficulty of everything about this production from Neumeiers unnatural movement language to undulating LED color-changing light tubes depicting the oceans surface to Auerbachs gorgeous, unforgiving (and nearly uncountable) score has to be perfect to be legible. The little Mermaid is determined to be a woman, but the closed rooms of the earth world stifle her attempts. The ballet company is reporting a strong season so far and hopes the massive production brings in pre-pandemic level audiences. April 29, 2023 / 9:36 AM Joffrey Box Office 312.386.8905. The Joffrey Ballet. One of the girls, a Princesslooking very much like Henriettediscovers the Prince. The Poets love gives the Mermaid a soul, making her immortal; the Mermaids story will make the Poet immortal. Theyve danced together earlier in the ballet, but not with this kind of uniformity, almost as if one is the shadow of the other. Review: Enchanting 'Little Mermaid' is one of Joffrey Ballet's most Performances & Tickets 22-23 Season 'The Little Mermaid' Program Book 'The Little Mermaid' Program Book Beyond Borders The Nutcracker Anna Karenina The Little Mermaid Winning Works 2023 Joffrey leadership welcomes you to 'The Little Mermaid', with additional notes and insights from the artists. Choose another item. Claire Rice, executive director with Arts Alliance Illinois, told WBEZs Reset theaters business models are facing fundamental challenges and the words fiscal cliff are not unfamiliar to the areas performing arts organizations. Love Versus Passion in the Joffrey Ballet's Feverish Production of Look for the way her movement conveys pain and agony. Victoria Jaiani practicing for her performance as the Little Mermaid. Did they nearly kiss? Joffrey leadership welcomes you to 'The Little Mermaid', with additional notes and insights from the artists. I cant explain the Samurai and wont try. Joffrey Box Office 312.386.8905. Elmhurst Blotter: Man charged with battery for allegedly punching a security guard at a bar, Hinsdale police blotter: multiple thefts reported by patients at Hinsdale Hospital, Glenview police blotter: Harwood Heights woman charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Her pain reflects the Poets own painful situation. Oral Sex Is a Leading Factor in the Throat Cancer 'Epidemic' in the United States, Doctor Says He dives into the sea to retrieve a golf ball, but a storm created by the evil Sea Witch causes him to nearly drown. As resident dance company of Lyric Opera House, the Joffrey presents performances of the highest quality, in one of the most renowned venues in the world. The Little Mermaid | The Joffrey Ballet A gripping tableau of shadows and colors, Neumeier's world-renowned production of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 tragic folktale follows the tormented mermaid heroine on a journey between the divergent worlds of land and seaone . At the same time, Yoshihisa Arai (retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season) could hardly be more menacing as the Sea Witch, with his white-and-black face paint and his lurking, crouching and serpentine moves. This ballet is an adaptation of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, telling the story of a young mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and makes a dangerous deal with a sea witch to become human herself. Accidently hitting a ball overboard, he dives into the sea to retrieve it. The Plot:We meet the Poet at the bottom of the sea, where his desire for Edvard takes shape as a mermaid who dreams of visiting the human world. Joffrey Ballet: The Little Mermaid, Civic Opera House, Chicago, April . There is much to praise, starting with her amazing technique and athleticism, which is shown again and again, including a combination in which she peers out from between the legs of the Prince and the rest of her body is flat against his back. Their Captain, a Princestrongly resembling Edvardis absurdly playing golf. Germane to Neumeiers aesthetic is an uncompromising commitment to the world he seeks to create often at the expense of what ballet audiences might typically consider beautiful. Expanded Educational Programs. Joffrey Ballet's 'The Little Mermaid' final shows happening this weekend https://cbsnews.com/chicago/news/joffrey-ballets-the-little-mermaid/?taid . She tentatively wakes him. Victoria Jaiani and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. High drama. Most unusual and perhaps the key ingredient is Auerbachs use of the theremin, an electronic instrument invented in 1928. Yoshihisa Arai and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. The Joffrey Ballet. The Joffrey Ballet. The show undertakes a haunting version of the tale we're all familiar with. Look closely at The Little Mermaid and one can glimpse all these influences. Joffrey Ballet: The Little Mermaid Jaianis shaking new legs collapse beneath her as she navigates a place she clearly does not belong. Joffrey Ballet Presents "The Little Mermaid" - Concierge Preferred 10 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. See casting information for 'The Little Mermaid'. Abruptly he departs for his wedding night with the Princess. Her body is crumpled into itself and she tentatively extends and examines her new legs and wobbles as she tries to stand up. We had over 50,000 people come to The Nutcracker. Joffrey Ballet's 'Little Mermaid' unsettles as it entrances On board the passing ship, sailors are exercising. Love gives the little Mermaid courage to beg for a human body. Moments of this Little Mermaid are, indeed, perfect. The Poet clearly thinks of Edvard as more than just a friend and is in despair over his wedding to Henriette. Heartrending romance. Notice how the Poets movements seem slower and more deliberate than those of Edvard and the wedding party, and how both groups have different stylized movements that convey their thoughts and emotions. The Joffrey Ballet proudly presents "The Little Mermaid". RT @cbschicago: Joffrey Ballet's 'The Little Mermaid' final shows happening this weekend https://cbsnews.com/chicago/news/joffrey-ballets-the-little-mermaid/?taid . Joffrey Ballet mounts an ambitious, melancholy reimagining of The Each seems the shadow of the othereach abandoned by the object of their intense love. The Little Mermaidruns now-April 30 at the Lyric Opera House. Season Performances. PART 1 As the love between the Prince and Princess intensifies, the little Mermaid suffers the intense pain of human disappointment. A violent ritual results in the Mermaid gaining legs, but even a single step on land causes extreme pain. Tickets: $36-$200 at 312-386-8905 and Joffrey.org. The little Mermaid is left alone. A gripping tableau of shadows and colors, Neumeiers beautifully haunting interpretation of Hans Christian Andersens 1837 fairytale follows the tormented mermaid heroine on a journey between the divergent worlds of land and seaone utterly complex, the other magnificently serene. It turns out to be a raw deal for the Mermaid, for whom the human world shows little kindness or understanding. Category 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Continue Shopping Item details Date. Rice said the pandemic exacerbated some of the downward attendance trends affecting theaters but now could be a time to reimagine the way arts institutions can engage audiences. Lightfoot warns the Texas governor to pause new transfers of migrants as the citys resources are stretched thin. Choose another item. And about these two men? Lyric Opera House. When: 7:30 p.m. April 21, with eight more performances through April 30, Where: Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive. Neumeier also led the set design, costumes and lighting and called for a grand scale of sets and costumes. Tickets start at $36. Ever since we started our season back in October, running through The Nutcracker and then Anna Karenina, we have seen our audiences come back.. And yet, they come together, bound by their loss, creator and creation. But the Mermaid cant do it. So the Sea Witch offers a solution: he says if she kills the Prince, shell get her tail back and be able to go home. The semi-abstract sets, designed by Neumeier, who also served as costume and lighting designer, are both low and high tech. The Plot:Most of this act shows the Mermaids torment. This ballet is dramatic, visually stunning, and ultimately heartbreaking. A terrible ritual follows, and taking her beautiful tail as ransom, the Sea Witch violently transforms her. However, instead of happily ever after, she now has a front row seat to watch his developing relationship with the Princess. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Joffrey Ballet will close its 67th season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's hauntingly . Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. So, as much as the ballet is a story of a mermaid who longs for love and pines to be human, it is also about the power of fantasy, imagination and words. The Little Mermaid. Texas plans to resume busing migrants on Monday. The Prince, passing by, takes pity on this strange creature and carries her on board his ship. In the News. But most important is her ability to inhabit and project the feelings of the Little Mermaid, especially the characters fear, doubt and vulnerability when she arrives essentially naked onshore about being transformed into a human. 'The Little Mermaid' Program Book | Joffrey Ballet After all the guests have departed, the little Mermaid encounters the Prince. Victoria Jaiani (center, as the title character) and the company of The Little Mermaid at the Joffrey Ballet. Recommended Stories. / CBS Chicago, CHICAGO (CBS) -- Time is running out to watch the Joffrey Ballet's performance of "The Little Mermaid.". She seeks out the Sea Witch for help. This hauntingly beautiful production blends dance, dramatic storytelling and. So before the lights come up on the performance be sure to read the synopsis of the work printed in your program. Joffrey Ballet Mounts Chicago Premiere Of John Neumeier's THE LITTLE The Joffrey Ballet caps a spectacular 2022-23 season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeier's "The Little Mermaid." Those headed to the Lyric Opera House hoping to encounter a certain seafaring ginger princess are in for a surprise. Perhaps most striking are the suspended, curved lines of inlaid LED lights that elegantly evoke waves when combined with blue general lighting and a watery backdrop. Jos Pablo Castro Cuevas, Anais Bueno and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. Intense theatricality. The Story of John Neumeier's 'The Little Mermiad' A Tale of Memories, Fantasies, and Longing PROLOGUE During a sea voyage, a Poet remembers the wedding of his dear friend Edvard to Henriette. The Joffrey premiere continues through April 30 at the Lyric Opera House. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. This production also would not have been possible without the milestone, career-defining performances of the principals, starting with Jaiani, who is onstage for nearly the entire ballet in the title role and displays extraordinary endurance and commanding and unwavering stage presence. Joffrey's release emphasizes that . Chicago's Joffrey Ballet stages 'The Little Mermaid' | WBEZ Chicago Heartrending romance. Realizing this, Mermaid tries to reverse course and return to the sea, pleading with the Sea Witch, who will give her tail back only if she kills the Prince. Joffrey Ballet 'The Little Mermaid' performing final shows this weekend. The Director and Chief Choreographer of The Hamburg Ballet has continually focused on the preservation of ballet tradition while giving his works a modern dramatic framework. Wheater said Joffrey is confident that large audiences are ready to come back out for live arts and support the production. Where: Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Running time: 2.5 hours with one intermission. In 2015, Joffrey presented theAmerican premiereof his adaptation of the 1876 ballet Sylvia an unpopular work I happened to love. 'The Little Mermaid' April 19, 2023 - April 30, 2023 A gripping tableau of shadows and colors, Neumeier's beautifully haunting interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairytale follows the tormented mermaid heroine on a journey between the divergent worlds of land and seaone utterly complex, the other magnificently serene. The Sea Witch agreesbut at a cost. With disorienting dissonances, eerie glissandos, angry percussion, thrusting brass, plaintive violin solos and punctuating, insistent piano strokes, the music is at once forlorn and raw, atmospheric and angry, entrancing and agitating. All of her work is interconnected as part of a cohesive and comprehensive artistic worldview. Joffrey Ballet Mounts Chicago Premiere of John Neumeier's The Little 1920 South Wabash Avenue . And watch for her interactions with both the Prince and the Poetwhat do they tell us about her? Watching John NeumeiersThe Little Mermaidis like stepping into another world, or an alternate dimension. Note: The next Joffrey production will be "The Little Mermaid," a ballet by John Neumeier running April 19-30 at the Lyric Opera House. But the creative mind of John Neumeier, truly, is like no other; iconoclastic to the core, Neumeier is consistently weird and wonderful but not everyones cup of tea. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A ship passes by and its captain is a Prince who bears a startling resemblance to Edvard (see where this is going?). And Dylan Gutierrez is at his finest as the Prince, who is present in nearly every scene but still comes off as blithely disconnected to everyone including his wife. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Its really going to take a confluence of both audiences coming back, but then additional government support for this important work, philanthropic support and reexamination of the business model, said Rice. Players wave their hands near two antennas to create wavering, otherworldly sounds that are ideally suited to this ballet. The ballet, choreographed by world-renowned John Neumeier, is inspired by Hans Christian Andersens 1837 tragic love story in which a mermaid willing to sacrifice everything for love trades in her tail for legs to dance on land. Bravura Ballerina Leads a Strange but Stunningly Performed Take on 'The After treading water since 2021 in response to pandemic concerns, The Little Mermaid will finally be on stage through April 30th in what the Joffrey Ballet says is one of the biggest non-Nutcrackerproductions in the companys history. At the bottom of the sea, the Poets longing for Edvard takes the form of a little mermaid. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Joffrey Ballet's 'Little Mermaid' unsettles as it entrances 'The Little Mermaid' | Joffrey Ballet What Will I See? For tickets, visit joffrey.org or call (312) 386-8905. The Joffrey Ballet caps a spectacular 2022-23 season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeiers The Little Mermaid. Those headed to the Lyric Opera House hoping to encounter a certain seafaring ginger princess are in for a surprise. The Mermaid rescues him, bringing him to shore, and falls in love. Joffrey Ballet 'The Little Mermaid' performing final shows this weekend But upon awakening on the beach, the Prince sees not the Mermaid, but a Princess with (surprise!) First created in 2005 for the Royal Danish Ballet, Neumeiers Little Mermaid was made in homage to Andersens 200thbirthday. They leave together. The Little Mermaid | Civic Opera House | Chicago, IL | Theater in Chicago Chicago is right to honor Neumeier, who marks his 50thand final season as head of Hamburg Ballet this year. South Loop Studios. 2022-2023 Season | Joffrey Ballet Jos Pablo Castro Cuevas, Anais Bueno and ensemble in "The Little Mermaid" by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. Administrative Offices . After all of the angst and torture of the earlier scenes, how does this ending, in which these two depend on each other, create a new sense of hope? They are onecreator and creation. We conducted a brief survey of the entire field showing 41% in November of 2022 are still seeing significant revenue loss for their organization, said Rice. Intense theatricality. To come and see these beautiful dancers that are at the top of their professional life deliver such extraordinary performances. Joffrey Ballet to Presents Chicago Premiere of John Neumeier's THE But not all arts organizations are feeling Wheaters confidence in audiences. Magical sets. Register or Buy Tickets, Price information. April 29, 2023 at 7:31 AM. The deck of a cruise ship, for example, is simply and effectively suggested by a railing, the outline of steam chimneys and blue in the distance. Then there was Joffreys 2017debut collaborationwith the Lyric Opera, in Neumeiers Orphee et Eurydice., 'Chicago Tribune' Review: Enchanting Little Mermaid is one of Joffrey Ballets most ambitious projects yet. Joffrey Ballet 'The Little Mermaid' performing final shows this weekend Tickets are on sale for all three performances and start at $36. As it turns out, deals with the devil rarely pan out. a resemblance to Henriette. With sets and costumes of the grandest scale and an original score by composer Lera Auerbach, this fantastical love story, based on Andersens original and decidedly complex themes, makes its long-awaited Chicago debut. Its gut-wrenching, often sardonic and bizarrely beautiful. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg) The Joffrey Ballet closes its 67th season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeier 's beautifully haunting interpretation of The Little Mermaid. Araceli Gmez-Aldana is a reporter and host at WBEZ. The Story of John Neumeier's 'The Little Mermiad' | Joffrey Ballet This ballet is dramatic, visually stunning, and ultimately heartbreaking. With sets and costumes of the grandest scale and an original score by composer Lera Auerbach, this heartbreaking tragedy, based on Andersens original and complex themes, makes its long-awaited Chicago debut. Stefan Goncalvez handily secures his place as one of Joffreys leading men as the Poet, presumably embodying Andersen himself as the empathetic architect of this story. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersens fable about a mermaid willing to sacrifice everything for the man she loves, this ballet is a modern take on this classic tale. The Joffrey Ballet caps a spectacular 2022-23 season with the long-awaited Chicago premiere of John Neumeiers The Little Mermaid. Those headed to the Lyric Opera House hoping to encounter a certain seafaring ginger princess are in for a surprise. The Mermaidlike the Poetisnt going to take this lying down. The scene in which the devilish Sea Witch strips of her of these pants and the rest of her garb when she gives up her tail to become human could hardly be more gut-wrenching. Please enter valid email address to continue. Mourning his separation from Edvard, a tear rolls slowly down the Poet's cheek, falling into a sea of memories and fantasies. The Joffrey's 'Little Mermaid' reaches for audience with its largest In the News. Administrative Offices 312.739.0120. . In short: High drama. It is a huge, huge undertaking in terms of scenic and in terms of choreography, said Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet Ashley Wheater. Courageous, they search for a new world. During a sea voyage, a Poet remembers the wedding of his dear friend Edvard to Henriette. Here is some information we hope you will find helpful in planning your visit. The sumptuous two-act ballet features an original score by Ilya Demutsky. Joffrey Box Office 312.386.8905. Tickets are on sale for all three performances and start at $36.