Displaying items by tag: Eugene Onegin

There’s something magical about stories. Stories have the power to transcend time, reaching across the centuries to share their thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Tales of heartbreak, anguish, squandered youth, and missed chances written in the 1800s have a way of resonating with us in the modern age, the profound emotions perfectly encapsulated in the prose. The magic happens when that story is lifted from a page to be retold in a new medium for modern audiences to hear and see. In my opinion, there is no finer example of this transformation than what is currently showing at The Lyric Opera House in Chicago, The Joffrey’s Eugene Onegin, now running through June 14^th.

The ballet tells the story of Eugene Onegin, a wealthy but disillusioned aristocrat, who is disenchanted with both city and country life. He ventures to the provinces after inheriting his uncle’s estate, restless and indifferent. There, Eugene joins his friend Vladimir Lensky on a visit to his fiancée Olga’s home, where he is introduced to the family, most notably her sister Tatiana. Tatiana is drawn to Onegin’s aloof sophistication and quickly falls in love. She writes him a heartfelt letter and, at dawn, asks her nanny to deliver it. Onegin rejects her, claiming he is unsuited to love or marriage. His refusal deeply wounds Tatiana. At Tatiana’s name-day celebration, a bored Onegin flirts with Olga. Lensky, humiliated and jealous, challenges him to a duel. What begins as wounded pride leads to tragedy. Shakespearean passions of unrequited love, conflict of youth, and the dangers of careless actions play out in this classic tale.

Eugene Onegin is heralded as the foundation of modern Russian literature. Written over the course of eight years in the early 1800s, the novel revolutionized storytelling by blending romantic tragedy with social satire. Its main character was a cautionary tale of the superfluous man, one who is educated, wealthy, cynical, bored, and aimless, whose disillusionment leads to his own moral demise.

Told in four acts, the Joffrey masterfully brings Alexander Pushkin’s “novel in verse” to life through the medium of dance. Choreographer Yuri Possokhov and composer Ilya Demutsky not only capture that complex and bastardous character of Eugene, but also the wide range of emotions conveyed in this story. The adoration, resentment, rejection, joy, anguish, and regret are told through long, elegant lines, sensual pas de deuxs set to a musical score that perfectly captures the emotions of the four seasons the play moves through. Set against a breathtakingly simplistic provincial set, dancers clad in silks as delicate as the changing winds, and a not-love story performed superbly by Joffrey’s José Pablo Castro Cuevas and Victoria Jaiani (Eugene Onegin and Tatiana Larina, respectfully), the Joffrey have truly outdone themselves. It is one of their most visually captivating ballets. Said simply, Eugene Onegin is poetry in motion, a classic tale reenvisioned in the delicate yet powerful medium of ballet.

Hundreds of years later, the story of a charismatic yet pouty man who let his emotions hold him back while driving him towards his own demise still resonates with audiences today. Pushkin’s prose found a way to reach across the centuries and navigate Lower Wacker to make it to the Lyric Opera stage, where dancers bring the story to life. If that isn’t magic, I don’t know what is.

Eugene Onegin is now playing at the Lyric Opera House (20 N Wacker Dr, Chicago) through June 14^th. This is one story you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets today at Joffrey.org.

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com. 

Chicago continues to produce some of the most exciting work in the country this Summer, offering a wide variety of plays and musicals, as well as comedy, dance, music, and more. To highlight these productions, The League of Chicago Theatres is publishing its Summer Theatre Guide, which showcases more than 100 productions; not just in Chicago's iconic theatre districts, but also across vibrant suburban communities. From Oak Park to Naperville, Glenview to Des Plaines, theatres across the region offer top-tier performances that make it easier than ever to experience the magic of live theatre close to home.

For additional details about this summer's performances and the Summer Theatre Guide visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Many summer shows will also be available at HotTix.org, Chicago's local, discounted ticketing service.

The following is a selection of notable work playing in Chicago this Summer, organized by location.

A selection of productions playing in theatres located Downtown are:

Brokeback Mountain

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

May 28 – June 28, 2026

When Ennis and Jack take jobs on the isolated Brokeback Mountain, all their certainties of life change forever as they flounder in unexpected emotional waters. This intense tale of a hidden love spans 20 years and is interwoven with soulful, original Country Western songs, performed live onstage.

Eugene Onegin

The Joffrey Ballet at Lyric Opera House

June 4 – 14, 2026

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian society, this cautionary tale follows the enigmatic and aloof aristocrat after his fateful encounter with the earnest Tatiana. Richly layered and deeply human, Eugene Onegin explores the fragility of the human heart and how unspoken words can shape destinies.

Untitled Vampire Play

Lookingglass Theatre Company

June 4-July 12, 2026

This romantic-comedy-meets-horror-story world premiere by Kevin Douglas explores love, commitment, codependency...and, of course, vampires.

Champions of Magic

Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building

June 6 – July 5, 2026

The production that critics have described as 'the most spectacular show,' 'two hours of mind-twisting, logic-defying entertainment' and 'the summer blockbuster of magic shows.'

SUFFS

Broadway In Chicago at CIBC Theatre

June 7– 19, 2026

Direct from Broadway comes the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical Suffs about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote.

Kinky Boots

Broadway In Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre

June 9 - 21, 2026

Kinky Boots follows the journey of two people with nothing in common—or so they think. As Charlie and Lola work together to turn a shoe factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they realized.

Iceboy!

Goodman Theatre

June 20 – July 26, 2026

Broadway's brightest star of 1938, Vera Vimm, is at the top of her game. But when she adopts a 40,000-year-old Neanderthal discovered frozen in the Arctic, the spotlight begins to shift. As Iceboy thaws, he unexpectedly becomes a theatrical sensation, inspiring Eugene O'Neill and challenging his legendary mother for center stage.

A Musical Tribute to John Williams & Steven Spielberg

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

June 23, 2026

Celebrate the legendary collaboration between composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. From Jurassic Park and Jaws to Indiana Jones and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the scores born of this 50-year creative partnership have captured imaginations around the world.

Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

June 25 – 27, 2026

Embark on an epic adventure to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: A New Hope! Experience the iconic film like never before as CSO performs John Williams' legendary Oscar-winning score live.

& Juliet

Broadway in Chicago at Auditorium Theatre

July 22 - August 2, 2026

Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there's life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.

Theatres are located in almost every neighborhood in Chicago.  A selection of productions playing throughout Chicago are:

Always...Patsy Cline

American Blues Theater

Playing through June 13, 2026

This musical play, complete with down home country humor and big-heart ed emotion, includes hits "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "Walkin' After Midnight" and more!

LOKI-The End of the World Tour

Lifeline Theatre

Playing through June 13, 2026

In this World Premiere musical, Loki arrives at Asgard, bringing chaos, comedy, and three monstrous (maybe) children. In an us vs. them world, can we envision a new mythology?

The Targeted

A Red Orchid Theatre at Chopin Theatre

Playing through June 14, 2026

Welcome to the Solidarity and Truth Summit. A gathering of the most persecuted, tortured, and misunderstood people in the entire world. They call themselves Targeted Individuals, and they are victims of a vast and covert program of systematic torture, surveillance, and harassment by global intergovernmental powers.

OCTET

Raven Theatre Company

Playing through June 14, 2026

Hailed by the New York Times as "the most original and topical musical of the year" for its 2019 Off Broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.

Antigone

Promethean Theatre Ensemble at The Den Theatre

May 31 - June 27, 2026

A timely production of the classic WW2 era adaptation made all the more relevant by recent local and national events.

Catch As Catch Can

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

June 4 - July 12, 2026

When a prodigal son returns to blue collar New England, his homecoming sets off a spiraling crisis for two families, threatening not only their relationships but their very identities. Spanning hilarity, stunning virtuosity and outright horror, this ferocious Chicago premiere—featuring an all-ensemble cast—must be witnessed to be believed.

As You Like It

Midsommer Flight

June 26 – August 2, 2026

Free outdoor performances of Shakespeare's As You Like It will be presented outdoors in six Chicago Parks District parks – Chicago Women's Park and Gardens, Gross Park, Nichols Park, Kelvyn Park, Winnemac Park, and Touhy Park. Banished from court by her uncle, Rosalind escapes to the Forest of Arden, where she disguises herself as man in order to win over her lover by trying to convince him he should forget her. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.

Hair

Kokandy Productions at Chopin Theatre

July 2 - September 13, 2026

Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

Marble
Gift Theatre at Copernicus Center

August 2 – August 30, 2026

Marble follows two married couples, Ben and Catherine, and their friends Art and Anne, whose comfortable lives begin to splinter after a shared dream triggers suspicion and desire.

A surreal and haunting exploration of two couples whose lives collide through shared dreams, this production anchors the company's homecoming to the neighborhood where it was founded.

Productions playing in the suburbs of Chicago include:

Nunsense
Drury Lane Theatre

June 10 – August 2, 2026

Get ready to laugh the summer away with nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken. This beloved revue, directed by E. Faye Butler, will have you in stitches as the five sisters stage a variety show fundraiser filled with outrageous musical numbers and zany comedy. 

A Little Night Music

Marriott Theatre

Playing June 17 – August 9, 2026

Set in 1900 Sweden, A Little Night Music explores the tangled web of affairs centered around actress Desirée Armfeldt, and the men who love her. Amid a flurry of jealousy and suspicion, infinite possibilities of new romances and second chances bring endless surprises. Stephen Sondheim's witty, brilliant masterpiece.

Leopoldstadt

Writers Theatre

June 4 - July 19, 2026

At the dawn of the 20th century, Vienna is the heart of European culture. While an extended family gathers in the elegant Merz home for the holidays, two brothers-in-law passionately debate their conflicting visions for the future of their family and the Jewish people–a tension that will echo through the generations that follow.

The Producers

BrightSide Theatre at Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall

June 12 – 28, 2026

Mel Brooks' outrageous musical comedy about two schemers trying to stage the biggest Broadway flop of all time—only to accidentally create a smash hit!

The Last Five Years

Oil Lamp Theater

June 6 - July 5, 2026

This widely beloved show takes audiences on the romantic rollercoaster of Jamie and Cathy as they fall in...and out of love over the last five years.

BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical

Highland Park Players at McGrath Family Performing Arts

July 17 – 26, 2026

Before she was hit-maker Carole King—she was Carole Klein, a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical takes you back to where it all began and takes you on the ride of a lifetime. 

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Available discounted tickets will be listed at HotTix.org.

About Chicago theatre 

Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 6 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago's theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Mission Statement

Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

The Joffrey Ballet concludes its 2025-26 season with the highly anticipated Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin, a richly layered and deeply human exploration of love, loss, and redemption inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s poetic novel. From the acclaimed creative team behind Anna Karenina, Eugene Onegin—a co-production with San Francisco Ballet—features an original score by the award-winning composer, performer, and conductor Ilya Demutsky and an immersive set design that plunges audiences into the fragility of the human heart. Eugene Onegin takes place for ten performances only at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago, from June 4 to 14, 2026.

“Our longstanding creative partnership with Yuri Possokhov has reached a new height with Eugene Onegin, supported by an extraordinarily hands-on collaboration with San Francisco Ballet that elevated every element of the production. The precision of detail and emotional storytelling come together to create a fully immersive experience - one that speaks with striking clarity to the world we live in today, and reflects the very best of The Joffrey’s artistic ambition,” says The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE.

“As we close our 70^th anniversary season, Eugene Onegin is both a celebration and a statement of what shared ambition can achieve. At every level, our ability to move audiences depends on the strength of the relationships behind the work, and we are particularly grateful to our partners at San Francisco Ballet for taking the leap with us. Mounting a production of this scale signals the new heights The Joffrey continues to reach, and the stability of the organization as we lay the foundation for our next 70 years,” said Greg Cameron, President and CEO.

Set against the backdrop of 19^th-century Russian aristocracy, the cautionary tale centers on Eugene Onegin, an enigmatic and aloof aristocrat whose life is forever altered after his fateful encounter with the earnest Tatiana. The events that follow – a tragic duel, a devastating loss, and a chance reunion force Eugene Onegin to confront the weight of his choices. Considered a classic work of literature, Eugene Onegin and its protagonist have served as models for literary heroes across time with a worldly and personal narrative style.

A frequent guest choreographer of The Joffrey Ballet, Possokhov returns to the Lyric Opera stage following 2019’s incredibly favored full-length commission of Anna Karenina, a co-production of the Joffrey and the Australian Ballet. Eugene Onegin reunites the award-winning team behind Anna Karenina, including Possokhov and Demutsky; plus, librettist Valeriy Pecheykin, set designer Tom Pye, costume designer Tim Yip (an Oscar-winner in Art Direction for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), lighting designer Jim French, and projection designer Finn Ross.

Eugene Onegin marks the first full-length co-production between The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet and received its World Premiere in San Francisco in January 2026.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful to Eugene Onegin Presenting Sponsors Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark, Anne L. Kaplan, Lynda Sue Lane, M.D., Rudolf Nureyev Fund at The Joffrey Ballet, and Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson; Major Sponsors Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Dancing Skies Foundation, Ethel Gofen, Audrey L. Weaver, and Alexandra C. Nichols; Production Sponsors Holly Palmer Foundation, Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson, and Bill and Orli Staley Foundation; Costume Sponsor Jane Ellen Murray Foundation; and Commissioned Score Sponsors The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music and Marion A. Cameron-Gray and J. Douglas Gray.

Eugene Onegin features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

Tickets and Schedule

The Joffrey Ballet presents Eugene Onegin from Thursday, June 4 to Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The full performance schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 4 at 7:30PM;
Friday, June 5 at 7:30PM;
Saturday, June 6 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM;
Sunday, June 7 at 2:00PM;
Thursday, June 11 at 7:30PM;
Friday, June 12 at 7:30PM;
Saturday, June 13 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM;
and Sunday, June 14 at 2:00PM.

The Joffrey Ballet is the only official seller with the best prices. Be aware of ticket re-sellers offering overpriced or invalid tickets. 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 70 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 2025–2026 70^th Anniversary Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Gallagher, The Florian Fund, Anne L. Kaplan, and Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation. Live Music Sponsors Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO and Chicago Athletic Clubs.

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