Stage Director

Choreographer

Ballet Dancer

Insights: Like Water For Chocolate — Beginnings and Origins

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Mad Hatter's Tea Party - From The Royal Ballet | Marquee TV

Ballet West presents "Pictures at an Exhibition," a captivating triple-bill that showcases the brilliance of contemporary ballet through the works of three renowned choreographers. This performance features George Balanchine's "Serenade," a heart-melting ballet set to the enchanting music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The program continues with Alexei Ratmansky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," an intimate suite of dances inspired by Modest Mussorgsky's evocative piano compositions, performed live by Dr. Vera Oussetskaia-Watanabe. The evening culminates with Christopher Wheeldon's "Within the Golden Hour," a ballet that draws inspiration from Vivaldi, with music by Ezio Bosso. This trio of ballets promises a mesmerizing experience, blending classical and contemporary elements to create a rich tapestry of movement and music. The live accompaniment by the Ballet West Orchestra adds an additional layer of depth and emotion to the performance, making it a must-see for ballet enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

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Pictures at an Exhibition

Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre

At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser…

RB: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (12A)

Corn Exchange Newbury

This quartet of dances demonstrates a wide variety of repertory. Making its debut with the Company is a work from choreographer Lar Lubovitch, set to Brahms piano compositions, commissioned by New York City Center and created in 2021 on two of NYCB’s principal dancers. Representing tradition are works from the founding choreographers: Balanchine’s evocative Divertimento from ‘Le Baiser de la Fée,’ which never fails to wrap audiences in its air of mystery, while Robbins’ The Four Seasons moves through the cycles of the title, illuminating each with contrasting classical dances.

Eclectic NYCB

Lincoln Center

Experience MJ - the electrifying, Tony Award-winning new musical that's thrilled the critics and has audiences on their feet every single night at London's Prince Edward Theatre.

Prince Edward Theatre

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Playhouse Square as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Cleveland premiere at the KeyBank State Theatre in 2024. 

Playhouse Square

Two-time Tony Award® winner Christopher Wheeldon’s full-length ballet Like Water for Chocolate brings the magical realism of the famous modern Mexican novel and award-winning film of the same name to ABT. Journey into Laura Esquivel’s acclaimed and captivating family saga where the central character Tita, bound by family duty and tradition, falls in forbidden love with her neighbor Pedro. When her emotions spill over into her cooking, her only form of expression, everyone around her is influenced in startling and dramatic ways.

Like Water for Chocolate

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Buffalo as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Buffalo premiere at the Shea’s Performing Arts Center in 2024.

MJ The Musical

Shea's Performing Arts Center

This specially curated performance is designed to provide a friendly, inclusive environment where individuals with sensory processing challenges, including autism, can experience New York City Ballet. Slight modifications will include a relaxed entry/exit policy, adjustments to lighting and sound levels, designated break areas throughout the Theater, additional event staffing to assist with audience needs, and pre-visit resources, including a visual schedule. This one-time-only performance features two ballets from NYCB’s expansive repertory. Christopher Wheeldon’s Scènes de Ballet, featuring 64 students from the School of American ballet, offers a glimpse into the rehearsal studio as young dancers refine their artistry. Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces, set to music by contemporary composer Philip Glass, highlights the graceful athleticism of the corps de ballet, as the ensemble weaves across the stage with dynamic fervor.

Sensory Friendly Performances

New York City Ballet continually invests in works by new generations of choreographers. Pam Tanowitz’s Law of Mosaics, set to Ted Hearne’s score, combines moments of resonant silence with propulsive string-based music, and is further illuminated by the colorful costumes of Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung. Despite its simplicity, This Bitter Earth, a pas de deux danced to a remix of Dinah Washington’s recording of the title song, ranks among Christopher Wheeldon’s most delicate and moving works. For many followers of the Company, William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman Pas de Deux remains a totemic example of the adventurousness that Balanchine always championed and exemplified. The Company’s ongoing interest in a wide variety of music and the dancing it inspires is illustrated in Kyle Abraham’s Love Letter (on shuffle), which draws on the pop music of singer-songwriter James Blake and combines classical steps with a distinctly 21st-century aesthetic.

Contemporary Choreography II

Although George Balanchine’s decades-long collaboration with Igor Stravinsky contributed several classics to the repertory, New York City Ballet choreographers of newer generations have continued to find inspiration in the Russian composer’s work. Christopher Wheeldon’s Scènes de Ballet, just his second dance for the Company, features 64 students of the School of American Ballet in an enchanting depiction of young dancers learning their craft, with a charming set by the devoted ballet-lover and artist Ian Falconer, author of the beloved Olivia children’s books. Justin Peck’s Pulcinella Variations combines classical steps with vibrant costumes derived from the commedia dell’arte tradition. And Balanchine’s classic leotard ballet Symphony in Three Movements reveals, with its inspired matching of music and choreography, how deeply Balanchine’s dance ideals and Stravinsky’s music were attuned.

All Stravinsky

Program Seven begins with Tony Award winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s The American. Created to Dvořák’s wondrous string quartet, both score and choreography bring to life the tranquility and open sky of America’s Great Plains. Continuing on the creative relationship between acclaimed choreographer Jessica Lang and The Sarasota Ballet, the Company Premiere of Lyric Pieces presents an engaging and visually dynamic creation that wonderfully and artfully animates its dancers. Closing the 2023 – 2024 Season will be Sir Frederick Ashton’s Sinfonietta, an exciting and fiendishly difficult abstract work. A ballet in three parts, describing its second movement, dance critic Alastair Macaulay wrote for The New York Times that it was “remote, lunar, a brilliantly formal ceremony in white picked out against surrounding darkness.”

Inspirations

Sarasota Opera House

The Harris Theater's 2006 presentation of New York City Ballet (NYCB), one of the foremost ballet companies in the world, marked the beginning of Harris Theater Presents. Now under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, NYCB returns to Chicago as part of its 75th anniversary season in two distinct programs celebrating past, present, and future. 

21st Century Choreography

Harris Theater

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Orange County as MJ, the Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Orange County premiere!

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

A program exclusively of firsts. Geoffrey Gonzalez premieres his new ballet, An American in Paris. Elizabeth Wistrich premieres her new ballet, Boléro – The Awakening. And City Ballet adds their first Christopher Wheeldon ballet to their repertoire, Morphoses.

An American In Paris

California Center for the Arts

Balboa Theatre

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to San Diego as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its San Diego premiere at the San Diego Civic in March 2024.

San Diego Civic Theatre

Witness the magical 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with young Marie and her Nutcracker Prince in two-time Tony Award® winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s holiday masterpiece. It’s a celebratory Christmas Eve, and thanks to a surprise visit from the enchanting Great Impresario, Marie embarks on a spellbinding adventure into a realm of spectacle and wonder. Experience our holiday magic in this must-see tradition boldly reimagined for a new generation.

The Nutcracker

Lyric Opera House

Experience the enchantment of ballet with The Royal Ballet School's 2023 performances at Opera Holland Park. This July, witness the future of ballet unfold as students aged 11 to 19 from all years of the School grace the stage with their remarkable skills and artistry. Under the artistic direction of Christopher Powney, a rich selection of works has been curated to showcase the young dancers' prowess, versatility, and imagination.

Audiences will be treated to an array of performances including the Dream Scene from Carlos Acosta’s vibrant "Don Quixote" for The Royal Ballet, Bournonville’s vaudeville work "Konservatoriet" for the Royal Danish Ballet, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s inventive "The Four Seasons" set to three Verdi operas, and excerpts from Christopher Wheeldon’s contemporary masterpiece "Within the Golden Hour". Additionally, a new classical work by Mikaela Polley and "Bold", a contemporary piece by Goyo Montero, will be presented, highlighting the global collaboration of students from 24 ballet schools at this year’s Prix de Lausanne.

The performances are scheduled as follows, with each day focusing on different groups of students:
- Wednesday and Thursday: Predominantly Upper School students
- Friday and Saturday matinee: Predominantly White Lodge students
- Saturday evening: Predominantly Upper School students

Sponsored by Kinoshita Group, these summer performances offer a unique opportunity to glimpse the rising stars of ballet in a setting renowned for its commitment to the arts. Priority booking is available for Ambassadors & RBS Family, Envoys & RBS Donors, Gold Members & RBS Friends, with general booking opening soon.

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to support and enjoy the artistry of the next generation of ballet stars. Join us at Opera Holland Park for an unforgettable experience that celebrates the beauty and discipline of ballet.

The Royal Ballet School 2023

Opera Holland Park

Christopher Wheeldon—of An American in Paris fame—transforms the timeless tale of Cinderella with stunning style, charming twists, mesmerizing visual effects. This magical ballet leaves behind the fairy godmother and talking mice in favor of a delightfully human story with a hopeful heroine, a noble prince, and magical elements such as an enormous billowing tree, whimsical creatures, and a carriage whose magical creation onstage will take your breath away. Set to the gorgeous score by Sergei Prokofiev, Wheeldon’s Cinderella is a fairy tale for our time.

Cinderella

War Memorial Opera House

Nothing could be sweeter than the U.S. Premiere of Like Water for Chocolate. This full-length ballet created by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon brings the famous novel by Laura Esquivel to mouth-watering life.

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Los Angeles as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.

MJ: The Musical

Broadway in Hollywood

### Event Description: The Nutcracker by Joffrey Ballet

**Event:** The Nutcracker  
**Choreography:** Christopher Wheeldon  
**Music:** Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  
**Dates:** December 6-28, 2024  
**Location:** Lyric Opera House  
**Running Time:** 2 hours  

**Description:**
Experience the magic of the holiday season with the Joffrey Ballet's enchanting production of "The Nutcracker," choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon. Set against the backdrop of Chicago's 1893 World's Fair, this beloved version of the classic ballet brings to life a festive celebration on a magical Christmas Eve.

Join Marie and her mother, a sculptress working on the fair’s iconic Statue of the Republic, as they partake in a joyous celebration with a surprise visit from the mysterious Great Impresario. The night unfolds with an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and The Rat King, leading Marie on a whirlwind journey with the Nutcracker Prince to the dreamlike fairgrounds of the World’s Columbian Exposition, featuring sprawling attractions from around the globe.

The production is set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and features a celebrated creative team, including:
- **Julian Crouch:** Tony Award-nominated set and costume designer
- **Brian Selznick:** Caldecott Medal Award-winning author
- **Basil Twist:** Obie and Drama Desk award-winning puppeteer
- **Natasha Katz:** Tony Award-winning lighting designer
- **Ben Pearcy:** Tony Award-winning projection designer

**Sponsors:**
- **Presenting Sponsor:** Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company
- **Commissioning Sponsors:** Margot and Josef Lakonishok, Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa

Celebrate the holiday season with this heartwarming and visually stunning production that redefines holiday magic in Chicago. Whether it's your first time or your 51st, "The Nutcracker" by the Joffrey Ballet promises to tug at your heartstrings and leave you in awe.

Experience the magic of Michael Jackson like never before with "MJ," the multi Tony Award-winning new musical that has captivated audiences on Broadway, across North America, and in London’s West End. This December, the legendary entertainer's unparalleled artistry and the story behind the iconic 1992 Dangerous World Tour come to life at The Bushnell's William H. Mortensen Hall in Hartford. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon and penned by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, "MJ" offers a rare glimpse into the creative genius and collaborative spirit of Michael Jackson, taking you beyond his signature moves and sound.

**Event Details:**
- **Show Dates:** December 10-15, 2024
- **Venue:** William H. Mortensen Hall, The Bushnell, Hartford
- **Run Time:** 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission
- **Age Recommendation:** Suitable for ages 8 and up. All attendees must have a ticket, regardless of age.
- **Accessibility:** The performance on Sunday, December 15, at 6:30 pm will be American Sign Language interpreted and audio described.

Don't miss this thrilling opportunity to witness the story of one of the greatest entertainers of all time in a way that's never been seen before. Stay tuned for the announcement of the single ticket on-sale date and be part of something truly special this Broadway season at The Bushnell.

William H. Mortensen Hall

Experience the magic of Michael Jackson's unparalleled artistry in "MJ The Musical" at the Providence Performing Arts Center. This multiple Tony Award-winning production delves into the making of the iconic 1992 Dangerous World Tour, offering a rare glimpse into the creative mind and collaborative spirit that propelled Michael Jackson to legendary status. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, with a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, "MJ The Musical" transcends the star's singular moves and signature sound. It has captivated audiences with thrilling performances on Broadway, across North America, and in London's West End. Now, this electrifying show brings its spellbinding energy to Providence, promising an unforgettable theatrical experience that celebrates the genius of one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

Providence Performing Arts Center

The story of The Sleeping Beauty, over 300 years old, is anything but dormant. It thrives vibrantly, and in Christopher Wheeldon's ballet version, the fairytale element is amplified to its fullest.

The Sleeping Beauty

Copenhagen Opera House

The annual program celebrating Balanchine’s birthday traditionally features a world premiere, in this case the 25th dance from Resident Choreographer and Artistic Advisor Justin Peck, for which Dan Deacon will be providing a commissioned score. The program opens with Christopher Wheeldon’s From You Within Me, set to Arnold Schoenberg’s early work Verkläkte Nacht, featuring a cast of a dozen dancers and painter Kylie Manning’s atmospheric drops at the front and back of the stage. Balanchine is represented by one of his most strikingly enigmatic works, Variations pour une Porte et un Soupir, a pas de deux for a woman swathed in a huge, billowing skirt, personifying the “door” of the title, and a man as the “sigh,” illustrating the otherworldly Pierre Henry score.

New Combinations

Experience the magic of Michael Jackson like never before at the MJ Wharton Center for Performing Arts! From February 11th to 16th, 2025, the Cobb Great Hall will be alive with the spirit of one of the greatest entertainers of all time through the multiple Tony Award-winning musical, MJ. This extraordinary show, centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, showcases Michael Jackson's unique artistry, his signature moves, and his unparalleled sound.

Crafted by the creative minds of Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ offers audiences a rare glimpse into the creative genius that propelled Michael Jackson to legendary status. Having thrilled sold-out crowds on Broadway, across North America, and in London’s West End, MJ is now set to captivate Michigan with its electrifying performances.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting at $49 for subscribers. Performances are scheduled from February 11th through February 16th, 2025, with evening shows at 7:30 PM from Tuesday to Friday, a matinee and evening performance on Saturday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM respectively, and closing with two shows on Sunday at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Each performance promises to be a thrilling experience, running approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.

MJ is recommended for ages 8 and up, due to theatrical haze, fog, and a significant amount of strobing effects. Accessibility services such as Sign Language Interpretation, Audio Description, and Open Captioning are available upon request, ensuring everyone can enjoy this spectacular production.

Don't miss your chance to witness the musical phenomenon that is MJ at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Secure your tickets today and prepare to be mesmerized by the extraordinary legacy of Michael Jackson.

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Two plotless Balanchine classics and a narrative ballet from Christopher Wheeldon comprise this program. Divertimento No. 15 is a bravura series of variations marked by complex and captivating classical steps, while the ebullient Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux is a thrilling dance that showcases Balanchine’s ability to evoke a world of romance with just two dancers and less than ten minutes of music. For Carnival of the Animals, Wheeldon, employing a scenario written by the actor John Lithgow, was inspired by New York’s Museum of Natural History to create a delightful fantasy in which a young boy dreams that his family and friends have all been transformed into fauna.

Balanchine + Wheeldon

He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Artis—Naples in MJ, the multi-Tony Award-winning musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour.

Artis—Naples

A program of contemporary ballets kicks off the spring ballet season. Spring Mix celebrates masterful and diverse choreography with works from both emerging and celebrated choreographers. Christopher Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour is just one of the incredible works featured in an evening of three short but dynamic ballets, similar to a collection of short stories.

Spring Mix

Orpheum Theatre

Phoenix Convention Center

The Winter's Tale

A pair of Jerome Robbins ballets set to the music of Bach are featured alongside works by Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon. Robbins’ A Suite of Dances features a single male dancer—Mikhail Baryshnikov originated the role—interacting with the onstage cellist, creating a mood of friendly companionship. Brandenburg, Robbins’ final ballet, danced to four of the famed concertos of the title, is a series of pas de deux that evoke strikingly contrasting moods. Wheeldon’s After the Rain Pas de Deux has become one of his signature works, a transfixing dance that contains hints of spirituality and transcendence despite its seeming simplicity.

Innovators & Icons II

### Event Description: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Joffrey Ballet

**Event:** Alice's Adventures in Wonderland  
**Dates:** June 5-15, 2025  
**Location:** Lyric Opera House, Chicago  
**Choreography:** Christopher Wheeldon  
**Music:** Joby Talbot  

#### Event Overview:
Experience the Chicago premiere of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" with the Joffrey Ballet, the first American ballet company to bring Christopher Wheeldon’s imaginative interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale to life. This production plunges audiences down the rabbit hole into a fantastical world filled with whimsical characters and extraordinary adventures.

#### Artistic Highlights:
- **Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon:** Two-time Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon brings a modern twist to this beloved story, creating a visually stunning and emotionally engaging performance.
- **Music by Joby Talbot:** The hallucinatory soundscape composed by Joby Talbot features sweeping melodies and ticking clocks, enhancing the magical atmosphere of Wonderland.
- **Design by Bob Crowley:** Tony Award-winning designer Bob Crowley’s vibrant stagecraft and puppetry make Wonderland wonderfully real, adding layers of humor, eccentricity, and fantasy to the performance.

#### Characters:
- **Alice and the White Rabbit**
- **Mad Hatter**
- **Queen of Hearts**
- **Caterpillar**

#### Sponsors:
- **Presenting Sponsor:** Ethel Gofen
- **Major Sponsors:** Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters
- **Costume Sponsor:** Jane Ellen Murray Foundation

Join us for a seamless fusion of dance, storytelling, and visual artistry as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland takes you on a magical trip through an extraordinary realm. Don’t miss this audience-favorite dance adventure at the Lyric Opera House from June 5-15, 2025.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Pointeworks presents Ballet Nights, an evening of dance curated by Artistic Director Sophie Williams that beautifully blends ballet tradition with innovation. The Summer 2025 Season features three exciting premieres by visionary choreographers Reka Gyulai, Laine Habony, and DaYoung Jung, alongside Christopher Wheeldon’s enchanting "Carousel" duet, performed with live piano accompaniment.

Christopher Wheeldon

Stage Director, Choreographer, Ballet Dancer

Events

Upcoming events

Aug 16 - Dec 31, 2024

MJ · Prince Edward Theatre

6 - 28 Dec, 2024

The Nutcracker · Joffrey Ballet

10 - 15 Dec, 2024

MJ · Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

21 - 26 Jan, 2025

MJ The Musical · Providence Performing Arts Center

Jan 25 - Mar 22, 2025

The Sleeping Beauty · Royal Danish Ballet

Past events

8 - 16 Nov, 2024

Pictures at an Exhibition · Ballet West

15 - 20 Oct, 2024

RB: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (12A) · Corn Exchange Newbury

About

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