The Joffrey Ballet boldly opens its 2024-25 season with the extremely anticipated North American premiere of Cathy Marston’s poignant interpretation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel-turned-Academy Award®-winning movie Atonement. The complete-length narrative ballet follows Briony Tallis, revealed within the e-book as its creator and now portrayed as a celebrated choreographer, as she grapples with the haunting echoes of her previous by a panoramic dance of redemption.The primary-ever stage adaptation of McEwan’s best-selling e-book, Atonement might be introduced on the historic Lyric Opera Home in Chicago, in 10 performances solely, from October 17–27.
This manufacturing acquired its world premiere in April 2024, by Ballett Zürich, the corporate by which Marston serves as Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer.
“When Cathy approached me along with her imaginative and prescient to create the first-ever stage adaptation of Atonement, we agreed that this may be an unforgettable narrative to expertise by the lens of dance and that the Joffrey could be the right match for its North American debut,” mentioned The Mary B. Galvin Creative Director Ashley Wheater MBE. “Taking part in to the strengths of our Firm Artists to convey difficult characters, such because the story’s protagonist Briony, Atonement units the stage for a commanding season forward, encouraging Chicago audiences to see themselves in ever extra advanced methods.”
“Opening our 69th season with the North American premiere of Marston’s Atonement displays the Joffrey’s avant-garde strategy to sharing formidable, daring narratives,” added Performing CEO Deputy Director and Chief Monetary Officer Shari Massey. “This manufacturing marks the second time the Firm has mounted a full-length ballet with an unique rating. New works are important for the evolution of our artwork kind, and with Cathy and Ashley on the forefront, I couldn’t be extra excited for Chicago to witness what’s in retailer.”
Marston’s adaptation unfolds the tragic love story of Briony’s older sister, Cecilia, towards the historic backdrop of 1935 England to discover the intricate layers of societal norms and the enduring influence of a single lie. Enveloped in Laura Rossi’s evocative musical rating, with dynamic choreography portraying the complexities of self-deception, the transformation of reminiscence, and the load of guilt, Atonement shares an emotionally charged expertise with a startling twist finale that may linger within the soul.
A manufacturing in two acts, Atonement encompasses a inventive group with costumes by Bregje van Balen (former dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater), stage design by Michael Levine, and lighting by Martin Gebhardt.
Marston has acquired worldwide essential reward for her compelling and stylish narrative-driven ballets that each brilliantly seize and thoughtfully adapt among the most influential novels in latest historical past. Atonement would be the fifth work by Marston that The Joffrey Ballet has carried out; previous productions embody Jane Eyre in 2019, Of Mice and Males and Heimat in 2022, and the dance movie Bertha in 2021.
Atonement is a co-production with Ballett Zürich and options stay music carried out by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, performed by Scott Speck, music director of The Joffrey Ballet.
The 2024-25 Joffrey Ballet season continues with the return of Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker, December 6–28; adopted by Golden Hour, February 20-March 2, 2025, with unique work by Dani Rowe and Yuri Possokhov, accompanied by items from frequent Joffrey collaborators Nicolas Blanc and Cathy Marston. Closing out the season is the fantastical world of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the place two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon brings Lewis Carroll’s fantastical world to life with immediately recognizable characters such because the high-strung Queen of Hearts, the entrancing Caterpillar, and the tap-dancing Mad Hatter, June 5–15, 2025.
For tickets and extra data, go to joffrey.org.
