Lyric Opera & The Joffrey Ballet Announce Contract Extension
The Joffrey Continues as the Resident Ballet Company
of the historic Lyric Opera House through 2034.
Announcement made on heels of the Joffrey’s record-breaking production
of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Lyric Opera House in June.
Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Joffrey Ballet today announce the extension of Joffrey’s current seven-year rental agreement with Lyric for an additional seven years, proudly ensuring Joffrey’s status as the Resident Ballet Company of the historic Lyric Opera House (20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago) through June 30, 2034. The Joffrey Ballet's inaugural season at the Lyric Opera House officially started with the 2020/21 season, and the Company ultimately made its debut on the Lyric stage post-COVID, in October 2021. The current agreement ends June 30, 2027, with the 26/27 season, after which the new agreement locks in an additional seven seasons of Lyric and Joffrey's partnership.
This news comes on the heels of the Joffrey's record-breaking production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, which concluded its run at the Lyric Opera House on June 22, 2025. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was the Company's largest production ever mounted (beyond its beloved The Nutcracker, also by Wheeldon) in terms of the scale of the production design and the number of dancers performing on the Lyric Opera House stage. Critically acclaimed universally, the work was also a box office hit, becoming the Company's highest-selling non-Nutcracker production in its history, ultimately selling nearly 30,000 tickets—a 26% increase over the previous best-seller, Liam Scarlett's Frankenstein at the Lyric Opera House in October 2023.
“Joffrey's move to the Lyric Opera House, a partnership between two of Chicago's leading cultural institutions, has opened the door to bigger, bolder storytelling," says The Joffrey Ballet President and CEO Greg Cameron. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland broke records, and last year's Nutcracker marked the most successful production in our history, with 71,000 tickets sold. Lyric's expansive stage also allowed us to mount our three largest productions to date: The Little Mermaid, Frankenstein, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, paving the way for new commissions like Atonement and next season's Eugene Onegin.”
Cameron adds, “We're especially grateful to the Lyric team. Together, we reimagine what's possible in dance and music. Fueled by curiosity and creativity, our partnership gives artists and audiences access to world-class programming. The Lyric Opera House has become home to where our most ambitious stories take place."
Lyric General Director, President and CEO John Mangum says, "Since 2020, Lyric has continued to deepen our treasured relationship with the Joffrey. Our leadership teams share a strong, collaborative relationship and a unified vision for delivering high-quality productions. One of the most rewarding aspects of this partnership is that the Lyric Opera Orchestra performs live for every Joffrey production at the Lyric Opera House. Together, we present more than 100 performances each year, giving audiences across Chicago countless opportunities to experience world-class music and dance under one iconic roof."
The Joffrey Ballet opens its 25/26 70th Anniversary season with the U.S. Premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Carmen, a tale of love, betrayal, and defiance set within the gritty confines of a cigarette factory in 1930s Spain, in ten performances only at the Lyric Opera House, from September 18 to 28, 2025.
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.
About Lyric Opera of Chicago
Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists — magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.