If you are in Chicago this week, the Joffrey Ballet’s Liliom is the rare chance to see a John Neumeier story ballet in the United States. It is the ballet’s Chicago premiere, it has a jazz band on stage, and the last performance is Sunday, September 27.
At a glance
- What: Liliom, a ballet by John Neumeier, music by Michel Legrand
- Company: The Joffrey Ballet
- Where: Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 (map)
- This week: Thu Sept 24, 7:30 pm · Fri Sept 25, 7:30 pm · Sat Sept 26, 2 pm and 7:30 pm · Sun Sept 27, 2 pm (the run began Sept 17)
- Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission
- Tickets: The Joffrey lists main floor seats from $47 for the September 25 performance. For other dates, check the official site for current pricing.
- Book: joffrey.org — Liliom
About the Ballet
Liliom comes from Ferenc Molnár’s 1909 play, the same story Rodgers and Hammerstein later turned into the musical Carousel. Neumeier moves it to an American amusement park during the Great Depression. Liliom is a carnival barker with charm and a short fuse. His love for Julie falls apart under pride, money trouble and anger, and a crime ends in tragedy. After his death he is allowed one return to Earth, and the story’s ending turns on what he does with that chance.
Neumeier danced at Stuttgart Ballet under John Cranko and then led the Hamburg Ballet for more than fifty years, making over 170 works, according to the Joffrey. The score is by Michel Legrand (1932–2019), the French composer behind The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Summer of ’42, who won three Academy Awards.
What Makes This Run Special
- A Chicago premiere. The Joffrey says it is the first American ballet company to stage this production, and that the work is rarely presented in the US.
- Live jazz on stage. A 17-piece jazz band plays as part of the production, which suits Legrand’s mix of classical and jazz writing.
- Meet the Artists. An hour before each performance, Joffrey artists and the creative team hold a free talk at the Lyric Opera House for ticket holders.
Who Should Go
- Musical theater fans: if you know Carousel, it is interesting to see the same source told through dance with a darker, more cinematic tone.
- Story-ballet lovers: this is a full narrative work, not a mixed bill.
- First-timers: the plot is easy to follow, but the story deals with rage, crime and death. It may not suit younger children.
If you are new to ballet, Ballet Etiquette: What to Wear and When to Clap is a quick read before you go.
Seats and Booking Tips
- Under 30: the Joffrey’s 30 Under 30 offer gives $30 seats with the promo code 30UNDER30, limited to select seats and two per order. You collect these at the Lyric Opera House Box Office and need to show a government-issued photo ID. The offer does not apply to the September 27 performance.
- The Friday, September 25 performance is the one the Joffrey advertises with $47 main floor seats.
- For a story ballet with a band on stage, a seat toward the center gives you a good view of both. See how to choose seats at a ballet performance for more.
- Other ways to save are in How to Get Cheap Ballet Tickets in the US.
Getting to the Lyric Opera House
The Lyric Opera House is at 20 North Wacker Drive, in the Loop next to the Chicago River. The Joffrey Box Office phone number is 312.386.8905 if you need help with an order. Plan to arrive an hour early if you want to catch the Meet the Artists talk.
Before & After the Show at the Lyric Opera House
For a meal or a drink inside the theater before the curtain or at intermission, see the Restaurants and Dining section of the Joffrey’s Plan Your Visit page, and check current hours before you go.
Back to This Week
See every ballet performance in New York, Chicago, and Seattle this week in Ballet This Week: September Week 3, 2026.
Schedules and prices can change. Please confirm on the official site before booking. Spotted an error? Let me know.
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