ILLINOIS | The Joffrey Ballet's 2008-2009 Season continues with the 21st anniversary of Chicagoland's family holiday event, Robert Joffrey's production of The Nutcracker, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, Dec. 18-28. ]This production features the full Joffrey Ballet company, augmented by local children's choruses and more than 120 young dancers ages 8 to 14.

The Chicago Sinfonietta, the official orchestra of The Joffrey Ballet, under the baton of The Joffrey's Music Director and Principal Conductor Dr. Leslie B. Dunner, will provide live musical accompaniment of the Tchaikovsky score. The production features scenic design by Oliver Smith, lighting by Thomas Skelton and a giant puppet designed by Kermit Love.

The Joffrey continues its tradition of being joined on stage by over 120 young dancers from all over the Chicago area, Indiana and Wisconsin. In addition, young vocalists from the Providence-St. Mel School Choir, the Oak Park and River Forest Children's Choir, Barrington Children's Choir, and the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago (formerly known as The Jubilate Children's Choir), will perform the choral parts from Tchaikovsky's magical "snow scene." The choirs will also delight audiences with popular seasonal selections in the Auditorium Theatre's main lobby one half-hour prior to curtain and during intermissions at every performance.

Prior to the Chicago engagement, The Joffrey Ballet will take a seasonal tour of The Nutcracker to the Michigan Opera House in Detroit, MI and the famed Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Tickets are $25 to $100 and are on sale at The Joffrey Ballet's official Box Office located in the lobby of 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University box office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at (312) 902-1500, or online at www.joffrey.org. Please note, the Auditorium Theatre does not allow children under five years of age. Groups of 10 or more should call (312) -386-8899. There will be special $15 college and graduate student rush tickets available one hour before curtain for any remaining tickets. Students will need to show a current ID.

For more information about The Joffrey Ballet call (312) 739-0120 or visit www.joffrey.org.

--For The Times