For its latest appearance at Ravinia, Joffrey is presenting two programs on the Pavilion stage—an evening performance September 13 with live music and, reprising a tradition from the past, a morning presentation September 14 as part of the festival’s Kids Concert Series. 

Joffrey’s first Ravinia visit took place in 1972, long before it was based in Chicago, and at that time it became something of a perennial presence, appearing in weeklong residencies each year through 1979. But subsequent returns were more sporadic: a series of multidate stands occupied the calendars of 1997 through 2000, and performances dropped off after 2008.

Wheater is glad now to be back on a more regular basis. He believes Joffrey’s Ravinia appearances are an ideal complement to its main season at the Lyric Opera House, attracting audiences who typically don’t go downtown to see the company or who eschew formal theater-going experiences altogether.