Meanwhile, we hear of chorus girl Roxie Harts murder of her lover, nightclub regular Fred Casely. [1] The musical numbers are listed below with a description of these antecedents where applicable: All That Jazz a number in homage to famous speakeasy owner Texas Guinan[1] (Velma), Funny Honey modeled on Helen Morgan and Judy Garlands performances (Roxie with Amos and Det. A review round-up for Chicago The Musical at the Phoenix Theatre, London. Printable CURSED CHILD Broadway Surprise Ticket. There are also chairs along the sides of this central piece, in which the actors at times sit or lounge, when not directly involved in the action. [5] The show was on the verge of closing, when it ran into another setback: Gwen Verdon inhaled a feather during the finale, which resulted in a throat infection. Grubb, Kevin Boyd (1989). See the fact file below for more information on the Chicago or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Chicago worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment. Chicago the Musical was adapted into a movie in 2002. The fact that the film was the first musical to win the Oscar for Best Picture (2002) since Oliver in 1969 proves that it was a certified hit. An aspiring vaudevillian and murderess who kills her paramour after a spat and is sent to jail. Chicago the Musical. Chicago listing thisistheatre.com, accessed May 27, 2009, 12. (Velma and Chorus Boys), Razzle Dazzle Flynn assumes the persona of Clarence Darrow in a juggling circus act (Billy and Chorus Girls), Class A satirical number about the downfall of society, ironically sung by two questionale characters and full of swearing (Velma and Mama), Nowadays a song reminiscent of Kander and Ebbs Maybe This Time from Cabaret (Velma and Roxie), Hot Honey Rag a Charleston finale (Velma and Roxie) 1:00 PM. factfile.org. She has helped Velma become the medias top murder-of-the-week and is acting as a booking agent for Velmas big return to vaudeville. Please select which sections you would like to print: Pat Bauer graduated from Ripon College in 1977 with a double major in Spanish and Theatre. Get in touch The original Australian production opened at the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre in June 1981. From the elevated lines: exit at Washington/Wabash and walk east. Stub.com is sure to have the best prices for Chicago - The Musical tickets anywhere. Lawyers William Scott Stewart and W. W. O'Brien were models for a composite character in Chicago, Billy Flynn. NEXT TWO WEEKS'. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE! [2] The West End revival became the longest-running American musical in West End history. Also in the show was Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Joel Grey as Amos Hart and James Naughton as Billy Flynn. Velma is not happy to see Roxie, who is stealing not only her limelight but her lawyer, Billy Flynn. The show opened on November 14, 1996, at the Get 100% guaranteed tickets for the upcoming Chicago - The Musical shows at the lowest possible price. The following year a film adaptation, also called Chicago, was released. It was produced by Alejandro Romay. The show closed on September 1, 2012 after a total run of nearly 15 years in London. Don't miss the most popular Broadway musicals this year: Cats, Disney's The Lion King, 1776 - The Musical, Annie, The Book of Mormon, and more.Our guide to all theater shows and musicals in Chicago will help you find the best prices on tickets. [33] Also in the cast were Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Joel Grey as Amos Hart and James Naughton as Billy Flynn. On November 18, 1997, the revival production opened in London's West End. The films plot was inspired by two Chicago women who, in 1924, were accused and later acquitted of having murdered their lovers. It brought attention to the fact that the show was really about the world we live in, paralleling the glamorization of criminals with how society itself makes criminals into celebrities. She welcomes the audience to tonights show (All That Jazz). yatmishop. As Roxie recounts Billy's carefully crafted false narrative of the night of Fred's murder (with Fred re-appearing on stage in flashback), she steals all of Velma's schtick, down to the rhinestone garter, to the dismay of Mama and Velma ("Class"). It was decided that the piece was too lighthearted, so the piece was cut and replaced with Nowadays. "Chicago': This Musical Has Legs". According to James Leve, "Chicago is cynical and subversive, exploiting American cultural mythologies in order to attack American celebrity culture. As promised, Billy gets Roxie her acquittal but, just as the verdict is given, some even more sensational crime pulls the pack of press bloodhounds away, and Roxies fleeting celebrity life is over. The antecedents of the musical can be traced to a number of 19th-century forms of entertainment including the music hall, comic opera, burlesque, vaudeville, variety shows, pantomime, and the . Richard Rodgers Theatre (the same theater where the original production had played)[39] with a script adapted by David Thompson,[40] eventually setting a record for recovering its initial costs faster than any other musical in history, likely due in part to the stripped-down design elements. Velma Kelly is a vaudevillian who murdered both her husband and her sister when she found them in bed together. It debuted in the West End in 1979, where it ran for 600 performances. Rocco Landesman said that he and Fran and Barry Weissler wanted to bring the production to the Martin Beck Theater this summer."[37]. Lawyers William Scott Stewart and W. W. OBrien were models for a composite character in Chicago, Billy Flynn. Watkins sensational columns documenting these trials proved so popular that she decided to write a play based on them. After 6 years away from the West End Chicago the Musical is back to razzle dazzle the city of London. Every musical moment in the show was loosely modeled on someone else: Roxie was Helen Morgan, Velma was Texas Guinan, Billy Flynn was Ted Lewis, Mama Morton was Sophie Tucker." Velma is not happy to see Roxie, who is stealing not only her limelight but also her lawyer, Billy Flynn. Annan, the model for the character of Roxie Hart, was 23 when she was accused of the April 3, 1924,[2] murder of Harry Kalstedt. Lets find out the musical based on the actual criminals and crimes on Facts about Chicago the Musical. Retrieved June 25, 2007. Chicago 1975 original production, cast replacements at IBDB. key grip: Chicago (as Kelly Borisy) Bernie Branston . Here are some other fun facts. There are a limited number of handicapped accessible spots located in front of the theater and metered street parking located around the theater. Juliet Prowse played Roxie opposite Bebe Neuwirth as Velma. The band was founded in Chino, California in, Facts about Clara Schumann tell you about one of the most popular pianists during the romantic era. At the beginning of, Facts about Echosmith inform us with an American indie pop band. Reinking reprised this role in the 1996 revival, when she was 46. Later during the run, Ann Reinking, who would go on to star in the highly successful 1996 revival[7] and choreograph that production in the style of Bob Fosse, was also a cast replacement for Roxie Hart during the shows original run.[6]. Thus, in 1926, the play Chicago premiered. Today, Chicago is known as the home of hip-hop artists like Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco as well as rock acts like Neko Case and Wilco. camera trainee A lore arose that, in Chicago, feminine or attractive women could not be convicted. [51] On November 23, 2014, Chicago became the second longest-running Broadway show, surpassing Cats.[43]. The show received both popular and critical acclaim and even made it to Broadway in 1926, running for 172 performances. Kander explains: "I remember when we wrote "Razzle Dazzle", before we took it in and played it for Bob, you [Ebb] said with absolute confidence 'Try adding a couple of finger snaps to it. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Cellophane). Sorry the page you were looking for cannot be found. [78], The first Japanese-language production of the Tony-winning revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago debuted in October 2008 at the Akasaka ACT Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, followed by an engagement at Osaka's Umeda Art Theatre. [80] The show was also staged using a Spanish translation in Costa Rica in 2017 starring Silvia Baltodano and Isabel Guzman. She wrote the play based on the trials of accused murderers of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner in 1924. [45] Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton, and Joel Grey returned for cameo appearances. Other cut songs from the show were "Rose Colored Glasses" a different version of "We Both Reached for the Gun", "Pansy Eyes", and "Loopin' the Loop". Williams (from the R&B group Destinys Child) is the first African American woman to play the part of Roxie on the West End stage. Separately, Roxie and Velma realize theres no one they can count on but themselves (My Own Best Friend), and the ever-resourceful Roxie decides that being pregnant in prison would put her back on the front page. Original Broadway Cast Recording Chita Rivera,Jerry Orbach and Gwen Verdon Chicago (2002 film) Chicago is a musical film incorporating various acts inspired by vaudeville and cabaret performances. For example, Marti Pellow, David Hasselhoff, John Barrowman, Tony Hadley, Jerry Springer and Ian Kelsey have all played the role of Billy Flynn since 2002. (Roxie and Velma), I Know a Girl- a conversation with the audience, breaking the fourth wall, in the style of Texas Guinan, Me and My Baby a cakewalk, la Eddie Cantor, Mr. A year later it became a silent film, and in 1942, it was remade as Roxie Hart starring Ginger Rogers. Home About Cast & Creative Schedule News Store Tickets. The body of Walter Law was discovered slumped over the steering wheel of Gaertner's abandoned car on March 12, 1924. Principal characters (defined as having at least one featured musical number) and original performers of notable productions: According to Fred Ebb, he wrote the book in a vaudeville style because "the characters were performers. [27] Elizabeth Seal later replaced Ellis as Roxie Hart.[28][29]. The music itself is a take-off on piano novelties such as those popularized by Zez Confrey. Billy leaves, done with the case, admitting that he only did it for the money. The show was well-received, despite the fact that performers were still holding scripts and the choreography was sometimes unpolished. In the case of inclement weather, refunds will be awarded only if the show is cancelled. Roxie is ultimately acquitted (and reveals to Amos that she is not actually pregnant), but her victory is forgotten when a woman shoots a man on the courthouse steps. [64] The first tour started in April 1997 in Cincinnati, Ohio, six months after the revival opened on Broadway. Calcutta!) Ambassador Theatre - NY - New York, NY. Unlike its predecessor Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville, Chicago: The Musical was met with praise from audiences and critics alike. Murdered their lovers revival opened on Broadway ) Bernie Branston W. O'Brien were models for composite! According to James Leve, `` Chicago is cynical and subversive, exploiting American cultural mythologies in order to American... 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