“CHICAGO The Musical”

Highly Recommended Murder! Greed! Corruption! Violence! Exploitation! Adultery! Treachery! These are the ingredients in one of the sexiest shows to ever hit Broadway.”CHICAGO  The Musical”, now back for the umteenth time, and as always a welcome addition to the Broadway In Chicago series ( or even as an extra attraction). This is Kander and Ebb at their finest with part of the book written by a Chicago legend, Bob Fosse(based on the non-musical play by Maurine Dallas Watkins) and of course, the original Fosse choreography still is used. Why not? This play is a tribute to the style of Mr. Fosse and as long as this play is done, theater audiences will have the pleasure of viewing the heart and soul that he brought to his work.

The story takes place in  Chicago during the late 1920’s. A time where gangsters roamed the streets and dance halls and vaudeville were alive. Our story has a focus on Ms Roxie Hart ( a powerful and energetic portrayal by  Tracy Shayne) a housewife and dancer with aspirations of being a star. When she murders her on-the-side-lover and is toted off to prison where everyone is sure she will be hung. While in jail, she convinces her nerdy husband Amos ( Ron Orbach, who played the role on Broadway and was the original in this role when it played here as its first road company, winning a Jeff Award- he still has it!) to hire her the slickest lawyer in town, Billy Flynn ( John O’Hurley who many recall from “Seinfeld”, but is quite the song and dance man) to get her off. If she is found not guilty, she will be a celebrity and stardom will e awaiting her. Meanwhile another killer waiting trial, Velma Kelly ( the long legged, very sexy Terra C. MacLeod) is vying for the very same. This is a very slick “musical Revue” type production filled with laughs galore and some of the very best dancing one can ever hope to see on a stage. If anyone in your family has hopes and desires of becoming a dancer, this production will show them what it truly is, an art form in itself!

The music in this show is pure Kander and Ebb- “All That Jazz”, “Cell Block Tango”, “When You’re Good To Mama” ( delightfully done by Roz Ryan),”Me And My Baby”, “Mister Cellophane” ( Orbach truly is this character), “Class” and of course the big “Razzle Dazzle” ( a showstopper) as well as many others including the final song fr Roxie and Velma “Hot Honey Rag” where the canes and hats , signatures of Fosse are used to bring the crowd to a new high. As I said earlier, this is a special show, one that continues to reach people ( many who have seen it numerous times and will again) and keeps the memory of Bob Fosse alive!

This is a strong ensemble show as these actors/dancers/singers play many roles and in fact, most are on stage at all times as is the marvelous orchestra ( some great Jazz players) conducted by Eric Knight Barnes. The ensemble members incluse: Dan LoBuono, Corey Wright, Lindsay Roginski,Adrianne Richards, Tonya Wathen, Evelyn Christina Tonn, Celia Louise Meendi, Sasha Ely Judkins, Karl Warden,Lenny Daniel, Daniel Gutierrez,Shawn Beck-Gifford, the hysterical Christophe Caballero , who nearly steals the courtroom scene playing all of teh jury members and a very special kudos to T.W. Smith in the role of Mary Sunshine.

The only problem this show has is that it is only here through June 12th ( you best get on the phone or online quickly) at the perfect theater for this production, The Oriental Theatre-Ford center For The Performing Arts located at  24 West Randolph Street . The performance schedule is:

Wednesday,Thursday,Friday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m. and matinees are at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from $30-$95 ( family friendly, but not for the little ones) and can be purchased at any of the Broadway In Chicago  box offices, the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at 800-775-2000, all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com

want to know more, visit www.chicagothemusical.com