It’s popped up in the Australian rotation a few times in the past couple of decades.
Chicago made it to Melbourne in 1998 with Caroline O’Connor as Velma, made it back in 2009 with her in the same role, along with a list of cast members including Sharon Millerchip, Gina Riley as Mama Morton and Craig McLachlan as Billy Flynn.
But it’s the 2019 production, curtain called in Sydney recently, that is the main heralding of something quite great.
Cast members Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Alinta Chidzey, Casey Donovan and Tom Burlinson will take on the roles of Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Mama Morton and Billy Flynn, in that order, for the season at the Capitol Theatre until 20 October.
Under the production of John Frost and Suzanne Jones and the international creative team, associate director Tania Nardini and associate choreographer Gary Chryst, it’s a show that’ll give packed auditorium-after-auditorium of all that jazz. It might even give the currently running Broadway version of the production a run for its money.
The legendary Kander and Ebb musical has been seen by over 31 million people worldwide in 36 countries and is the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award.
What’s CHICAGO about?
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her.
Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
It’s sexy, saucy, sinister, will rope you in to chew you up and spit you back out and makes for one of the most public performances of Casey Donovan since her return to the spotlight but a few months ago.
A must see!
For tickets and more, head to the CHICAGO website.