Atlanta Lyric Theatre Presents CHICAGO 10/24 - 11/9
By: Sally Henry Fuller Oct. 11, 2014
Tickets available by calling (404) 377-9948 or visiting www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.
Based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins (which was based on real events), CHICAGO is, as we are told in the show's opening lines, "a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery - all the things we hold near and dear to our hearts."
Billed as "a musical vaudeville," CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway shows great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you've ever seen.
No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, multiple Oscar Awards including Best Picture, and thousands of standing ovations. It's also no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences all around the world, from Mexico City to Moscow and São Paulo to South Africa.
CHICAGO wascreated by John Kander, Fred Ebb ("Cabaret," "Kiss of the Spider Woman") and Bob Fosse (famous for his innovative staging and choreography). It first opened on Broadway on June 3, 1975 and ran for 898 performances. Its current Broadway revival opened November 14, 1996, and is still running strong after more than 7,000 performances.
The story revolves around Roxie Hart, a nightclub dancer who dreams of starring in vaudeville. She kills her lover, nightclub regular Fred Casely, and convinces her husband Amos to front the money to hire Chicago's shrewdest defense lawyer, Billy Flynn. Billy turns her crime of passion into celebrity headlines, and Roxie becomes the toast of Chicago, to the chagrin of Flynn's former high profile client, Velma Kelly. CHICAGO is a cynical look at America's celebrity culture and its corrupt judicial system, presented through the highly stylized language of vaudeville song and dance.
Marietta native Liberty Cogen, who was featured in the first national tour of "Legally Blonde" and Barry Manilow's "Harmony," plays Roxie Hart. Atlanta chanteuse Deborah Bowman, who hails from New York and performed in Cameron Mackintosh's first national tour of "Oliver," plays Velma Kelly. Billy Flynn is played by Atlanta stage veteran Alan Kilpatrick, who last season played Max Bialystock in The Lyric's "The Producers." Broadway's Glenn Rainey, last seen on The Lyric stage as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls" plays Amos Hart, and award-winning actress Ingrid Cole, last seen as Rose in The Lyric's "Gypsy" plays the mistress of murderer's row, Matron "Mama" Morton.
Others in the cast include Bryan Brendle, Haden Rider, Dustin Lewis, Jono Davis, Priscilla Curtis, J. Koby Parker, Bonnie Harris, Jennifer Lynn Arnold, Fenner Eaddy, Casy Walker, Jason Cohen, Tyler Sarkis, Courtney Bowers, Tre McClendon, Jamie Lea Keener, and Brian Dixon.
CHICAGO is directed by Lyric Artistic Director Brandt Blocker and choreographed by Karen Hebert.
The design team features Music Director Bill Newberry, Scenic Designer Bill Walker, Costume Designer Lindsey G. Paris, Lighting Designer Mary Parker, Sound Designer and Production Manager Bobby Johnston, and Hair and Wig Designer George Deavours.
CHICAGO also features the jazzy and brassy sounds of the Atlanta Lyric Orchestra conducted by Blocker.
Whether you're looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you've seen the Academy Award-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage, or whether you've seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGO always delivers. Tickets for CHICAGO are priced from $22 - $57. For reservations andinformation call (404) 377-9948 or visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.
The Lyric's 35th season of musicals features CHICAGO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS, SLEIGH BELLS SWING, DAMN YANKEES, and BARNUM. For show dates, times, subscriptions, and single tickets visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.
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