Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre Opens CHICAGO, 7/20

The longest running American musical in Broadway history, Chicago, comes to the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre for two weekends.  Set for six performances, Chicago will be performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 from July 20 through July 29, 2012.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is 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 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.

Premiering in 1975 with a revival that would become the hit of the 1997 Broadway season, Chicago won six Tony Awards including Best revival. It would later go on to receive the 2002 Academy Award for Best Picture for the movie version starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. With book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the musical score ofChicago includes such notable tunes as "All That Jazz" and "Razzle Dazzle."

This cast of Chicago features the talented graduates of Lambertville's Downtown Performing Arts Center. Students of DPAC have gone on to establish careers in entertainment both onstage and behind the curtain. DPAC Alumni performed the musical, Rent, during the 2011 summer season.

The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre production of Chicago will be performed on Friday, July 20, Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 21 at 7:30 pm. Performances continue for a second weekend on Friday, July 27, Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, also at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 12 and under.) A senior ticket of $12 is available for anyone 65 years of age and older. Group discounts are available to groups of 12 persons or more as well as a special 10-Show Ticket Package. Tickets can always be purchased at the Open Air Theatre Box Office prior to the performance.

For complete information about the 2012 Summer Season of mainstage shows and children's theatre productions, directions and more, visit the website at www.downtownpac.com. The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre is located inside Washington Crossing State Park at 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville, New Jersey. Box Office phone is (267) 885-9857.

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