Chicago set to razzle dazzle Manila

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. You are about to witness a story of murder, greed, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery: All those things we hold near and dear to our hearts.” So begins the sensationally sexy and slick Broadway musical Chicago.

Chicago in Manila premieres at The Theatre of Solaire Resort and Casino on Dec. 3 on a limited season.

The very first Manila season is headlined by two Broadway stars — Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart and Terra MacLeod as Velma Kelly. MacLeod has played the role of Velma around the world from Broadway to the West End and internationally. Marroquin made her Broadway debut as Roxie in 2002 and has since starred in other Broadway musicals. They lead an all-star American cast coming directly from the US.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer with aspirations of becoming a Vaudeville star, who kills her 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.

Chicago is known for its beautiful choreography inspired by the director and choreographer Bob Fosse.

Chicago was first created by the legendary Broadway trio of John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (book/lyrics) and Bob Fosse (co-author, original director and choreographer) in 1975, and was based on a 1926 Broadway play written by a journalist from the Chicago Tribune who had covered the trials of two women, both of whom accused of killing their lovers while under the influence of drink and jazz.

Kander and Ebb enjoyed a collaboration that spanned four decades, defined musical theater on Broadway and earned them numerous awards. Fosse was one of Broadway’s biggest and brightest creative stars, renowned for his innovative and spectacular staging, with the emphasis on exhilarating dance sequences. He turned out one hit after another from the ’50s to the late ’70s and is the only director so far to have won an Oscar, two Tony Awards and an Emmy Award in the same year, 1973.

Among the popular numbers in Chicago are All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle ‘Em and Cell Block Tango.

Chicago has won six Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy for Best Musical Cast Recording.

The 2002 film adaptation starring Reneé Zellweger, Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere won six awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Zeta Jones.

Producer James Cundall, chief executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions says, “Chicago ranks with Les Miserablés as my favorite musical of all time — it is a knock-out show which features a wonderfully humorous story, sensational dancing, toe-tapping music and an incredible cast of characters, which is why it continues to play on Broadway after so many years and has been applauded by millions of people. There is a whole new audience who loved the Academy award-winning film and will now have the chance to experience Chicago live. Chicago always delivers with sizzle and timeless class — no wonder it has become such a global phenomenon.”

Cundall adds, “I am both delighted and excited to be bringing the first musical to the brand-new Theatre at Solaire. It is wonderful that Manila now has a world-class 1,760-seat theater, built especially to accommodate Broadway and West End musicals, and finished to an incredibly high standard. The audience will also enjoy superb facilities such as restaurants, shops and bars in addition to the theater itself.”

Chicago is produced in Manila by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises and Concertus Manila.

The Manila season of Chicago opens on Dec. 3 and runs until Dec. 21. Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information. Tickets are on sale through TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Chicago is set to take its rightful place this year in Broadway’s musical theater history on Nov. 23 as it stages its record-breaking 7,486th performance making it the No. 1 longest-running American musical on Broadway.