Chicago

October 3 - 25, 2003

8:oo pm Performances Friday and Saturday

6:00 pm Performances Sunday

2:00 pm Saturday Matinee Performances October 11th, 18th, and 25th

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the play "Chicago" by Maurine Dallas Watkins

Artistic Director / Choreographer: Mark R. Mahallak
Vocal Director: Linda Kay Williams

Production Coordinator: Sharon McFarlin

Technical Coordinator: Elaine Riner

Stage Manager: Tom Hermanson

Costume Designers: Darrin Pufall & Ryan Moller

Assistant Choreographer: David "Doc" Lindquist

NEW! Newspaper and Internet Reviews Posted for Chicago!

$21.00 Adults, $19.00 Students/Seniors "A"

$19.00 Adults, $17.00 Students/Seniors "B"

$17.00 All Seats for Matinees

The box office is open Monday thru Saturday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

You may order tickets over the phone or check availability by calling 815-338-5300

Cast List | Cast Photos | Reviews | Brief History | Story Synopsis | Musical Numbers

Press Photos | Press Release | Production Photos

Cast List

(in order of appearance)

*Velma Kelly*	............	Shannon Mayhall
*Roxie Hart*	............	Christy Johanson
*Fred Casely*	............	Joe Weyland
*Sergeant Fogarty*	............	David "Doc" Lindquist
*Amos Hart*	............	Bob Riner
*Liz*	............	Krissy Linde
*Annie*	............	Tina Cox
*June*	............	Deb Swinford
*Hunyak*	............	Laurie Faith Gibson
*Mona*	............	Kim Kreisman
*Go-To-Hell Kitty*	............	Lisa Czarny-Hyrkas
*Murderess*	............	Gigi Carlson
*Murderess*	............	Sabrina Crear
*Matron Mama Morton*	............	Amy Krigas
*Billy Flynn*	............	Rob Scharlow
*Mary Sunshine*	............	Dea Pfault
*Tailor/Piano Player*	............	Michael Buonincontro
*Aaron/Juror*	............	Shawn Bechtol
*Martin Harrison*	............	Brian Sager
*Doctor/Bailiff*	............	Wally Kedzior
*Court Clerk*	............	Jared Lyons
*The Emcee*	............	Ted Steffens

Cast Photos

Shawn Bechtol

Michael Buonincontro

Gigi Carlson

Tina Cox

Sabrina Crear

Lisa Czarny-Hyrkas

Laurie Faith Gibson

Christy Johanson

Wally Kedzior

Kim Kreisman

Amy Krigas

Krissy Linde

David “Doc” Lindquist

Jared Lyons

Shannon Mayhall

Dea Pfault

Bob Riner

Brian Sager

Rob Scharlow

Ted Steffens

Deb Swinford

Joe Weyland

REVIEWS

October 8th, 2003 - WMTC's "Chicago" Rocks! - The Woodstock Independant

October 8th, 2003 - See WMTC's "Chicago" & live vicariously! - www.NICOTH.com

October 10th, 2003 - Audiences LOVE "Chicago"!- Northwest Herald

Brief History

Based on a 1926 play by Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who murders her unfaithful husband, then manages not only to avoid prison with the help of razzle-dazzle lawyer Billy Flynn, but uses the trial to propel herself to showbiz stardom along with another murderous chorus girl, Velma Kelly. A dark parable of American justice, Chicago is a sexy musical extravaganza that includes several show-stopping numbers such as "All That Jazz," "Razzle Dazzle" and "Class."

Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre on June 3, 1975, with a cast that included Gwen Verdon (Roxie), Chita Rivera (Velma) and Jerry Orbach (Billy). Although the show enjoyed a run of 898 performances, it was overshadowed by A Chorus Line which opened the same year. (Chicago was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, but lost out in every category when A Chorus Line swept the awards.) As a result, Chicago would remain quietly in the shadows, one of Broadway's most underappreciated gems, until 1997 when it was revived on Broadway with choreography by Ann Reinking "in the style of Bob Fosse." This production spawned a national tour and went on to win 6 Tony Awards including "Best Revival of a Musical," "Best Lighting Design," "Best Choreography" and "Best Direction of a Musical."

STORY SYNOPSIS

As the OVERTURE ends, we're introduced to Velma Kelly -- a vaudevillian who shot the other half of her sister act when she caught her husband with her sister. Velma invites us to sample ALL THAT JAZZ while showing us the story of chorus girl Roxie Hart's cold-blooded murder of nightclub regular Fred Casely. Roxie convinces her husband Amos that the victim was a burglar, and he cheerfully takes the rap.

Roxie expresses her appreciation in song (FUNNY HONEY) until the police reveal to Amos that Roxie knew the burglar, shall we say, intimately, and Amos decides to let her swing for herself. Roxie's first taste of the criminal justice system is the women's block in Cook County Jail, inhabited by Velma and other merry murderesses (CELL BLOCK TANGO). The women's jail is presided over by Matron "Mama" Morton whose system of mutual aid (WHEN YOU'RE GOOD TO MOMMA) perfectly suits her clientele. She has helped Velma become the media's top murderer-of-the-week and is acting as booking agent for Velma's big return to vaudeville (after her acquittal, naturally.)

Velma is not happy to see Roxie, who is stealing not only her limelight but her lawyer, Billy Flynn. Eagerly awaited by his all-girl clientele, Billy sings his anthem, complete with a chorus of fan-dancers to prove that (quote) (ALL I CARE ABOUT IS LOVE.) Billy takes Roxie's case and re-arranges her story for consumption by sympathetic tabloid columnist Mary Sunshine, who always tries to find A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD in everyone. Roxie's press conference turns into a ventriloquist act with Billy dictating a new version of the truth (WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN) while Roxie mouths the words. Roxie becomes the new toast of Chicago and Velma's headlines, trial date and career are left in the dust. Velma tries to talk Roxie into recreating the sister act (I CAN'T DO IT ALONE) but Roxie turns her down, only to find her own headlines replaced by the latest sordid crime of passion. Separately, Roxie and Velma realize there's no one they can count on but themselves (MY OWN BEST FRIEND), and the ever-resourceful Roxie decides that being pregnant in prison would put her back on the front page.

Back after the ENTR'ACTE, Velma cannot believe Roxie's continual run of luck (I KNOW A GIRL) despite Roxie's obvious falsehoods (ME AND MY BABY). A little shy on the arithmetic, Amos proudly claims paternity, and still nobody notices him, MR. CELLOPHANE. Velma desperately tries to show Billy all the tricks she's got planned for her trial (WHEN VELMA TAKES THE STAND). Billy's forte may be showmanship (RAZZLE DAZZLE), but when he passes all Velma's ideas on to Roxie, down to the rhinestone shoe buckles, Mama and Velma lament the demise of CLASS. As promised, Billy gets Roxie her acquittal but, just as the verdict is given, some even more sensational crime pulls the pack of press bloodhounds away, and Roxie's fleeting celebrity is over. Left in the dust, she pulls herself up and extols the joys of life NOWADAYS. She teams up with Velma in that sister act (NOWADAYS), in which they dance their little hearts out (HOT HONEY RAG) 'til they are joined by the entire company for the grand FINALE.

Plot summary by Bill Rosenfield (c)1997 BMG Music and have been excerpted from the Chicago The Musical Broadway Cast Recording, BMG selection number 09026-68727-2/4

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE:

"All That Jazz"

"Funny Honey"

"Cell Block Tango"

"When You're Good To Mama"

Tap Dance

"All I Care About"

"A Little Bit Of Good"

"We Both Reached For The Gun"

"Roxie"

"I Can't Do It Alone"

Chicago After Midnight

"My Own Best Friend"

ACT TWO:

"I Know A Girl"

"Me and My Baby"

"Mister Cellophane"

"When Velma Takes the Stand"

"Razzle Dazzle"

"Class"

"Nowadays"

"Nowadays - R.S.V.P. - Keep it Hot"

............

Velma and Company

Roxie

Velma and Girls

Matron Mama

Roxie, Amos & Boys

Billy and Girls

Mary Sunshine

Billy, Roxie, Mary Sunshine and Company

Roxie and Boys

Velma

The Band

Roxie and Velma

Velma

Roxie and Boys

Amos

Velma and Boys

Billy and Company

Velma and Matron