Chicago
Poster from the West End Production
Music	John Kander
Lyrics	Fred Ebb
Book	Fred Ebb Bob Fosse
Based upon	Chicago play by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Productions	1975 Broadway 1996 Broadway 1997 West End 2005 US Tour 2006 UK Tour
Awards	Tony Award for Best Revival

Chicago is a Kander and Ebb musical set in prohibition era Chicago. The book is by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebrity criminal." The musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes she had reported on. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... John Harold Kander (born March 18, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri) is the American composer of a series of musical theatre successes as part of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb. ... Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004) was a musical theatre lyricist. ... Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004) was a musical theatre lyricist. ... Bob Fosse, early promotional image Bob Fosse (June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was a musical theater choreographer and director. ... Maurine Dallas Watkins (July 27, 1896 - August 10, 1969) was an American journalist and playwright. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... The Tony Award for Best Revival (Musical) has been awarded since 1994. ... Kander and Ebb is the songwriting team of composer John Kander, born March 18, 1927 and lyricist Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004). ... The Black Crook (1866), considered by some historians to be the first musical[1] Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. ... Prohibition in the United States aimed to achieve alcohol abstinence through legal means. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... Bob Fosse, early promotional image Bob Fosse (June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was a musical theater choreographer and director. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... United States criminal justice system flowchart. ... Maurine Dallas Watkins (July 27, 1896 - August 10, 1969) was an American journalist and playwright. ...

The original 1975 Broadway production ran for a total of 936 performances. Bob Fosse choreographed the original production, and his style is strongly identified with the show. Chicago's 1996 Broadway revival holds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway (not counting the revue Oh! Calcutta!) and, as of March 2, 2008, it has played for more than 4,684 performances. The revival was followed by a production on London's West End and several tours and international productions. An Academy Award-winning film version of the musical was released in 2002. For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Bob Fosse, early promotional image Bob Fosse (June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was a musical theater choreographer and director. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... A revue is a type of theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches that satirize contemporary figures, news, or literature. ... Oh! Calcutta! was a long-running theatrical revue, debuting off-Broadway in 1969, created by British critic Kenneth Tynan. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... This article is about the 2002 film. ...

History

The musical Chicago is based on a play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, who had been assigned to cover the 1924 trials of murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune. Maurine Dallas Watkins (July 27, 1896 - August 10, 1969) was an American journalist and playwright. ... Beulah Sheriff Annan (about 1901 - 1928) was an American murderess. ... Belva Gaertner, (1885-1965)American murderess. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ...

Annan, the model for the character of Roxie Hart, was 23 when she was accused of the murder of Harry Kalstedt. The Tribune reported that Annan played the foxtrot record "Hula Lou" over and over for two hours before calling her husband to say she killed a man who "tried to make love to her." She was found "not guilty" on May 25, 1924. Velma is based on Gaertner, who was a cabaret singer. The body of Walter Law was discovered slumped over the steering wheel of Gaertner's abandoned car on March 12, 1924. Two police officers testified that they had seen a woman getting into the car and shortly thereafter heard gunshots. A bottle of gin and an automatic pistol were found on the floor of the car. Gaertner was acquitted on June 6, 1924. The two lawyers, William Scott Stewart and W. W. O'Brien, were models for a composite character in Chicago, "Billy Flynn." is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ...

Dallas-Watkins' sensational columns documenting these trials proved so popular that she decided to write a play based on them. The show received both popular and critical acclaim and even made it to Broadway in 1926, running for 172 performances. A 1927 silent film version produced by Cecil B. DeMille and starring former Mack Sennett bathing beauty Phyllis Haver as Roxie Hart was remade as Roxie Hart, in 1942 with Ginger Rogers in the title role. For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Chicago is a 1927 silent film produced by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Frank Urson. ... Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... Mack Sennett (1880 - 1960) Mack Sennett (January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was an innovator of slapstick comedy in film. ... Phyllis Haver Phyllis Haver (January 6, 1899 - November 19, 1960) was a popular American actress of the silent film era. ... Roxie Hart is a 1942 film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, George Montgomery, Nigel Bruce, Phil Silvers, William Frawley, and Spring Byington billy bob marley. ... Ginger Rogers (Virginia Katherine McMath, July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award-winning American film and stage actress and singer. ...

Gwen Verdon read the play and asked her husband, Bob Fosse, about the possibility of creating a musical based on it. Fosse approached Watkins multiple times to ask her permission to adapt the play as a musical, but he was rejected in each instance. Upon her death in 1969, however, Watkins instructed that the rights to Chicago be sold to Verdon and Fosse. John Kander and Fred Ebb began work on the score, modeling each number on a traditional vaudeville number or a vaudeville performer. This format made explicit the show's comparison between "justice", "show-business", and contemporary society. Ebb and Fosse penned the book of the musical, with Fosse also directing and choreographing. Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an acclaimed Tony Award-winning American dancer and actress, known professionally as Gwen Verdon. ... John Harold Kander (born March 18, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri) is the American composer of a series of musical theatre successes as part of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb. ... Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004) was a musical theatre lyricist. ... This article is about the musical variety theatre. ... This article is about the musical variety theatre. ...

Plot synopsis

Act 1

Velma Kelly is a vaudevillian who murdered both her husband and her sister when she found them in bed together. She welcomes the audience to tonight's show ("All That Jazz"). Meanwhile, we hear of chorus girl Roxie Hart's murder of her lover, nightclub regular Fred Casely. This article is about the musical variety theatre. ...

Roxie convinces her husband Amos that the victim was a burglar, and Amos cheerfully takes the rap. Roxie expresses her appreciation of her husband's thick skull ("Funny Honey"). However, when the police mention the deceased's name Amos belatedly puts two and two together. The truth comes out, and Roxie is arrested. She is sent to the women's block in Cook County Jail, inhabited by Velma and other murderesses ("Cell Block Tango"). The block is presided over by the corrupt Matron "Mama" Morton, whose system of mutual aid ("When You're Good to Mama") perfectly suits her clientèle. She has helped Velma become the media's top murder-of-the-week and is acting as a booking agent for Velma's big return to vaudeville.

Velma is not happy to see Roxie, who is stealing not only her limelight but her lawyer, Billy Flynn. Roxie tries to convince Amos to pay for Billy Flynn to be her lawyer ("A Tap Dance"). Eagerly awaited by his all-girl clientèle, Billy sings his anthem, complete with a chorus of fan dancers to prove his assertion that "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 as Velma's fame is 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.

Act 2

Velma again welcomes the audience with the line "Hello, Suckers," another reference to Texas Guinan, who commonly greeted her patrons with the same phrase. She informs the audience of 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 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 life 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, in which they dance and perform the "Hot Honey Rag" until they are joined by the entire company for the grand "Finale".^[1]

Musical numbers and analysis

Many of the musical numbers in Chicago are based on traditional vaudeville acts including some based on particular vaudevillian performers.^{[citation needed]} The musical numbers are listed below with a description of these antecedents where applicable:

• "Overture" - performed by a pit-band
• "All That Jazz" - a number in homage to famous speakeasy owner Texas Guinan
• "Funny Honey" - modeled on Helen Morgan and Judy Garland's performances
• "Cell Block Tango" - the "merry murderesses" evoke the "ethnic numbers" of Vaudeville, and the death by hanging is staged as a "tightrope" act
• "When You're Good to Mama" - a Sophie Tucker/Mae West/Pearl Bailey -type double-entendre song, playing on the lesbianism of the character
• "A Tap Dance" - a soft shoe
• "All I Care About" - a striptease based on Sally Rand and her fan dance, with Billy Flynn spoofing Al Jolson and bandleader Ted "Is Everybody Happy?" Lewis
• "Little Bit of Good" - Mary Sunshine, a female-impersonator reminiscent of Julian Eltinge singing a Jerome Kern parody as Marilyn Miller
• "We Both Reached for the Gun" aka "The Press Conference Rag" - a ventriloquist act
• "Roxie" - an autobiographical, observational stand-up comedy routine a la Fanny Brice
• "I Can't Do It Alone" - half of a "double-act" (or an acrobatic "sister-act")
• "My Own Best Friend" - a torch song, subverted by the fact the singers are praising themselves
• "I Know A Girl"- A conversation with the audience, breaking the fourth wall, in the style of a one-woman show
• "Me and My Baby" - a cakewalk, a la Eddie Cantor
• "Mr. Cellophane" - a clown number reminiscent of Bert Williams' song "Nobody" performed by Amos Hart wearing the costume of Emil Jannings from the final scene of The Blue Angel
• "When Velma Takes the Stand" - evokes vaudeville's courtroom comedy sketches, and staged as a parody of production numbers featuring collegiate chorus boys with megaphones (i.e. Good News)
• "Razzle Dazzle" - Flynn assumes the persona of Clarence Darrow in a juggling circus act
• "Class" - A satirical number about the downfall of society
• "Nowadays" - a song reminiscent of Kander and Ebb's "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret
• "Hot Honey Rag" - a Charleston finale by Velma and Roxie

Mary Louise Cecilia Texas Guinan (January 12, 1884 – November 5, 1933) was a saloon keeper, actress, and entrepreneur. ... Helen Morgan was an born 2 August 1900 in rural Danville, Illinois. ... Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969) was an Academy Award-nominated American film actress and singer, best known for her role as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). ... Sophie Tucker, 1917 Sophie Tucker (January 13, 1884 - February 9, 1966) was a singer and comedian, one of the most popular United States entertainers of the first third of the 20th century. ... MAE-West is a major Internet peering point located in San Jose, California. ... Pearl Bailey in “St. ... Sally Rand (January 2, 1904 – August 31, 1979) was born Harriet Helen Gould Beck in Hickory County, Missouri. ... Al Jolson (May 26, 1886–October 23, 1950) was a highly acclaimed American singer, comedian and actor of Jewish heritage whose career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950. ... Theodore Leopold Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis (June 6, 1890-August 25, 1971), was an American entertainer, bandleader, singer, and musician. ... Julian Eltinge (May 14, 1881 - March 7, 1941) was an American actor. ... Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of popular music. ... Marilyn Miller Marilyn Miller (born Mary Ellen Reynolds) (September 1, 1898 – April 7, 1936) was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. ... Early Ziegfeld Follies portrait of Fanny Brice Fanny Brice (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951) was a popular and influential American comedian, singer, theatre and film actress and entertainer, remembered best for her many stage, radio and film appearances and her recordings. ... Cakewalk is a traditional African American form of music and dance which originated among slaves in the US South. ... One of 12 Eddie Cantor caricatures by Frederick J. Garner for a 1933 Brown & Bigelow advertising card set. ... Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was the pre-eminent Black entertainer of his era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. ... Emil Jannings (July 23, 1884 - January 3, 1950) was an actor and the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor. ... Blue Angel might be used to refer to several different things: three movies based on Heinrich Manns novel Professor Unrat (1905), about the downfall of a teacher, obsessed with love: The Blue Angel (1930 movie), (in English) starring Marlene Dietrich as Lola, featuring the song Falling in Love Again... Good News is a musical comedy which opened on Broadway in 1927, set on the campus of the fictional Tait College. The book was by Buddy DeSylva and Laurence Schwab, lyrics by DeSylva and Lew Brown, and music by Ray Henderson. ... Clarence Seward Darrow (April 18, 1857 Kinsman Township, Trumbull County, Ohio - March 13, 1938 Chicago) was an American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, best known for defending teenage thrill killers Leopold and Loeb in their trial for murdering 14-year-old Bobby Franks (1924) and... Kander and Ebb is the songwriting team of composer John Kander, born March 18, 1927 and lyricist Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004). ... Cabaret is a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. ... Josephine Baker dancing the Charleston at the Folies Bergère, Paris, in 1926 A USPS stamp from the Celebrate the Century series: Flappers Doing the Charleston by John Held Jr. ...

Productions

Original Broadway production

The Original Cast Recording

Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville opened on June 3, 1975, and ran for a total of 936 performances, closing on August 27, 1977. It starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, and Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn. Velma Kelly was a comparatively minor character in all versions of Chicago prior to the musical rendering. The role was fleshed out to balance Chita Rivera's role opposite Gwen Verdon's Roxie Hart. The musical got mixed reviews, which is reportedly what Fosse wanted. The Brechtian style of the show, which frequently dropped the fourth wall, made audiences uncomfortable. It brought attention to the fact that the show was really about the world we live in, paralleling the glamorization of criminals with how society itself makes criminals into celebrities. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 554 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (605 × 655 pixel, file size: 55 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover of the original cast recording of Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville This image is of a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 554 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (605 × 655 pixel, file size: 55 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover of the original cast recording of Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville This image is of a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it... is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... The Dancers Life poster Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C.) is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical actress dancer, and singer best known for her musical theater roles. ... Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an acclaimed Tony Award-winning American dancer and actress, known professionally as Gwen Verdon. ... Jerome Bernard Orbach (October 20, 1935 – December 28, 2004) was an American actor best known for his starring role as wisecracking Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and for his musical theater roles. ... The Dancers Life poster Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C.) is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical actress dancer, and singer best known for her musical theater roles. ... Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an acclaimed Tony Award-winning American dancer and actress, known professionally as Gwen Verdon. ... {{dy justified his choice of form, and from about 1929 on he began to interpret its penchant for contradictions, much as had Eisenstein, in terms of the dialectic. ... The fourth wall is the imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theater, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. ...

It was through this production, and not the writing, that much of the "traditional" Chicago staging conventions were developed:

• The double snap in "Razzle Dazzle" was added as an afterthought at the suggestion of Fred Ebb to John Kander. Kander did not like the idea, but Ebb thought Fosse would love it. He did.
• During rehearsals, "Razzle Dazzle" was originally staged as an orgy on the steps of the courthouse. Fosse was talked out of allowing this staging to make it into the final production.
• The original finale was "Loopin' the Loop", and based on music submitted to Kander and Ebb by Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera. It was decided that the piece was too lighthearted, so the piece was cut and replaced with "Nowadays". Sections of "Loopin' the Loop" can still be heard in the Overture.
• Until the tryouts, there was another principal character, played by David Rounds and known simply as "The Agent," whose role was to exploit the notoriety of the prisoners for his own gain. He also served as the evening's emcee. This character's role was eventually folded into that of Matron Mama Morton, his song "Ten Percent" was cut, and various members of the chorus shared his emcee duties.
• In a reversal of roles, Fosse decided the lyrics to the number "Class" were too offensive and censored Kander and Ebb's original version of the song.

The show had the misfortune of opening the same year as Michael Bennett's highly successful A Chorus Line, which beat out Chicago in both ticket sales and at the Tony Awards.^[2] The show was on the verge of closing, when it ran into another setback: Gwen Verdon inhaled a feather during the finale, which resulted in a throat infection. Fred Ebb (April 8, 1933 - September 11, 2004) was a musical theatre lyricist. ... John Harold Kander (born March 18, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri) is the American composer of a series of musical theatre successes as part of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb. ... Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an acclaimed Tony Award-winning American dancer and actress, known professionally as Gwen Verdon. ... The Dancers Life poster Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C.) is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical actress dancer, and singer best known for her musical theater roles. ... A Master of Ceremonies or MC (sometimes spelled emcee), sometimes called a compere or an MJ for microphone jockey, is the host of an official public or private staged event or other performance. ... Bennett on the cover of his 1990 biography by Kevin Kelly Michael Bennett (April 8, 1943 - July 2, 1987) was a Tony Award-winning American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. ... A Chorus Line is a musical with a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an acclaimed Tony Award-winning American dancer and actress, known professionally as Gwen Verdon. ...

The producers planned on closing, when Liza Minnelli stepped in and offered to play the role of Roxie Hart in place of Verdon. Her run lasted a month, and so the show continued into 1977. Liza Minnelli (born March 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress and singer. ...

City Center's "Encores!"

In 1996, City Center announced that Chicago was to be included in its fall line up of "Encores!" series. The series had been previously used exclusively to bring attention to older, more obscure musicals that might have otherwise have been forgotten. New York City Centers Encores!® Great American Musicals in Concert has been performing since 1994. ...

The production was directed by Walter Bobbie with choreography "in the style of Bob Fosse" by Ann Reinking, who also starred as Roxie Hart. Also in the show was Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Joel Grey as Amos Hart and James Naughton as Billy Flynn. The show was well-received, despite the fact that performers were still holding scripts and the choreography was sometimes unpolished. By intermission on opening night, there was talk of a full scale revival. Born on November 18, 1945 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Walter Bobbie is a noted dancer, choreographer, director and occasional actor. ... Bob Fosse, early promotional image Bob Fosse (June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was a musical theater choreographer and director. ... Bebe Neuwirth Beatrice Bebe Neuwirth (born December 31, 1958) is an American theater, television, and film actress. ... Joel Grey (born Joel Katz on April 11, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American stage and screen actor, who graduated from Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California in 1950. ... James Naughton (b. ...

Broadway revival

Chicago: The Musical at the Ambassador Theatre, New York, May 2007

Barry and Fran Weissler brought the concert version of Chicago, now titled Chicago: The Musical directly to Broadway, where it opened on November 14, 1996. The show set a record for recovering its initial costs faster than any other musical in history. This is likely due to the stripped down nature of the show: the set is nothing more than a giant bandstand, and the costumes are minimalist and black. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 694 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2750 × 2376 pixel, file size: 2 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 694 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2750 × 2376 pixel, file size: 2 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Ambassador Theatre is a Broadway theatre. ... is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Unlike its predecessor Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville, Chicago: The Musical was met with praise from audiences and critics alike. Society had changed in light of events such as the O. J. Simpson murder case, and audiences were more receptive to the criminal-as-celebrity theme of the show.^[3] Chicago: The Musical won 6 Tonys, more than any other revival in Broadway history, winning for Best Musical Revival, Best Actress for Bebe Neuwirth, Best Actor for James Naughton, Best Lighting Design for Ken Billington, Best Director for Walter Bobbie and Best Choreography for Ann Reinking. While still married to Verdon, Fosse also romanced Ann Reinking, who would later choreograph the revival as well as play Roxie. The O.J. Simpson murder case was a highly-publicized U.S. criminal trial in which former American football star for the National Football League (NFL) and actor O. J. Simpson was charged with the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, Ronald Goldman. ... Bebe Neuwirth Beatrice Bebe Neuwirth (born December 31, 1958) is an American theater, television, and film actress. ... James Naughton (b. ... Born on November 18, 1945 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Walter Bobbie is a noted dancer, choreographer, director and occasional actor. ... Ann Reinking (born November 10, 1949 in Seattle, Washington) is an American actress and dancer, most famous for her association with choreographer Bob Fosse. ... Ann Reinking (born November 10, 1949 in Seattle, Washington) is an American actress and dancer, most famous for her association with choreographer Bob Fosse. ...

Chicago: The Musical has run for over 4,588 performances as of December 2007 and holds the record for longest-running revival on Broadway, second only to the nude revue, Oh! Calcutta! (although the West End revival of Blood Brothers has been running longer). Chicago is currently the eighth longest-running Broadway show ever.^[4] During its run, the show has played in three Broadway theatres - the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the Shubert Theatre and the Ambassador Theatre. Oh! Calcutta! was a long-running theatrical revue, debuting off-Broadway in 1969, created by British critic Kenneth Tynan. ... For other uses, see Blood Brothers (disambiguation). ... The Richard Rodgers Theatre was built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. ... The Shubert Theatre, 2006. ... The Ambassador Theatre is a Broadway theatre. ...

The cast recording of the revival won a Grammy Award. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

West End production

On November 18, 1997, Chicago: The Musical opened in London's West End. The original cast of the production included Ute Lemper as Velma, Ruthie Henshall as Roxie Hart, Nigel Planer as Amos Hart and Henry Goodman as Billy Flynn. The production won the 1998 Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical. is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Ute Lemper (born July 4, 1963) is a German chanteuse and actress. ... Ruthie Henshall is a British singer, dancer, and actress. ... Nigel George Planer (born February 22, 1953 in London) is an English actor, novelist and playwright. ... Henry Goodman is a theatre actor. ... The Laurence Olivier Awards, previously known as The Society of West End Theatre Awards, were renamed in honour of British actor Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier in 1984, having first been established in 1976. ...

The show ran at the Adelphi Theatre for 9 years until transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it continues to play as of June 2007.^[5] The Adam brothers Adelphi Buildings in an 18th-century print; the terrace stood upon riverfront warehousing. ... Jerry Springer – The Opera at the Cambridge Theatre The Cambridge Theatre in London is a modern theatre, facing Seven Dials, built using steel and concrete and is notable for its elegant and clean lines of design. ...

Bangalore poster

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 900 pixel, file size: 314 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 900 pixel, file size: 314 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

International productions

There have beeen professional productions of Chicago Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Russia, Canada, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Israel, South Africa, China, Australia, Singapore, Poland and the United Arab Emirates, as well as amateur productions in Croatia, Serbia, Spain, Hungary, Cyprus, Norway, India, and Albania. Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... This article is about the country. ... UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ...

Chicago has given the opportunity for the stars of foreign productions to make their Broadway debuts including Bianca Marroquin (Mexico), Denise Van Outen (U.K.), Terra C. Macleod (France and Canada), Petra Nielson (Sweden), Ute Lemper (U.K. and Germany), Ruthie Henshall (U.K.), Anna Montanaro (Germany and Austria) Pia Dowes (Holland), Marti Pellow (U.K.), Caroline O’Connor (Australia).

The first Japanese-language production of the Tony-winning revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago will debut in October at the Akasaka ACT Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, followed by an engagement at Osaka's Umeda Art Theatre.

Presented by Barry and Fran Weissler is association with Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. and Kyodo Tokyo Inc., the production will star Ryoko Yonekura as Roxie Hart, Yoka Wao as Velma Kelly and Ryuichi Kawamura as Billy Flynn. Ryoko Yonekura Ryoko Yonekura (Japanese: 米倉 涼子, Yonekura Ryōko, born August 1, 1975), is a Japanese actress and former model. ... Youka Wao. ... Ryuichi Kawamura , born May 20, 1970) is a Japanese singer from Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture. ...

Although the touring production of Chicago was first presented in Japan in 1999 — it has since toured the country three times — this will mark the first production of the hit musical to be heard in Japanese.

In a statement, Kyodo Tokyo Inc. president Yoshito Yamazaki said, "More than 150,000 people in Japan have fallen in love with the English-language production of Chicago. And while English-language productions have visited Japan repeatedly, it was always our dream to be able to present a Japanese-language production of this wonderful, record-breaking musical, and make Chicago available to millions of Japanese who can now enjoy it fully in their own language. I'm happy to announce that in a few months, that dream will become a reality."

Producer Weissler added, "What a thrill it is to see that Chicago continues to reach new audiences all over the world. To know that Kander and Ebb's fantastic songs continue to be performed by actors in a variety of languages across the globe is truly phenomenal. We're delighted to now be able to introduce the excitement of Chicago to millions of Japanese theatregoers in their native language."

Notable casts

Robin Givens (born November 27, 1964 in New York, New York) is an American actress. ... Ian Kelsey (born 17th December 1966) hails from York in Yorkshire. ... Jeff McCarthy is an American character actor who has appeared in television, theatre and films. ... John Schneider is an actor, theatre director, playwright, and musician based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ...

Film adaptations

Poster for the 2002 movie

In 1927, a silent film version of the original non-musical play was made. In 1942, a "cleaned-up" version of the 1926 play, this time called Roxie Hart, was released. It was directed by William A. Wellman and starred Ginger Rogers as Roxie, Adolphe Menjou as Billy Flynn, and Spring Byington as reporter Mary Sunshine. In this version, Velma is reduced to a small role, and Roxie is mistakenly tried for murder. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Roxie Hart is a 1942 film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, George Montgomery, Nigel Bruce, Phil Silvers, William Frawley, and Spring Byington billy bob marley. ... William Augustus Wellman (February 29, 1896 – December 9, 1975) was an American movie director. ... Ginger Rogers (Virginia Katherine McMath, July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award-winning American film and stage actress and singer. ... Adolphe Menjou Adolphe Jean Menjou (February 18, 1890 – October 29, 1963) was an American actor of French and Irish descent. ... Spring Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an Oscar-nominated American actress. ...

A film version of the Kander-Ebb musical was produced and released in 2002, starring Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. The story was told by staging the vaudeville acts as fantasies of Roxie Hart, eliminating some songs, and lightening the character of Roxie. The original lyrics of "Class" were restored for this film version, which although not present in the final release print, was included as a DVD bonus feature. The 2002 film won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Zeta-Jones won Best Supporting Actress. This article is about the 2002 film. ... Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an Academy Award-winning American film actress. ... Catherine Zeta-Jones (born 25 September 1969) is an Academy Award-winning Welsh actress based in the United States. ... Richard Tiffany Gere[1] (born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. ... ©A.M.P.A.S.® The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to artists working in the motion picture industry. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the awards given to actresses working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...

For more details on this topic, see Chicago (2002 film).

This article is about the 2002 film. ...

References in pop culture

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The Jimmy Neutron episode "Lights, Camera, Danger" features a musical number, "And Save The Day", which is a parody of "All That Jazz"
• On the 3 episode of the 1st season of The Muppet Show, Joel Grey (Amos in the 1996 revival) sang "Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago.
• LeAnn Rimes' 2007 song "Nothin' Better to Do" had its music video feature scenes similar to both the musical and the 2002 film.
• In The Devil Wears Prada, Andie takes her father to see Chicago.
• In Saturday Night Live , John C. Reilly (who played Amos in the 2002 movie) and Will Ferrell sang "Nowadays" since Ferrell's character thought Reilly had played Roxie.
• On the 17th Episode of the Muppet Show, Ben Vereen sang "Mister Cellophane" from Chicago.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... The Muppet Show was a television program featuring a cast of Muppets (diverse hand-operated puppets, typically with oversized eyes and large moving mouths) produced by Jim Henson and his team from 1976 to 1981. ... Joel Grey (born Joel Katz on April 11, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American stage and screen actor, who graduated from Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California in 1950. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... Margaret LeAnn Rimes (born August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American country music singer and occasional Songwriter. ... Nothin Better To Do is the first single off of LeAnn Rimes CD Family. ... This article is about the 2002 film. ... The Devil Wears Prada is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisbergers 2003 novel of the same name. ... This article is about the American television series. ... John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, actor and writer who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ... Ben Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Internet Broadway Database listing, 1996 production
• Internet Broadway Database listing, 1975 production
• Chicago, The Musical, Official Website
• Useful links to information about Chicago
• Lyrics to Chicago
• New Velma on B'way