Chicago brings some razzle dazzle to Sneddon

DURBAN production house KickstArt starts the year with some high-kicking razzle-dazzle, with Kander and Ebb’s phenomenal musical, Chicago, which comes to the UKZN campus’ Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 7 to 30 April.

Oozing gritty sex appeal, Chicago follows KickstArt’s previous cutting edge contemporary musicals Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Cabaret.

Chicago features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The Durban staging will be directed by Steven Stead, designed by Greg King, musical direction by Evan Roberts, and lighting design by Tina le Roux.

The performance explores the themes of celebrity, scandal and corruption in prohibition-era, jazz- infused Chicago. The satirical musical-noir is based on a 1926 play by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about real life Chicago criminals in true cases.

The story centres on vaudevillian showgirl, Velma Kelly (Katy Moore) and housewife, Roxie Hart (Jessica Sole) two murderesses who find themselves in jail awaiting trial – fighting for the fame that will keep them from the gallows.

Also in the cast are Billy (Jason Ralph), Mama Morton (Charon Williams Ros), Mary Sunshine (Anne Marie Clulow) and Amos (Bryan Hiles). The production also features an onstage live nine piece band under the direction of Evan Roberts.

Chicago features a slew of fabulous show stopping numbers, All that Jazz, When You’re Good to Mama, Cell Block Tango, Mister Cellophane and Razzle Dazzle.

The musical was made into a movie in 2002 starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere.

Book for all 2017 shows at Computicket: www.computicket.co.za or 0861 915 8000 or Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.

For enquiries for block bookings of 50 or more people or entire performances, contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places at editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com or 083 250 2690.