[NEohioPAL] CHICAGO opens Apr 29 in Aurora

[ACT Business Manager]

Aurora Community Theatre  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2011

Contact: 

Christine Patronik-Holder

330-562-1818

 

CHICAGO

tHE mUSICAL Opens April 29 

 

AURORA, OH ---- The great American musical, CHICAGO, opens April 29 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115
E. Pioneer Trail. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 21 and 3 p.m. Sundays
May 8 and 15. 

 

The scintillating tale of fame, fortune ".and all that jazz" features music by John Kander, lyrics
by Fred Ebb and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. 

 

Set in the Roaring 20s, CHICAGO tells the story of Roxie Hart, who murders her cunning lover because
he threatens to leave her. Then, she convinces her husband Amos to take the rap, which works until
the hapless hubby realizes he's been duped. Found guilty and facing the death sentence, Roxie joins
double-killer Velma Kelly in the execution cell block overseen by the manipulative "mistress of
murderers row," Matron Mama Morton. Razzle-dazzle song and dance take center stage as Roxie and
Velma vie for the spotlight, sympathetic headlines and legal representation of the nefarious
attorney Billy Flynn.  

 

Marc C. Howard directs CHICAGO in collaboration with musical director Dustin Oliver, choreographer
Pam LaForce and accompanist Mark Heiskanen. Marianne Paul is the producer.

 

Bringing the sizzling songs and dynamic dances to the stage are Alexandria Marzullo (Roxie Hart),
Bridget Chebo (Velma Kelly), Kevin Horak (Billy Flynn) and Stuart Landes (Amos Hart). Annette
Fernandez and Aurora Lallemand will alternate performances in the role of Matron Mama Morton. 

 

Performing the "Cell Block Tango" and other chorus numbers are Megan Astman (Mona), Hannah Forte
(Liz), Lauryn Hunter (June), Erin Matson (Hunyak) and Kayla McDonald (Annie). C. M. Duwe takes on
the role of Mary Sunshine. Kynslie Thorndike plays Kitty Baxter, Jeremy Jenkins is Fred Casely, and
Bernie Keister will perform as both Doctor and Judge.

 

Scott Jarvis is the stage manager. David Cooper headed up both costumes and hair styling. Paul
Chechak constructed the dramatic double-staircase set with assistance from Josh Chechak. Marianne
Paul oversaw set decoration assisted by Rita Williams. Craig Kollai designed the lighting, which
will be managed by Laurie Lessard. Jacquie Kearns managed the program and Karen Haus served as
liaison to the ACT board of trustees. Dorothy Edwards will serve as house manager. Vicki Rizzo Prato
will manage intermission refreshments.

 

A satire on celebrity criminals and corruption in the justice system, the musical is based on the
1926 play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a "Chicago Tribune" crime reporter who covered
the murder trials of Beulah Annan (the model for Roxie Hart) and Belva Gaertner (the model for Velma
Kelly). 

 

Bob Fosse and his wife, the Tony Award winning Gwen Verdon, are credited as the driving force behind
transforming the Watkins play into a musical. Fosse, whose style is strongly identified with the
show, choreographed and directed the original production, which premiered in 1975 at the 46th Street
Theatre and ran for 936 performances. The opening night cast included Verdon (Roxie), Chita Rivera
(Velma), Jerry Orbach (Billy) and Barney Martin (Amos). 

 

The 1996 Broadway revival featured Ann Reinking (Roxie), Bebe Neuwirth (Velma), James Naughton
(Billy) and Joel Grey (Amos). CHICAGO continues to be performed on Broadway, and holds the following
Broadway records as: the second longest-running production currently playing, the longest-running
musical revival, and fifth longest-running show. 

 

The Academy Award-winning film version in 2002 was directed by Rob Marshall and starred Renee
Zellweger (Roxie), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma), Richard Gere (Billy), John C. Reilly (Amos), and
Queen Latifah (Mama).

 

As of April 2011, CHICAGO has played for more than 5,900 performances around the world. 

 

Tickets at $16 for adults, $11 for youth 18 and under, are available online, including seat
selection, at www.auroracommmunitytheatre.com <http://www.auroracommmunitytheatre.com/> , or call
the box office at 330-562-1818. Group discounts are also available by calling the box office.

 

Aurora Community Theatre gratefully acknowledges Aurora Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Inc. for their generous
sponsorship support of CHICAGO, which is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

 

###

 

ACT, celebrating 51 successful seasons in 2010-11, annually presents three regular season shows, a
summer stock production plus two children's summer workshops, reaching an annual audience of nearly
7,000. ACT showcases the region's top actors, musicians, costume and set designers, construction,
lighting, sound and backstage crews -- all of whom generously donate their time and talent. 

 

 

----------------

Christine Patronik-Holder
Business and Marketing Manager
Aurora Community Theatre
PO Box 9 (mailing address)
115 E Pioneer Trail (theatre address)
Aurora, Ohio 44202
330-562-1818
christine at auroracommunitytheatre.com
<mailto:christine at auroracommunitytheatre.comwww.auroracommunitytheatre.com> 
www.auroracommunitytheatre.com

 

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