Chicago – The Musical Opens This Week

Get ready, Auckland—the razzle dazzle is about to begin.

The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical opens on Thursday night, bringing all the scandal, sass, and show-stopping glamour of the roaring ‘20s with it. This explosive new production lights up the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre before sashaying its way to Christchurch and Dunedin for strictly limited seasons.

Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mama Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly.

They’re joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie’s loyal husband Amos Hart, and multi-discipline artist Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz.

Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show’s dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington.

These showstopping performances are supercharged by some of New Zealand's finest musicians, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra bringing the heat live on stage in their home cities.

Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act.

Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame.

Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance.

Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart’s world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage.

With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the scandal, seduction and showbiz of Chicago the Musical—live on stage this winter.

It would be a crime to miss it.

AUCKLAND Bruce Mason Centre From 31 July Tickets from Ticketmaster The Auckland season is supported by Auckland Live

CHRISTCHURCH Isaac Theatre Royal From 17 August Tickets from Ticketek

DUNEDIN Regent Theatre 29 & 30 August Tickets REGENT BOX OFFICE

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