Australia’s leading theatre producer John Frost for Crossroads Live has announced that the acclaimed production of one of Australia’s favourite musicals, CHICAGO, will open in Canberra in September this year – the first time a professional production of this Broadway favourite has played in Australia’s capital city.
“I’m thrilled to add Canberra to the national tour of our new production of CHICAGO,” said producer John Frost. “CHICAGO has everything that people love about a Broadway musical – a story of fame, fortune and all that jazz, one show-stopping number after another and the most amazing dancing you’ve ever seen. Come along and enjoy the razzle dazzle of this New York institution.”
The longest-running show currently playing on Broadway, this scorching hot masterpiece includes a dazzling score that includes All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle.
Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, it’s no wonder CHICAGO has been honoured with six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, and a Grammy®.
A stellar cast has been assembled for CHICAGO. One of Australian theatre’s greatest leading men, Anthony Warlow (The Phantom of the Opera), has stepped into the shoes of the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn.
Returning to the stage to play the powerful and glamorous Velma Kelly is one of Australia’s favourite actors, Zoë Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters). Joining her as the irreverent and determined Roxie Hart is in-demand musical theatre star Lucy Maunder (Mary Poppins).
As Roxie’s gullible and hapless husband, Amos, is much-loved comedy icon and character actor Peter Rowsthorn. Following her star turn as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Asabi Goodman plays the tough and sassy prison warden Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.
S. Valeri features as the soft-hearted crime reporter Mary Sunshine, while the talented group of ensemble and swings include Hayden Baum, Devon Braithwaite, Olivia Carniato, Angelique Cassimatis, Louis Fontaine, Chaska Halliday, Sarah Heath, Matthew Jenson, Ethan Jones, Savannah Lind, Kristina McNamara, Tom New, Nathan Pinnell, Rania Potaka-Osborne and Romina Villafranca.
“The Canberra community and broader region regularly come out in force for a visiting musical, from Mamma Mia, to Come from Away, and now CHICAGO. As a major tourism drawcard, it provides an experience for our outstanding tourism, arts and hospitality sectors to leverage from,” said Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Tara Cheyne.
“With the Canberra Theatre Centre and Crossroads Live bringing a show of this size and calibre to our city, I’m excited for the opportunities it will provide, from economic impact to visitation, and especially in how it will be used to further elevate the profile of our local arts scene.”
Based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, CHICAGO has a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1996 Broadway revival of CHICAGO is choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie.
Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery, treachery… and All That Jazz. What else could you desire in a musical? The original and the best, CHICAGO is back. It would be a crime to miss it!
“Slick, clean and polished… Chicago is the show of the year!” – Australian Arts Review
CHICAGO is currently playing Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, until 2 June, before playing Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 9 June, the Adelaide Festival Centre from 4 August, and the Canberra Theatre Centre from 7 September 2024. For more information, visit: www.chicagomusical.com.au for details.
Image: Lucy Maunder as Roxie Hart and the Australian Cast of CHICAGO – photo by Jeff Busby