Details

Blues behind bars from the writers of Cabaret. Justice is on trial for the husband killing bad girls of shady Chicago. A chorus girl murders her lover but manages to get off through a strange assortment of allies. She forms an unusual nightclub act with another murderess with the hopes of keeping them both out of trouble. Songs include All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle and All I Care About.

Cast/Performers

Marti Pellow (Billy Flynn)

Creatives/Company

Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Book by(s): Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse
Producer(s): David Ian (for [Clear Chavnel Entertainment]), Maurice Cassidy (for [57th Street] in association with Barry and Fran Weissler), David Ian (for Clear Channel Entertainment in association with Barry and Fran Weissler and 57th Street)
Director(s): Walter Bobbie, James Dunsmore (music), Walter Bobbie
Design(s): John Lee Beatty, John Lee Beatty
Costume(s): William Ivey Long, William Ivey Long
Lighting(s): Ken Billington, Ken Billington
Sound(s): Rick Clarke, Rick Clarke
Other: Rob Fisher (musical supervision)
Choreographer: Ann Reinking

Chicago

Chicago (Musical) production archive for QTIX code T50554129. Details of all Chicago archived productions can be found under the QTIX code: S1464

Archive Listings

18 Apr 05 to 30 Apr 05	Bristol Hippodrome Bristol, City of Bristol Performance Details => Venue archive
4 Apr 05 to 16 Apr 05	Sheffield Theatres Sheffield, South Yorkshire Performance Details => Venue archive
21 Mar 05 to 2 Apr 05	Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, West Midlands Performance Details => Venue archive
7 Mar 05 to 19 Mar 05	Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh Performance Details => Venue archive
14 Feb 05 to 26 Feb 05	Theatre Royal Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Performance Details => Venue archive
7 Feb 05 to 12 Feb 05	Princess Theatre Torquay, Devon Performance Details => Venue archive
25 Jan 05 to 5 Feb 05	New Victoria Theatre Woking, Surrey Performance Details => Venue archive
11 Jan 05 to 22 Jan 05	Opera House Manchester, Greater Manchester Performance Details => Venue archive
22 Nov 04 to 4 Dec 04	Milton Keynes Theatre Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Performance Details => Venue archive
8 Nov 04 to 20 Nov 04	New Theatre Cardiff, Glamorgan Performance Details => Venue archive
25 Oct 04 to 6 Nov 04	Grand Opera House York, North Yorkshire Performance Details => Venue archive

Reviews

User Review: 24Mar05: “CHICAGO” ALEXANDRA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM, 21 MARCH 2005 (David Ian for Clear Channel Entertainment) Chicago hit the second city and made a great impact last night at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre with the opening performance of a 2-week booking. A capacity audience were treated to great dance numbers, strong principal performances and an enjoyable evening out. I got the feeling that many in the audience were not seeing this show for the first time and as often is the case with long running musical tours they build up a loyal following of dedicated fans whose enthusiasm adds to the spectacle. The music is by the legendary John Kander and lyrics by the equally famous Fred Ebb, their first major success was in 1966 with “Cabaret” which had a run of 1,166 performances and won the Tony Award as the season's best musical. The original choreography was by the marvellously talented Bob Fosse and much of the atmosphere created by Ann Reinking and the talented team of dancers is down to him. The whole evening gets off to a great musical start right from the opening number “All that Jazz” and with orchestrations by jazz powerhouse Ralph Burns the tempo is set and the action begins. Musical director Dan Jackson and his large orchestra enjoy every minute of this rhythmic show and it is so refreshing to have a full size orchestra on tour as it adds so much to the sound quality. Cavin Cornwall gives a strong performance as the devious lawyer Billy Flynn hell bent on getting Roxie off her murder charge but it is Rachel Stanley as Velma and Claire Taylor as Roxie who get the best of the numbers and sequences throughout the production and the night was theirs song after song. The comedy and pathos comes from Christopher Howell as downtrodden Amos Hart and there’s a wonderful and quite bizarre cameo from C C Mullaney as Mary Sunshine. You have to see it to appreciate the twist! The stand out sequence is “Razzle Dazzle” where all the sassiness and sexiness comes together and the company give it 100%+ and the audience loved it. There is no doubting that this show which was first performed back in 1975 is still a big success and it deserves to do great business over the Easter break. If you want a memorable theatre night out then this has to be it, runs until 2 April. Clive Fuller

User Reviews

USER (24Mar05): “CHICAGO” ALEXANDRA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM, 21 MARCH 2005 (David Ian for Clear Channel Entertainment) Chicago hit the second city and made a great impact last night at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre with the opening performance of a 2-week booking. A capacity audience were treated to great dance numbers, strong principal performances and an enjoyable evening out. I got the feeling that many in the audience were not seeing this show for the first time and as often is the case with long running musical tours they build up a loyal following of dedicated fans whose enthusiasm adds to the spectacle. The music is by the legendary John Kander and lyrics by the equally famous Fred Ebb, their first major success was in 1966 with “Cabaret” which had a run of 1,166 performances and won the Tony Award as the season's best musical. The original choreography was by the marvellously talented Bob Fosse and much of the atmosphere created by Ann Reinking and the talented team of dancers is down to him. The whole evening gets off to a great musical start right from the opening number “All that Jazz” and with orchestrations by jazz powerhouse Ralph Burns the tempo is set and the action begins. Musical director Dan Jackson and his large orchestra enjoy every minute of this rhythmic show and it is so refreshing to have a full size orchestra on tour as it adds so much to the sound quality. Cavin Cornwall gives a strong performance as the devious lawyer Billy Flynn hell bent on getting Roxie off her murder charge but it is Rachel Stanley as Velma and Claire Taylor as Roxie who get the best of the numbers and sequences throughout the production and the night was theirs song after song. The comedy and pathos comes from Christopher Howell as downtrodden Amos Hart and there’s a wonderful and quite bizarre cameo from C C Mullaney as Mary Sunshine. You have to see it to appreciate the twist! The stand out sequence is “Razzle Dazzle” where all the sassiness and sexiness comes together and the company give it 100%+ and the audience loved it. There is no doubting that this show which was first performed back in 1975 is still a big success and it deserves to do great business over the Easter break. If you want a memorable theatre night out then this has to be it, runs until 2 April. Clive Fuller

CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.