Chicago
AUGUST 30 – SEPTEMBER 5
Start the car and head to a “whoopee spot” where crime and corruption are hot! Kander and Ebb’s internationally-acclaimed musical about fame, fortune and justice features a headline-worthy story of how two icon-victs become Jazz Age celebrities. Set during the Prohibition era, this six-time Tony Award-winner, the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, includes showstopping standards such as “Cell Block Tango,” “Mister Cellophane” and the notorious “All That Jazz.”
First Muny Production Since 2012!
Performances begin at 8:15 p.m.
Run Time: 2:30 including intermission (estimate)
Sponsored by
Supporting Show Sponsors
Cast
Sarah Bowden
Roxie Hart
Originally from Australia, Sarah most recently played Velma Kelly in Chicago at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with Denis Jones directing and is beyond excited to be working with Denis again on this dream show! USA highlights include Cherry Sundae in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, playing Cassie in A Chorus Line in 2016 at The Hollywood Bowl opposite Mario Lopez, and her first Muny production of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway in 2018. Sarah spent many years in Germany playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Anita in West Side Story, Doralee in 9 to 5, Gloria in Flashdance and lastly, Esmeralda in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with Scott Schwartz (director) and Chase Brock (choreographer). INSTA: @sarahbowden.de
J. Harrison Ghee
Velma Kelly
is honored to be returning to The Muny playing Velma Kelly. Many thanks to family, friends, and his agency Nicolosi & Co. for continued love and support. Broadway/International tour: Kinky Boots (Lola/Swing), Mrs. Doubtfire (Andre Mayem). Regional: The Color Purple (Ensemble), The Sting (Johnny Hooker). Television: High Maintenance (Charles), Raising Dion (Kwame). Industrial: Tokyo Disney Sea’s Big Band Beat, Norwegian Cruise Line. Proud graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NY) @jharrisonghee
Emily Skinner
Matron “Mama” Morton
Muny: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Billy Elliot. Broadway: Side Show (Tony nomination, Drama League Award), The Cher Show, Prince of Broadway, Jekyll & Hyde, The Full Monty, James Joyce’s The Dead, Dinner at Eight (Outer Critics Circle nomination), Billy Elliot (BroadwayWorld Award). Off-Broadway: Picnic (Drama Desk nomination), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Carnegie Hall), Fiorello!; No Strings, Pardon My English, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (all for NY City Center Encores!). She has sung leading roles at Manhattan Theatre Club, WPA Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Roundabout Theatre Company, York Theatre, Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Regional: The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Long Wharf, Old Globe, Goodspeed, Bucks County Playhouse, Virginia Rep, and many others. She has sung with symphonies around the globe and her numerous recordings may be found at Amazon.com. www.emily-skinner.com
James T. Lane
Billy Flynn
West End: The Scottsboro Boys, A Chorus Line (Palladium, revival). Broadway: Kiss Me, Kate (Paul), King Kong, The Scottsboro Boys (Ozie Powell/Ruby Bates), Chicago and A Chorus Line (Richie). National tours: Jersey Boys, Cinderella, Fame. Regional: Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely, Virginia Stage Company), Mary Poppins (Bert, Drury Lane Theatre), The Wiz (Tin Man), Promenade, Grand Hotel and Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope (all for NY City Center Encores!), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Sebastian, The Muny), Broadway at Music Circus, The Old Globe, American Conservatory Theater and Dallas Theater Center. Concerts: Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, Ottawa Symphony and many more. James is the creator of a one man show entitled Triple Threat: A Play That Moves and Sings. Look for streaming information, booking, as well as performance dates at www.jamestlane.com. Mr. Lane teaches music theatre dance when and wherever anyone will let him! Instagram: @jamestlane www.jamestlane.com
Adam Heller
Amos Hart
Muny: Gypsy, 1776. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Follies, Brighton Beach Memoirs. Broadway: It Shoulda Been You, Elf, Baby, It’s You; Caroline, or Change; A Class Act, Victor/Victoria; LesMisérables. National tours: Titanic, Falsettos. Off-Broadway: Popcorn Falls (Davenport), A Letter to Harvey Milk (Theater Row), Peer Gynt (CSC), Wings (Second Stage), Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn and The Immigrant (New World Stages), Merrily We Roll Along (York). Regional: The Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage), Fiddler on the Roof (Connecticut Critics Circle Award) and Rags (Goodspeed), The Chosen (Barrington Stage), My Name is Asher Lev (Arden), Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center). TV: The Bite, FBI: Most Wanted; Ray Donovan, The Good Fight, Elementary, Unforgettable, The Americans, The Sopranos, Law & Order (all), Oz, Submissions Only. Graduate: NYU/Tisch.
Ali Ewoldt
Mary Sunshine
is beyond thrilled to return to The Muny. She appeared here as Philia in Forum, Martha Jefferson in 1776 and Maria in West Side Story. Other credits include Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Cosette in Les Misérables (Broadway, national tour), The King and I (Broadway, tour, Lyric Opera of Chicago), Maria in West Side Story (national tour, international tour), Luisa in The Fantasticks (off-Broadway), Fan/Mrs. Bonds in A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre) and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Sacramento Music Circus). Concert/symphony work: Alice Tully Hall, The Town Hall, NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, Houston Symphony, American Pops Orchestra, Kaohsiung Symphony and The Boston Pops with Maestro Keith Lockhart. Her TV/Film credits include The Michael J. Fox Show, Yield, Mia and The Cactus. Ali has a BA in psychology from Yale University and is a proud Filipina American and member of Actors’ Equity. @aliewoldt
Carleigh Bettiol
Joe Bigelow
Victoria Byrd
Taeler Cyrus
Sean Ewing
Veronica Fiaoni
Abbey Friedmann
Anna Gassett
Valton Jackson
Madison Johnson
Justin Keats
Kamal Lado
Connor McRory
Lizz Picini
Michael James Reed
Mikayla Renfrow
Gabi Stapula
Davis Wayne
Brandon L. Whitmore
Ricardo A. Zayas
Creative Team
Denis Jones
Director / Choreographer
is very excited to return to The Muny! A veteran of nine Muny productions and a recipient of the St. Louis Theater Circle Award, Denis is also a two-time Tony nominee. His work has been seen in the Broadway productions of Tootsie, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn and Honeymoon in Vegas. Other recent credits include: Chasing Rainbows (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Chorus Line (Signature Theatre), Eurydice (LA Opera), The Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage), Call Me Madam, Paint Your Wagon (NY City Center Encores!), How to Succeed… (Kennedy Center) and The Music Man (Goodman Theatre).
Charlie Alterman
Music Director / Conductor
returns to The Muny where he served as music director for the productions of Meet Me In St. Louis (2018), All Shook Up, Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2017), Young Frankenstein (2016), Hairspray (2015), Chicago (2012) and Legally Blonde (2011), as well as three Muny Magic at The Sheldon concerts. Broadway credits include Pippin, Godspell, Next to Normal, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (Music Director/actor) and Legally Blonde (Associate Conductor). Tours: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Next to Normal (Music Supervisor) and Grease (US/Asia). Regional credits include: The Old Globe, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, TUTS, La Jolla Playhouse, Arena Stage, Trinity Repertory, Paper Mill Playhouse, Huntington Theatre and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. TV: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
Guidelines
Show Guidelines
Set during the Prohibition era, the twenties are roaring, and merry murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly are both in Cook County jail awaiting trial for killing their lovers. A clever but shady lawyer, Billy Flynn, manipulates the press in his efforts to free both women. Roxie and Velma thrive on the publicity that the trial offers, and the two beautiful headline hunters plot to use their notoriety to further their stage careers, as well as to win their acquittals.
A six-time Tony Award-winner, Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. It includes well-known standards such as “Cell Block Tango,” “Mister Cellophane” and the notorious “All That Jazz.”
Dialogue and lyrics throughout the show include mature languages and references to sexual situations.
Language
The words ass, bastard, bitch, crap, damn, hell, screwing, shit and whore are each said or sung.
Sexual Innuendo
At the beginning of the show, two characters are in bed together.
Throughout the show, dialogue and lyrics include references to sexual situations.
Drugs and Alcohol
Numerous songs reference drinking and smoking, and alcohol and cigarettes may be used as props.
Violence
In two instances, a character shoots another character.
In the song “Cell Block Tango,” six women inmates sing about what caused them to murder their husbands.
A prisoner is hung for her crime.
Mature Content
Chicago opens with the line, “Welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery.” The musical then delves into all of these areas. The show aims to be provocative, which is part of its charm, and it does this by making fun of its characters in an entertaining way.
A character fantasizes about becoming a celebrity murderess. She fakes being pregnant to get more sympathy from the press.
The optimistic reporter “Mary Sunshine” is revealed to be a man.