Chicago

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Chicago is a 1975 Broadway musical with music by John Kander [1], lyrics by Fred Ebb [2] and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. [3]

The original text

"Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins [4] about actual criminals and crimes she reported on. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal."" (Wikipedia)

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1977: Staged by PACT in the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, directed and choreographed by Geoffrey Sutherland, featuring Denis Smith (MC), Annabel Linder (Velma Kelly), Judy Page (Roxie Hart), Alphonso Lee (Fred Casely), Kenneth Linge (Sgt. Fogarty), Paul Andrews (Amos Hert), Bibi Andrews (Liz), Gail Williamson (Annie), Liza French (June), Ingride Mollison (Hunyak), Claire Robins (Mona), Jean Dell (Matron), Peter J. Elliott (Billy Flynn), Kenneth Linge (Tailor), P. Abrie (Mary Sunshine), Mia Cencherle (Go-to-Hell Kitty), Peter Towse (Harry), Chris van Rensburg (Doctor) and others. Musical direction by Bill Fairley, decor and costumes by Paul Roumanoff and lighting by Martin Pelser.

1999: Presented by the Festival Players at the Nico Arena in May 1999, directed by Teddy Davies, musical director Brian Botha, choreography by Beryl Saayman.

2002: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society at the Port Elizabeth Opera House, directed by Robin Williams, musical direction by Richard Smith, choreography by Candice Johnstone, lighting design by Dave Whitehouse, sound design by Moshe Ronen, vocal coach Darryl Nel. Cast: Jaquie Jorgensen (Liz), Nana Stapelberg (Velma), Kelly-Leigh Groch (Roxie), Craig Gilchrist (Fred), Dean Odendaal (Amos), Mark Farrow (Fogarty), Marelize Marx (Annie), Belinda Hoole (June), Tilette Schreuder (Hunyak), Dominique Beyleveld (Mona), Judy Page (Matron Mama Morton), Clifford Kleb (Billy Flynn), Darryl Nel (billed as Dee Nell)(Mary Sunshine), Jenni Zeelie (Go-to-hell Kitty), Garth Tavares (Harry), Bill Holderness (Aaron).

2005: Performed as In Chicago: The Musical at the Nelson Mandela Theatre at the Johannesburg Civic starring, among others, Drummond Marais and Ilse Klink.

2019: Performed as Chicago: The Musical at Artscape Opera House, Cape Town from 15 March-14 April, produced by Showtime Management in association with Barry and Fran Weissler and David Ian.

Sources

PACT theatre programme, 1977.

Chicago theatre programme, 1999.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

The Herald, 11 April 2002

Business Day, 13 May 2005.

http://www.artscape.co.za/event/chicago-the-musical/

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