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"Chicago"
May 25, 26, 31 June 1, 2
Childs Auditorium, Deep River
book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse music by John Kander
directed/choreographed by Jeremy Whitlock
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TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
CAST
| Velma | | Kassandra Moss |
| Roxie | | Natasha Lubimiv |
| Mama | | Emma Stack |
| Billy | | Gordon Burton |
| Amos | | Sam Sullivan |
| Mary Sunshine | | Daria Turner |
| Liz | | Kristen Glowa |
| Annie | | Daniella Bouchard |
| June | | Suzanne Davenport |
| Hunyak | | Nataliya Korelevych |
| Mona | | Joanna Sullivan |
| Kitty | | Lili Bainbridge |
| Announcer | | Ike Dimayuga |
| Chorus/Fred | | Ian Graham |
| Chorus/Fogarty/Aaron | | Troy Wilson |
| Chorus/Harrison/Harry | | Zack Fogal |
| Chorus/Judge | | Mac Jones |
| Chorus | | Candice Mirander |
| Chorus | | Erin Sullivan |
| Chorus | | Janine Fogal |
| Chorus | | Elizabeth McDonald |
| Chorus | | Marie Mailloux |
| Chorus | | Jackie McCarthy |
| Chorus | | Kendra James |
| Chorus/Bailiff | | Jane Janssen |
CHICAGO: AN UNCONVENTIONAL MUSICAL
(from the North Renfrew Times, May 9th edition)
In two weeks' time one of Broadway's most popular shows (and currently its longest-running revival) comes to Brockhouse Way: get ready to "rouge your lips and roll your stockings down" for "Chicago".
To say this was an ambitious choice for the Deep River Players is something of an understatement: "Chicago" is as unconventional as it is challenging.
The music is richly orchestrated and plentiful, and Music Director Gord Tapp has convened a bevy of the region's finest performers to bring it to life: The show is as much a vaudeville of toe-tapping fun for the audience as a dramatization.
But the storyline, both a celebration of a bygone era and a send-up of its celebrity criminal culture, has no cuddly Dorothy from Oz, no Maria from the West Side, and no Maria from Salzburg either for that matter.
It does have slinky Velma and Roxie - a fallen star and a star wannabe - both murderesses on a mission (and arguably cuddly), dancing and singing their way out of Death Row.
Roxie is played by Natasha Lubimiv, who treks from Petawawa each week for multiple rehearsals, and is as much a fan of the "razzle dazzle" as a participant.
"My favorite part is Cell Block Tango", says Lubimiv, "The girls are amazing. It's sexy, full of attitude and hilarious!"
Also drawn to "Chicago" from way down the valley in Petawawa are Emma Stack, who plays "Mama Morton" (the controlling influence in the prison girls' lives), and Candice Mirander, who finds herself in trench coats and sexy dresses, and dancing almost non-stop for much of the show with the rest of the chorus.
The costumes are another drawing card of the show, promising to bedazzle the audience with variety and flash - as much as they bedazzle the actors with quick changes.
Costume Manager Jane Barkley has been designing a visual accompaniment to the music and dance buffet since long before the auditions back in January, with an aim to change up the eye candy at least as fast as the musical feast is served on stage.
Jane and her team of seamstresses look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour shaking and strutting for delighted audiences in two weeks (although some of the team will get a closer look since they're in the show).
Of course if there's one aspect that epitomizes "Chicago", it's the dancing. The show was a signature achievement for the late and legendary Bob Fosse, and director/choreographer Jeremy Whitlock has endeavored to both honour the legend while putting his own stamp on things.
"I was attracted to 'Chicago' by a few things," says Jeremy, "The commentary on the society's shallowness, the fantastic music of Fred Ebb and John Kander, and the brilliant vision of Bob Fosse that permeates it still."
"But also for the canvas it gives me - a show that hasn't been performed much locally, and a broad presentation style that allows me to move these dancers, highlight this commentary, and interpret this music how I want."
"I love working with these dancers, singers, actors, musicians, production crew - all as eager as myself to make this something unique and special. And my producer Deb Sullivan and Stage Manager Amanda Petch-Shaw are rocks - they enable my vision to happen."
"My assistant choreographer Mac Jones has shared a lot of the burden as well," adds Jeremy, "and in return I also work him hard as an actor and dancer on stage, which isn't entirely fair but everyone's having fun!"
The cast of twenty-five features both young and old, experienced and "first-lap": Kassandra Moss belts out "Velma's" songs like a pro, while making her international debut with this show. Others, like Gordon Burton ("Billy" the lawyer) and Sam Sullivan ("Amos" the lawyered) are well-known for their appearances elsewhere around town.
And speaking of "Dorothy from Oz" - the show has her too: Nataliya Korelevych, fresh from her trip down the Yellow Brick Road in MCS's production last December, takes a turn as the doomed Hungarian "Hunyak".
Nataliya says she finds working with adults a lot easier than she was expecting (not universally true of course), and like everyone else is looking forward to the dazzling costumes, music, set, and everything else coming together in two weeks.
The show has five performances on May 25, 26, 31, June 1, and 2 at Childs Auditorium, starting at 7 pm. Tickets are $20 each and are available at Pinecrest Florist, and at the door - if they're not sold out!
Check out the Players' website for more information (www.DeepRiverPlayers.ca) or contact the producer (Deb) at 613-585-9550.
TICKETS FOR "CHICAGO" NOW ON SALE
(from the North Renfrew Times, April 26 edition)
The wait is over - tickets are now on sale for the musical "Chicago", presented by the Deep River Players for five performances over two weekends: May 25, 26 and May 31, June 1 and 2.
The longest-running musical in Broadway history and winner of 2002's Oscar for Best Picture, one of the most popular shows of all time now comes to "Brockhouse Way".
It's the 1920s and America is insane for celebrities - even idolizing murderers if they're flashy enough - and the hottest of hotbeds was Chicago. In 1924 reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins covered the sensational trials of two "celebrity" Chicago murderesses, soon after parlaying the story into a hit Broadway play.
Fifty years later director/choreographer Bob Fosse, with the help of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, turned the story into a flashy musical that debuted in 1975.
The rest is Broadway legend: revived in 1996 and running ever since, it is a theatrical institution - and, of course, a whole lot of fun!
The show is labeled "vaudeville musical", aptly describing its non-stop stream of songs and dances of differing styles.
The musical numbers blend with theatrical scenes, but only long enough for the dancers to catch their collective breath.
Directed and choreographed by Jeremy Whitlock, this Players' rendition of "Chicago" presents both familiar faces and new talents to the Deep River stage:
Gordon Burton is "Billy", the slick lawyer that elevates nouveaux murderess "Roxie" (Natasha Lubimiv) to star status. Kassandra Moss is "Velma", former cabaret star and now trying to dance her way out of prison - almost succeeding until dazzling Roxie shows up. Sam Sullivan is Roxie's long-suffering husband "Amos", and Emma Stack is "Mama Morton", the savvy matron of the prison.
Daria Turner is "Mary Sunshine", based the original 1920s playwright, and Ike Dimayuga is your congenial announcer for the evening.
Another nineteen dancers and singers form the chorus, and a dozen or so musicians form the pit band under maestro Gord Tapp - in this case not in the pit at all, but on stage behind the action.
Add a small army of technical, makeup, costume, props, construction, and stage-crew volunteers behind the scenes (commanded by Producer Deb Sullivan and Stage Manager Amanda Petch-Shaw) and it's a musical and visual extravaganza of "all that jazz" that you won't want to miss.
Being "Chicago" there are of course some adult references and imagery, all keeping within the norms of the period of course!
Tickets are $20 each, and are available at Pinecrest Florist in Deep River.
For more information (and some sneak peeks at rehearsals!), visit the Players website at www.DeepRiverPlayers.ca, or call the Producer (Deb) at 613-585-9550.
MAP TO CHILDS AUDITORIUM (SHOW)
AND PINECREST FLORIST (TICKETS)
Rehearsal Schedule (updated May 13)
All Chicago karaoke - zipped file
Better karaoke version of "All That Jazz" (consistent with sheet music - with 8 bars removed)
Cell Block Tango - version from rehearsal
Photos from rehearsals
(courtesy of Jane Barkley)
February 8 - fifteen weeks to go.
March 1 - twelve weeks to go.
March 8 - eleven weeks to go.
March 22 - nine weeks to go.
April 5 - seven weeks to go.
April 12 - six weeks to go.
April 19 - five weeks to go.
April 19 - four weeks to go.
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