Director's Cut: What gives 'Chicago' its 'Razzle Dazzle'
Director Craig Gustafson gives his take on Wheaton Drama's production of "Chicago."
How are we approaching the Wheaton Drama production of the Kander/Ebb/Fosse musical "Chicago?"
Will we copy the 1920s "Roxie's Fantasy" motif of the movie? Or will we shoot for the bare-bones black-on-black look of the Broadway revival?
Neither. We are going back to the original concept of "Chicago" as "a musical vaudeville." We'll have a three-level art-deco set with flashy, colorful costumes and an eight-piece band.
Chicago, 1927. A redheaded, married fireball named Roxie Hart shoots her lover. The rest of the show involves her education in the way murder mixes with showbiz: if you have notoriety, you don't need talent.
The story is told with a series of vaudeville numbers, from the sultry "Cell Block Tango" to the three-ring circus of "Razzle Dazzle." The songs are by Kander and Ebb ("Cabaret," "Kiss of the Spider Woman"), and the show was shaped by the legendary director/choreographer Bob Fosse into one of the most entertaining nights you can have in the theater.
It speaks to an audience for whom the success of something like "The Jerry Springer Show" is not a cause for dancing in the streets. Not everybody who can be famous should be. Are you listening, Octomom?
Why spend your money on "Chicago?" Wheaton Drama possesses both the facilities to stage a technically challenging show and the expertise to put them together. I've worked at practically every theater in the area and technically, nobody can top Wheaton Drama.
In community theater, there's usually work in making sure everybody is on the same level. Here, I have a room full of star power. They come in to dance and they don't leave at night until they've gotten it right. Everybody wants to be in that room with each other, doing the best job possible. This show is going to be terrific because of a team effort.
Sue Kinney-Watschke is doing a fabulous job with the music. And I'm reasonably knowledgeable and organized enough to be the ringmaster. But the stars on this one are the choreographer, Tracy Adams, and the entire cast. Heather Miller and Julie Bayer as Roxie and Velma are one of the greatest teams I've ever seen on stage.
Am I giving undue credit to two actors out of 17? Credit, yes. Undue, no. I have a cast full of people who could each headline his or her own show - but Heather and Julie have the star-power opportunities here and are diving into them like 5-year-old children in a room with white walls and unlimited finger paint.
Don't bring the kids. Really. There's nothing remotely pornographic going on, but "Chicago" is a satire for adults and we are not cheating on that or censoring anything. I'm not trying to offend people - what I want is an audience full of people who love this type of show, as written.
So please, if you don't like to see musicals with adult content, wait for Wheaton Drama's first show next season. That will be the community theater premiere of a Tony Award-winning musical comedy. Due to contractual requirements, we can't tell you what it is yet, but the show opens in September. You'll love it.
Tracy, Sue and I are putting that one together as well. If you want to see one of the greatest adult musicals ever written, order your tickets now for "Chicago" because 36 percent of the entire run was already two weeks before opening.