Greene County News Report

FAIRBORN – Wright State University Theatre continues its 41 season in the Festival Playhouse with Chicago, which explores the themes of greed, corruption, adultery and murder now through Nov. 15.

The production features the hit songs, such as “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “Mr. Cellophane” – John Kander and Fred Ebb’s now-classic score keeps the story moving at a gunshot pace.

Set in the legendary city during the roaring “jazz hot” 1920s, Chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Nightclub star Velma Kelly is serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding the two in bed together. Driven chorus girl Roxie Hart has been tossed in the joint for bumping off the lover she’s been cheating on her husband with. Not one to rest on her laurels, Kelly enlists the help of prison matron Mama Morton and slickster lawyer Billy Flynn, who turn Kelly’s incarceration into a murder-of-the-week media frenzy, thus preparing the world for a splashy showbiz comeback. But Hart’s got some of her own tricks up her sleeve.

Chicago is directed by Joe Deer (Peter Pan, Hairspray), choreographed by Teressa McWilliams (Hot Mikado, Oklahoma!) and musical directed by Scot Woolley (Peter Pan, The Hot Mikado). The set is guest designed by award-winning Adam Koch, lighting by Matthew P. Benjamin (Hot Mikado, Oklahoma!), costumes by guest designer Michelle Sampson, properties by John Lavarnway (The Great Gatsby, Titanic) and sound by James Dunlap (Hot Mikado, Oklahoma!).

On the stage, this production features Bailey Rose (Roxie Hart), Caroline Chisholm (Velma Kelly), Jordan Adams (Billy Flynn), Tyler Simms (Amos Hart), Katie Momenee (Matron “Mamma” Morton), Cody Westbrook (Mary Sunshine), Murderesses: Alex Caldwell (Annie/Go-To-Hell Kitty), Haylee Dobkins (June), Alyson Snyder (Hunyak), Megan Valle (Mona), Meredith Zahn (Liz), Male Ensemble: Eli Davis (Aaron), Keaton Eckhoff (Fred Casely), Aaron Johnson (Fred Casely), Dakota Mullins (Sgt. Fogarty), Kyle Sell (Tailor/Clerk/Bailiff), Philip Stock (Harrison/Pianist), Female Ensemble: Briana Koon, Rebekah Espich, Scotti Stoneburner, Lindsey Knoth, Hannah Struppa and Swings are Brandon Kinley and Kayla Storm Gusky.

Performances take place 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Nov. 4, 5, 12; 8 p.m. Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14; 2 p.m. Nov. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. For tickets and theatre information, call the Box Office at (937) 775-2500, or purchase single tickets online at www.wright.edu/theatre-tickets.

Greene County News Report compiled by Whitney Vickers.