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“Chicago” has been one of my favourite musicals for most of my life. Having seen it on Broadway more than once, and owning the movie musical from the moment it came out, I knew one day I wanted to bring it life on the stage. I wanted to attempt to find a middle ground between the serialism of the film, and the jazz band centred vaudeville acts of the Broadway production, but I had to wait for the right cast to pull off my vision. 

“Chicago” is based on the true story of Jazz Singer, Beulah Annan, “named the most beautiful slayer on Murderess Row”.  Originally written as a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, who was a reporter that covered the 1924 trail of Beulah Annan in Chicago. Watkins wrote the play as a statement on the corruption of the legal system at the time, as women were said to be getting away with murder, by simply “putting on a show”.  It was then turned into a musical in 1975 by Fosse, Ebb and Kandler, maintaining the original story while filling it with jazz music matching that of the “Roaring 20s”, and giving it a Vaudeville style.

Recreating 1920s Chicago on our stage has been a challenge, but even more challenging, has been creating the delusional world that is within Roxie’s mind.  The dancing alone has pushed this group of students, and they have risen to everything I have thrown their way; I am very proud of them.   

This show would not be possible without the team of people behind it. Our Lead Choreographer, Siobhan Barker has put together fantastic Fosse inspired numbers, and our dance captain Sonja Prael has spent hours cleaning and working with students to help them learn these numbers.  My student team leaders in our production crew have been outstanding, helping me manage a staggering 60+ crew members, while still putting together a great show.  I need to thank our Principal, Mr. Mitchell for his support of the program and my crazy ideas.  My family, for letting me spend way too many hours at work, including my daughters Izzy and Payton for their help with choreography this year, and my husband Mike for helping me pull off many of my ideas within the constraints of The Studio.  Then of course Barry Janzen for letting me bring him out of retirement so soon to conduct and run the Pit Band for this production; it needed a Jazz Great and I needed the “Calm to my Crazy”.  

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery - All the things we hold near and dear to our hearts". 

Enjoy the show!

                            - Nette