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Brian Edgecomb, Director

I love anything based on a true story. The musical Chicago is based on a play of the same name by reporter and playwright Maurine Dallas Watkins, who was assigned to cover the 1924 trials of accused murderers Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune.

In the early 1920s, Chicago's press and public became crazed by the subject of murders committed by women. There were several high-profile cases, which generally involved women killing their lovers. These cases were tried against a backdrop of changing views of women in the Jazz age. We have to remember that at this time jurors were all men, and convicted murderers generally faced death by hanging. It soon became known that, in Chicago, women would not be convicted. 

Chicago is a show that most of us know or are familiar with. Since 1975 when it first opened on Broadway, it has become an instant classic and is the second longest running broadway musical. Even though Chicago is well known, it is more relevant than it ever has been. Corruption of the press and government, fake news, and gun violence are all terms that we are familiar with as we live in 2022 and witness problems with these exact topics in our daily lives. But they also describe life in Chicago, and America, in the 1920’s. 

As we look back at this time period through the production of Chicago, we are about to witness and take away the fantastical elements of a musical without the underlying messages that we find within the show. As we watch the show unravel and enjoy the musical thoroughly, we don’t realize what exactly we have witnessed until the end. Velma says, “we are the living examples of what a wonderful country this is.” One of the final lines in the show leaves the biggest impact on the audience, making us think about our lives and the very things that we witness every day. We have applauded and cheered for murder and corruption tonight, the very things we vilify. 

Chicago brings everything you want and more, and I cannot bring to words how extremely proud I am of the work that the entire company has done on this show. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Brian Edgecomb

Director