My Dear Audience,
Thank you so much for celebrating our 10th Anniversary with us! And what a wonderful show to Razzle and Dazzle you with! CHICAGO is one of my all-time favorite musicals, and I've seen it staged more times than any other show in my life. I've been wanting to direct CHICAGO since I first began directing 19 years ago, and all of the stars have finally aligned: The right cast, the right creative team, (and the right licensing opportunity). If you're unfamiliar with the currently longest-running musical on Broadway, let me share with you some of the things I love most about this gem:
CHICAGO is considered by many a 'dark comedy,' but we could go so far as to call it a morality play. In its own tongue-in-cheek way, this show shines a light on our own society, our cultural value system, and the power of celebrity. This isn't the first time we've showcased a protagonist who is a murderous anti-hero, but this time we bring you two! This is Epic Theatre at its best, creating a bit of an alienation effect by coming in and out of the action of the play with songs, directly addressed to the audience in an almost vaudevillian fashion. The set is transformative, the locations ever changing, and the entire cast well aware that there is an audience watching and that they are performing a show. Finding a musical that showcases two female leads is rare, and has been empowering for our young performers.
Welcome to our jazz club. I am one lucky lady to get to work creatively with such a talented team of designers, music directors and choreographer. I hope you are able to sit back and enjoy as we surround you with murderesses, lawyers, reports, a judge and jury.
It's been an absoute joy working on this production, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share all these students' hard work and talent with you tonight. Thank you for being here and for continuing to support the Arts Programs in our school.
Cheers,
Lindsay M. Warfield, Director
