It’s been a minute since Broadway In Tucson hosted a production of the Tony Award-winning musical “Chicago.”
Actually, it was the tail end of the 2015-16 season when “Chicago” was here last, with former Heisman-winning and NFL running back Eddie George playing the smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn.
It returns this weekend for five performances between Friday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 11, at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., on the University of Arizona campus.
Broadway In Tucson is bringing the iconic musical “Chicago” to Centennial Hall this weekend.
The storyline of “Chicago” is literally ripped from the headlines. Two women killed their lovers in 1920s Chicago at a time when newspapers covered the stories with no regard to today’s unbiased ethos. The accused were either vilified in print or sympathized.
The musical is a satirical look at how justice was meted out for Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. Throughout their trials, the women became celebrities, their photos splashed across the city’s two competing newspapers. Although there was ample evidence to convict, both women were acquitted by all-male juries just days apart.
Chicago journalist and playwright Maurine Dallas Watkins, who covered both trials, wrote the original play, which was adapted into a musical by Bob Fosse in 1975 with the iconic theme song “All That Jazz” and numbers including “Razzle Dazzle” and “Roxie.”
In the musical, set in the roaring 1920s jazz age, aspiring chorus girl Roxie Hart and fading vaudeville star Velma Kelly are each charged with murder. And each believes the silver-tongued and shady lawyer Billy Flynn can be their savior. Flynn, who is as smarmy as the women are sexy, promises he will not only get the women acquittals but will make them celebrities.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $40-$125 through broadwayintucson.com.
Next up for Broadway In Tucson: “Shrek the Musical” March 6-7 and “MJ: The Musical” April 2-7.
Tucson native, Emmy and Grammy winner Linda Ronstadt honored at a ceremony before the International Mariachi Conference's Espectacular Concert with the renaming of the Tucson Music Hall as The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Video by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
