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18
SUMMER PROGRAM 2012
About Tonight
Like last week’s “…
Millie
”
Chicago
is set in the 1920s. But it couldn’t be more
different.
Chicago
is about “murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation,
adultery and treachery…” Given these subjects, is there any wonder why
Chicago
has been number one on our survey for three years?
Our director/choreographer, the amazing rising talent Denis Jones, along with
our scenic designers Steve and Sam Gilliam and our Muny crew, have created
a low-down speakeasy for our production. They’ve also placed our great Muny
musicians on the stage, and covered the orchestra pit, so the Merry Murderesses
can come right at you. Look out box seat holders!
Patti Murin (Roxie) and Natascia Diaz (Velma), top Broadway talents, return
to us after two memorable performances. Last season, Patti enchanted us all
as Ariel in
The L ttle Mermaid
. Natascia was a brilliant Anita in 2009’s
West
Side Story
. As Billy Flynn we welcome Justin Guarini whom you may know
as a singer, but you’ll be bowled over by his stage “chops.” (Don’t miss him
in
Joseph…
later this season.) Rounding out this delicious cast we have the
scintillating Patti Cohenour, the hilarious Jackie Hoffman and the gloriously
low-key (and St. Louis’s own) Dean Christopher.
Chicago
’s music and lyrics are by the legendary team of John Kander and Fred
Ebb, whose shows and songs include
Cabaret
and
New York, New York
. On June
27th we will be honored to welcome Missouri native John Kander, when he will
be inducted into The Muny Hall of Fame.
You may wonder, why the wait for
Chicago
at The Muny? Typically, if a show is
on Broadway, The Muny can’t produce its own version. On Broadway,
Chicago
is
produced by Barry Weissler, who started out producing tours during the period
when The Muny hosted tours. When Barry heard I was joining The Muny, he
called mad with excitement. He told me how thrilled he was, how much he loves
The Muny experience, and how grateful he was to The Muny audiences for their
support early in his career. Then he uttered those magic words: “And if there is
EVER anything I can do to help…”
Why yes, Barry, there is.
Welcome to The Muny’s production premiere of
Chicago
.
Mike Isaacson
Executive Producer