Warren High School razzle dazzles them with Chicago: The Musical

DOWNEY — “Chicago” is one of the masterpieces of American Musical Theatre. It is the recipient of the Tony Award (1976), the Drama Desk Award (1976), the Olivier Award (1976), the Grammy (1976), and the Oscar (2002), for the motion picture.

It is the work of three legends of the American Musical Theatre, which is a unique American art form. This musical evolves the form. The book is by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The original production and film were directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse.

The 1996 Broadway production has been performing continuously at the Ambassador Theatre for almost three decades. It holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

But you don’t need to make a trip to Broadway to see it.

CHICAGO: TEEN VERSION

This production is a collaboration of the Warren High School Drama, Choir, and Band Departments joining forces to present CHICAGO: TEEN VERSION, a shorter version, at the WHS Emerson Theatre.

Theatre is collaboration. This production is a remarkable achievement by the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) students and teachers. The lobby is an exhibit of visual art students’ work. The theatre is a converted classroom seating 100 in the audience. This is the kind of theatre you would most likely work in as a theatre artist, except this one is fully equipped with lights and sound equipment.

The Chicago Band is comprised of 21 musicians and a conductor who face the audience across the performance space. On the opposite side of the performance space are a row of audience cafe tables for two in front of the audience. There is an extra chair at each table that is used during the performance. The cast of 25 wear wireless microphones. And they come and go out of nowhere.

These are not professional actors, singers, or dancers. It’s a postage stamp size stage. All the technical aspects of the production are the students’ work. Kudos to choreographer Teresa Flores, vocal director Briana Estrada, music director Sean O’ Kelly, and director Kyle Deichman. These kids break the fourth wall, singing and dancing their hearts out. They razzle dazzle you. And the sold out audience loved it.

Final performances are Thursday, April 3; Friday, April 4; and Saturday, April 5, at 7:30 pm.

HISTORY

Although fiction, “Chicago” has its basis in a true story.

It was adapted from Maurine Dallas Watkins’s play “Chicago” (1926). Watkins wrote the play as her master’s thesis at Yale, where she studied under the legendary George Pierce Baker in his famous playwriting workshop.

Watkins previously was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune during the early Prohibition days of the Roaring 20’s. She and the rest of the press wrote sensational articles profiling the “jazz babies” murder trials of Beulah Annan (Roxie Hart) and Belva Gaertner (Velma Kelly). Both claimed to have been corrupted by men and liquor. Both were cabaret singers who had their eyes on fame and show business. It was a sensational trial and the public couldn’t get enough of it. Months of tantalizing coverage in Chicago's seven daily papers became a media circus that made them famous.

The all-male jury found them not guilty in separate trials. There were plenty of attractive women on Chicago’s “Murderess Row.” Almost all of them were acquitted of murdering their boyfriends or husbands.

In the 1960’s, Gwen Vernon suggested the play be adapted into a musical to her husband Bob Fosse, who attempted to acquire the rights to Watkin’s play numerous times but was denied. Watkins may have regretted her “jazz babies” acquittals, and didn’t want to glamorize them anymore. In 1969, her estate sold the rights to producer Richard Fryer, Verdon, and Fosse. Lander and Ebb modeled each number on a traditional vaudeville number or vaudeville performer.

THE PLOT

This high energy musical satirizes the celebrity criminal, justice, and show business as we follow Roxie and Velma in jail and on trial. And especially in the media competing for publicity, and a slick lawyer's attention. It equally takes a shot at all of us, the public, that are hanging on as every detail is unfolded.

CAST HIGHLIGHTS

Camila Prado as Roxie knocks it out of the park as the wannabe vaudeville star who murdered her lover, singing and dancing her way to freedom and fame. She’s a junior and this is her third musical.

Layla Santoyo is just as solid as Velma, her rival, as the veteran vaudeville star known for her “sister act.” But she murdered her sister and her husband. She’s a junior and it is hard to believe this is her first musical.

Both are vying for the attention of a slick lawyer and media coverage.

Roger Sanchez is charming and charismatic in his tuxedo as the lawyer Billy Flynn. By using his charm and manipulation, he turns Roxie and Velma into media sensations, playing on the public's fascination with their crimes. He’s a junior who knows how to “razzle dazzle” you. This is his third year in Drama, his third musical, and his eighth production.

Watch out for Nathalia Ovando who knows how to hold the stage. She is Matron “Mama" Morton, the warden at Cook County Jail. She grants the inmates favors, like press coverage, in exchange for money. She’s a freshman in her first production.

Ryan Chalhoub is a bit of a treat as Amos Hart, Roxie's simple-minded husband. He shows how he often he is ignored in his hilarious “Mr Cellophane.” He’s a junior and this is his fourth production.

Elaina Salazar is just “oh so sweet” as Mary Sunshine, a typical reporter of the time who focuses on the damsels in distress, their attractiveness, and the redemption of Roxie and Velma. That is until another sensational story comes along. She’s a senior and this is her first production.

SONG HIGHLIGHTS

All That Jazz: Roxie, Velma and company

When You're Good to Mama: Mama Morton

All I Care About: Billy Flynn and Girls

We Both Reached for the Gun: Billy, Roxie, Mary and the Reporters

I Can't Do It Alone: Velma

Me and My Baby: Roxie and Company

Mister Cellophane: Amos

Razzle Dazzle: Billy and Company

PRODUCTION

Production Design and Directing: Kyle Deichman

Stage Manager: Alana Trebizo

Music Director: Sean O’Kelly

Vocal Direction: Briana Estrada

Choreography: Teresa Flores

Costumes: Jules Munoz

Makeup: Mandy Silva, Desiree Tesso

Orchestra: The Chicago Band

Light Board: Christina Dominguez

Sound: Keanna Enriquez, Israel Wills