Looking for some Broadway razzle dazzle? Since its Broadway revival in 1996, Chicago has captivated audiences with its razor-sharp satire, unforgettable score, and timeless story of fame, scandal, and corruption.
What's it all about? Set in the Prohibition-era jazz age, Chicago follows the trials of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two women accused of murder, as they vie for the spotlight and a chance to escape conviction with the help of smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn. The show is a biting commentary on media sensationalism and the public’s fascination with celebrity, making it as relevant today as when it first premiered.
The original production of Chicago debuted on Broadway in 1975, with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse. While it received critical acclaim, the show truly found its enduring success with the 1996 revival, directed by Walter Bobbie and featuring Ann Reinking’s Fosse-inspired choreography. The revival swept the 1997 Tony Awards, winning six, including Best Revival of a Musical, and has become a staple of Broadway ever since.
A minimalist yet striking production design sets Chicago apart. Eschewing elaborate sets, the show relies on sleek black costumes, a prominently featured jazz band on stage, and Fosse’s signature choreography. The stripped-down aesthetic highlights the performers and the music, creating an intimate and electrifying atmosphere that feels fresh even decades later.
The score is a major highlight, with iconic numbers like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “Razzle Dazzle” capturing the glitz, grit, and irony of the show’s world. The music, paired with Ebb’s witty lyrics, delivers a captivating blend of humor, cynicism, and drama that has made Chicago a musical theater classic.
Now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, Chicago has also found international acclaim with productions around the world and a 2002 Academy Award-winning film adaptation, starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Whether you’re drawn to its sizzling dance numbers, unforgettable music, or its sly critique of society, Chicago remains a landmark of musical theater, proving that some things truly never go out of style.
Any gripes about the producers of 'Chicago' charging full-scale prices for a stripped-down show evaporate like vapors from bathtub gin the second Bebe Neuwirth & Co. open the show with a pulse-quickening rendition of 'All That Jazz.' This concert staging, wonderfully choreographed by Ann Reinking (with a credit to 'the style of Bob Fosse'), is a bit more elaborate than when presented by City Center's Encores series in the spring, but even if it weren't, the performances, wit and sophistication of the show would more than earn a place on Broadway.
Because the revival of 'Chicago' is so wildly entertaining, I'm hesitant to call it important - always an ugly adjective for a reviewer to use - but I'm afraid I must... What makes 'Chicago' - here's that dreaded word - important is that it reminds us that musicals are about songs and performers, not scenery. When you have material and performances as dynamic as this, you don't need chandeliers.
Price: $49.00
Where: Box Office only
Limit: Two per customer
Restrictions: Not available for Saturday evenings - Subject to availability.
Price: $27
Where: Box Office
Limit: Two per customer
Restrictions: Available day of performance only when the performance is sold out.
1975 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1979 | West End |
London Production West End |
1996 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Concert Off-Broadway |
1996 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
1997 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1997 | West End |
London Revival West End |
1997 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
2012 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2014 | US Tour |
National Tour (2014-2015) US Tour |
US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
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2018 | West End |
West End Return Engagement West End |
2022 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Bebe Neuwirth |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Ann Reinking |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design | William Ivey Long |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Walter Bobbie |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design | Ken Billington |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | James Naughton |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Marcia Lewis |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Bebe Neuwirth |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Barry and Fran Weissler |
1997 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Kardana Productions, Inc |
1996 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress - Musical | Bebe Neuwirth |
1996 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Ann Reinking |
1996 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director - Musical | Walter Bobbie |
1996 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical | Joel Grey |
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