Tag: Chicago

I’ve gotten some emails asking about video from my recent production of CHICAGO the Musical at Sacramento Music Circus. Well, they’ve just posted a montage of clips from the show. So, here you go.  Check out the video below. 

From Sacramento Music Circus:

The Music Circus production of the musical “Chicago” at the Wells Fargo Pavilion August 20-29, 2013. Directed by Ron Kellum, choreographed by Randy Slovacek. Brenda Braxton (Velma Kelly), Lindsay Roginski (Roxie Hart), Tom Hewitt (Billy Flynn), Roz Ryan (Matron “Mama” Morton), Ric Stoneback (Amos Hart).

First time ever at Music Circus, the sizzling, sexy Kander and Ebb smash hit, newly choreographed by Randy Slovacek in the style of Bob Fosse. An edge-of-your-seat story of sin, corruption, betrayal and all that jazz, with knockout dancing and one show-stopper after another. Featuring the songs “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “Cell Block Tango.”

And in case you’re interested, here’s what the critics had to say – no editing, just the full reviews:

Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Press

Appeal Democrat

BroadwayWorld

Congrats to the entire cast and crew of CHICAGO the Musical at Sacramento Music Circus! Well-earned 4 star review. Very proud of you all.

And there’s something nice said about me, but that’s not the point 🙂

All that Fosse. And yes it can be said here, “All that Jazz” has finally come to the Music Circus. The deconstructed but still fully entertaining 1996 revival of the Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb musical “Chicago” almost nonchalantly sizzles as its sexy cast struts across the circular stage. From the first entrance of Aaron Felske’s bare-armed announcer there were hoots and wolf whistles from the crowd, and that could have gone on forever as the cast supplied beefcake and cheesecake all night long.

That type of purient sexuality would eventually become part of the production’s furniture (if the bare set actually had any beyond a few chairs) because the seductive boudoir-based costumes never change. The women in black bras, garter belts and stockings don’t ever cover up. The men in black trousers and open black vests never change, either. Still, to focus solely on the Fosse-centric celebration of the flesh would miss the point. The greatness of this revival remains how it distills the spectacular original 1975 production and somehow, less really does become more.

Based on a 1926 play called “Chicago” by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a journalist turned playwright and screenwriter who covered the real-life sensational murder trials that form the basis of the fictional story, Fosse seized on the satirical possibilities. Watkins’ reporting and play focused on two accused women who claimed to be corrupted by men and the breathless coverage their “stories” in Chicago’s seven daily papers of the time. Fosse turned it all into a cynical, winking homage to vaudeville and show business.

(Roz) Ryan confidently belts “When You’re Good to Mama” while the beautifully voiced (Tom) Hewitt has superb turns on “All I Care About” and the comic masterpiece “We Both Reached For the Gun.” Ric Stoneback’s Amos Hart takes on the somber Bert Williams tribute “Mr. Cellophane” and Hewitt nearly stops the show with “Razzle Dazzle.” The ensemble’s fabulous Fosse-inspired dancing was finely choreographed by Randy Slovacek.

It’s hard to believe the Music Circus has never staged “Chicago” before, but this top-shelf, extended-run production makes up for much of that omission.

FOX40 had this to say: “Had a great time at Sacramento Music Circus’ last show of the season – CHICAGO was awesome. This is the first time that ‘Chicago’ has been performed in the round. If you’ve seen ‘Chicago’ before, you’ve never seen it like this!”

UPDATE: A few more reviews have come in, so to be fair, I thought I’d include them also:

Sacramento Press

Appeal Democrat

BroadwayWorld

The show photographer snapped this of me while I was checking some lights during a final tech rehearsal

CHICAGO the Musical opens tonight at Sacramento Music Circus! What an adventure this has been. Big thanks to Glenn Casale and Scott Klier for giving me to opportunity to play in their sandbox. The cast and crew have been uber-amazing and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’ve done. And of course, my director Ron Kellum.

Thank god for my associate Kathryn Murphy for her great work not only on the choreography side of things, but her fab performance as “Hunyak” – easily one of the high points in the show.

Lindsay Roginski is gorgeous, and Tom Hewitt deserves every praise and accolade (and Tony Award nomination) you’ve ever heard about him. He is a god among “Billy Flynns.” It goes without saying how great it is to reunite with Brenda Braxton and Roz Ryan. As expected, all hold the audience in the palm of their hands each time they take the stage.

And then there’s the ensemble – the backbone of the American Musical, as I like to call them.  I’ve done the show with so many of this group as a fellow actor; getting to explore this piece with them now in the role of choreographer has been a gift.  Mark Reis, Juliet Fischer, Christine Bokhour, Chris Holly, Destan Owens, Chuck Seculla, Evelyn Tonn, Melanie Waldron, Leslie Stevens, Adam Pellegrine, Aaron Felske and Chris Houston.

If you’re in the Sacramento area, please come see these fab creative folks.  More info about the show on the Sacramento Music Circus website.

I salute all of you who did not panic or crack under the pressure of this pretty tight rehearsal period.  You rock.

Kick, ball change kids.

And all that jazz…