SU Drama gets jazzed with ‘Chicago’

Friday, April 9, 2004, By News Staff

SU Drama gets jazzed with ‘Chicago’April 09, 2004

The Syracuse University Drama department’s final production of the season is Bob Fosse’s hit musical “Chicago, A Musical Vaudeville.” The show opens April 16 and runs through May 8 at Storch Theatre.

“Chicago” is a story about murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery; Fosse’s musical is the basis for the hit movie of the same name. David Wanstreet directs and choreographs, while Mary Sugar is musical director. SU Drama’s production will emphasize the Vaudeville staging that was part of the concept of the original Broadway production, and in the same spirit features Wanstreet’s wall-to-wall choreography in the style of Bob Fosse.

SU musical theater and acting majors will bring Chicago’s characters to life. Set in 1920s, the story begins with the introduction of the infamous Velma Kelly, who kicks off the show with the sexy “All That Jazz”. Velma meets her match when she encounters the murderous aspiring starlet Roxie Hart, played by junior Kristi Williamson. Junior Michael Penna delivers “Razzle-Dazzle” as the charming yet tough-as-nails lawyer Billy Flynn.

Roxie becomes an unlikely celebrity after shooting her lover Fred Casely, played by junior William Blakeslee White. Senior Matte O’Brien is Roxie’s buffoonish but well-meaning husband Amos Hart. Saucy matron “Mamma” Morton is played by junior Simotra Houston. Roxie also encounters the ladies of the “Cell Block Tango”, comprised of the female ensemble cast playing Liz (senior Heidi Marie Lembke), Annie (senior Jessica Diaz), June (senior Lisa Kuhnen), Katalin Hunyak (sophomore Sharone Sayegh), and Mona (senior Diana Cammarata).

Seniors R. Carroll Ugino, Noah Aberlin and Joshua Bradecich; juniors Geoff Lutz and Nick Nerio; and sophomores Stephen Carrasco, Kelsey Crouch-Pinter, Jenna Paone, Danny Rooney and David Watson also appear

Senior Jackie Corcoran designed the set; costumes are by Meggan Kulcynski. Senior Scott Selman designed the lighting, and Sarah Pickett designed the production’s sound.

Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for students and senior citizens; April 21 is “Pay What You Can” night for SU I.D. holders. For tickets and more information contact the Drama Department Box Office at 443-3275 or visit http://vpa.syr.edu/drama.