THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR CHICAGO

Regina Summer Stage bringing popular musical to city this month

Regina Summer Stage is hoping its persistence will pay off with Chicago The Musical.

The local theatre group will present the production from July 1115 at the Regina Performing Arts Centre. Being able to bring the musical to the stage was a long time coming for the group which has been active in Regina since 1984.

“I think you can’t help but feel some sort of pressure given the excitement of us being able to do the show. Summer Stage tried for the rights for years, decades, and never got them because nobody got the rights. And then just this past year they released them so we were able to get them,” said Nora Berg, who will serve as the director for the musical. The production, which has its roots from Chicago: The Musical Vaudeville which opened on Broadway in 1975, is set in 1920s Chicago and tells the stories of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. Kelly is accused of killing her husband and sister when she caught them in a compromising situation while Hart is accused of killing her lover Fred Casely when he ends their relationship.

Both women are hoping to use the publicity from their trials to become superstars of vaudeville and they turn to high-profile lawyer Billy Flynn for assistance. Flynn is willing to help but he’s only interested in what the trials can do for him. The comparison between show business, justice and contemporary society is what allows the musical to remain relevant.

“It’s more relevant now, I think, then it was 10 years ago just because of what’s going on politically in the world and the role that the media is playing. It speaks to the situation now quite accurately,” said Berg.

Written by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, the production features music by John Kander with lyrics by Ebb. The production requires a large cast — there are 20 roles, along with nine people in the chorus and six dancers. The actors are also required to have a wide range of skills including singing, dancing and comedic timing.

Yet Berg didn’t have any problems filling her cast.

“We really lucked out but I’ve always said that Regina is just a pool of immensely talented people,” said Berg. “I’ve been involved in the arts since 1980 and I’m quite staggered by the people who have day jobs, lives and home and then manage to find the time to do theatre as well.

“We had over 70 people apply to audition. That is a first.”

The main cast is comprised of Leah Constable (as Velma Kelly), Morgan Mayer (Roxie Hart), Karen Jarowicz (Mama Morton), Lyndon Bray (Billy Flynn), Jason Fedorchuk (Amos Hart) and Sherri Bray (Mary Sunshine).

Auditions were held in late April, the first read-through was May 7 and rehearsals began the second week of May. The group has been rehearsing three times a week with the evening rehearsals during the week lasting three hours each and the Sunday rehearsals going for four hours. The production will also feature a live band which Berg considers a major benefit.

“There’s people who can sing to a bed track and then there’s people getting an opportunity to sing with a live orchestra, which is an entirely different ball of wax,” said Berg.

Joining Berg on the creative team are Stacy Allan (music director), Claire Castle (choreographer), Hannah Castle (choreographer) and Patrick Pelletier (stage manager).

Tickets for the production are $30 for adults, $27 for students and $20 for children 10 and under. Tickets are available at the RPAC box office, by telephone (306-7792277) and online at reginapac.com.

The production does feature adult themes.