Razzle Dazzle: Chicago comes to city stage
Directing Chicago is a dream come true for a Palmerston North man, but not without high expectations.
The original Broadway production opened in 1975 and ran for 936 performances. It is a classic that has been revived many times, that everyone has seen and loves.
Act Three Productions director Steve Sayer said there was a lot of pressure to Razzle Dazzle audiences and deliver what had been on stages across the world.
’’Chicago has been done lots, and well. There are big expectations, and lots to live up to.’’
He was hopeful that he had produced something that lived up to Chicago’s reputation, and said people would have to come, watch the show and make up their own mind.
Sayer had performed in Chicago twice, the last time was 25 years ago in the Abbey Theatre as amember of the chorus.
Directing cabaret and Chicago was a bucket-list dream that had finally come true.
The cast of 26 had been rehearsing since January 6, after more than 60 people auditioned in December last year.
He said he knew it would be a big dance show, and wanted it to embody the style of Bob Fosse, the original choreographer.
It was all about characters with big personalities, and big song and dance numbers.
Sayer designed the set, with the goal of letting the singing and dancing speak for itself.
‘‘I am very happy with it. Hell yeah.’’ Choreographer Tegan Hardy said she had never choreographed before, andwould normally be found on stage dancing herself.
Each of the cast members had a different dance routine, and she said she filled two notebooks and her phone’s storageworking out routines.
She grew up in Palmerston North and had danced alongsidemost of the cast, so knew their strengths and weaknesses.
‘‘It’s my first one and its Chicago. There’s lots of pressure. I remember looking at all the numbers and thinking, ‘wow they are all big’.
‘‘I wanted perfect, and I think we made it. I’m happy.’’
Hardy performed and trained as a dancer in India and Sydney before Covid-19 closed the borders, and she returned home for lockdown.
She was available to choreograph by chance, and would have been in Greece if it wasn’t for the pandemic.
‘‘But I amvery happy I have got to do this.’’
Chicago would take to the stage at the Wallace Development Community Theatre from April 9 to April 24 and tickets could be purchased online.