In November, the story of murder, greed, venality, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery came to life in Seattle Academy’s rendition of Chicago. Set in the 1920s, also known as the jazz age, Chicago revolves around the two merry murderesses of Cook County Jail: Velma Kelly, a vaudeville legend, and Roxy Hart, a housewife longing to become a star. Both convicted murderers, they are fighting for fame that will keep them from facing the death sentence. Lucky for Roxy with the help of hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn, she may be able to deceive the newspapers into thinking she’s no more a scheming murderess than an innocent housewife. Seattle Academy director, Mike Cimino worked hard to make this production of Chicago unforgettable and in striving to do so, Chicago was the first production Cimino had double-casted. This not only allowed for more people to be involved in the show but also more creative freedom in interpreting the characters.
Another key aspect of the show was the live band that provided music high above the stage. The tech theatre department made this possible by working hard to create a stand in the air for the band to perform throughout the show.
As an audience member, I was wowed by the spectacular performances from both the cast and crew whose hard work paid off, producing a performance that exceeded all my expectations. The cast brought both humor and drama, leaving the audience members laughing, crying, and wanting more. Based on Chicago’s high quality of direction, costume design, and talent, I am excited for future SAAS performances with hopes that they will bring the same excitement and entertainment value as Chicago did.