The longest-running American musical in Broadway history will be showcased on the Hilo stage with local talent emulating all the glitz and glamour of “Chicago.”
The Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre, or HEART, and Concord Theatricals production of “Chicago” will be opening at the Palace Theater beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday featuring a cast of 47 talented singers, dancers and all-around performers.
“I have been wanting to do this show since starting HEART, but the problem was that I needed the perfect cast. It took about five years to find the right fit of people to feel like I could put this show on,” said Larry Reitzer, director and founder of HEART. “This cast, crew and design team are the most perfect elements coming together to do this amazing, deceivingly complicated show.”
“Chicago” is a 1975 American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. Set in the jazz age of the 1920s in the Windy City, the story is about two rival vaudevillians serving time together in jail.
The musical, which is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, is satirical look at fame, justice and the media machine.
“The story was before its time. It opened in 1975, and it was considered a dark, mean-spirited show, but now, so many years later, things have changed,” Reitzer said. “‘Chicago’ is more relevant than ever. It’s about the court system and fake celebrity — it’s ripped from today’s headlines. ‘Chicago’ is the longest-running American play on Broadway to this day, and I think that speaks a lot about its staying power.”
Aleah Kay and Meili Aspen are leading the musical as Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, who are working separately to manipulate the law, the media and the public between dazzling song and dance numbers.
Supporting the leads will be Jeremy Lee as lawyer Billy Flynn, Chris Kocian as Roxie’s husband, Amos, N. Bonsall as songstress Mary Sunshine, and Yisa Var and Arieka ‘Pomai’ Conant-Longakit alternating as Matron “Mama” Morton.
The musical will feature show-stopping songs with Fosse’s signature jazz choreography directed by Michael Misitia, a former Broadway and Fosse dancer, and Jason Aiwohi Tomlin.
The choreography began even before auditions as dancers learned how to perform in the Fosse style of dance with meticulous movements and stillness that creates a provocative and entertaining outcome.
“The choreography for the show is deceptively challenging. We started about six weeks before auditions and offered free Fosse workshops for people who wanted to learn the technique before auditioning,” Reitzer said. “Fosse is intimidating as a dancer and for me as the director, so this gave people time to become familiar with the vocabulary and technique.”
Audiences can prepare for a night of razzle and dazzle with musical direction by Grayson Mento and Kyra Gomes, lighting design by Theon Weber, set design by Bob McWhirk, and sound design by Pepe Romero at CJ’s Promotions and Kevin Meada.
The iconic glitz and glamour of “Chicago” is enhanced by costume design by Lizbe and Mahina Bell, and hair, make-up and wigs by Mitch Hale with Big Wig Salon in Hilo.
“Chicago” will open at the Palace Theater and run for three weekends beginning this Friday until Sunday, July 14. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinee performances will be at 3 p.m.
Through the duration of the musical, tickets will include a $5 additional fee that will support HEART and the Palace and the continuing mission of providing educational experiences to young performers.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hearthilo.org or hilopalace.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.