CHICAGO

In the organizer's words:

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the play "Chicago" by Maurine Dallas Watkins

German by Erika Gesell and Helmut Baumann

"CHICAGO" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York

MURDER MAKES THE HEADLINES! Chicago in the Roaring Twenties: jazz, alcohol smuggling and crime dominate the headlines. Attractive murderesses are celebrated by the press like movie stars. Roxie Hart also experiences this after she shoots her lover. In prison she meets her great idol: Velma Kelly - the city's biggest music hall star. Velma has shot her husband and sister after catching them in the act. She's sure she'll be acquitted with the help of corrupt prison guard Mamma Morton, her slick lawyer and a big press campaign. She has no interest in Roxy, who turns to her for help. But Roxie has not been taken in by surprise: Soon Mamma Morton is working for her and the press has a new darling: Roxie Hart is the star of the hour! And indeed: Roxie is acquitted! At that very moment, an even more spectacular murder takes place and Roxie and Velma are signed off. But what's more headline-grabbing than a good-looking murderer? TWO good-looking murderesses! Especially when they can sing and dance as well as Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart!

A TRUE STORY In 1924, Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner are on trial for murder in Chicago. They both shot their lovers and are acquitted, probably because of their good looks and a clever press campaign. The court reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins wrote the play Chicago about the two murderesses in 1926. Hollywood also took an interest in the story. The best known is the 2002 film version of the musical with Reneé Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

STRONG WOMEN The fact that the two strong women Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart ended up on the theater stage is thanks to Broadway star Gwen Verdon as well as Maurine Dallas Watkins. She discovered the story of the two murderesses and immediately wanted to turn it into a stage play. She persuaded her husband, director and choreographer Bob Fosse, to buy the rights to the play and brought the authors of the hit musical Cabaret, John Kander and Fred Ebb, on board. Chicago premiered in New York in 1975 with Gwen Verdon as Roxie and ran for almost a thousand performances.