Theatre Kent staging sexy production of Chicago

Theatre Kent is finally getting its first chance to stage the musical Chicago.

Director Jamie Johnston said the theatre company has been trying for the past three years to get the rights to the play, which is fairly restricted, because the popular production is often playing in many places. It is currently on Broadway, she added.
"When we found out we were finally granted the rights, we were thrilled," Johnston said.
The local production opens Thursday at the Kiwanis Theatre, beginning at 8 p.m.

There are about 30 people in the cast and 10 musicians in the orchestra. However, the challenge was finding actors who could sing and dance, as well as musicians to commit to the show.

Johnston said the audition call last June for the musical

attracted a good turnout of talented people. She added they rehearsed the music and choreography all summer, and in September they began putting it all together.

"I think a lot of people heard we were doing Chicago and realized what a great opportunity it was," Johnston said. "This is the first time it's been done in the community, so it's a unique opportunity that they're not going to get anytime soon."

Lianne Sullo, 26, who plays Valma Kelly, one of the main characters, said, "I really love singing and dancing and that's what Chicago has a lot of.

"I just love performing in general and being able to put all those into one really caught my attention," she added.

Sullo admits preparing for the show has been a challenge because of the combination of singing and dancing.
"We've been working really hard," she said, adding the cast has gelled quickly.

Sullo credits Johnston for choreographing in such a way they look great on stage, but it's not too difficult to do.

It's the choreography that made Johnston want to stage Chicago.

She said they are using a lot of Bob Fosse's original choreography "because it was so good and that's what the show is known for.

"We didn't try to re-invent the wheel," Johnston added. "We're trying to present and stay true to the real show."

Chicago is a very sexy, adult show, which Sullo believes fans of the musical will enjoy.

"It's very sarcastic in the way that it does a lot of things," she said. "Some of it is head-on . . . we're just going to say it like it is, tell it like it is, in a way that comes off as funny."