M-A’s spring musical, Chicago Teen Edition, opened on Friday, March 20, and will run until Sunday, March 29. The show is set in the 1920s and showcases a tale of murder, media manipulation, and jazz as two women vie for fame and justice.
The original musical, written by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb, first premiered on Broadway stages in 1996. Since then, the show has won countless awards and become the longest running American Broadway show. The production is a lively, sharp satire of the criminal justice system.
The story opens as Roxie Hart (senior Kealy Bryman) kills Fred Casley (junior Derek Valladao)—the man she was having an affair with—for trying to leave her. The show follows Roxie as she convinces her husband, the truly hilarious Amos Hart (junior Joseph Tompkins), to pay for a lawyer to defend her in court.
Her lawyer, Billy Flynn (junior Calvin Blanford), is charismatic, well-known, and a master at manipulating the press with “the old razzle dazzle.” “It’s also like the 1920s, it’s such an energetic time period. So it’s really fun to bring that energy every day, inject it into your character, be over the top with everything, and have a lot of fun,” Blanford said.
Billy helps Roxie manipulate publicity and fame to control her narrative, and she quickly becomes consumed by the spotlight. She pretends to be a loving, distressed wife who kills Fred only in self-defense, claiming it was necessary to protect herself and her supposed unborn baby.
Alongside Roxie’s story, the show follows Velma Kelly (sophomore Ines Bensoussan), a glamorous showgirl who desperately wants to get out of jail and gain the fame she’s always dreamed of. “She’s a diva, she’s glamorous and all that. I knew how to play that, but I still had to play that vulnerability and that manipulative character that took me a second to get there,” Bensoussan said. As Roxie’s court date quickly approaches, she and Velma compete fiercely for media attention.
Roxie, with the help of her lawyer, manages to free herself, but the media has already moved on to another murderer. Disheartened and craving popularity, Velma and Roxie unite to perform together, closing out the show with jazz and energetic dancing in the song “Nowadays.”
The cast builds an alluring show that demonstrates the dangers of temptation and propaganda. The cast and crew seamlessly balance singing, intricate dancing, costumes and set changes, and more.
Not only does M-A Drama bring captivating singing and talented dancing, but the songs feature a live student band as well.
Blanford also spoke highly of the community and inclusivity of the cast. “They let me be all these kinds of different people in the drama program, and everyone’s different, but we’re all kind of united by that common goal of putting a show on,” Blanford said.
Chicago continues next weekend with performances on March 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 29 at 5 p.m. You can buy tickets here for $15 for students and $20 for adults.
Blanford and ensemble sing “All I Care About is Love.” 
Bryman shoots Vallado. 
Bensoussan and ensemble sing “All That Jazz.” 
Bryman announces Roxie’s pregnancy. 
Bensoussan and Matron ‘Mama’ Morton (junior Gracie Johnson) discuss Velma’s future. 
Bryman and ensemble sing “Me and My Baby.” 
Blanford, Bryman, and ensemble sing “We Both Reached for the Gun.” 
Ensemble performs “Razzle Dazzle.”
