Good news for all Cell Block Tango fans, Stage Entertainment has announced that Chicago will be the next show at the Théâtre Mogador from September 2018.
A little bit of history
It is Gwen Verdon, the wife of choreographer Bob Fosse who reads the play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and who suggests that her husband adapt it into a musical. The playwright refused to cede her rights to the three artists and it was not until her death in 1969 that the rights were sold to Fosse, Kander & Ebb (respectively choreography, music and words).
The show opened in 1975 with Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly and Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart. But A Chorus Line opens the same year and beats Chicago in popularity and at the Tony Awards. The musical is nominated for 12 Tonys but does not win any!
It was not until the 1996 revival that the show finally won 6 Tonys and 6 Drama Desk Awards. Chicago has been played continuously for 21 years on Broadway: it's the 2nd longest-running show on Broadway after Phantom of the Opera!
The musical was also adapted into a film in 2002 by Rob Marshall with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Velma, René Zegweller in Roxie Hart, Queen Latifah in Mama Morton and Richard Gere in Billy Flinn.
The show will succeed Grease (currently showing) and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at the Mogador theater.
An audition announcement has been announced for both female and male roles with excellent dancing skills! To your CVs!