CHICAGO, the “sexiest musical ever” (Metro) is back at the New Theatre in Cardiff for one week only starring Coronation Street’s FAYE BROOKES (Dancing On Ice, Grease, Legally Blonde) as Roxie Hart, and West End star DJALENGA SCOTT as Velma Kelly, JAMIE BAUGHAN as Amos Hart and B.E. WONG as Mary Sunshine.
Now, the latest star to join this powerhouse of a show, is none other that TOWIE favourite GEMMA COLLINS.
Of course we all know Gemma from the reality series The Only Way Is Essex. She was awarded the 2021 winner of the Best Female Personality at the National Reality Television Awards. Since ‘Essex’ Gemma has appeared in numerous television shows including, I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and All Together Now in which she was a finalist.
Most recently Gemma was seen on screens with her intimate Channel 4 documentary, Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me. Before finding fame on The Only Way Is Essex, Gemma was a keen performer having studied dance and winning a place at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.
And for those of you who have seen Chicago, it takes someone special to fll the shoes of Mama Morton, and we’re sure Gemma will do just that.
“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery” – all those things and so much more we can enjoy on a night at the theatre. We are of course talking about this international multi-award-winning musical.
It’s one of those shows which you really can, and believe me many of us do, watch over and over again. Yes it’s the songs, the dancing, the sexiness of it all, but despite the fact it’s set in the 1920s, there’s something very current about the story too. If it was a story fresh from today we can guarantee it would be a tabloid and internet sensation.
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 20s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines.
FAYE BROOKES, who plays Roxie Hart, was fantastic on ITV’s Dancing on Ice and is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV”s Coronation Street for which she won a National Television Award. Her theatre credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, both on national tour, Ann/Edna in That Day We Sang directed by Victoria Wood at Manchester’s Royal Exchange.
As well as Faye we have leading West End star DJALENGA SCOTT (Annie, Chicago, West Side Story) as Velma Kelly.
Djalenga’s West End credits include Lily St Regis in Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New London and Chicago at the Adelphi, Cambridge and Garrick Theatres.
The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.
As we said, the show is all about media manipulation, PR & narcissistic celebrities who are willing to do anything for exposure and attention – does that sound very 2021/22 to you?
Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Chicago the musical’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history.
- “SUPERB” (Daily Telegraph)
- CHICAGO “remains a phenomenon” (Sunday Express)
Chicago the musical, is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Since it opened in New York in 1996, it has played in 36 countries worldwide, and been performed in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, French, Danish, Japanese and Korean. Worldwide it has been seen by an estimated 33 million people, grossed over $1.7 billion has played over 32,500 performances.
The images below are from various productions over the years.
CHICAGO THE MUSICAL gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff from Monday 20th to Saturday 25th June. Tuesday to Saturday performances are at 7:30pm with 2:30pm matinees Wednesday to Saturday. Tickets range from £19 to £260 if you fancy a box, with various concessions along the way. You can get your tickets NEW THEATRE.
It then moves on to Venue Cymru in Llandudno from Monday 25th to Saturday 30th July. Performances are at 7:30pm with tickets priced between £15.50 and £54, again with a variety of concessions. Incidentally, there is a 13+ age restriction. You can your tickets VENUE CYMRU
