Ambassador Theatre
219 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019

Chicago Performance length: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission

Premium seats are available for most performances.

Musical

When most people think of Broadway, they think of big stages, great songs, amazing dances, and incredible costumes. They are looking for a show that will entertain them in every sense of the word. If you are looking for a really “Broadway” type show, look no further than Chicago.

Bob Fosse is a Broadway legend. His choreography has a style all its own and is instantly recognizable. In many ways, Chicago is the most Fosse of all Fosse musicals. The original production opened on June 3, 1975 at the 46th Street Theater and ran for 936 performances. People couldn’t get enough of the catchy songs and incredible dancing. Over the years, it has been reincarnated in many forms (including an Academy Award winning motion picture) and in many locations all over the world.

Chicago is based on a 1926 documentarian play of the same name that described trials that one female reporter had actually covered. It is ultimately a satire on the criminal justice system in America and the way that our media creates celebrities out of criminals. The show centers around Roxie Hart who is tried and sent to prison after murdering her lover. She is joined in jail by several other high profile female murderers, including Velma Kelly and they all take turns contending for the opportunity to be that week’s media darling. One corrupt ward matron, Mama Morton, helps the girls get media coverage in exchange for small favors in prison.  

The show is chock full of some of your favorite Broadway songs like “Cell Block Tango”, “All That Jazz”, “Razzle Dazzle”, and “Nowadays”. You’ll find yourself practically dancing in the aisles at this incredible Broadway musical.

Notes from James:

Can you believe that it's been over sixteen years since the revival of Chicago opened on Broadway? I sure can't. Not only that but tonight the show will surpass Les Miserables to become the third longest running show in Broadway history. Most people probably forget that the show wasn't a big hit when it first opened back in 1975. Oh sure it had a respectable run of almost two years but was overshadowed by A Chorus Line which swept the 1975 Tony Awards. Cut to twenty-years later and the show returns to New York for a four performance run at Encores. Nobody could have expected what would happen next. The show was of course a surprise hit and moved to Broadway in the fall where to this day it remains one of Broadway's most popular shows. Even after all these years we still get calls everyday asking for tickets to see the show. Now while I enjoyed it when I first saw it back in 1997 I never thought I would still be blogging about it all these years later. I guess you never can tell. Tonight the show will play it's 6,681 performance. Only 805 performances until it passes Cats. Now that will be cause for celebration. Until next time theatre fans.