Premiering on Wednesday, October 8, the first show of the academic year at the Little Theatre on the campus of Central Methodist University will be Fred Ebb and John Kander’s Chicago. Directed by CMU professor of theatre Mark Kelty, the show will be staged four times for audiences.
Performances on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will begin at 7 p.m., while the Sunday matinee will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Alongside Dr. Kelty, a number of other CMU faculty will pitch in for the show’s production, including Dr. Jonathan Ray as music director, Zach Kierstead as the accompanist, and Lonna Wilke as the scenic and lighting designer. Arielle Prince will serve as choreographer, and Terri Rohlfing will fill her usual role as costume designer.
The show takes place in “Roaring Twenties” Chicago, where chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap – until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the American Dream: fame, fortune, and acquittal.
Starring in the Little Theatre production will be Liz Boyd as Velma Kelly, Tyler Hershey as Roxie Hart, and Gram Coalier as Amos Hart. Other members of the cast include Owen Flores as Billy Flynn, Harmony Andrews as Matron “Mama” Morton, and Cecilia Rancatore as Mary Sunshine. Jackson Krause, Taylor Martin, Davis Conway, Lauren Shields, Meckenzie Jones, Mariah Nichols, Lizzie Berry, Emeline DeLapp, and Colleen Allen will play multiple roles, while Breilly Roy will participate as part of the ensemble.
For CMU main stage productions, tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for CMU faculty and staff, and $5 for seniors and non-CMU students. CMU students are admitted for free with ID. Reservations are accepted the week of each performance. Check with the box office at 660-248-6281 for details.