Theatre News

Leicester Curve stages new Chicago to mark fifth anniversary

The Leicester Curve will mark its fifth anniversary this Christmas with a “brand new” production of multi award-winning musical Chicago.

Directed by Curve artistic director Paul Kerryson, the production will run from 4 December 2013 to 11 January 2014 (previews from 29 November) in the Curve’s main house.

Set in 1920’s Chicago, the show tells the story of
scintillating sinners, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, their crimes of
passion and their outrageous pursuit of fame and celebrity. But murder,
adultery and corruption are no match for their manipulative, smooth
talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Kander and Ebb’s 1975 musical is based on the play by Maurine Dallas
Watkins and has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander
and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Chicago won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for
Outstanding Musical Production as well as the 1998 Critics’ Circle Award
for Best Musical. The show’s West End production moved from the
Cambridge to the Garrick Theatre in November 2011 to make way for Matilda the Musical, and closed at the Garrick on 1 September 2012.

Curve’s chief executive Fiona Allan said: “Curve has gone from strength to strength in the first five years and it
feels the right moment to mark that progress and success. Paul
Kerryson’s reputation for producing exceptional musical theatre
continues to flourish at Curve and as such I can’t think of a more
appropriate way to formally mark our fifth anniversary than by celebrating
on the opening night of his brand new production of Chicago.”

Previous musicals at the Curve have included The King and I (and national tour), The Light in the Piazza, 42nd Street, Gypsy, Finding Neverland and most recently Hello, Dolly!

Casting for Chicago is still to be announced.