PEACOCK PLAYERS

In Association with Concord Theatricals

BOOK BY Frank Ebb and Bob Fosse

MUSIC BY John Kander

LYRICS BY Frank Ebb

Chicago Teen Edition is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord.

Director’s Note

This show holds a special place in my heart. The first piece of theatre I ever directed was for a student choreography showcase at Souhegan High School when I was in the tenth grade. I chose to do “Cell Block Tango” and I, of course, cast myself as Velma to perform along with my five student compatriots.

Before this, as a 7th grader, my jazz dance class at Bedford Dance Center performed “All That Jazz” for our year end recital. It was a transformative process for me, and on one of the first times I truly understood what theatre was. Gawky, lanky me became a Fosse diva dancing in a noisy hall where there’s a nightly brawl.

I now have seventeen directing credits, five choreography credits, and countless others as music director, stage manager, costumer, and more. I have played sea witches, sour kangaroos, alien plants, dragons in love with donkeys, and sweetly doting mothers. Still, this production of Chicago remains one of my favorite productions I have ever tackled. I am so proud of the team who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this happen, and of the cast that worked tirelessly to master a new dance and performing style. Doing a Fosse show is unlike anything else.

I have a sneaking suspicion some will think I edited the dialogue in the finale to make it a commentary on current events. I want to assure you that we did not change a single line, and those words are from the script written by Ebb and Fosse back in the 1970’s. Art, particularly art that comments on society and the politics of fame, crime, and personality, has the power to transcend time and fit into any era or situation. In the words of Mr. Billy Flynn, “That’s Chicago.”

– Elle

Cast List

* denotes a Peacock Players Mainstage debut.

ROXIE HART
Samantha Thellen

VELMA KELLY
Cici Magdalena

BILLY FLYNN
Raymond Roberts III

AMOS HART
Nathan Delehanty

MARY SUNSHINE
Raylynn Despres

MATRON “MAMA” MORTON
Izzy Bedy

THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Dani Rosenblatt

FRED CASELY
Leo Nichols

THE REPORTERS
Jax McRoberts
Fiona Rafalski

DETECTIVE FOGARTY
Kellen Rebelo

LIZ
Julia Pesina

JUNE
Luccia Kaloyanides

THE HUNYAK
Gabby Wallace

MONA
Maizie Hennessy

MARY’S ASSISTANT
Jessica Maxon

KITTY
Anya Kmiec*

HARRY’S NEW GIRL
Gabby Roger

THE JUDGE
Charlotte Charest

Production Staff

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Elle Millar

PRODUCTION MUSIC DIRECTOR
Karina Allayne

CHOREOGRAPHER
Cat Santos

THE BAND
Karina Allayne (Keys), Rebecca Eipper (Trumpet), Eric Hansen (Reeds), Justin McLean (Bass), Hale Mierzwa-Winters (Trombone), John Taylor (Percussion)

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Gianna Caputo

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Jay Massie

STAGE CREW
Penny Coco, Cameron Straker

SCENIC DESIGN LEADS
Will English, Elle Millar

SCENIC CREATION VOLUNTEERS
Michelle Bedy, John DiGennaro, Amelia English, The Rebelo Family

COSTUME DESIGN
Allison Szklarz

LIGHTING DESIGN
Amelia English

LIGHTING BOARD OPERATOR
Kayla DiGennaro

SOUND DESIGN
Eric Charest

HOUSE MANAGER
Michelle Bedy

DIGITAL PLAYBILL & GRAPHICS DESIGN
Elle Millar

WEBSITE DESIGN
CleverLight Media

PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Amelia English

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elle Millar

Song List

ACT ONE

All That Jazz (Velma, Ensemble)

Funny Honey (Roxie)

Cell Block Tango (Liz, Annie, June, Hunyak, Velma, Mona)

When You’re Good to Mama (Matron)

All I Care About (Billy, Ensemble)

A Little Bit of Good (Mary)

We Both Reached for the Gun (Billy, Reporters, Mary, Roxie, Ensemble)

Roxie (Roxie, Ensemble)

I Can’t Do It Alone (Velma)

My Own Best Friend (Roxie, Velma, Ensemble)

ACT TWO

I Know a Girl (Velma)

Me and My Baby (Roxie, Mary, Billy, Reporters, All)

Mister Cellophane (Amos)

When Velma Takes the Stand (Velma, Ensemble)

Razzle Dazzle (Billy, Ensemble)

Nowadays (Roxie, Velma)

Hot Honey Rag

Finale (All)

Plot Summary

ACT ONE

The show begins with Velma leading the ensemble in “All That Jazz” as we watch Roxie and her affair with Fred Casely. Roxie shoots Fred, prompting a police investigation during which her husband tries to take the blame (“Funny Honey”). When the detective reveals the name of the deceased, Amos realizes Roxie was lying and recants his story, leading to her arrest.

We meet the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail as they sing “Cell Block Tango”. Liz, Annie, June, The Hunyak, Velma, and Mona all sing of how their circumstances led them to the jail. Then we meet the “keeper of the keys”, Matron “Mama” Morton as she sings “When You’re Good to Mama”.

Roxie seeks advice from Velma, who brushes her off. Mama connects Roxie with famed lawyer Billy Flynn to help with her trial (“All I Care About”). Flynn brings in reporters to boost Roxie’s case, including the famous sob sister, Mary Sunshine (“A Little Bit of Good”). He comes up with grounds for Roxie’s case and presents it to the reporters (“We Both Reached for the Gun”).

The press conference is a success and Roxie dreams of her rising fame in “Roxie”. Velma sees her own spotlight fading and decides to try, unsuccessfully, to convince Roxie to join her in a double act (“I Can’t Do It Alone”).

Just as Roxie smugly rejects her, a new jazz killer hits the scene, pushing both Roxie and Velma out of the spotlight. The two sing of their woes (“My Own Best Friend”), until Roxie has an idea and faints in front of reporters. She then reveals she is going to have a baby as Act One closes and a jealous Velma wishes she had thought of that plot first.

ACT TWO

Roxie is back in the spotlight, soaking up the reporters’ attention (“Me and My Baby”). A delighted Amos follows her around, proudly claiming paternity until Billy points out the timeline of events. Amos, dejected, sings “Mister Cellophane”.

As a panicked Velma tries to win Billy’s attention back with her ideas to win over the jury (“When Velma Takes the Stand”), Roxie has begun to think she is above it all; until the Hunyak becomes the first woman in Cook County to be executed. In tears, she turns to Billy who comforts her fears in “Razzle Dazzle”.

The trial begins, and Billy presents his case to an attentive jury. Just as the verdict is to be presented, a new jazz killer appears and the courtroom empties to a devastated Roxie. She sings “Nowadays”, lamenting her loss of fame, before joining Velma’s vaudeville duo and becoming a smash success (“Hot Honey Rag”). In the “Finale”, Velma and Roxie thank their loving audience and proclaim that they represent America and all her ideals… and all that jazz.

Special Thanks to

Amy DeRoche, Diane Veino & City Hall Administrative Services
Ross Dugas & The Risk Management Department
Jay Hunnewell & the Department of Public Works
The Bedy, Rebelo, and DiGennaro families.

And the countless Peacock Players students, parents, alumni and volunteers that helped to guide and support this specific Mainstage production.

Peacock Players Board of Directors

BOARD CO-PRESIDENTS
Sarah DeLisle & Jenn Morton

TREASURER
Fred Daniels

SECRETARY
Sasha Kuftinec

ACTIVE MEMBERS
Shoshanna Kelly
June Lemen
Becca Robinson

ADVISORY MEMBERS
Brad Galinson
Chris Lewis

EX OFFICIO
Brad Jamieson