San Antonio Majestic Theatre, Chicago, May 2026

UNCOVERING CHICAGO’S ROOTS IN TRUE CRIME OF THE 1920s

Do you know where the hit musical’s story began?

STORY BY RUTHIE FIERBERG

The acclaimed musical Chicago takes place amid the effervescence and wild abandon of the Roaring Twenties, a period of Prohibition, jazz and flapper culture. Inspired by actual murders in the city of Chicago, Chicago The Musical zooms in on crime, celebrity, sexuality and fame. The legendary Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb and John Kander collaborated to create the musical, based on the play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins.

In 1924, Watkins worked as a writer for the Chicago Tribune, assigned to cover court cases. Later, while attending the Yale Drama School, Watkins wrote the script for Chicago. Originally titled Brave Little Woman, the story was influenced by two real-life murderers, Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan. Gaertner had killed her husband; Annan had killed Harry Kalstedt, her co-worker with whom she was having an extramarital affair.

For her fictionalized version, Watkins created the characters Velma Kelly based on Gaertner and Roxie Hart based on Annan. George Abbott directed the play version, titled Chicago, and debuted it on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on Dec. 30, 1926, where it ran for 172 performances.

6 | curtaincall

Decades later, Fosse — along with Kander and Ebb — musicalized the material as a satire about celebrity criminals. The original production of Chicago The Musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on June 3, 1975. Gwen Verdon (at the time a four-time Tony Award winner) bowed as Roxie Hart, and Chita Rivera (then a one-time Tony nominee) played Velma Kelly. The musical ran 936 performances, through Aug. 27, 1977.

Nearly two decades later, a concert version of Chicago was presented at New York City Center. Producers Fran and Barry Weissler, enamored with the minimalist take on the musical, decided to transfer the production to Broadway. On Nov. 14, 1996, the revival opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (previously known as the 46th Street Theatre, where the original Chicago debuted).

Famed performer Ann Reinking, who had replaced Roxie in the 1975 production, originated the role for the revival alongside Bebe Neuwirth as Velma. The revival won six Tony Awards and holds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway. No longer at the Richard Rodgers, Chicago currently plays Broadway’s Ambassador Theatre.

In 2002, Rob Marshall directed a film adaptation of the musical, which starred Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma and Renée Zellweger as Roxie. The movie won six Academy Awards, including one for Zeta-Jones and Best Picture.

In whatever form Chicago is seen, the themes of jazz, obsession with true crime, celebrity crime and commentary on fame remain relevant as ever.

For more in-depth interviews, up-to-date news and show reviews on Broadway, visit BroadwayNews.com.

HOW RIVERDANCE REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD OF DANCE

Executive producer and associate director Pádraic Moyles takes audiences behind the international spectacle

STORY BY RUTHIE FIERBERG

Growing up in Ireland, Pádraic Moyles began Irish dancing when he was three years old, but it wasn’t until the young Pádraic (pronounced Paw-rick) saw Riverdance at Radio City Music Hall in 1996 that he fell in love with it. “It was something you were made to do,” Moyles told Broadway News. “I didn’t fall in love with it ’til I saw how Riverdance revolutionized Irish dancing.”

Created by composer Bill Whelan, director John McColgan and producer Moya Doherty, Riverdance premiered in Dublin in 1995, after this style of Irish dancing (set to Whelan’s music) made a splash during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. “Before Riverdance, Irish dancing was traditional, and there was a lot of rules and regulations around how that worked, which is amazing — everybody respects the tradition of it,” he continued. “But Riverdance brought it to a new level. It made everything limitless.”

Just one year after Riverdance changed his life (Moyles’ words), he joined the company as a dancer. Moyles ascended through the ranks, becoming a principal dancer and dance captain. Today, he is the executive producer and associate director of the global phenomenon.

“In traditional Irish dancing, you aren’t a character, you’re going [onstage] pretty much blank-faced and you’re just being judged on the dance, not the performance. That’s really the biggest change,” Moyles explained. “And, of course, as more dancers come through this [company], as more dancers grow

up with this being their dream, their passion, they bring a totally different sense of what performance looks like. And that is really what helps the show evolve, as well.”

For more than 30 years, Riverdance has been touring the world and evolving. Yet its story is deeply rooted in Irish ancestry. “The first half of the show is about myth and legends of not just Ireland, but other territories, as well,” Moyles said. “In the second half of the show, it’s all about departure and discovery — kind of post-famine where everybody had to leave Ireland.”

But Moyles hopes that the story will resonate with anyone who has ever left hardship to seek opportunity elsewhere. Through its choreography, Riverdance conveys our common humanity. In a number called “Trading Taps,” American-tap dancers and Irish dancers duel, “yet through the duel, they realize how similar they are,” Moyles said. “It’s about rhythm. It’s all about movement. It’s all about expressing yourself. The next thing you know, they’re all doing the same rhythms just in different ways. It can be the way language works — we’re all saying the same thing just in different ways.”

“That,” the director-producer said, “is the essence of Riverdance.”

Still there are quintessential attributes of Irish dance that make the style unique. “Everybody puts their arms by their side, and they stand up really tall and straight, and the only thing that moves is from the waist down, right?” Moyles said. “The other important thing is how your feet are placed, the rhythmic sense that your feet can create, how your toes are pointed, what your posture truly looks like. Where’s your head? What’s the position of your body? Those things all play a role as well.”

“And, of course, you have light shoe versions of Irish dancing, which is the more balletic version and what most people know as the heavy shoes, which is all noise and rhythm,” he continued.

The distinct unison in which much of the steps are performed booms through every venue that hosts Riverdance. “John McColgan … always says to the artists, ‘Because you don’t get to communicate with your voice in this show, it has to be through your mind and body language. But if we think the same, if we can act the same, then they will hear every word we’re saying without ever saying a word.’”

Moyles ensures that their vocabulary and energy are always fresh — as are the other elements of the production. The 37 dancers change costumes and shoes for every single number in the show. New technology has allowed for more seamless and impressive design. “The most important element is the newness of this generation [of dancers],” Moyles urged. “The freshness, the excitement, the passion, the energy that they have is literally pushing you to the back of your seat as you watch this.”

“Our motto here is ‘Every night is opening night,’” Moyles said. “Every night is an opportunity to improve. “I can honestly tell you that this show has never been as good as it is today.”

Riverdance takes center stage June 16–18 at the Majestic Theatre as part of the North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio series. For more in-depth interviews, up-to-date news and show reviews on Broadway, visit BroadwayNews.com.

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Velma Kelly ................................................................................................ CLAIRE MARSHALL

Roxie Hart ELLIE RODDY

Fred Casely TIM CANALI

Sergeant Fogarty MICHAEL MOTTRAM

Amos Hart .............................................................................................. MARC CHRISTOPHER

Liz HELENA LAING

Annie ANNA SPEER

June ANGELLIZ M. ROSADO RAMOS

Hunyak .................................................................................................................... LACEY KOHN

Mona GENEVIEVE HALL

Matron “Mama” Morton ILLEANA “illy” KIRVEN

Billy Flynn MAX CERVANTES

Mary Sunshine ......................................................................................................... J. CLANTON

Go-to-Hell-Kitty ........................................................................................................ AMY KNIPS

Harry JAIDEN JONES

The Doctor JOSH ENGLAND

Aaron ............................................................................................................ NICK TRAFICANTE

The Judge ........................................................................................................... JAIDEN JONES

The Bailiff JARED HOUDE

Martin Harrison TIMOTHY SCOTT BRAUSCH

Court Clerk ......................................................................................................... JARED HOUDE

The Jury ............................................................................................................ JOSH ENGLAND

THE SCENE: Chicago, Illinois. The late 1920s.

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for a listed player unless a specific announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.

For Roxie Hart—AMY KNIPS, ANNA SPEER

For Velma Kelly—TERYN CUOZZO, GENEVIEVE HALL

For Billy Flynn MICHAEL MOTTRAM, NICK TRAFICANTE

For Amos Hart—JOSH ENGLAND, RYAN MCINNES

For Matron “Mama” Morton—ANGELLIZ M. ROSADO RAMOS, SERENA KOZUSKO

SWINGS

Teryn Cuozzo, Serena Kozusko, Ryan McInnes, Chandler James Pettus

DANCE CAPTAINS

Serena Kozusko, Ryan McInnes

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Overture The Band and Company

“All That Jazz” Velma and Company

“Funny Honey” ......................................................................................................................Roxie

“Cell Block Tango” .......................................................................................... Velma and Girls

“When You’re Good to Mama”

Matron “Mama” Morton

“Tap Dance” Roxie, Amos and Boys

“All I Care About” ................................................................................................ Billy and Girls

“A Little Bit of Good” ....................................................................................... Mary Sunshine

“We Both Reached for the Gun” Billy, Roxie, Mary Sunshine and Company

“Roxie” Roxie and Boys

“I Can’t Do It Alone” .......................................................................................................... Velma

“My Own Best Friend” ................................................................................. Roxie and Velma

INTERMISSION

Entr’acte ......................................................................................................................... The Band

“I Know a Girl” Velma

“Me and My Baby” Roxie and Boys

“Mister Cellophane” ............................................................................................................ Amos

“When Velma Takes the Stand” ................................................................ Velma and Boys

“Razzle Dazzle” Billy and Company

“Class” Velma and Matron “Mama” Morton

“Nowadays” Roxie and Velma

“Hot Honey Rag” ........................................................................................... Roxie and Velma Finale Company

Original choreography for “Hot Honey Rag” by Bob Fosse

ORCHESTRA

Music Director and Conductor: ANDY CHEN

Associate Conductor: CHASE ANDERSON

Piano and Assistant Conductor: ERIK WAKAR

Reed 1: JASON WHITMORE

Reed 2: HEATHER KRIESEL

Reed 3: MATT TENBROEK

Trumpet 1: JORDAN WEBB

Trumpet 2: AMANDA BATEMAN

Trombone: LANDON GADDIS

Banjo/Mandolin/Ukulele: AARON KAN

Tuba/Bass: GARRETT SULLIVAN

Percussion: TROY BASHOR

The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device or such photographing or sound recording inside the theater, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law.

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

ELLIE RODDY (Roxie Hart) is thrilled to be performing in her second year of tour in the legacy of Chicago! Originally an Orlando, FL native, she’s now a New York resident. Favorite credits include Sherrie (Rock of Ages), Anytime Annie (42nd Street), Rizzo (Grease), and Magenta (Rocky Horror Live!). Eternally grateful for my friends, my family, Henderson Hogan Agency, and my funny honey, Ash. @ellieroddy_

CLAIRE MARSHALL (Velma Kelly) (she/ her) is a California girl who adores traveling, coffee, and music! She recently toured with The Cher Show and does believe in life after love. BFA MT&Dance from Missouri State (go bears!). Additional favorites: Xanadu (Kira), Anything Goes (Virtue, Reno u/s), A Chorus Line (Judy Turner). Thank you!!! claire-marshall.net @claire.m__

MAX CERVANTES (Billy Flynn) is thrilled to be revisiting his Cook County roots with this legacy production. National Tours: Pretty Woman (Happy Man), On Your Feet! (José Fajardo). Regional: Ogunquit Playhouse, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Firebrand, Paramount. NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Love to his family & thanks to About Artists Agency. IG:@maxjcervantes

MARC CHRISTOPHER (Amos Hart). National tour debut! Off-Broadway: Frankenstein (The Creature). Favorite credits: Hairspray (Edna), SpongeBob SquarePants (Patrick Star), Something Rotten! (Nostradamus), Addams Family (Uncle Fester). Thank you Brent and Carlos at KREATIV Artists, ARC Casting, APEX and the Chicago team. Thanks to my friends and family for their constant love and support! Love you Mom! Passat, all my heart to Carolyn. marcchristopher.net @marcittymarcmarc

ILLEANA “illy” KIRVEN (Matron “Mama” Morton) (she/her) is delighted to continue her Chicago journey. Illy was seen in the North American tour for two seasons and on the 25th Anniversary International Tour in South Korea. With 100s of shows on her resume, here are a few favorites: Caroline in productions of Caroline, or Change, Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, the Narrator in productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Illy dedicates her shows to her one-of-a-kind,

beautiful angel Mama, Mildred. Enjoy the show. @321illy

J. CLANTON (Mary Sunshine). National tour debut! Other credits include: White Christmas (Bob), The Fantasticks (Matt), Big River (Huck), Little Women (Laurie), and Grease (Teen Angel). Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Rachel, close friends, and the whole cast and crew. God bless! @jacobmclanton

TIMOTHY SCOTT BRAUSCH (Martin Harrison). National Tours: Chicago, My Fair Lady. Regional: North Carolina Theatre. Elon University Music Theatre Alumni. Much love to my family, friends, team at Pantera/Murphy the Agency and my dance mentors without whom I would be nowhere. timothyscottbrausch.com @timothyscottbrausch

TIM CANALI (Fred Casely) is a NYC-based multi-hyphenate artist. Recently he’s enjoyed flying high in {IN}TANGIBLE – A Circus Play Off-Broadway, crafting combat for striking newsboys, choreographing a world premiere love-affirming musical, and performing in numerous diverse theatrical productions around the world. Immense gratitude to Brian at Hell’s Kitchen Agency. See more on Instagram @timcanali.

TERYN CUOZZO (Swing/Velma Kelly Understudy) (she/her) is thrilled to be returning for her second year on the Chicago National Tour. BFA Musical Theater Coastal Carolina University. Thank you to the entire Chicago family, @ccutheatre and her team at Avalon Artists Group! Love to Mom, Dad and Alexa! @teryncuozzo

JOSH ENGLAND ( The Doctor/The Jury/Amos Hart Understudy) (he/him). Chicago (National Tour). Regional: Carousel, A Chorus Line, Damn Yankees, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Cabaret TV/Film: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Gossip Girl.” BFA, Oakland University. Huge thanks to the team and ARC Casting! Love to Mom, Dad and all of his friends and family! @josh_england_

GENEVIEVE HALL (Mona/Velma Kelly Understudy). National tour debut! From Canberra, Australia, Genevieve is thrilled to join Chicago! Her career spans Australia and the U.S. with favorite credits:

Skyscraper (Off-Broadway) and regional: Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham), Kiss Me, Kate, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Thanks to all her teachers, friends, and love to MADNAH. IG: @genevievehall_

JARED HOUDE ( The Bailiff ) is ecstatic to be making his national tour debut with the company of Chicago! Credits include Hairspray on Symphony of the Seas and The Music Man at The Argyle Theatre. An IAMT alumni and MSA talent, he’s so thrilled to be making his team, friends, and family proud. @jared.houde

JAIDEN JONES (Harry/The Judge) is thrilled to be joining the Chicago touring company. Last seen in Camelot (Barrington Stage Company) and In the Heights as Benny (Firehouse Center for the Arts). Proud Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumni. Filled with gratitude and love for my family, friends, and team at Daniel Hoff! @jaidenjnes

AMY KNIPS (Go-To-Hell-Kitty/Roxie Hart Understudy). National Tour: Pretty Woman. Recent credits: Beehive (Shadowland Stages), Footloose (MGM Beau Rivage), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Norwegian Creative Studios). BFA Rider. Tremendous thank you to PMA, ARC, Jimbo, Hayley, and all her friends & family. Chicago is her absolute dream come true. @amy_knips

LACEY KOHN ( Hunyak). TXST MT 2025, is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! Regional credits include West Side Story (Clarice), Legally Blonde (Margot), Newsies (Bowery Beauty) and Chicago (Liz). A special thank you to her agents at Henderson Hogan and friends and family! Instagram: @lacey.kohn

SERENA KOZUSKO (Swing/Dance Captain/Matron “Mama” Morton Understudy) (she/her) is elated to be back for a second season with Chicago! Recently: Carousel (the Wick), Hello, Dolly! (Pioneer Theatre), Grease (Cha-Cha, MT Wichita), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Potiphar’s Wife, Arizona Broadway). Vail, CO native, University of Utah alum. Huge thanks to ARC, the Chicago team, and the best friends/family around! @heyitsseray

HELENA LAING (Liz) is beyond excited to be making her national tour debut! She is a proud graduate from The University of Oklahoma where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. She

would like to thank her family, friends, and her team at Pantera/Murphy for their continued love and support. MamaI promise to work hard, be good, and all that jazz! @helena.laingg

RYAN McINNES (Swing/Dance Captain/ Amos Hart Understudy) (he/him) is thrilled to return to the cell block. Regional: Engeman Theater, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Proud recent graduate of Point Park University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Endless thanks to Mom, Dad, Meaghan and this incredible team. Biggest thanks for supporting live theater! @_ryanmcinnes

MICHAEL MOTTRAM (Sergeant Fogarty/Billy Flynn Understudy) is incredibly excited to join this production of Chicago! He was most recently seen on the national tour of Mean Girls (Glenn Coco). Other professional credits include Anastasia at Bucks County Playhouse (Dmitry u/s), and Hairspray on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas (Fender/Link Larkin/Corny Collins u/s). Thanks to Avalon Artists Group and his family for their constant love and support. @michaelmottram21

CHANDLER JAMES PETTUS (Swing). National tour debut! Chandler is honored to be a part of such a legendary and iconic piece. Originally from Richmond, VA, he is a proud alum of Christopher Newport University; BA Musical Theatre. Huge thanks to family, friends, and everyone on the Chicago casting and creative teams! @cjpettus

ANGELLIZ M. ROSADO RAMOS (June/ Matron “Mama” Morton Understudy) is returning for her second season with the Chicago tour. Born in Puerto Rico. Trained in Beyond Dance Studio with Michi and Solimar Arzola and graduated from AMDA. Credits: On Your Feet, Puerto Rico and On Your Feet National Tour. “Thanks to God, my family and friends. Chicago was my biggest dream, and now I get to do it every night.” @angelliz.rosado

ANNA SPEER (Annie/Roxie Hart Understudy) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut in Chicago! A recent NYU Tisch graduate, career highlights include Carousel: In Concert (Louise), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and choreographic works by Jose Limon, George Balanchine, Sarah Meahl.

Endless love & gratitude to family, mentors, MSA, and this killer company.

IG: @annaspeer__

NICK TRAFICANTE (Aaron/Billy Flynn Understudy) is a Pittsburgh native and a proud graduate of Ithaca College’s Musical Theatre program. National Tour: Annie (Ensemble, Rooster u/s). Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia! and Sweet Charity. Special thanks to Avalon Artists Group, and all the love to his family for their unwavering support!

JOHN KANDER & FRED EBB (Music; Book/Lyrics). Broadway: Flora, the Red Menace; Cabaret (Tony Award, Best Score); The Happy Time; Zorba; 70, Girls, 70; Chicago; The Act; Woman of the Year (Tony Award, Best Score); The Rink ; Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award, Best Score); Steel Pier ; Curtains; Scottsboro Boys; and The Visit. Their collaboration also transferred itself to movies and television as they wrote original material for “Liza With a Z” (Emmy Award); HBO’s “Liza Minnelli’s Stepping Out” (Emmy Award); Funny Lady (Oscar nominee for “How Lucky Can You Get”); Lucky Lady ; New York, New York ; Stepping Out; and Chicago, The Movie (Oscar nominee for Best Song). In the mid ’80s the song “New York, New York” became the official anthem of New York City.

BOB FOSSE (Book). First director in history to win Oscar, Tony and Emmy awards in one year (1973) for the film Cabaret, the musical Pippin and the TV special “Liza With a Z.” He won the first of eight Tonys as choreographer for The Pajama Game followed by directing and choreographing Redhead, Little Me, Sweet Charity (stage and film), Chicago and Dancin’. Other choreography: Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, How to Succeed…, Big Deal. Film: My Sister Eileen, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees. Director: Lenny (Oscar nom), All That Jazz (Oscar nom), Star 80

WALTER BOBBIE (Original New York Production Direction) won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Tony award as Best Director for the international hit Chicago. Other New York productions include Venus in Fur, Golden Age, School for Lies, White Christmas, Footloose, New Jerusalem, High Fidelity, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, A Grand Night for

Singing, Sweet Charity, Twentieth Century and Bright Star. Mr. Bobbie also served as artistic director of City Center’s acclaimed Encores! series. As an actor, his career spans the original Broadway cast of Grease, the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, Manhattan Theatre Club’s recent Saint Joan and Hulu’s miniseries “Dopesick.”

ANN REINKING (Original New York Production Choreography) won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Choreography for Chicago, as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Astaire and NY Drama Critics awards. Other credits include director and co-choreographer for Fosse (1998 Tony Award for Best Musical); Tony nominations for her leading performances in Dancin’ and Goodtime Charley; recipient of Theatre World, Clarence Derwent and Outer Critics Circle awards for her work as Maggie in Over Here!. Film credits: Movie, Movie; All That Jazz; Annie; Micki and Maude. Recent choreography: Suite Kander for Missouri State Ballet, Ritmo & Ruido for Ballet Hispanico, Legends for Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, The Threepenny Opera for Williamstown Theatre Festival, Nilsson/Schmillson for Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theatre, “Bye Bye Birdie” for ABC-TV, national tour of the revival of Applause. She is the recipient of the Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre 1999, Musical Hall of Fame Award 1999, Dance Library of Israel Award 1998, Distinguished Artist Award 1998, School of American Ballet Artistic Achievement Award 1997, National Art Club Award for Service to the Arts 1995 and Governor’s Award- Ambassador of the Arts for the State of Florida 1994.

JOHN LEE BEATTY (Scenic Design). Broadway: Sweat, Doubt, Proof, Other Desert Cities, The Color Purple, A Delicate Balance, The Heiress, The Sisters Rosensweig, The Most Happy Fella, Burn This, Penn & Teller, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Talley’s Folly, Fifth of July, Crimes of the Heart, among 100 others. Off-Broadway: Sylvia; The Substance of Fire; The Road to Mecca; Song of Singapore; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; A Life in the Theater ; 40 seasons at MTC, Circle Rep, Lincoln Center Theater and the major regional theatres. Recipient of Tonys, Obies, Drama Desks and Outer Critics Circle awards. Theater Hall of Fame.

WILLIAM IVEY LONG (Costume Design) designs for opera, ballet, modern dance, theatre, television and film. He has 76 Broadway credits and has been nominated for 17 Tony Awards, winning six times. He was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in January 2006. williamiveylong.com

KEN BILLINGTON (Lighting Design) has over 100 Broadway shows to his credit, including the original Sweeney Todd, Waitress, Sunday in the Park With George (2008 and 2017), Act One, The Drowsy Chaperone and Footloose. His TonyAward lighting for Chicago has been seen in 36 countries. Other projects: Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Fantasmic! at Disneyland and award-winning architectural lighting for work at NYC’s Tavern on the Green and Feinstein’s/54 Below. Ken is a member of the Theater Hall of Fame.

SCOTT LEHRER (Sound Design).

Credits include: Gypsy with Audra McDonald, Twyla Tharp’s How Long Blues, Plaza Suite, Into the Woods (Drama Desk Award), To Kill A Mockingbird, The Piano Lesson, The Music Man with Hugh Jackman, Carousel, Hello, Dolly! with Bette Midler, The Front Page, Shuffle Along..., Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, A Raisin in the Sun with Denzel Washington, Mike Nichols’ productions of Betrayal and Death of a Salesman, Lucky Guy with Tom Hanks, Richard Nelson’s Rhinebeck Panorama, over 60 NY City Center Encores! including Chicago, and South Pacific (first Tony Award for Sound Design). Recordings include An American in Paris (Grammy nomination), Loudon Wainwright’s High Wide and Handsome (Grammy) and Meredith Monk’s Mercy. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, he has taught at Bennington College, Hunter College and NYU.

ROBERT BILLIG (Music Supervisor) has been music director, conductor and/or supervisor for Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring musical productions for over 45 years. A graduate of New York University with a BA in Music, he has been music director/conductor of the original Broadway productions of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Man of La

Mancha (2002 revival), Singin’ in the Rain and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other Broadway productions he has conducted include Chicago, Wicked, Song and Dance and My One and Only. National tours include Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Les Misérables (25th anniversary production), Chicago and most recently, Hello, Dolly!. OffBroadway he was music director and vocal arranger for the original production of Little Shop of Horrors and provided the vocal arrangements for the film version of the show. In addition, he was Musical Director for Disney’s Geppetto. Mr. Billig’s other conducting credits range from intimate nightclubs to international symphony orchestras and everything in between.

DAVID HYSLOP (Re-creation of Original Production Direction). Over 20 Broadway credits including Chicago, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Democracy, The Rocky Horror Show, Bobbi Boland, The Blue Room, Jekyll & Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, An Ideal Husband, and A Few Good Men Associate Director for nine national tours of Chicago as well as Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Peter Pan 360. Much love and gratitude to all the people who influenced and guided me early on at The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, The American Conservatory Theatre and The Actors Studio.

GREGORY BUTLER (Re-creation of Original Production Choreography) is currently the associate choreographer for Broadway’s six time Tony Awardwinning Chicago The Musical. He has been on the creative teams that have mounted productions around the world including Denmark, Moscow, Korea, Amsterdam, Argentina, Germany and the U.S. Gregory has also restaged Ann Reinking’s Tony Award-winning choreography from Chicago for various television and award shows including “Dancing With The Stars,” “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Today Show,” “The Rosie O’ Donnell Show,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS Morning Show,” “The Helene Fischer Show,” The Tony Awards and The Bambi Awards. Through his involvement with Chicago, Gregory has been honored to work with a host of celebrated stars such as Brandy Norwood,

Usher, Rita Wilson, Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swazye, Jennifer Holiday, Patti LaBelle, George Hamilton, Erika Jayne, Chita Rivera, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Angelica Ross, Melora Hardin, Louis Gossett Jr. and Christie Brinkley, to name a few. In 2013, Gregory had the honor to choreograph Chicago for the “Musical Under The Stars” series at the iconic and historic Hollywood Bowl which was directed by Brooke Shields. He is also an accomplished actor/singer/dancer having performed on and off broadway, national tours, tv/film, stock and regional theater. Gregory can be seen in the Emmy-nominated documentaries Pamela: A Love Story and Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. He choreographed the feature films The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, starring Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis and the upcoming Five Stages Until. For Annie! Facebook: Gregory Butler Twitter: @GregKButler Instagram: Gkbut

ANDY CHEN (Music Director/Conductor) (he/him) is thrilled to continue with the Chicago family! Regional/Educational: La Cage Aux Folles, Iolanthe, Trial By Jury, Little Women, Bright Star. He holds an MM in Music Direction from Arizona State University. Much gratitude to his family, and to Payton. @andychenonkeys

CAMERON BLAKE KINNEAR (Music Coordinator). National Tours: Kinky Boots, Chicago, How The Grinch Stole Christmas Regional: premiere of Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland, Disney’s When You Wish, Rock of Ages, Sister Act, Ghost, La Cage aux Folles, Gutenberg! The Musical, 1940’s Radio Hour, Ring of Fire, Sweet Charity, Big River, Urinetown, Assassins, All Shook Up, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, Mary Poppins, The Music Man, Crazy for You, Fiddler On The Roof, Rent. Cruise Lines: Swing!, Legends In Concert

BERNIE ARDIA (Wig & Hair Design) is still enjoying a 50-year career, starting in television. Mr. Ardia has designed and coordinated well over 100 productions. He is very happy to once again be a part of this tour of Chicago which he dedicates to his dear friend the legendary, Chita Rivera. Other credits: Ragtime, The Kennedy Center; Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Las Vegas;

and Cinderella with Eartha Kitt. Mr. Ardia is proud to have had his name mentioned recently on TCM for his contribution to the John Waters exhibit and others at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. He has worked with many talented performers, including Ramin Karimloo, Jeanne Cooper, George Wendt, Mary Wilson, Lynda Carter, Melody Thomas-Scott, Makenzie Philips and many others. He is also the author of Barbra Streisand in New York City, and currently presents a new book, At Sea With Patrick Dennis: My Madcap Mexican Adventure with the Author of Auntie Mame, published by Rattling Good Yarns. #atseawithpatrickdennis

JUSTEN M. BROSNAN (Makeup Designer). Australian born & New York built. Broadway credits: Hairspray Brooklyn-The Musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Legally Blonde. This one’s for Chita!

DAVID THOMPSON (Script Adaptation) Projects include The Scottsboro Boys (London’s Critics’ Circle Award, Evening Standard Award, Tony and Drama Desk award nominations, Hull-Warriner Award), Steel Pier (Tony nomination), Thou Shalt Not, Prince of Broadway. Off-Broadway: And the World Goes ’Round (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards); Flora, the Red Menace (Drama Desk nomination), The Beast in the Jungle. Thompson is a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.

THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency) has represented 28 Tony Award® winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include The Book of Mormon, Boop!, Buena Vista Social Club, Chicago, Funny Girl, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, Just In Time, Mamma Mia!, Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight!, MJ The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Notebook, Oh Mary!, Operation Mincemeat, Parade, Real Woman Have Curves, Six, Some Like It Hot, Suffs, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Waitress and The Wiz

ARC (Casting). 150+ productions across the globe & 13 Artios Awards for Casting. Broadway/NY Past & Current Productions include: Othello, Real Women Have Curves, A Wonderful World, Life of Pi, Romy & Michele, Chicago the Musical, Disney’s The Lion King &

26 | encore

Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, Lost in Yonkers, Great Comet of 1812, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, 39 Steps, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles. TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/U.K.: Hadestown, Sister Act, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: Peter Pan, 1776, Hairspray, Waitress, Urinetown, Girl From The North Country, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will Rock You Regional: A.R.T., The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, Bay Street, Goodspeed, Ogunquit Playhouse, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature. ARC, Part of RWS Global. www.castingbyarc.com @castingbyarc

MELISSA A. HAZEK (Tour Marketing and Press) is a leading public relations and marketing firm specializing in the Broadway touring industry, unique experiences, and seasonal special events. With decades of experience, the firm provides strategic and impactful campaigns that connect audiences with exceptional entertainment.

CHELSEA JAMES (Assistant to the Choreographer) is elated to be a member of the creative team for this current production of Chicago! Credits include: Chicago Broadway (Swing), Chicago National Tour (Dance Captain/Swing), Hairspray! (Amber Von Tussle), and CATS (Dance Captain/Syllabub). As both a performer and choreographer’s assistant, she is incredibly grateful to have the support, trust and opportunity to be a part of a show with such a profound legacy. Endless thanks to her fiancé, family and the Chicago team for the love!

MARC CIEMIEWICZ (Senior Company Manager). For over 35 years, Marc has worked as an actor, director, stage manager, company manager, and production manager from coast to coast. Tours: Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom, It’s Swingtime!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler), Footloose 10th Anniversary Tour, The Wedding Singer, Finding Neverland, Chicago, Hairspray, and the national and international tours of The Wizard of Oz. Marc holds a BFA and an MFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and San Diego State University respectively.

JESSICA FERNANDO (Tour Company Manager). Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Jessica is an Orlando-based touring company manager, director, producer, and performer. Her work has garnered international recognition, with numerous awards from prestigious festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. Jessica is a proud member of Actor’s Equity.

SOFIA ROSE ITSKOVICH (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning to the cell block! Select national tours: Chicago, Shrek the Musical!, PAW Patrol Live! Select regional credits: The Gateway Playhouse, Virginia Theatre Festival, Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. Grateful to my loved ones for their unwavering support. BFA. @sofial0ves. For Polina, always.

BRIAN J. ENZMAN (Associate Producer). 39 years. Over 500 productions between the Dutch Apple, Broadway Palm and APEX Touring as an actor, director, choreographer and now casting. Thanks Prather Family!

LAUREN L. SOBON (Associate Producer) has been the Associate Producer for the national tours of Chicago since 2020. Other credits: Associate Producer/Casting for Hairspray, Director for the 2021 tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Artistic Producer/Casting Director for the 2020 national tour of Finding Neverland, 2019 international and 2018/2019 national tours of The Wizard of Oz as well as the 2017 national tour of Pippin. She was the Director and Artistic Producer for the 2016 national tour of Million Dollar Quartet. Choreographer and Associate Producer for the 2014 national tour of Fiddler on the Roof

RUSSELL A. THOMPSON (Production Manager) has been the Production Manager for multiple national touring productions and the international tours of Chicago, Cabaret, Hairspray and Blast. Mr. Thompson was the lighting designer and production manager for the international tour of The Wizard of Oz, and national tours of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Finding Neverland, Once, Pippin, Million Dollar Quartet, Memphis, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Hair, Fiddler on the Roof, All Shook Up, Footloose,

The Wedding Singer and Beehive: The 60’s Musical. Thompson’s other designs include Waitress, Beautiful, Jesus Christ Superstar, On Your Feet, Joseph... Dreamcoat, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, A Bronx Tale and CATS He also designed the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days and the regional premiere of The Civil War.

APEX TOURING, LLC (General Management) is the producer of the current tour of Chicago, being presented by Chicago Razzle Dazzle II LLC. Now in its ninth tour season, APEX has produced recent national tours which include Hairspray, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Once and Finding Neverland APEX was honored to be the first company to bring a live production to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Middle East with the international tour of The Wizard of Oz, which also performed across China. APEX produced the 2018 tour of Cabaret and 2017 tour of Pippin. APEX has been created to serve the ever-expanding need for high quality, Broadway-caliber touring productions around the world. APEX looks forward to many years of producing Broadway’s brightest new shows.

WILLIAM T. PRATHER (Executive Producer) is the Executive Producer and Founder of APEX Touring. He is a second-generation theatre producer following in the footsteps of his parents, Tom and Debbie Prather, who produced live theatre for over 58 years. A graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, he returned to the family business in 1993 after spending a couple of years in the corporate world. As an executive producer, Prather has worked on successful tours including Footloose, The Wedding Singer, BLAST, Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet.

CITY CENTER’S ENCORES! GREAT AMERICAN MUSICALS IN CONCERT. City Center, a not-for-profit theater founded in 1943 as Manhattan’s first performing arts center, is home to many of America’s leading dance companies, education programs and popular engagements. The award-winning series Encores! was created in 1994 to revisit rarely heard scores, of which Chicago is one.

STAFF FOR CHICAGO

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

WILLIAM T. PRATHER

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

APEX TOURING

GENERAL MANAGER

RYAN PARLIMENT

PRODUCTION MANAGER

RUSSELL A. THOMPSON

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS

LAUREN L. SOBON

BRIAN J. ENZMAN

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

RACHELLE WINESETT

TOUR MARKETING AND PRESS

MELISSA A. HAZEK PR AND MARKETING

TOUR BOOKING and ENGAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

THE BOOKING GROUP

Meredith Blair

Richard Rundle Brian Brooks

CASTING

ARC

Duncan Stewart, CSA Mark Brandon, CSA

Patrick Maravilla, Jarrett Reiche, Kendra Lucas

Kyle Coker, Devi Peot, Jaron Cole

Ryan Stana, CEO RWS Global

Ryan Saab, SVP RWS Global

SENIOR COMPANY MANAGER

MARC CIEMIEWICZ

TOUR COMPANY MANAGER

JESSICA FERNANDO

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

SOFIA ROSE ITSKOVICH

PRODUCTION STAFF

Head Carpenter ....................................... Aaron Collins

Stage Manager Elspeth Bustard

Carpenter/Rigger ............................... Starrett Pattison

Associate Lighting Programmer Benjamin Travis

Production Electrician Hope Honeker

Head Electrician Michael Castro

Electrician Kyle Vail

Electrician Avery Cranston

Production Audio Conor Gregersen

Head Audio ................................ Nestor Salamanca, Jr.

Audio Kevin Guerra

Head Props ................................................. Tori Powers

Costume Coordinator Paisley Finlayson

Head Wardrobe/Wigs Uvenka Jean-Baptiste

Swing Technician Daisy Luna

Vice-President of Marketing Denise S. Trupe

Payroll Services Paycom Payroll, LLC

Legal Council Littler Mendelson, P.C.

Banking ....................................................... Chase Bank

Insurance Maury, Donnelly & Parr, Inc.

Art Design ............. KellyAnne Hanrahan & EJZ Design

Production Photography Jeremy Daniel

Web Design EZ Solution

Merchandising

Trucking

Creative Goods

Stage Call

Busing On the Road Coach

Concierge Road Concierge

CREDITS

Scenery built and painted by Hudson Scenic Studios. Lighting equipment from PRG Lighting. Sound equipment by PRG Audio.

CONNECT WITH CHICAGO ON TOUR CHICAGOONTOUR.COM

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ChicagoOnTour #ChicagoOnTour TikTok: @ChicagoTour

All stage work performed by employees represented by IATSE.

General Manager

Deputy General Manager

Event Operations Coordinator

MAJESTIC THEATRE

An ATG Entertainment Venue

Emily Smith

Shannon Phillips

Hannah Weimer

Director of Marketing - Broadway ..............................

Director of Marketing - MCE

Social Media & Marketing Manager

Marketing Coordinator

Emily Walker

Jonathan Miles

Jordan Roberts

Isabella Rodriguez

Premium & Group Sales Representative ..............Adriana Gonzales

Creative Learning Director

Director of Ticketing

Box Office Manager

Alexandra Snell

Paul Stanley Salazar

Amanda Hernandez

Box Office Asst. Manager.......................................

Ops and Ticketing Support Assistant Manager

Jeffery Hensel

Sean Yruegas

Sr. Box Office Representative Evelyn Coronado, Emily Moreno

Box Office Representatives Sebastian Espinoza, Marcela Gomez, Lorraine Martinez, Alyssa Pineda, Hannah Rodriguez, Katalina Vasquez, Vanessa Wiggins

Director of Sales & Events

Christopher Griffin

Private Event Manager ....................................... Adriana Martinez

Private Events Strategist

Facility and Property Director

Facilities and Property Assistant Manager.

Devon Moreno

Stewart Tiller

Daniel McConnell

Facility & Property Theater Attendants. Hector Urrutia, Jayy Gonzales

Director of Production. Rob Oler

Senior Production Manager Trinity Burton

Production Manager Ian Harrison

Customer Experience Director Trish Neill

Customer Experience Manager Luis Dobbs

Customer Experience Asst. Manager ................. Adrian Hernandez

Director of Food & Beverage Melissa Tamayo

Food & Beverage Supervisor Sam Boone

Food & Beverage Manager Michael Pellerin

F&B Coordinator....................................... Javier Moreno Almanza

Sr. House Managers Celia Berryman, Alyssa-Erika Gomez, Samantha Gray, Lori Ramirez

House Managers Rene Aguilar, Ameen Al-Bahloly, Lewis Andrews, Isaac Benitez, Dolores Cortez, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Charles Hernandez, John Marsalis, Heather Ramos, Jennifer Riojas, Grace Rios, Denise Rossignol, Debra Salazar, Juliana Sanchez, Ariana Tella, Sel Tope,

House Security Leads Rene De Los Santos, Louis DeMarino, Gabriel Gonzales, Heather Pellegrin, Armando Ramirez, David Richardson, Alec Vasquez

ATG ENTERTAINMENT

Group Executive Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer

Group Content & Creative Director

Melanie Smith

Michael Lynas

Chief Operating Officer and UK CEO.....................................................................................................................................

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Human Resources Officer

Chief Product & Technology Officer

Chief Marketing Officer

Nick Potter

John Oldcorn

Sofia Fleming

Richard Zubrik

Phil Lloyd

Chief Legal Officer Lisa Butler

CEO Central Europe

CEO North America

ATG ENTERTAINMENT North America

Lori Hotz, Chief Executive Officer

Kristin Caskey, Chief Content Officer

Erica Schwartz, SVP, Regional Programming

Erik Newson, SVP, Music, Comedy, and Events Programming

Adam Ball, Chief Financial Officer

Mitchell Klein, VP, Ticketing

Stephen Santore, VP, Marketing & Sales

David Neves, VP, Hospitality

Sandra Toste, VP, Property and Operations

Lisa Hauptman, VP, Human Resources

John Rogers, General Counsel

Josh Fuhrer, VP, Business Development

Rainier Koeners, VP, Regional Venues

Pippa Campbell, VP, Broadway Venues

Sally Shen, Chief of Staff

Joachim Hilke

Lori Hotz