Upcoming

Saturday (Sept. 20) - I'll be at the theater, painting, lugging, fixing, whatever.

Sunday (Sept. 21)   2:00 Orchestra rehearsal. Soloists invited, all others welcome.
                                6:00 Tech cue-to-cue workthrough. We'll do set change practice for sure, and talk through everything else for sure. If you move things, or are available back stage to move things, I'd really like to have you here.

Monday (Sept. 22) 7:30 Runtime has been moved because some folks couldn't make 7:00. Please be ready to go at 7:30. This will be a long one. Bring your patience and your energy.

Tuesday (Sept. 23) 6:45 Cast photo. Pick your fave outfit unless you've been otherwise instructed.
                                7:00 Run starting as close to 7:00 as humanly possible

Wednesday (Sept. 24) 7:00 Run

Thursday (Sept. 25) 7:30 Full dress

Friday and Saturday-- SHOWTIME!! Curtain at 7:30. Circle at 7:15
                                       Friday aftershow speakeasy at The Commons
                                       Saturday aftershow speakeasy at Bellas                                        

Sunday (Sept 28) -- SHOWTIME!! Curtain at 2:00
                                  Cast party after show in little theater


Monday and Tuesday -- Become reacquainted with family and friends that you haven't seen for a week

Wednesday (Oct 1) -- 6:00 Brush up. Musical highlights and other.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday -- SHOWTIMES!! Curtain at 7:30

Sunday (Oct 5) -- Late afternoon/evening. Set strike.


               

Note changes

There have been a couple of additions and corrections on rehearsal schedule. Be sure to check

REHEARSAL REHEARSAL REHEARSAL

Everyone has been working super hard and I thank you for that. From here on in, every rehearsal really counts, so please do everything you can to be there and be prepared. This is it-- the final rehearsal schedule!

THIS SATURDAY:
10-12 AM
Music and dance
Music and Dance
Razzle Dazzle
Cell Block Tango

September 8: Monday, 6-8
Music and Dance
Intro/All That Jazz
We Both Reached
Courtroom Scene (Act II, Scene 6)

September 9: Tuesday, 6-8
Nowadays
Hot Honey Rag
I Can't Do It Alone

September 10: Wednesday, 6-9
Music and dance
All I Care About Is Love
Velma Takes the Stand
Roxie
Me and My Baby
(also the tap dance)

September 11: Thursday, 6-8
UPDATE: We'll be doing a costume parade today. Come strut your various stuffs. Also some photos for press release, so bring your best face, too 
Everything except the music

September 13: Saturday, 10-12

This slot for anything that, in the course of the week, makes us say "Let's put some more time in on that Saturday" Cast members may also make requests. This may also be used for costume issues, and fetching the last of what we need from the warehouse for set purposes

AS OF MONDAY THE 15th- OFF BOOK!!!!!!!!!
September 15: Monday, 6-9
Run Act I

September 16: Tuesday, 6-9
Run Act II

September 17: Wednesday, 6-9
Run Act I

September 18: Thursday, 6-9
Run Act II

September 20: Saturday
Building, painting, getting backstage in order, set construction (if there's any left to do)

September 21: Sunday
2:00- Orchestra rehearsal
6:00- Cue to cue tech run


September 22: Monday
7:00 START TIME (that means you are on stage ready to roll at 7)
Full Run

September 23: Tuesday
7:00 Full Run

September 24: Wednesday
7:00 Full run

September 25: Thursday
Full Dress

Sepember 26: Friday
Holy smokes! There's a bunch of paying customers out there!!!

IMPORTANT REHEARSAL BULLETIN

Saturday's rehearsal will be at Franklin High School (so that we have a full stage to work with). Park in front of the school and enter through the giant stage doors.

Rehearsal Aug 25 - Sept 6

August 25 (Mon) 6-8
       ACT II Scene 1a, 1b + SONGS
                    Scene 2
                    Scene 6
                    Scene 8
                    Scene 9a

August 26 (Tues) 6-9
         Dance- INTRO/ALL THAT JAZZ
         Dance - CELL BLOCK TANGO (no Stephen)

August 27 (Wed) 6-8
          Dance & Music - VELMA TAKES THE STAND
          Dance & Music - ROXIE
          Dance - ME & MY BABY

August 28 (Thurs) 6-8
           Dance - CELL BLOCK TANGO.(w/Stephen)
           Dance - CAN'T DO IT ALONE

August 30 (Sat) 10- 12
           Dance & Music
           INTRO/ALL THAT JAZZ
           BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN
           ALL I CARE ABOUT
           RAZZLE DAZZLE


Sept 2 (Tues) 6-9
           ACT I Scenes 1-8b EVERYTHING

Sept 3 (Wed) 6-9
            ACT I Scenes 8c-13b EVERYTHING

Sept 4 (Thurs) 6-9
             ACT II EVERYTHING

Sept 6 (Sat) 10 -12
            MUSICAL NUMBERS (Anything that goes awesomely well during the week will come off the rehearsal list for today.)
                   

Rehearsal schedule (updated)

Here is the August schedule in a slightly more readable form. Please note some changes to the dance schedule

August 4

Vocal solos/duets- 6:00-9:00

Mr. Cellophane

When You're Good To Mama

Class

Funny Hunny

Roxie 

My Baby and Me

Little Bit of Good 

Press Conference

All I Care About

Razzle Dazzle

When Velma Takes

All That Jazz

I Know a Girl

Can't Do It Alone

Nowadays

Best Friend

 

August 5

Ensemble vocals  6:00-8:30

Cell Block Tango

All I Care About Is Love

All That Jazz

Press Conference

Razzle Dazzle

Press Conference

Roxie

Velma

 August 7

Ens + soloists  6:00 – 8:00

Roxie

Velma

All That Jazz

Press Conference

Razzle Dazzle

All I Care About

 

August 9

10:00- 12:00

All show music, in order

 

August 11

6-8

Dance- ALL I CARE ABOUT IS LOVE

August 12

6-8

Dance- RAZZLE DAZZLE

August 13

6-8

Dance- WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN

August 14

6-8

Dance- Jodi and Jane

August 16

10-12

Dance- INTRO/ALL THAT JAZZ

August 18

6-8

ACT I-    Scene 1

              Scene 2 + FUNNY HUNNY

              Scene 6 

              Scene 8 a, b & c 

                     + LITTLE BIT OF GOOD

August 19’

6-6

Dance- WHEN VELMA TAKES THE STAND

August 20

6-8

ACT 1-   Scene 4 + GOOD TO MAMA

             Scene 10

              Scene 12

              Scene 13a (w/out Roxie)

ACT 2-   Scene 7 + CLASS

August 21

6-8

Dance- CELL BLOCK TANGO

August 23

10-12

ACT 1-   Scene 5

ACT 2-   Scene 3a

              Scene 3b

              Scene 4

 

August 25

6-8

ACT 2-   Scene 1a, 1b + SONGS

              Scene 2

              Scene 6

              Scene 8

              Scene 9a

August 26

6-8

PICK-UP LOOSE ENDS

August 27

6-8

MUSICAL NUMBERS

August 28

6-8

MJUSICAL NUMBERS

 

And if we have done our job, we can be ready to start polishing after Labor Day weekend

 

 

 

Dance Number Assignments

These are the folks who will do the heavy lifting for these numbers. If you aren't on the list for a particular number, you may still be needed for vocal reinforcement and EPP (Esthetically Pleasing Posing).

Intro/All That Jazz—Company

Cell Block Tango—Casey, Amanda, Terri, Tracy, Katie, Jodi, Stephen

Tap Dance—Katelyn

All I Care About—Brett, Lacy, Missy, Katelyn, Erin, Jenn

We Both Reached For the Gun—Lacy, Missy, Pam, Deanna, Sallie, Katelyn, Bob, Bill, Erin

Roxie—Ben, Ricci, Jordan, Stephen, Zach

I Can’t Do It Alone—Jodi

Me and My Baby—Jane (+ 2 guys)

Velma Takes the Stand—Jodi, Ben, Ricci, Jordan, Stephen

Razzle Dazzle—Brett, Amanda, Terri, Katie, Casey, Missy, Erin, Katelyn, Lacy, Jenn

Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag—Jodi, Jane

Finale (All That Jazz)--Company

Scene Breakdown for Rehearsal Schedule

# Page    MUSIC/scene               [singing/dancing] scene (onstage but inactive)

 ACT I
1   9-13    ALL THAT JAZZ          [Velma, Company] Roxie, Fred
2   13-17   FUNNY HUNNY         [Roxie] Fogarty, Roxie, (Fred’s dead body)
3   17-23   CELL BLOCK TANGO [Velma, Murderesses] possible other dancer/singers
4   24-26   GOOD TO MAMA        [Matron] Matron, Velma
5   27-30   Five thousand dollars?!  Murderesses, Velma, Roxie, Matron
6   30        TAP DANCE                 {tap dancers] Roxie, Amos
7   31-33   ALL I CARE ABOUT   [Billy, Girls]
8a  33-35  Getting the money         Billy, tailor, Amos
8b  35-37  LITTLE BIT OF GOOD [Mary Sunshine] (Roxie, Billy)
8c  37-38  Roxie’s story                  Billy, Roxie
8d  38-43  BOTH REACHED FOR GUN [Billy, Roxie, Reporters, Mary]
9    43-47    ROXIE                           [Roxie, Boys] (reporters briefly at top)
10  47-48  Jealous person                Velma, Roxie
11  48-51  I CAN’T DO IT ALONE [Velma] Roxie
12  51-52  CHICAGO AFTER MIDNIGHT Matron, Harry, Kitty, 2 Naughty Girls
13a 52-54 Kitty vs press                 Billy, Kitty, Reporter, Matron, Roxie, Velma
13b 54-57 MY OWN BEST FRIEND [Roxie, Velma] (Company)


ACT II
1a  58-60   I KNOW A GIRL               [Velma] Billy, Doctor, Roxie, Reporters
1b  60-63   ME AND MY BABY         [Roxie] Mary, Billy, Amos, Matron
2    63-66    MISTER CELLOPHANE    [Amos] Billy
3a  66-68   Poker game                          Billy, Velma, Matron, Murderesses
3b  68-71   VELMA TAKES THE STAND [Velma, Boys] Roxie, Billy
4    72-73     Bad news                             hunyak Matron, Aaron, Hunyak, Bailiff
5    74-77     RAZZLE DAZZLE             [Billy, company] Roxie
6    77-83     Courtroom                            Everyone but Matron and Velma
7    83-86     CLASS                                  [Velma, Matron]
8    86-87     Billy’s big finish                  Billy, Mary
9a  87-88   Decision                               Judge, foreman, reporter, roxie, billy, billy’s dancers, amos
9b  89-91   NOWADAYS, FINALE      [Velma, Roxie]

CAST LIST

I did my first directing gig in 1982 (Brigadoon, FHS), and this was absolutely the toughest casting job I've done since. I have never had so many good options and tough choices, and for my next show, I want to audition a bunch of strangers whose feelings I don't care about. But this is a great opportunity for FCOA, and I've done my best to pull together a cast that can do this show justice and make the theater proud.

Velma- Jodi Hoover
Roxie- Jane O'Connor
Amos- Ryan Ingram
Billy- Brett Sloan
Mama- Carissa McClintock
Mary Sunshine- Janelle Chambers

Fred Casey- Jordan Rembold
Sgt. Fogarty- Ben Bodamer
Martin-TBA
Go to Hell Kitty- Jennifer Fox
Harry- Ricci Hardt
Aaron- Ben Bodamer

Liz- Casey McVay
Annie- Amanda Greene
June- Terri Gilmore
Hunyak- Tracy Brown
Mona- Katie Kirby

COMPANY
Lacy Perry
Missy Schwab
Pam Sibley
Deanna Wolfgang
Sallie Bertram
Zachery Hoffman
Bill Hennessy
Bob Morris
Dennis Cralley
Stephen Teig
Katelyn Schaffer
Erin Leccia

I'm excited. This is going to be a great eight weeks, and when it's over, we're going to have something to show Barrow audiences that they've never seen before. This is going to be an adventure!

Casting Ranges

A few more words about cast requirements, focusing on the vocal.

Velma: Velma is a lusty alto, getting all the way down to As and Gs

Roxie: Also works the bottom end of the range, down to As and Gs

Billy: A baritone, a la Crosby, but he needs a good solid top-of-the-staff F

Mary Sunshine: Here's the soprano part. Goes up to a good solid A

AUDITIONS

You can find the full casting info elsewhere on this blog. Here's the info on auditioning.

TIMES:

Saturday, July 26, 2:00 PM
Sunday, July 27, 6:00 PM
Monday, July 28, 6:00 PM
Note: you do NOT need to be there promptly at the starting time in order to audition.

SINGING:
Prepare 32 bars of a song of your choice. With the exception of Mary Sunshine's "Little Bit of Good," there is very little pretty, legit singing in this show. It's heavy on the belting and on the twenties style of pop singing, so choosing something in that vein would be helpful. I'm okay with hearing songs from this show in audition. Accompanist will be provided (pro tip: it's almost never a good idea to audition a capella).

DANCING:
We'll be looking not just for dancing ability, but trying to assess level of ability and how well you can pick stuff up. You'll be taught a sequence at the audition, and we'll look at dancers in groups. Just relax and give it your best shot.

READING:
We will do some cold reads on the spot. If you definitely just want to sing and/or dance without every opening your mouth, we won't make you read anything. There will be a copy or two of the script in the waiting area so that you can look over things ahead of time if you wish.

The audition packet will be available for download from this blog. Just not today.

CASTING CALL

Here's what we'll be looking for:

MAJOR ROLES:

VELMA KELLY: Former vaudeville star, brassy, tough, convicted killer
Songs: All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, I Can't Do It Alone, My Own Best Friend, I Know a Girl, When Velma Takes the Stand, Class, Nowadays

ROXIE HART: Ambitious, tough, not as smart as she thinks she is
Songs: Funny Honey, Roxie, My Own Best Friends, Me and My Baby, Nowadays

BILLY FLYNN: Smooth, polished, successful, amoral lawyer
Songs: All I Care About Is Love, We Both Reached for the Gun, Razzle Dazzle

MATRON MAMA MORTON: Runs the prison, an opportunist (no dancing)
Songs: When You're Good To Mama, Class

MARY SUNSHINE: Feel-good, sob story journalist (she will be a she in our production)
Songs: A Little Bit of Good, We Both Reached for the Gun

AMOS HART: Roxie's sad sack husband, not too bright (no dancing)
Song: Mister Cellophane

OTHER ROLES:

FRED CASELY: The callow player that Roxie kills

SERGEANT FOGARTY: Investigating officer at Fred's murder

LIZ: Murderess. She killed the gum popper

ANNIE: Murderess who killed the Mormon with six wives

JUNE: Her husband ran into her knife six times

MONA: Murderess. Had artistic differences with her man

HUNYAK: The Hungarian murderess. Anybody speak Hungarian? Convicted and hanged.

HARRISON: The district attorney prosecuting Roxie

GO-TO-HELL KITTY: Heiress who finds her man in bed with two women

HARRY: Her man. He makes poor choices, but he does get to say, "Are you gonna believe what you see or what I tell you?"

ALSO: We have a doctor, a tailor, a judge, a bailiff, a court reporter, and a person who single-handedly plays all twelve members of the jury.

ENSEMBLE:

There is room in the chorus for people who are singers but might not have the greatest dance skills, as well as dancers who are not necessarily God's gift to singing. If you are the total package, that is most excellent. But we absolutely have space for people whose skill set is not quite so broad.

AGE:

There are no young person roles in this show. I'm not setting a hard and fast age limit, but you must be able to come across as an adult on stage. I will miss all my orphans and street urchins from my past few shows, but I can't send anybody out on stage who can't pass for a grown up.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

We are structuring the show to incorporate actors of many levels of skill and stamina. Roxie and Velma are both demanding roles- basically run a few miles, then belt out a song, then run another mile while belting out a song.

For everyone else, requirements vary. The featured dancing ensemble will work hard, but for some folks considerably less dance will be required, and there are some roles that only require you to be able to walk and talk at the same time. In audition, you'll have the opportunity to share your comfort level.

I can't remember a show where this came up before, but people have been asking so, here we go. No, we will not have a height or weight requirement for this show. Human beings come in various levels of curviness, and there's no reason for the show not to reflect that. That said, this is a show that is a lot about sex and sensuality, and if you're generally only comfortable on stage wearing a hoop skirt and a parka, there are fewer (I won't say none) opportunities for you. But I'll also say this-- I never, ever, ever send any performer out on stage to be embarrassed. I know some folks are concerned about doing a show that they associate with people dancing around barely in their underwear-- we will be tasteful and appropriate, but we will also strive to keep it hot. If you have further questions about this, don't hesitate to get ahold of me.

Men??

When people think Chicago, they think mostly of all the awesome parts for women. However, there is plenty for men to do as well.

There are named rolls, including Billy Flynn, Amos Hart, and Fred Casely. But there are also policemen, newspaper reporters, and other chorus work. We will need dancers and singers to round out the chorus-- and this is not a show where we can easily substitute women in roles written for men.

So if you are a man, or know some men personally, do consider joining us. We need men to really do this show up right. Pass the word.

How Is The Show Different From the Movie?

Many folks are only familiar with the movie version, so if you're considering joining us for the stage version, you're perhaps wondering how the stage show is different from the film.

1) Roxie and Velma- The movie shifted the dramatic focus to Roxie, making her a more sympathetic character and putting her at the center of the action. The stage version balances the two principals a bit more evenly, with Velma actually appearing in more musical numbers.

2) Musical numbers- A few were cut between stage and screen, including the number "Class" which almost made it to the film

   

3) Plot- The whole courtroom twist with Roxie's diary never happens in the stage version. There's still a story, but in keeping with the vaudeville show format of Chicago, telling a story is not always the main concern.

Chicago Is Vaudeville

The show was originally conceived and written as a vaudeville show. Each musical number is an act in the vaudeville show, most written in the style of a particular well-known performer of the twenties.

We'll get into those references a bit more later, but for one example, Velma's line "Hello suckers," was the signature line of Texas Guinan, a performer and night club (well, saloons and speakeasies) operator who was known for being hard edged.

The show was created less than fifty years after the period it references, so folks still knew who those old performers were, and that homaginess gave the show some of its original flavor. The movie's very presentational approach is a nod to the nature of the stage version; it's all a big show, and everyone is just putting on an act, trying to get attention and applause.

Let's Get Ready!

There are still seven weeks left till auditions for Chicago, but school is out (just about) and I'm ready to get to work on this show. So keep an eye on this space, because I'm going to share information about the show and our plans for this special production.

Chicago is a show that community theater groups rarely get to perform, so like Les Mis, this show will be a rare and unique treat both for audiences and performers. It's been on my director's bucket list for a long time, and I am excited to finally get to work on it.

So if you are looking for information about the FCOA production, watch this blog for updates in the weeks ahead (and while you're waiting for this production to launch, don't forget to reserve your tickets for "How To Succeed in Business," the next great production to hit the Civic stage!)

Call for Choreographer

As previously noted, having heard that many folks are interested in choreographing FCOA's production of Chicago! we're opening the floor up to anybody who wants to throw his/her taps shoes into the ring. This is what I have in mind:

What I’m looking for in a CHICAGO! Choreographer

       able to have fun

  able to choreograph in a musical, original, sexy, sophisticated style. I don’t need to see a Fosse duplicate, but the influence can certainly be evident

  able to work collaboratively with the director while recognizing that it’s the director’s job to set the overall vision of the show

  able to work with volunteer actors in a community theater setting, recognizing that they all have lives and commitments, and that they all deserve to be treated like grown-ups who are volunteering their time for an activity that is supposed to be hard work, but still enjoyable.

  able to work with dancers who are not necessary trained or even naturally gifted

  dependable, prepared, and able make efficient use of rehearsal time

  able to have fun

  excited about bringing your vision of dance and movement to life for this rare opportunity to put on Chicago in a community theater!

If you are interested, we'd like a chance to sit and chat about your ideas, your experience, your vision for the show, and anything else you think would be good to know. Examples of your previous work would be fine, too. The plan now is to do the sit-downs on April 27, so we'd like to hear from interested dancey parties by the 25th. If interested, or just to ask questions, contact:

pagreene at outlook.com

jfox64 at verizon.net

davinlcutch at yahoo.com

(You don't have to contact all three of us. Just one will be plenty)

Call for Choreographer

Here's a problem I've never had before, ever.

Several people have expressed several levels of interest in choreographing this production, and so the plan is to give everyone who is interested a fair shot, so that it's not just a case of "first come, first served" or "it's not what you know, but who you know."

So in the spirit of an open approach to filling the role, I'm now offering this open call for choreographers interested in working on Chicago. The producers and I will take inquiries up through April 25, with the intent of doing sit-down meetings with each interested party on April 27 (we can adjust as necessary). I hope to make this process as open and fair as possible, but it's definitely the first time the process of getting a choreographer has involved anything other than my picking up the phone and begging.

I will put together a more specific explanation of what I have in mind in the days ahead, but I want to get the word out sooner. You can email me at pagreene at outlook.com for more info.

And we're off

Audition dates have been set. We are still assembling a full production staff, but if you sign up and subscribe here, you'll get all the current info as it's posted here.

I'm so excited

to be directing FCOA's production of Chicago! for Applefest that I am setting up the blog for it now. I'll be collecting reference clips, providing audition material, and welcoming aboard the production team as they are assembled. This show is rarely (if ever) seen in the community theater world, and I cannot wait to put together a production for Franklin. So bookmark this, "join" and otherwise keep your eyes here, because we are so doing this!