As opening night imminently approaches, the Athlone Musical Society cast of Chicago are rehearsing intensely ahead of curtain call in the Dean Crowe Theatre at 8pm this Saturday night, March 2.
It will be the debut amateur performance of the Broadway and west end spectacle in the Midlands region and will play for eight nights at the popular Athlone venue.
In roaring twenties Chicago, Roxie Hart (Kori Kilduff ), a married chorine murders her faithless lover. She along with Merry Murderess Velma Kelly (Heather Doyle ) are both headline hunters seeking to capitalise on their pre-trial publicity and receive acquittal, fame and fortune.
Roxie convinces her husband Amos (Joe Steiner ) to hire the citys most convincing lawyer, Billy Fynn (Kieran Kilduff ). While Billy schemes with journalist Mary Sunshine (Edel Moriarty ), Roxie and Velma are incarcerated at Cook County jail under the supervision of Martron Mama Morton (Petrova Mulvey ).
Kori is no stranger to the Dean Crowe Theatre yet surprisingly this is her first musical with Athlone Musical Society. She is a teacher with the AKT stage school and has recently directed the very successful Dean Crowe theatre Panto 'Pirates of Golden Island. This is Heather's first show with Athlone Musical Society and she hails from Corofin.
'Chicago' has special memories for Kieran Kilduff, having fond memories of performing some of the numbers with his parents in the much loved 'Tops of the Town'.
Petrova, who is the proprietor of the Athlone School of Singing, is delighted to return to the Dean Crowe Theatre stage after a brief hiatus.
Preparations are in full swing and the production team from AMS’s successful 'Jesus Christ Superstar', Director Alfie Kilduff together with MD Ger Madden and Choreographer Lea Carroll have returned to put their own razzle-dazzle on the show.
The dancing is slick and the singing is sensational. With book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse and Music by John Kander, expect showstopping numbers such as 'All that Jazz', 'Cell Block Tango' and 'We Both Reached for the Gun'.
'Chicago' runs from March 2-9 in the Dean Crowe Theatre. Tickets are available at www.deancrowetheatre.com and Box Office 090 6492129. Tickets are 10e-19e, booking fee applies.
A group discount is available for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night performances, buy ten tickets and get one free. Group Discount must be arranged by calling the Theatre Box Office.