Having last toured Australia in 2019 pre-pandemic, Australian theatrical producers John Frost (For Crossroads Live Australia) and Suzanne Jones (For Jones Theatrical Company) have confirmed they are uniting once more to bring CHICAGO back to Australia. While details are still coming in, they are boasting a “star-studded cast”, and have confirmed at least their initial slate of venues starting from November 2023.
This 2023/2024 production of CHICAGO will have its premiere at Perth’s Crown Theatre from November 2023, with a Brisbane season at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Lyric Theatre to closely follow in January 2024. Two months later in March 2024, Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne will host the production.
About CHICAGO
Murder… greed… corruption…
Exploitation… adultery… treachery…
and All That Jazz…
Set amidst the decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
CHICAGO is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, with the 1996 Broadway revival of the show the 2023/2024 season is based on featuring choreography by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, and is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie. The production also showcases the talents of set designer John Lee Beatty, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting designer Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and sound designer Scott Lehrer.
In announcing the new Australian tour, both Frost and Jones were ecstatic:
CHICAGO has everything that people love about a Broadway musical – a story of fame, fortune and all that jazz, one show-stopping number after another and the most amazing dancing you’ve ever seen. We are thrilled to bring the razzle dazzle of this New York institution back to Australia.
Furthermore, producers Barry and Fran Weissler added the following:
CHICAGO continues to be as fresh, vibrant and relevant as the day we opened on Broadway. The legendary John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse created a near perfect musical. Whether you are a seasoned theatergoer or a first-timer, CHICAGO delivers must see entertainment. The opportunity to bring the show to Australia was a highlight in our professional career. We couldn’t be more excited to be collaborating once again with our longtime partners, John Frost and Suzanne Jones, to bring the jazz back to Oz!
Tickets will enter pre-sale on 14 August 2023, with general public on-sale to commence 18 August 2023. While it is likely each venue will have their own lists for the pre-sale, you can also add your name to the show’s official waitlist by visiting the official CHICAGO Australian Tour website.
