The Observer, March 28, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 22
Footlighters showcase "All That Jazz" with 10th anniversary production of Chicago
Murder. Mayhem. Seduction. Music. Sounds sinfully debaucherous, no? The stage classic Chicago has it all, and the Footlighters, Case's very own student-run theater group, is bringing the famous musical right here for their 10th anniversary extravaganza. Taking on the production of such a beloved, critically acclaimed musical like Chicago would seem a daunting task to most directors. However, Tim Beutler, a senior at Case in his directing debut for Footlighters, hardly seems phased at all. Rather, he is giddy with excitement, and he is far from the only one.
Opening last night, with shows running both tonight and tomorrow, Chicago is proving to be one of the most anticipated Footlighters' productions yet. At press time, tickets had sold out to both the Friday and the 8 p.m. Saturday showings, and both other showings were well on their way. Needless to say, the show promises to be yet another fabulous Footlighters success.
Back in December, when work on the show was just getting started, the production team was blown away when more than 70 students turned out for auditions, an unheard of number in Footlighters history. "Casting was very difficult," explained Beutler, "as lots of great vocalists and dancers turned out." In the end, the production crew managed to narrow the cast down to 20 members, a number fitting Chicago's usually small cast.
As the show begins, the audience is treated to its first glimpses of the fine dancing and sweet singing of the cast, accompanied by the smooth-flowing, upbeat jazzy tunes provided by the pit. Leading the opening number, "All that Jazz," is Velma Kelly, one of the two striking female leads, played by senior and Footlighters veteran, Bria DuPont. Creatively juxtaposed within the song, the second, equally stunning and talented female lead, Roxie Hart, played by freshman and Footlighters newbie, Kari Davis, enters the scene with her secret lover Fred Casely in tow. After a short argument between the two lovers, Roxie gets the show started with a bang (literally), and finds herself on the cell block for the murder of her ex-lover Casely.
Leading the cast for the men is junior Garrett Coombs, another Footlighters vet, as greasy lawyer Billy Flynn, who showcases a very impressive falsetto during "We Both Reached for the Gun." Chad Fusco, as Amos Hart, Roxie's poor sap of a husband truly earns the sympathy of the audience with his showstopper, "Mister Cellophane."
The well-tuned singing and perfectly timed dancing of the entire cast is held together through the dulcet tones of the pit orchestra under the well-qualified direction of Bryan Hannaford. With the show's unusual set layout, the pit is actually located on stage for the entire show, arranged in tiers to provide an authentic jazz club feel, complete with an old style microphone. Another noteworthy aspect of Chicago's set is the massive "CHICAGO" light-sign that contains no less than 97 individually placed bulbs, and spans the entire length of the stage.
From the complete dedication of everyone involved, it is clear that the Footlighters' performance of Chicago is clearly a show you don't want to miss. With a performance tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., and another tomorrow night at midnight, there are still chances to experience the singing, the dancing, and all that jazz.
