Chicago (Musical) Plot & Characters - StageAgent

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Chicago

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murderjailchicagovaudevillewomenjusticelawyerslawtrialprisonguiltydanceconcept musicalstar vehicle (female)john kanderfred ebbkander and ebbtony nominee

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Chicago

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Overview

Synopsis

Broadway’s longest-running American musical, Chicago is a dazzling and satirical look at fame, justice, and the media machine. Set in 1920s Chicago and based on real-life murders and trials, Chicago follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, despite her attempts to convince her pushover husband, Amos, to lie for her. In the Cook County Jail, Roxie meets her hero, the famed double-murderess and nightclub performer Velma Kelly. When both acquire the same lawyer, the greedy and lustful superstar, Billy Flynn, tensions come to a head as they vie for the spotlight-- though instead of onstage, they’re mugging for the flashbulb of the newspaper reporters.

With catchy, sexy music and timeless lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a funny, intelligent, and utterly engaging book by Kander and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a musical spectacular that is as addictive as gossip rags and as unforgettable as any trial of the century.

Show Information

Book Fred Ebb , Bob Fosse Music John Kander Lyrics Fred Ebb Category Musical Age Guidance Thirteen Plus (PG-13) Number of Acts 2 First Produced 1975 Genres Dark Comedy Settings Spectacle Time & Place Chicago, late 1920s Cast Size large Orchestra Size Medium Dancing Heavy Licensor Concord Theatricals Ideal For College/University, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

John Kander and Fred Ebb’s hit musical Chicago was based on the play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins. A reporter in Chicago in the 1920s, Watkins covered the popular trials of two female murderers-- Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan-- who both blamed their actions on the negative effects of drink and jazz. At the time, female murderesses were media darlings, and following the two “jazz babies’” acquittal in 1924, Watkins wrote a satirical play, turning Gaertner into

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Plot

Act One

It is the mid-1920s, in Chicago Illinois. Velma Kelly, who, with her sister, performed a famous and popular double-act (until Velma is arrested for the murder of her sister and husband, who she found in bed together) welcomes the audience to the show (“All That Jazz”). Meanwhile, vaudeville wannabe Roxie Hart has sex with her lover, Fred Casely, who has not kept his word about introducing Roxie to a nightclub producer. In fury, Roxie shoots Fred dead.

When Roxie’s husband, Amos,

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Characters

Showing 8 of 19 characters

View all 19 characters Velma Kelly Female Alto View Breakdown Roxie Hart Female Mezzo-Soprano View Breakdown Amos Hart Male Baritone View Breakdown Billy Flynn Male Bass-Baritone View Breakdown Mary Sunshine Not Specified Countertenor, Mezzo-Soprano View Breakdown Matron Mama Morton Female Alto View Breakdown Fred Casely Male Non-singer View Breakdown Sergeant Fogarty Male Spoken View Breakdown View all characters in Chicago

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Chicago.

Showing 8 of 175 portrayals

Maritza Nixie Sieders
Hunyak
Saige Soriano
June/ensemble (2023)
Emma Sabala
Ensemble, Prop Crew, Costume Crew (2022)
Piper Begley
Cellblock Tango (2022)
Daniall Leese
Harry
Sylvia-Novella Underwood
Ensemble (2020)
Jillian McAuley
Roxie Hart (2023)
Genesis Padilla
Mona (2019)

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Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Songs

Showing 8 of 20 songs

View all 20 songs View all songs in Chicago

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

THEMES

Fame and Celebrity

In Chicago, fame is portrayed as the ultimate prize. Roxie and Velma both learn that their crimes can catapult them into the spotlight, giving them the kind of recognition they never achieved as performers. The press and courtroom become stages, and their trials are marketed as sensational entertainment. Murder is less about morality and more about the chance to become a star, even if the fame is fleeting.

Historically, this fascination with celebrity

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Key Terms

Belt

A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.

Brechtian

Relating to the theatrical style of Bertolt Brecht, emphasizing social critique and distancing the audience from emotional immersion.

Cabaret

A form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, and drama, often performed in a nightclub or pub-style venue.

Choreography

The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.

Falsetto

A vocal register that allows singers to reach notes higher than their normal range, used for special effects or characterizations.

Finale

The concluding musical or dramatic number that provides resolution and emotional closure for the audience.

Jazz

A musical genre characterized by syncopation and improvisation, frequently integrated into musical theatre for style and rhythm.

Revival

A revival is a new production of a play or musical after its original run has ended, often reimagined for a new generation of audiences. Revivals may stay faithful to the original staging or update elements like design, casting, or interpretation. They are a cornerstone of theatre tradition, keeping classic works alive and relevant.

Satire

Satire is a dramatic style that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize human behavior, social institutions, or political systems. In theatre, it highlights flaws and hypocrisies through wit and parody, encouraging audiences to laugh while also reflecting on serious issues. Satire can range from lighthearted comedy to biting social commentary, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Vaudeville

A variety entertainment form popular in the U.S. from the late 19th century to the early 20th, featuring diverse short acts.

Vocal Fry

A low, creaky vibration in the voice sometimes used stylistically or as a vocal exercise in training.

Videos

Quizzes

Guide Written By:

Becca Ballenger

Sarah Sapperstein

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