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Chicago History

Chicago - Backdrop to the Story & Prohibition

Chicago the musical is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins which was adapted from the book set in the period of prohibition in America in downtown Chicago. The theme behind the story is really a satire on the extensive corruption of the day in the criminal justice administration of local and federal government, and highlights the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'.

Prohibition was the period of America primarily for the musical Chicago during 1920-1933. Prohibition meant that public consumption, manufacture and distribution of alcohol was banned by federal law and enforced by state law. Distilleries were destroyed and moved to secret locations whilst the distribution was clandestine and sometimes very imaginative as businesses and gangs attempted to continually outwit the authorities by concealing the manufacture of alcohol in underground distilleries and concealed distribution even in fake gasoline tanks of vehicles and numerous other methods.

The Prohibition movement was about trying to prevent the adverse affects of excessive drinking and an attempt by mainly Protestant puritanical religious and somewhat pious movements such as Methodists, Northern & Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, Disciples, Congregationalists, Quakers, and Scandinavian Lutherans. They had all identified alcohol saloons as politically corrupt venues poisoning the minds of its customers and polluting the purity of the soul and also claiming that drinking was a personal sin. These were known as the 'Dries', opposing them were the 'Wets' including the Roman Catholics, liturgical Protestants such as Episcopalians & German Lutherans, who denounced the idea that the government should define morality..

During this tumultuous period the actual drinking of alcohol was technically not illegal but anyone found drinking was liable for prosecution on the grounds that they had broken the law of possessing alcohol.

The movement against alcohol actually began years before in 1840 but faded away until 1880's with the growth of women's movements such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party in 1881. By the turn of the century many states especially in the south were adopting the principals of zero tolerance of alcohol consumption combined with the political influence of the Progressive Era and the growing anti-German feeling during the First World War which plunged Americans into European conflicts for the first time with devastating consequences that following the War in 1918. Movements such as the Anti Saloon League working with both major political parties finally pushed the government into passing constitutional law through congress to effectively make the prohibition of alcohol in 1920.

The period was ripe for extortion, and corruption as government officials struggled to control the discord and public disorder. Corruption of the enforcers and politicians was rife with such an unpopular law during the depression when there was nothing more to do than to get drunk - that was now not a privilege of ordinary citizens. The ingredients were there for the story of a bustling city as Chicago which has led to the great musical we see today.

Chicago the Musical - Movie to Stage Show

The first adaptation of the book was a reasonable success and opened on June 3rd 1975 and ran for a total of 936 performances, closing on Aug 27, 1977

The Movie version of Chicago was released when it was thought that screen musicals were a lost cause but the movie Chicago released in 2002 was a resounding success and the screen version of John Kander and Fred Ebb's hit Broadway show far exceeded expectations. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zelweger, Richard Gere and even Queen Latifa as the prison matron all combined to create a dazzling performance which broke box office records and restored the faith in Musical screen movies and won Best Picture.

Chicago - Development History

John Kander and Fred Ebb were commissioned to work on the project with Ebb and Bob Fosse writing the stage adaptation and directing the musical and dance routines. The musical play finally opened on 3rd of June 1975 to mixed reviews and the show was making audiences at the time a little uneasy as it was a different society during the 70's. It brought real life attention to how life really was glamorizing the life of criminals and how society was making criminals into celebrities.

The show opened the same year as the ultra successful 'Chorus Line' and Chicago was on the verge of closing when Gwen Verdon inhaled a feather and was unable to continue due to a serious throat infection. The saviour of the Chicago first production was Liza Minelli who stepped into the lead role and the actress' leading influence allowed the Chicago production to continue until 1977.

In 1996 it was announced that Chicago was to be included in the line of famous musical productions in the 'Encore' series and a revival of the show was to be commissioned much to the bewilderment of some critics and the theatre going public who still remembered the first Chicago production. They did not think the Chicago show merited the inclusion in the top 10 musicals of the century.

The new production went ahead under the direction of Walter Bobbie despite fears it would be a flop and opened in 1996. To much surprise, and probably due to the changed society, the OJ Simpson trial and a more acceptable audience, the new Chicago musical was a resounding success and has continued to entertain audiences ever since and confounded the critics. It just goes to show how changing times can mean the success or failure of a show.

The new Chicago Musical has seen greater success and critical acclaim some would say largely due to the recent events of the O J Simpson Murder trial where the national sporting hero celebrity stood trial for the murder of his wife and her lover and was acquitted despite overwhelming and damming evidence, and a car chase watched by millions of OJ's fans who witnessed his capture. His unlikely acquittal has led to the belief that it's not what you do that matters, it's who you are and the celebrity criminal concept which is the heart of the Chicago story. Because of this true life event watched by TV millions in America the thread of celebrity criminal status has enforced the theme of the Chicago show.

Chicago the Musical now holds the record for the longest running revival production currently playing on Broadway and is second to only ''Oh Calcutta'. Overall, Chicago the Musical is the eighth longest running musical ever.

The Chicago revival of the stage musical began with its return to the London stage on November 18th 1997 at the Adelphi Theatre for 9 years until finally transferring to the Cambridge theatre in 2006.

International productions of Chicago currently exist in Spain, France, Germany, Japan and even China. Further productions are scheduled for Italy, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Austria and Australia. The only country in which the production of Chicago flopped was Russia where it was recorded as being one of the worst flops in the history of Russian theatre.

The film adaptation of the stage Chicago was produced and released in 2002 starring Renee Zellweger as 'Roxie' and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. The 2002 film won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Catherine Zeta-Jones won Best Supporting Actress.

Chicago
Chicago - Information
Chicago - Background & History
Chicago - Story

Showing @ Cambridge Theatre

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