Chicago: Glamorous Musical of the Century

From Chicago, 60605

The Chicago, the 5th longest-running show in Broadway, is performed in not only diverse part of United States of America but also foreign nation, such as South Korea, Spain, Germany, and other countries all around the world. The musical has won several awards, including six Tony Awards, two Oliver Awards, and Grammy Awards.





The story takes place in Cook County Jail, Chicago during the roaring twenties, the Prohibition-era. Roxie Hart, the showgirl and chorus girl, murders her secret lover but convinces her husband, Amos, that she had to kill the victim since he was a burglar. But when truth revealed, she had to go into the prison. In the jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, the formal Vaudeville, who killed her sister and husband when Velma caught them in an affair. Though they have somewhat resemblance amongst them, Roxie and Velma do not get along in the jail because they both want same lawyer, Bill Flynn. But when more sensational and epic crime occurs, Roxie loses fame and Bill leaves for bigger and more scandalous crime. Also Roxie finally tells Amos the truth, making him to leave her as well. When Roxie lost every chance, she teams with Velma so that they can draw attention from the public to set themselves free.

The Chicago the Musical reflects how Chicago was like during the roaring twenties. Chicago was a city full of crimes and drugs that murder cases easily to own and to lose fame. Ebb and Bob Fosse, the writers of Chicago the Musical, looked into the true murder case that connects back to Roxie and Velma.Velma Kelly resembles Belva Gaertner, the cabaret singer, who killed the man who she had affair with. In other hand, Roxie Hart resembles Beulah Sheriff-Annan because the case was hard to be approved due to Beulah's lies in her alibi and stories though police knew her that she was the killer. Though they have no connection between them in real life, women in Chicago during the 20s committed crimes and murders like Belva Gaertner and Beulah Sheriff-Annan.

The Chicago is not only glamorous musical but reflection of real Chicago during the roaring twenties.