New Albany-Floyd Co Con Sch stages 'Chicago (Teen Edition)' with student-led cast and alumni choreographer

Theater staff member, a staff member at New Albany-Floyd Co Con Sch, said the school will open its season with Chicago (Teen Edition), a 1920s-set musical that the staff described as a political satire and a ‘‘tongue in cheek’’ look at glamorous portrayals of criminal women.

"So we open on Bridal, Chicago the teen edition, which is a musical set in the 1920s. It's a political satire looking at all of these women who have done all of these different crimes, and it's been given a little tongue in cheek about the glamorizing of what they have done, the crimes they have committed. Our set is extraordinary. The creative team around me is extraordinary, and they've bought into all of it. The style of it, the choreography, the movement of it, they've worked super hard in order to bring this story alive," the staff member said.

Student actor (Roxy Hart), who plays Roxy Hart in the production, said she focused on creating an original interpretation of the part rather than imitating Broadway versions. "I play Roxy Hart. Roxy's a very interesting character to play. A theme that I feel like I thought about a lot is rising to fame of how a lot of times we put others aside to do anything that we can to get what we want to get that fame. And that's what Roxy wants is to have as many people love her as she can in whatever way that she can. If that involves murder, she's gonna do it and whatever else it takes," the student said.

Student actor (Velma), who described her character as a ‘‘big showgirl in the twenties’’ with a history on vaudeville tours, said the role required channeling an adult persona. "She is this big showgirl in the twenties. She's been on vaudeville tours, and she ended up being arrested and put in jail for killing her sister and her husband. So now she's stuck in jail trying to get out and succeed at being this famous showgirl," the student said, later summarizing the backstory as "a double homicide." The student added that performing adult characters as teenagers required substantial character work.

Theater staff member said choreographer Megan Bliss, identified in the transcript as an alumni of the school program, was invited to stage the dance numbers. "I was able to use Megan Bliss, who is a wonderful choreographer, and she's an alumni of the school and the program. And so when I did Chicago, I was able to talk her into coming into choreographing for us and what fun it has been to work on this show," the staff member said.

Students also described the audition process and the cast's strengths. One student who won the role of Roxy described stepping away from imitating previous portrayals to develop an original take; another noted the cast includes "very strong dancers." The transcript did not specify rehearsal schedules, ticket or performance dates, or funding sources for the production.

Performance dates were not specified in the transcript.