Chicago is truly, all that jazz
Samo Theater’s performance of “Chicago” by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb perfectly encapsulated the musical’s iconic energy and bold acting. From Feb. 28 to March 9, Barnum Hall was alive with the intoxicating sounds of “Chicago.”
As the curtains rose, the audience was swept away into the lively jazz scene of the roaring 20s. “Chicago” follows Roxie Hart (Leah Boumel (’25) and Juliett Rojas (’25)) in her journey navigating through Cook County Jail after murdering her lover, who attempted to break off their affair. Roxie creates a fierce rivalry with vaudeville nightclub star, Velma Kelly (Celine Hutchinson (’25) and Chloe Senior (’25)) after stealing her shining spotlight. Both are represented in court by Billy Flynn (Walden Sullivan (’25)), who turns the girls and their trials into a high-stakes media circus.
The strong vocals of Samo Theaters actors and actresses captivated the audience as they brought each of their flashy characters to life. Sullivann stunned the audience during his performance of “All I Care About is Love” and “We Both Reached For the Gun,” effortlessly holding exceptionally long notes that earned him hollers and cheers from the audience.
Duets of “My Own Best Friend” and “Nowadays” between Boumel and Huctinson and Rojas and Senior, beautifully blended both girls’ vocals and conflicting emotions, heightening the tension in a rivalry that may come to an unexpected shift. Rojas discusses her connection to her character.
“I’ve always admired the film Chicago, and I love the character Roxie because I see parts of myself in her” Rojas said. “She’s this quirky character, and people may perceive her as a dumb common criminal, but she has so many layers behind her. I loved trying to connect with her and find different ways to portray her for everyone to see.”
The Merry Murderesses took the stage and captivated the crowd in their defiant performance of “Cell Block Tango.” Each murderess unapologetically retold her story of the man she killed, powerfully and ferociously asserting why “he had it coming.”
Sam Kaplan Fernández / Contributor
Maansi Rao (‘26) performs with Sterling Inatsugu (‘27) in “Cell Block Tango."
Led on stage by associate choreographer Isabella Salem (’25), the featured dancers of “Chicago” moved throughout the theater with exceptional precision and truly brought the sassy style of the show to life with dynamic choreography and stage presence.
“I loved performing ‘All That Jazz’ because it opened the show and set the tone for the rest of the performance. Fosse is a very specific style of dance, so I tried to incorporate different movements that would reflect that Fosse style without directly taking from the Fosse foundation,” Salem said.
Whether in a dazzling red or gold dress, a sharp pinstripe suit or sleek black-and-white prison attire, each costume was an impeccable reflection of the “Chicago” theme. The glamorous wardrobe of each character encapsulated the roaring 20s and the chic yet rebellious nature of the era's fearless and ambitious figures. Complementing the costumes, boldly styled hair and makeup made each actor pop on stage and enhanced each of their larger-than-life personas.
Along with skillfully executed set design, lighting, props and music, each and every crew member working backstage contributed to making “Chicago” a remarkably seamless production. This show immersed the audience in the glitz of the Jazz Age while highlighting the gritty underworld of corruption and crime. Ella Lee Ever-Hadani, a member of the costuming team, shares her experience working behind the scenes on “Chicago.”
“We have a mood board where we compile reference photos of different performances of ‘Chicago’ like from the Broadway show or the movie which helps when thinking how to plan the performance,” Ever-Hadani said. “To make the costumes 1920s we added a lot of accessories, big jewelry and lots of feathers and sequins leaning into the showy and flamboyant side of ‘Chicago’”.
The closing performance of “Chicago” on March 9 set a record for Samo, with the largest audience out of any production held in Barnum Hall. As the curtain fell that night, the packed theater burst into applause as every student, staff member, and parent that contributed to the creation of the show celebrated the culmination of “Chicago”.