NATHAN BLACKBURN & CHLOE MORGAN Contributing Writers 
The Piedmont College Fine Arts Department will present this coming fall, “Chicago: The Musical!” Theatre majors have been practicing relentlessly to secure a leading role in the upcoming production, with the most sought after roles being Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart.
It’s no surprise that the theatre department chose “Chicago” as its next major production as it is the second longest running musical in Broadway history and has won numerous Tony Awards, according to chicagotribune.com. For anyone who may not know what “Chicago” is all about, the play takes place in mid 1920s Chicago, Illinois, and centers around Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. The two end up in jail after being accused of murder. The show features their hilarious journey for redemption and revenge and includes songs such as, “Razzle dazzle” and “All That Jazz.”
The students who auditioned displayed their musical talent during try outs as they sung for the casting directors as well as recited an acting scene of their choice. One hopeful auditionee that The Roar was able to speak to was Joe Chance Dudley. He developed a personal connection with the play as it was one of the first musical productions he saw. Dudley decided to audition for the role of Amos, Roxie’s husband, after hearing the song, “Mr. Cellophane,” which he described as fun and catchy. He is hopeful for the opportunity to star in his first Piedmont College production alongside the rest of the talented theatre majors.
The production runs from Thursday, September 29th to Sunday, October 1st, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will also be an additional showing on October 2nd at 2 p.m. for anyone interested. All showings will take place in the Swanson Center on the main stage and tickets will be available online at piedmont.edu/fa. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
Although it’s only in the early stages of production, the talent displayed by Piedmont students in the auditions has stunned production members. When speaking to Dudley, he said, “there’s no shortage of greatness in the cast.”
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see such a highly anticipated show that will be almost as infamous as Roxie and Velma.
