Chicago prepares for Perth season

The award winning production of Chicago heads to Perth from February 27, playing at the Burswood Theatre, to complete its Australian tour, having played in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne throughout 2009.

It is nearly a decade since the “story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery” played in Perth.

Known for its sizzling score and sensational choreography, Chicago is winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy and thousands of standing ovations. Chicago is Broadway’s longest-running Musical Revival and the longest running American Musical ever to play the West End.

Australian producer John Frost said he was looking forward to the Perth season.

“I’m thrilled to bring back to the Perth stage this amazing musical, especially with the extraordinary cast we have assembled,” Frost said.

“I know Perth audiences will be blown away by our stellar performers, Caroline O’Connor, Sharon Millerchip, Craig McLachlan, Colleen Hewett and the rest of the incredibly talented performers who are joining them.”

Caroline O’Connor plays Velma Kelly, which she played across Australia ten years ago and on Broadway; Sharon Millerchip plays murdering nightclub chorus girl Roxie Hart, Craig McLachlan plays smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, and Colleen Hewett is the “keeper of the keys”, Matron “Mama” Morton. Damien Bermingham plays Roxie’s downtrodden husband Amos Hart, and newcomer D.C. Harlock plays tabloid columnist Mary Sunshine. Millerchip and Bermingham recently were awarded Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Performance by an Actress and Actor in a Musical by the Sydney theatre critics, and Chicago was awarded best Musical. Millerchip also won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best performance by an Actress in a Musical.

The members of the Chicago ensemble are Amy Berrisford, Rachel Bickerton, Chris Dair, Hope De Vaney, Leigh Jane Gibbs, Steven Grace, Nick Jones, Caroline Kaspar, Sean McGrath, Loredo Malcolm, Christopher Parson, Eve Prideaux, Daniel Slater, Michelle Smitheram, Ryan Stuart, Rozie Tiplady and Dean Vince.

Chicago opens in Perth on February 27, before seasons in Singapore and Hong Kong.