Musical ‘Chicago’ to Lure Seoulites
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
``Chicago,’’ a timeless hit musical both on Broadway and West End, will hit Seoul, featuring a new line-up with singer-turned-actress Ock Ju-hyun and veteran actresses Bae Hae-sun and Choi Jung-won.
The musical will be put on stage at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Sept. 18-30.
The musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes she had reported on Chicago.
In the musical, the story revolves around Roxie Hart, an ambitious chorus girl, who murders her lover in Chicago.
She then convinces her gullible husband, Amos, that her lover was a burglar. Amos agrees to take the rap until the police convince him that the burglar was in fact Roxie’s lover. Thus, Roxie goes to jail and joins another famous stage performer and murderess, Velma Kelly.
Both Roxie and Velma are seeking to captialize on pre-trial publicity to gain acquittal and further their stage careers.
In the end, their tricky lawyer, Billy Flynn, manages to get both Roxie and Velma acuitted.
However, another woman shoots up the courthouse and steels the limelight-effectively ending the careers of both Roxie and Velma.
In the musical, an original creative team will participate the production process in Seoul.
Korean performers had to pass the audition, which are known to be tricky as the creative team requires the high quality of dancing and singing ability on high-heeled shoes, according to the Seensee Musical Company.
The choregraphy requires complicated and delicate technique without shaking the body too much for stylish and sexy dances.
The choregraphy is expected to dominate the critical moments of the musical, along with its impressive scores, such as its theme number, ``All That Jazz.’’
Ock, a former member of Korean iconic girl group Finkl, will act the main role of chorus girl Roxie Hart in turn with Bae.
``Chicago’’ is her second musical after she was cast in the title role of Disney’s musical,``Aida,’’ in 2005.
She is known to be versatile in various fields as solo singer, radio DJ and yoga artist.
After debuting on the musical stage in ``Aida,’’ Ock shows enthusiasm to take the role in ``Chicago’’ with her physical attractiveness and singing ability.
Bae, who took the major title roles in ``Evita,’’ ``Dancing Shadows,’’ and ``Saturday Night Fever,’’ will also present her seasoned performances through Roxie.
Also, veteran actress Choi Jung-won, one of pioneer actresses in the Korean musical areana by starring countless musicals, will play Velma, instead of Roxie she took in the premiere production of ``Chicago,’’ in Korea in 2000.
The musical was staged in Korea in 2000 and 2003 each.
The revival was followed by a production on London's West End and several tours and international productions. A successful film version of the musical was released in 2002.
Under age of 15 is not permitted in the theater. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 130,000 won. For reservation, call 1588-7890 and 1544-1555.