Description
While the smash hit 1996 Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's production of Chicago holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, the original Broadway production premiered on June 3, 1974, at what is now the Richard Rodgers Theatre. It was a modest hit, playing for 936 performances before closing on August 27, 1977.
Directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, Chicago starred Broadway?s legendary stars Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera and a cast of the best ?Fosse dancers? of the time, including Christopher Chadman, Graciela Danielle, Gene Foote, Michon Peacock, Kathryn Doby and more. Together they created the extravagant, dark and brilliant original show, beloved in the memory of those now fortunate enough to have seen it.
From the personal archives of the creators:
- The October 21, 1974, rehearsal script of Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville, marked with weeks of rehearsal notes, cuts, comments, stage directions and blocking by Kathryn Doby, Bob Fosse?s longtime assistant and dance captain.
- The final working script of Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville, prepared by Doby and from which she rehearsed and maintained the show over the next two years. Included are remarkable notes, production memos and call sheets that give the ultimate look into this extraordinary show as originally conceived by Fosse.
- Original, hand-written piano/conductor charts of "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango," "All I Care About is Love," "Roxie" and other songs from the score, signed by John Kander.
- The hand-written vocal lead sheet of the song "Ten Percent, cut from the show in its pre-Broadway tryout in Philadelphia.
- The Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville original poster, signed (on the back) by Gwen Verdon.
- A silver ?top hat? ice bucket gifted by Verdon to Fosse.
Courtesy of Kathryn Doby