By Sr. Correspondent,  D. Kevin McNeir

Almost anyone who loves the theater is familiar with the Bob Fosse- choreographed musical Chicago set in the city of Chicago during the prohibition era. Since its opening on Broadway in 1975 at the 46th Street Theatre and then the smash revival in 1996 during which time the play earned the distinction of being the longest-running musical revival on Broadway, it has played for an estimated 5,000 performances and snagged a host of awards including six Tony Awards.

 

 
Photo by Paul Kolnik
And of course there's the 2002 film version, starring Renee Zellwegger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah that swept the Academy Awards with six Oscars - just in case you missed this cultural icon on the stage.

So, the audience at Atlanta's fabulous Fox Theatre was pumped up and ready as the curtain rose - ready for that hot opening number, "All That Jazz," which in this production featured actress Terra MacLeod whose legs and sultry voice could give Tina Turner a run for her money - almost.

The music, vocals and choreography, reminiscent of those vaudeville acts from the 20s, are what move this exciting show along from start to finish and the plot, a satire on corruption in the adjudication of justice and the "celebrity criminal" is the kind of story that never loses its luster.

No matter what the era, from O.J. Simpson to Britney Spears, our celebrity-obsessed culture is always looking for gossip on the stars - whether it is good news or bad.

Produced by Theater of the Stars, known for its stellar musicals which are perfect for the whole family to enjoy, this show was particularly outstanding because of the showmanship of its principal actor - Bianca Marroquin.

Marroquin, who plays the role of Roxie Hart, a stardom-seeking chorus girl who murders her lover and faces the gallows, gave a breath-taking performance. She is clearly comfortable in the musical genre - hitting each note, while putting that extra something into each dance routine.

A pleasant surprise to this writer was the performance of an old friend, Carol Woods, who donned the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. If you've never heard of this sister, just sit back, close your eyes and let her sing you into the next stratosphere. Her voice dips then soars in the bluesy "When You're Good to Mama" in the first act but she returns with even more hilarity and vocal excellence in "Class" sung in the second act with MacLeod.

Joining the cast and billed as the surprise "celebrity actor" is the sometimes controversial and always entertaining Jerry Springer. And while he looked good in his after-five attire, and made a decent showing while delivering his lines, Springer should really stick to television. He simply is not a singer or a dancer and well - what else are you going to do in a musical.

Nonetheless, he is in the company of a solid cast and so, the overall effect is a Chicago that delivers the goods and then some.
The show is on a nationwide tour so if you can't get down to the Fox, check out their website (info@theaterofthestars.com) and book that flight today. You won't regret it.