All That Jazz: St. Andrew’s Presents Chicago

2/28/2024

“Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to see a story of greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, and treachery…all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts. Thank you…and welcome.”

So begins Chicago, the beloved and beguiling Broadway musical originally premiering in 1975. Set in Jazz Age Chicago, it tells the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two women who dream of fame and fortune in the world of vaudeville, but end up in the public eye for all the wrong reasons. Velma and Roxie meet in the Cook County Jail after committing murder and seek to transform their infamy into fame, stardom, and wealth. Between show-stopping numbers, they manipulate the media and public opinion alongside smooth-talking, jury-swaying criminal defense lawyer Billy Flynn.

For director Jason Kruger, the selection of Chicago felt timely and relevant. “The musical examines our obsession with celebrity culture, and the blurred line between fame and talent,” he says, “We talk about ‘fifteen minutes of fame’ and ‘a 24-hour news cycle’ as if these are modern ideas, but even in the 1920s, Roxie and Velma are clearly desperate to stay relevant and make increasingly bold claims to stay in the headlines.”

This year’s musical was a true showcase of St. Andrew’s theatrical talent. Cast members rose to the occasion with high-energy musical numbers, demanding choreography, and perfectly-timed comedic beats. Technicians innovated on new ideas for set design, dreaming up and constructing a large-scale structure that was able to stay on stage during the entire show, rather than set pieces that move on and off stage. “The talent on this show was amazing. Chicago is such a tricky musical to get right, and the hard work and skill of both the actors and the technicians really shone during each performance,” says stage manager Elle Foster ‘24.

Before her trial, Billy Flynn croons to Roxie to “give them the ol’ razzle dazzle, give them a show that’s so splendiferous. ” But where Billy encouraged Roxie to put on a show for the jury, the cast and crew gave their audiences a performance that was much more enchanting (and legal!) than a manipulated murder trial. Cast and crew delivered a performance that was filled with equal parts spectacle and talent.

“What I love about theatre is that it is both transient and transcendent,” says Kruger. From the first glimmer of inspiration to the fully-realized show, the show was a perfect encapsulation of what makes St. Andrew’s Theatre Department so special. The combined effort of countless community members – actors, technicians, stage managers, directors, sound and lighting designers, costume designers, choreographers, and so many more – left the room enraptured and had them singing “All That Jazz” all the way home.

Photos courtesy of Peggy Keelan Photography

Master of Ceremonies: Jude Bush
Velma Kelly: Ava Barnard
Fred Casely: James Hill
Roxie Hart: Kaitlyn Zimmerman
Amos Hart: Cannon Dunaway / Matt Gilbert
Detective Fogarty: Matthew Sykes
The Merry Murderesses of Cook County:
Liz: Ainsley Jones / Olivia Korman
Annie: Lucy Bowles
June: Andrea Osteicoechea
Hunyak: Lili Krengel
Mona: Charli Squire
Female Inmate Ensemble:
Bo Aycock
LJ LeBlanc
Emme Orchid
Allegra Pizzolatto
Violet Stalcup
Katie Stumpf
Matron “Mama” Morton: Khamirah Maxwell
Billy Flynn: Johnny Gallick / Ben Gillham
Mary Sunshine: Julia Caramelli / Addy Zimmerman
Reporter: Litty Dasch
Third Reporter: Katie Stumpf
Kitty: LJ LeBlanc
Harry: Harrison Parker
Debutantes:
Mary Broocks Cauthen
Violet Stalcup
Judge: Cannon Dunaway / Matt Gilbert
Harrison: Matthew Sykes
Reporters:
Gabby Berger
Mary Broocks Cauthen
Pippa Dixon
Vienna Esson
Grayson Epstein
Ginny Heard
Allison Jones
Ella Lickwar
Emme Orchid
Nina Urban
Ana Vidal-Tama
Kinsley Werner
Ensemble:
Bo Aycock
Gabby Berger
Jude Bush
Julia Caramelli
Mary Broocks Cauthen
Pippa Dixon
Cannon Dunaway
Grayson Epstein
Vienna Esson
Johnny Gallick
Matt Gilbert
Ben Gillham
Ginny Heard
Allison Jones
Olivia Korman
LJ LeBlanc
Ella Lickwar
Emme Orchid
Allegra Pizzolatto
Violet Stalcup
Matthew Sykes
Ana Vidal-Tama
Kinsley Werner
Addy Zimmerman

Student Technicians:

Assistant Director: Stella McAbeer
Asst. Assistant Directors: David Moore, Kaylee Johnson
Stage Manager: Elle Foster
Assistant Stage Manager: Alex Stumpf, Bennett Julian
Associate Stage Manager: Cate Kleber
Assistant to Music Director: Jules Goldman, Hale Matthews
Associate Music Directors: Martina Faini, Hale Matthews
Sound Board Operator: Jay Carter
Light Board Operator: Kaylee Johnson
Spot Operators: Kavi Seewann, Maggie Robinson
Assistant to the Costume Designer: Giulia Faini
Assistant to the Makeup/Hair Designer: Naomi Gilmore
Costume, Hair, and Makeup Crew: Fiona Nield, Claire Price, Keelin Bruff
Fly Rail Crew: Henry Long, Gunnar Lindhjem
Set Construction: Tech Theatre Classes I, II, and III/IV, Alex Stumpf, Jacob Kruger, Joe Skipper
Scenic Running Crew: Keelin Bruff, Sam Carsner, Crosby Averill, Sofia Rinaldo

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