Chicago @ Oakcrest High School

Pop, six, squish, uh-uh, cicero, lipschitz. A show that had Razzle Dazzle held the audience on the edge of their seats this past weekend. Oakcrest High School gave an exciting and fresh rendition of Chicago, And All That Jazz.

Chicago the musical was based on a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, and when first premiered, was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. After 600 performances, in 1977, Chicago was deemed as somewhat of a flop. However, the revival of this musical in 1996 reintroduced its popularity as the musical. It is now the second-longest running musical on Broadway, only behind Phantom of the Opera.

Oakcrest's cast kept the raunchy and raw feeling of the infamous show, while also keeping a family-friendly perspective. Throughout the show, everything that the cast and crew did felt intentional and with purpose. The choreography shined through the performance while the storyline was beautifully displayed.

From the very start of the show, it was clear that Roxie Hart, played by Gabrielle Tropiano, and Velma Kelly, played by Olivia Tropiano, had a stellar connection. Their chemistry was very back and forth, a sibling-like relationship on stage. They also had a beautiful vocal blend. Their song "My Own Best Friend" was a beautiful representation of their vocal and acting chemistry. Based on their performance, it was no surprise to find out that they are sisters off stage as well.

The leading ladies were not the only ones who were noticed during this Cell Block Tango, Amos Hart, played by Stephan O'Neill, had a huge vocal contribution to the show. His rendition of "Mr. Cellophane" knocked the socks off of every single person in the audience. Although the ensemble was not the strongest at times, during the bigger songs like "Razzle Dazzle" they each showed their unique and individual talents.

Chicago is a very dance-heavy show and it is easy to overcompensate with the choreography. However, Oakcrest's two student choreographer's, Olivia Foreman and Julianna O'Flynn, did a wonderful job. They made sure to highlight every dancer and make choreography that everyone in the cast was capable of doing. One of the most significant numbers was "All That Jazz", which is the opening number. It set the tone for the rest of the musical and demonstrated the dancing talent in the cast. It was a very impressive number and it was easy to pick out Foreman and O'Flynn as they presented their own choreography beautifully.

Every element of Chicago pulled into one impressive show. From the actors on the stage to the student-led dances, Oakcrest's presentation of such a well known musical made the audience hang on to the story line while also dancing along. It was a fun and upbeat murderous musical that anyone would be lucky to have seen.