Get ready for glitz, glam and jazz: Lemont High School’s theater department is preparing for the spring musical “Chicago.” With the musical set to perform from April 30 to May 2, producer Dave Nommesen and director Tamara Heerde are busy preparing the cast for the upcoming spring show.
“Chicago” is a Jazz Age musical that satirically shows the corruption in the 1920s criminal justice system. The musical follows Roxie Hart (senior Kate Malone) and Velma Kelly (senior Anabelle Dierking), who commit a murder and compete for fame and the services of a lawyer named Billy Flynn (junior Shane Storti).
Given that the show is set during the Jazz Age, there are many components of “Chicago”— such as jazz-style choreography—that the LHS theater department has not showcased in previous shows.
“[The theater department has] not done this particular style of musical in many years,” Nommensom said. “‘Chicago’ is truly an iconic show that most people have heard of and is drastically different [from] last year’s show, ‘Annie.’ It was time to switch it up.”
“Chicago” includes show-topping musical numbers that audiences can look forward to. These include “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” “Razzle Dazzle” and many more memorable numbers.
“The songs are catchy. I hear them, and they are in my head for the rest of the day. I can’t wait for everyone to be singing, humming or whistling to songs from the show,” Nommenson said.
Along with giving students, staff and parents a memorable and flawless musical to watch, Nommenson hopes that “Chicago” will leave a lasting impression on performers and the students who help bring the story of “Chicago” to life.
“The goal of every musical production is to allow the students to experience what a high-level professional musical production is like. This is true not just for the cast, but for the entire crew as well,” Nommenson said. “I want everyone to be proud of themselves for the hard work they put into the show and to really be able to soak in the appreciation and love they feel from the audience.”
Look out for more information on lhs210.net about when and how you can see “Chicago” in the spring.
