The international smash-hit Chicago the Musical is coming to New Zealand in a dazzling new production set to light up stages in Auckland and Christchurch this winter.
Directed by renowned Kiwi actor and creative force Michael Hurst, the fully professional production will open at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre on 31 July for a strictly limited season, before transferring to Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal from 20 August for just seven performances.
Set in the glitzy, gritty world of 1920s Chicago, the musical tells a tale of fame, fortune, murder, and media manipulation — all wrapped in the razzle dazzle of jazz. The show is packed with iconic numbers including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle, and promises some of the most electrifying choreography ever seen on stage.
BOOK CHRISTCHURCH TICKETS HERE
Hurst’s new production will feature a cast of international and New Zealand performers, delivering a high-energy take on the classic story of Roxie Hart — a chorus girl whose dream of stardom takes a dark turn after she murders her lover and lands in jail. But with the help of slick lawyer Billy Flynn and a media-obsessed public, her prison sentence becomes the springboard to fame.
Based on real events and dripping with satire, Chicago the Musical follows Roxie’s rise as she battles for the spotlight against fellow inmate and vaudeville star Velma Kelly. The story dives into a world where the line between celebrity and criminal is razor-thin — and manipulated headlines are a ticket to success.
Since its debut, Chicago has earned six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy, two BAFTAs, and six Academy Awards — and remains the longest-running revival in Broadway history.
Directed by renowned Kiwi actor and creative force Michael Hurst,
Producer Ben McDonald said the production will be a theatrical event audiences won’t forget.
“Chicago the Musical is one of the world’s most popular musicals. Unbelievably sexy, sassy and sensational, this musical thrills and chills, which is why it continues to tour the world after so many years and has been applauded by millions of people. It would be a crime for you to miss it.”
Originally created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse in 1975, Chicago was inspired by a 1926 play written by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins, who covered two real-life murder trials that shocked the city during the Prohibition era.
Tickets for the Auckland season are available via Ticketmaster, with support from Auckland Live. Christchurch tickets are available through Ticketek.
