'Chicago' hits the stage at the Massay Theater

PALMER — The Glenn Massay Theater stage is getting a whole lot jazzier — and racier — this weekend.

This weekend, the community college takes on its first Broadway show: playwright David Thompson’s adaptation of “Chicago,” the two-act musical inspired by the 1926 tale of mistresses, murder and the search for the “American Dream,” written by Maurine Dallas Watkins.

Local dancers from Enliven Dance Company, a group run out of Sonja’s Studio of Dance in Wasilla, had first planned to perform a few numbers from the show in a concert of their own. But when Massay Theater managing director Matt Sale saw them rehearse and heard of their desire to put on the full production, the endeavor was set in motion.

Choreographer, costumer and Enliven director Pam Burlingame said she’s been impressed with how quickly the men’s ensemble has improved their dance skills, and that partnering with the college was a good idea.

“This has been such a wonderful group of artists to work with,” she said. “They’re all really fun and really hardworking.”

The show itself, Burlingame said, is a production for the ages, with a choreography by Bob Fosse that has stood the test of time since 1975.

Director Grant Olson — long known for his work at Valley Performing Arts (VPA) and Mat-Su College — said “Chicago” is one of the longest running Broadway shows in history, second to Phantom of the Opera.

The show is definitely “pushing boundaries” as far as what Mat-Su Valley residents will appreciate, he said, but shouldn’t turn people away.

“It is a racy show, but … it’s not a vulgar show,” Olson said. “It’s a hot time in the old town tonight, it’s a roaring ’20s show.”

Meet the cast

Longtime Valley actor Ted Carney, who plays “Billy Flynn” in the musical, got his start at VPA the same year Olson became a professor. Some of Carney’s most notable roles, he said, have been “Motel” in “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Fagin” in “Oliver!” and “Inspector Clouseau” in “The Pink Panther Strikes Again.” Most recently, he appeared in “The Diary of Anne Frank” as “Mr. Frank” on the VPA stage last May.

Billy Flynn, Carney said, is quite a different character than the ones he’s played in those shows. A “hotshot attorney” who may very well regard himself as “the prince of the courtroom,” Carney said, Billy Flynn has never lost a trial, and specializes in the acquittals of murderous housewives.

Carney said he was not very familiar with the show prior to auditioning, not having seen any productions of “Chicago” to this point. He says that’s the way he always tries to step into character — free from outside influence.

“I pay attention to the language flow (in the script) and build off of that,” he said. “Then the director can mold me into what he wants.”

Though “not too thrilled” about jazz in general, Carney said he’s “grown to enjoy the music,” and has found Billy Flynn’s singing parts well suited to his vocal range.

“I think that’s the way it is with all shows, the show grows on you,” he said.

But the key of a successful show, Carney said, is to make it grow on the audience, too.

“The challenge is to sell the song and make it a good experience.”

Colony High School graduate Katy Schmidt (2009) said her biggest challenge is to sell the sexiness of her character, the blonde bombshell “Roxie Hart.”

“I’ve always played the super innocent, sweet (characters), like ‘Maria’ in ‘West Side Story’ or ‘Eponine’ in ‘Les Mis,’” Schmidt said, referencing starring roles she landed at Colony High.

She also played “Dorothy” in “Wizard of Oz” at VPA in the spring of 2012 (her most recent show) — a far cry from the promiscuous character based on one of two women acquitted of murder in real-life in 1924.

“I had to go way out of my comfort zone,” Schmidt said. “I have to touch people and like, flirt, and I’m not very good at that, so hopefully I fool people.”

Roxie Hart’s foil of sorts, “Velma Kelly,” is played by 2011 Palmer High graduate Chantel Grover, a co-star in the locally made “Moose: The Movie” (which is also showing at the Valley Cinema again this weekend). Grover said she, like Schmidt, has been concerned — and excited — about playing an “edgy” character, for once.

“I usually am typecast as like bubbly, ’cause that’s how I am in real life,” she said. “She’s (Velma’s) so sassy, and I like that.”

Grover said she and Schmidt decided to audition together, looking to get back into live theater and particularly musicals to liven up life outside of their regular employment. Schmidt said “Chicago” has been a favorite of hers since she first saw it as “a pudgy little 11-year-old,” and Grover has grown to love “Cell Block Tango,” the third number of the show, as much as her friend.

Though fairly confident she and Schmidt — part of a “wholesome group of people” on the Massay stage — can pull off the sultry stunts of “Chicago’s” leading ladies, Grover said musicals like this make it particularly hard to gauge a player’s success during a given show.

“It’s harder to put yourself out there when you don’t get a laugh,” she said. “You might be a great character, but you’re just not written to the laugh lines.”

Viewers will likely find some humor in the show, but the story is not really uplifting, Schmidt said.

Still, the grand spectacle of the production — orchestra and all — is likely to leave a positive impression, Olson said.

“I think you will find this is a very professional show, and at the price.”

Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Oct. 22-24 and Oct. 29-30, plus 2 p.m. matinee performances on Oct. 24 and 31. To purchase tickets in advance, visit glennmassaytheater.com or call 746-9350.

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected from its original print version, which misstated some showtimes for the musical.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.