She is the best reporter in all Illinois. The singer/songwriter known for songs like "Hip to Be Square," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," and "I Want a New Drug" played Billy Flynn in . And the choreography doesn't copy Fosse's inimitable style, but it's not far from it, either; the movie sideswipes imitation on its way to homage. Define Your Character's Role in the Work You're Analyzing. Over the weekend, she posted eight beautiful 1960s-inpired photos with her husband, showing off her baby bump and shared, "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes". Velma is in it for the fame. Roxie Hart. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. But that in no way meant that he was out of the woods. Theatrical Song. He was born on May 29, 1985, and shares his birthday with basketball player Carmello Anthony and the late President John F. Kennedy. Beulah was a jazz singer, whose husband Albert worked in a garage. !, thus including him in the swelling ranks of 1920sf*ckboygaslighters.
Billy Flynn is a heavily corrupt lawyer notorious for getting unrepentant murderers freed. So here's our list of audition songs for Chicago, broken down by character. Here are the costume designs for the 4 main characters of Chicago. A vaudeville is a light, comic number, combining music and pantomime to entertain - but not to educate, or suggest a lesson in morality. Thanks for reading. Please like our official Facebook page, MusicalsOnline.com and while youre at it, follow us on Twitter @musicalsnews. Most of the characters are relatable due to some semblance to real life how lawyers spin the case to favor their client and how celebrities are easy to create with the help of press conferences. The decision to use non-singers and non-dancers is always controversial in musicals, especially in these days when big stars are needed to headline expensive productions. The introductory number of Billy Flynn is a dreamy number that showcases how the sensational lawyer gets the job done and pleases his clients. Richard Gere is Billy Flynn, the slick, high-priced attorney who boasts he can beat . And she found a way to make a bad situation work out for her like realizing how she can be the toast of the town despite being in jail which brings us to the next factor that made this musical such a hit. Chicago is a musical that tells womens stories predominantly through performances by female characters, so itshould feel like an empowering romp from one of the raciest decades of American history. New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall
*Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database. At least, in Chicago The Musical, there are song-and-dance numbers around. Billy Flynn is a master of spin: he can transform the image of a murderer into the image of a tragic victim with incredible ease. Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. This upsets Velma greatly as she becomes old news. Teachers are striking - and its about time. "I'm an alcoholic and an addict," one who's been in recovery for coming up on three years. While professionally a lawyer, in the story he was more like a press relations officer and a spin doctor. Unfortunately, your shopping bag is empty. We stand wi, "Beginning is at once a masterful composition of observational comedy, and an incredibly moving commentary on moder, Misinformation and lack of knowledge often turn our bodily fluids into a taboo. By filming it in its own spirit, by making it frankly a stagy song-and-dance revue, by kidding the stories instead of lingering over them, the movie is big, brassy fun. You know why? Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Eddie George was in his dressing room at the Ambassador Theater on Tuesday night, a Heisman Trophy winner and former star N.F.L. Despite the supposedly light, vaudeville style of Chicago, Kander, Ebb and Fosse's adaptation (which takes inspiration from Maurine Dallas Watkin's play of the same name) draws purposeful parallels between the legal system and the culture of celebrity and sensation journalism. This story, lightweight but cheerfully lurid, fueled Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb's original stage production of "Chicago," which opened in 1975 and has been playing somewhere or other ever after--since 1997 again on Broadway. Roxie Hart For Roxie, I wanted to have a very simple and elegant look but also incorporate Thats one thing he can manage to be honest about. Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall. musical villains mashup // 20+ shows ???? The show takes place in Chicago, Illinois in the 1 920s. CHICAGO the Musical is based off the 1926 play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, the reporter assigned to cover the 1924 trials of murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. Nothing is taken seriously from the murders to the trials. Even if she seems to be silly and childish, also she can be really dangerous. Maybe because it has worked before. There are a few moments of straight pathos, including Amos Hart's pathetic disbelief that his Roxie could have cheated on him; he sings "Mr. Cellophane" about how people see right through him. It is meant to be experienced. Kelly is based on the character "Velma", who first appeared in the 1926 play, also called Chicago, who was in-turn inspired by the life of Belva Gaertner . But later on, as presented here in Chicago The Musical, the lawyers job is to provide the client with something to say to the press and to the jury, something that Roxie Hart badly needed. Whats the one comforting factor in all this? As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. Instead of interrupting the drama with songs, Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon stage the songs more or less within Roxie's imagination, where everything is a little more supercharged than life, and even lawyers can tap-dance. Flynn has staying power. xZMo6W\`e .z(zk+QH}-MflY)z2h3`~n1qv?? Chicago is about you. Roxie Hart is the main protagonist of the musical Chicago and all of its adaptations. References to the '20s ("Roxy's dress is really a flapper dress; there are references to gangsters like . The Chicago from Broadway design relies on three guiding principles: 1. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. [2] In the musical adaptation, his style is based upon Ted Lewis. Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! Box 70381 Milwaukee, WI 53207. No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. Billy Flynn is just in it for the money. Mazz Murray stuns as Mama Morton at the Phoenix Theatre, London. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. His job is to save all the murderesses lives from County jail and he never lost a case. The queen from the Chicagos press. Billy Flynn pops by to help the Hayes get Peacock TV! Amos is not very good looking and he is not very Smart. I will also talk about my ideas for the costumes for the prison girls. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! Trending. But if these songs are used well to push a story forward and introduce a set of dynamic characters that you can relate with, then youre rest assured of reruns that would last decades just like what happened in Chicago. . Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition Felicia Lucas April 23, 2019. In prison, she develops a rivalry with the star Velma Kelly, who killed her own husband . New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Billy Flynn, a.k.a. Grew up in cynical times. C.bjfW{wy&-E0i8U`zmMm/+Z3'kW-TUS
&s^&1!.!.IQk She can manage everything inside of the County Jail. That's the angle I'm after.Billy talking to Amos about his campaign on helping Roxie. Jones and Zellweger as Velma and Roxie in Chicago. In the end he manages to get Roxie acquitted, largely on account of turning the trial into a media circus. (tenor) Amos Hart: Age 30-50. The reason is that it isn't about Roxie. musical villains mashup // 20+ shows ???? When public attention fades, even Duncan from Blue (sorry, their lawyer, Billy Flynn) seems to lose interest in their cases. "If Jesus Christ had lived in Chicago," he explains, "and if he'd had $5,000, and had come to me--things would have turned out differently." Billy is a lot like a Hollywood Agent. Surely enough, he has other clients too but in the case of Velma, she can work her own wonders into putting her face on the front page for everyone to gawk at. No wonder it was labeled as an act of desperation. I just realized how several versions of All That Jazz, Funny Honey and Razzle Dazzle sung outside the Hollywood really got me thinking about this hit musical. Husband: Charlie. So its not just a series of jazzed up song-and-dance numbers. Character background [ edit] Billy Flynn is one of the city of Chicago's most effective defense attorneys; he can win any trial and usually represents women who have murdered their lovers. The all-black costumes (think of your GCSE drama class performances) and disappointingly simple set (they manage to rustle up some confetti for Duncan James rendition of Razzle Dazzle, but thats about as fun as it gets) unintentionally reveals the fragile illusion of glamour that the characters ofChicago have consumed. It features Billy Flynn, the corrupt lawyer Roxie Hart, as he attempts to turn her trial into a media circus. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The film has budget on its side, and you would be forgiven for buying into the razzle dazzle; but the comparative shabbiness of the showcurrently running at the Phoenix Theatre, London, undermines the audiences ability to suspend their disbelief. The actor went on to say that he'd had to draw a line in the sand, that or "I was going to die.". to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Also he could easily be swayed into thinking one way by persuasion only to change his mind upon getting into another persuasion all over again as shown as how he immediately changed his mind into supporting Roxie again. Connor McClung, a senior who plays Amos Hart, says "playing Amos is a balancing act, because he is upset most of the time. He considers his profession to be akin to the entertainment industry, with himself as an A-list star in the field. The movie stars sweet-faced Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, who kills her lover and convinces her husband to pay for her defense; and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, who broke up her vaudeville sister act by murdering her husband and her sister while they were engaged in a sport not licensed for in-laws. He will often turn trials into a media circus and public spectacle, regularly manipulates witnesses to fit his narratives (which usually have no resemblance to the truth), and keeps a tabloid sob sister, Mary Sunshine, on retainer to ensure positive press coverage for his clients. Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives fave Billy Flynn (Chad) and his wife, actress Gina Comparetto. The vaudeville is perfect for a caricature of 1920s Chicago, where life seemed to occur exclusively in the seductive smog of jazz bars, and rejecting the moral norms of previous decades wastrs la mode. Almost 100 years later, the unwitting moral of this dazzling musical remains pertinent First of all, dont murder men (unless they deserve it)*; and secondly, women are incredibly powerful when we stick together. she takes Mama's advice and persuades Amos to come up with $5,000 to hire Billy Flynn, "Chicago's most famous defense attorney." Billy turns Roxie . Amos Hart. Just click Like on our official Facebook page, MusicalsOnline.com, and follow us on Twitter @musicalsnews. Menu. Sometimes you are more interested in the lawyers showmanship than whether the accused deserved to be convicted or not. American. Characters Casts Crews. WordPress Theme: Dynamic News by ThemeZee. Arrogant and self-centered, she rebuffs the admiration and adulation that Roxie gave her. Also, there are some Kander and . A nalyst: Upon moving to Los Angeles, Flynn landed a job as an analyst at Warner Bros. Studios. Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart will step into the role of Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago on Monday, January 17, at the Ambassador Theatre. Told through a series of vaudeville routines, the story of Chicago begins with Velma Kelly (Chita Rivera) setting the tone and atmosphere of the period with "All That Jazz.". In the 2002 film, he was portrayed by Richard Gere, who also played Dennis Peck in Internal Affairs. When you write a character analysis, you must define that character's role. That's about $60,000 in modern day buckaroos. account. Needs to be a strong character actor who can sing and dance well. You have a bunch of dancers and all that jazz having fun in what seemed to be a nightclub in Prohibition Era Chicago and then an extra giddy couple enters the stage and go lovey-dovey on each other. As he explains, This trial. School Nova Southeastern University; Course Title PHIL 100; Uploaded By jackhayes76. There's an inspired scene of ventriloquism and puppetry at a press conference, with all of the characters dangling from strings. Killers were romanticized or vilified, cops and lawyers and reporters lived in each other's pockets, and newspapers read like pulp fiction. Velma Kelly is one of the main characters of the musical Chicago. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Who would have thought the minimalist presentation of a musical would experience as many revivals as it is now? Next up for Lane is his return to the long-running Broadway revival of "Chicago," where he plays lawyer Billy Flynn. The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless . Of Zellweger and Gere, it can be said that they are persuasive in their musical roles and well cast as their characters. Show Guides. 2 0 obj As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. "Chicago" is a Musical with music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. EPISODE 070 CHICAGO MUSIC REVEALED with Mike Jeffers and special guest host Dave Katzman for our Chicago Blues and Beyond segment. Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children.Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. Despite the supposedly light, vaudeville style ofChicago, Kander, Ebb and Fosses adaptation (which takes inspiration fromMaurine Dallas Watkins play of the same name) draws purposeful parallels between the legal system and the culture of celebrity and sensation journalism. So as we navigate some truly difficult times, in which the legal and political systems seem to repeatedly fail women and absolve their abusers and harassers, we need to make sure that we are willing to stand up for the women in our lives. In 2002, Catherine Zeta Jones and Rene Zellweger starred in the movie adaptation, which positions each musical number as though it were happening in Roxies (Zellweger) imagination. EDGE spoke to Lane about his love of theater, returning to "Chicago," and working with Jinkx Monsoon. Even on his way . Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In our version this person will be performed by a member from the band. He has never lost a case involving a female defendant in his whole career, but in turn charges high fees for his services ($5,000), demands payment in full up-front, and never takes pro bono work. It is the story of Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger), a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago.She sleeps around unbeknownst to her husband, Amos (John C. Reilly), but has a falling-out with one of her lovers, shoots him and is arrested for murder. ???? Billy Flynn is just in it for the money. This Broadway production holds the longest running American musical in history of Broadway. Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. "Chicago" continues the reinvention of the musical that started with "Moulin Rouge." Comparetto shared the exciting news on social media along with nearly two dozen 60s-inspired photos that show off her baby bump and the couple's enthusiasm about the next chapter of their lives. Club sensation Velma murders her philandering spouse / her sister and Chicago's slickest legal advisor, Billy Flynn is set to shield her. Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse; Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Based on the play . The Phantom of the Opera: What Was the Monkey Music Box For? The foreigner. I'm an attorney, I did a television show in Chicago, and my public personality is pretty . A master manipulator, Billy knows just how and when to sound sincere for maximum effect. The Hungarian girl. When she finds out he's a two-timing liar, she guns him down, and gets a one-way ticket to Death Row, already inhabited by Velma and overseen by Mama.
" Razzle Dazzle " is a song featured in the 1975 Broadway musical Chicago and its 2002 film adaptation of the same name. She kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. Roxie was only too happy to turn her down as she was just returning the favor. Images attached are from the film version of the hit musical. Flynn wasn't pink-slipped.
That way, he ended up becoming a tool for everyone to exploit. A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed. Watkins loosely based Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn and other characters in the play off the individuals involved in these famed Chicago courtroom proceedings. There was almost a third party for the battle for the title Darling of the Press the pineapple heiress who ended up with all the cameras and interviews right when Roxie was still waiting for her trial date. She has a lover named Fred Casely (Dominic West), who sweet-talks her with promises of stardom. Billy Gardell plays Chicago police officer Mike who starts attending an Overeaters Anonymous group to lose weight where he meets soulmate Molly. Show Guides. Roxie, with some help from Amos, ended up getting his services in order to secure her freedom. Hi. Velma and Roxie have learned the hard way that not even fellow women will support them in an individualistic age, in which womens success depends on fierce competitiveness for the limelight. She killed her husband with a carving knife after he found out she cheated on him. He is an incredibly charismatic, flamboyant and smooth talking lawyer with an incredibly corrupt and nihilistic outlook on life. ???? It is a challenge to manage the right amount of despair for his character." Plays the judge in the courtroom scene. Its already 2015. Velma Kelly. Roxie Hart, Billy Flynn, Amos Hart. Some of us even question whether our morals are enoug, A wild & joyful tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the 'sort of musical' from @, pop culture, politics & the promotion of women's voices. Sexy, persuasive, manipulative, masculine. I am referring to how a criminal proceeding was presented with such chutzpah, you realize how such presentation ends up becoming a lot more honest about the legal proceedings. Character from the 1927 play Chicago Billy Flynn (at right) as portrayed by Jerry Orbach in the Broadway adaptation , 1976 He is Roxie Harts husband. She found out her husband had several wives and killed him with Arsenic. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Identifying the character type and personality traits can help you better understand what the larger role of the character is within the story. Police detective who interviews Amos after Roxie kills Fred.
"I'm a work in progress," he shared. Find out how you match to him and 5500+ other characters. NEW YORK (AP) - R&B superstar Usher makes his Broadway debut on Aug. 22 in Chicago, playing that slick, seductive lawyer, Billy Flynn in the John Kander-Fred Ebb musical. Sexual Content and Dialogue, Violence, The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. Theres something alluring about the irreverent way female jazz performances reclaim feminine sexuality and play a part in the subversive culture of jazz and metropolitan life. She killed her husband with a shotgun because he popped his gum. You cant beat fresh blood on the walls.Personality confident and cunning. Roxie is not very bright and never thinks about the consequences of her actions before she says or does things, but She will does whatever it takes to be a huge star. She is actually innocent, but because she only speaks Hungarian and refuses to plead guilty, she is found guilty and hanged. Billy Flynn: Age 35-60. Chicago brought Huey Lewis his Broadway debut, too. Since Chicago is a 1970s musical that's set in the 1920s, most of the songs below are either from pre-contemporary musicals or musicals that are set in the 1920s. The moment a culture have managed to present even the darkest stories in the most upbeat manner possible, you know that they have learned to cope with the burden of life. Accused of chopping off her husbands head. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for Billy Flynn from Chicago. When we support each other, believe each other, and raise up our voices together,thenwe truly triumph. By day, Roxie cleans, cooks and washes- but by night, she frequents Chicago's notorious jazz clubs with her lover, Fred Casely. Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. Some things havent changed indeed. The late 1920s. Best known as the best lawyer in all Chicago, Illinois. She doesnt have the money. Rated PG-13 Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. He is joined in the cast by "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" winner Jinkx Monsoon who plays Mistress Morton. The show received both popular and critical acclaim and even made it to Broadway in 1926, running for 172 . District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie. When a murdering heiress steals Roxies limelight, a vignette of the crime shows a cheating husband yelling at his outraged wife: Are you gonna believe what you see, or what I tell ya?