Samuel French has partnered with iTheatrics to release Chicago (High School Edition), an adaptation of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Tony-winning musical specifically for high school performers. The title, which will be available for licensing in early 2018, joins Samuel French’s 101 School Editions Collection.
The news was announced last night at a special performance of Chicago on Broadway in celebration of Kander’s 90th birthday. Prior to the final curtain, Bebe Neuwirth, a Tony winner for her performance as the original Velma Kelly in the revival, introduced 90 high school students who performed “All That Jazz” with the Broadway cast.
“In collaboration with John Kander, Mitchell Bernard of the Fred Ebb Foundation, Nicole Fosse, and the world class producing team of Barry and Fran Weissler, Samuel French is proud to make Chicago (High School Edition) available in early 2018 for licensing,” commented Bruce Lazarus, executive director of Samuel French, in a press statement.
Chicago, playing at the the Ambassador Theatre, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway and is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. The show is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.
With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony winner Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse.
The high school edition of Chicago joins the recently announced adaptation of Heathers the Musical.
Read: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION OF HEATHERS NOW AVAILABLE FOR LICENSING
