Deborah Gibson goes from teen pop star to merry murderess when she begins previews in the North Shore Music Theatre's production of Chicago Oct. 29. Gibson portrays Velma Kelly in the Kander and Ebb musical, which officially opens at the Massachusetts theatre on Oct. 31 and runs through Nov. 24.
Kim Morgan Greene, who worked with the late Bob Fosse on the Sweet Charity revival, will star opposite Gibson in the role of Roxie Hart; Billy Flynn will be played by William Michals, who has starred in productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Eleanor Glockner, who has appeared in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls and City of Angels, will play Matron "Mama" Morton, and Mark Manley, who performed in the Broadway companies of Fiddler on the Roof and Legs Diamond, will play Amos Hart. Daniel Levine, featured in The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway, will play Mary Sunshine.
Directed and choreographed by Barry Ivan — in the style of Bob Fosse — the ensemble of Chicago comprises Eddie Bennett, Bill Burns, Michelle Bruckner, Deanna Dys, Hillary Heather Elliott, David Glaspie, Mindy Haywood, Eric Hoisington, Nick Kenkel, Jennifer Elle Lewis, Kathy Meyer, Brian O'Brien and Stephen Wenslawski. The musical will feature musical direction by Keith Thompson, scenic design by Howard Jones, lighting design by John McLain and costume design by Thomas Marquez.
Tickets, priced between $24 and $62, are available by calling the North Shore Music Theatre box office at (978) 232-7200. NSMT is located at 62 Dunham Road in Beverly, MA. For more information, go to www.nsmt.org.
* The Tony-winning tale of "murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery — all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts" — features such tunes as "When You're Good to Mama," "Razzle Dazzle" and "Me and My Baby." As Velma, Gibson will get the chance to perform "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango," "I Can't Do It Alone," "My Own Best Friend," "I Know a Girl," "When Velma Takes the Stand," "Class," "Nowadays" and "Hot Honey Rag." The Broadway production continues at new York's Shubert Theatre; it will transfer to the Ambassador on January 29, 2003. The film version hits screens Dec. 27.
After pop success with such tunes as "Only In My Dreams" and "Lost in Your Eyes," Deborah Gibson focused on the musical theatre, performing in the Broadway companies of Les Miz, Grease! and Beauty and the Beast as well as the national tours of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Funny Girl and Cinderella. Gibson also appeared opposite Betty Buckley in the Paper Mill production of Gypsy and recently released her newest recording, "M.Y.O.B."
