All news

Broadway musical 'Chicago' back on Russian stage after 12-year break

The first night of the Chicago was scheduled at Moscow Youth Palace for October 5
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, September 5 (Itar-Tass) - A popular Broadway musical - the Chicago, will return to the Russian stage this autumn after a 12-year break, Russian CEO of the Stage Entertainment company Dmitry Bogachev, who is a producer of the musical revived in Russia, told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

The Chicago runs on Broadway and in many other capitals around the world  for 12 years now. Twelve years ago Russian prominent singer Filipp Kirkorov, who had one of the leading parts in the cast, first staged the Chicago in Moscow.

The revived show has no principle differences from the previous version of the Chicago of 12 years ago, Bogachev said. But, given a considerable experience we gained in staging the best world musicals over the past 15 years, the renewed version of the Chicago will be no worse than its best Broadway presentations, Bogachev said. "We will do our best to make it one of the best world aesthetic and high-style shows ever presented to the public," Bogachev said.

The company headed by Bogachev had earlier staged such popular musicals in Russia as The Cats, Mamma Mia, the Beauty and the Beast, Zorro, The Sound of Music,The Mermaid.

"Now, it's the Chicago's turn. Twelve years ago I would not have undertaken such a difficult production because there were neither actors trained to perform musicals nor audiences capable to appreciate them," the Chicago producer said. " We were merely the newcomers to the genre of musical then, and the Chicago's commercial success was called into question," he said.

"In fact, the Chicago is a good show for actors to perform. lt is a story narrated in a language of excellent music by John Cander and a high-style and emotional choreography by Bob Fosse. It is meant only for the "very best", who can sing jazz, have good skills in modern and classical dancing and are capable to imbue the audiences with their own emotional drive and special humor”, Bogachev said.

He confessed that he had an idea to invite Filipp Kirkorov to take part in the renewed musical and discussed it with the singer. Filipp even recommended a number of good actors who have been rehearsing now, which speaks of a certain continuity in the musical business, Bogachev said.

The first night of the Chicago was scheduled at Moscow Youth Palace for October 5.