Chicago (High School Edition)
at George Mason High School

Reviewed on November 16, 2018

Julianne Cuevo
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

How does one describe murder? It is a sin, a tragedy, and the finest source of entertainment in 1920's Chicago. In their production of Chicago: High School Edition, the students of George Mason High School sang, danced, and backflipped their way into the audience's hearts, all while trying to get away with the worst of crimes.

Inspired by a 1926 play, the musical appeared on Broadway from 1975 to 1977, spawning a 1996 Broadway revival and a 2002 Academy Award-winning film. Famous for Kander and Ebb's music and Bob Fosse's iconic choreography, Chicago is the second longest-running Broadway show and one of the most produced shows in America and the UK. In a series of vaudeville-style vignettes, it tells the satirical tale of two murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, who use their newfound notoriety to catapult themselves into stardom and compete with each other for the public's attention.

Meggie Ferguson portrayed the scheming Roxie Hart with spunk and sass, and her tireless quest for publicity was entirely believable. Ferguson demonstrated her talent through her powerful voice and comedic physicality. She also had great interactions with the other actors, notably Mithi Peñaranda (Velma Kelly). The pair's chemistry made the rivalry between their characters a highlight of the show. Peñaranda also shone in her own right; her smooth singing voice in the opening song, "All That Jazz," quite literally started the night on a good note, and she maintained her dynamic energy throughout the entire show.

Another amazing actor was Miles Jackson, who played Billy Flynn, the coveted and cunning defense lawyer for the murderesses. As the mastermind behind Roxie's trial, Jackson captured the essence of Billy's character with his suave exterior and shameless greed. He sang beautifully, showing off his vocal prowess in various numbers, especially "We Both Reached for the Gun." His already exceptional performance was enhanced by the hilarious physicality, facial expressions, and comedic timing he employed in every scene, which added to his chemistry with the other characters and established him as an audience favorite.

The members of the ensemble were an absolute delight to watch. Full of vitality, they enriched the production with their expressive movements and engagement with the happenings onstage. They perfectly complemented the leads, and each ensemble member's energy added to the quality of the show. The number "Razzle Dazzle" showcased the skills of the ensemble, particularly the acrobatic talents of Kevin Hong and TiKa Wallace. The ensemble never lacked spirit, and they consistently imbued the production with charismatic liveliness.

An immensely gifted orchestra performed John Kander's classic score. They were always in sync with the actors, leading to the satisfaction of hearing an instrumental gunshot sound exactly as a prop gun is ‘fired.' Displayed prominently onstage behind the actors, the members of the orchestra were well incorporated into the show and an integral part of its success.

Strong technical elements also heightened the caliber of the show. The simple set, containing jail cells on the sides of the stage and lights spelling out the show's title, was very effective. Lighting cues were sharp and prompt, and the sound team struck a balance between the orchestra's music and the actors' singing. The makeup was both true to the time period of the show and personalized to each actor, showing precise attention to detail.

At George Mason High School, the cast and crew of Chicago: High School Edition masterfully told a story of murder, scandal, and the fleeting nature of fame. But while the publicity surrounding Chicago's murderesses did not last, the memory of this marvelous production certainly will.

Sara Short
W. T. Woodson High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

The mumbling in the crowd ceased as soon when the lights dimmed and everyone's attention was drawn to Mithi Peñaranda, as Velma Kelly, when she walked on stage. With the lights spelling out "Chicago" behind her she opened the show with a powerful rendition of "All That Jazz" with the ensemble supporting her all the way through.

"Chicago (High School Edition)," produced at George Mason High School, is a satire of the "celebrity criminals" that became popular in the 1920's. The vaudeville-style performance is the thrilling story of the murderesses in Chicago and the rivalry between Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart's rise to fame that eventually led them to perform together.

The opening number set the bar with high energy that was met throughout the performance. After Roxie kills her husband the audience is transported to the Cook County Jail and introduced to the Merry Murderesses. These six women, including Peñaranda, performed the "Cell Block Tango" with intense physicality that drew the viewer into each individual's tale. One of these performers amazed the viewers with her pointe work.

Rebekah Ayre, playing Hunyak, danced with Sasha Ronning, Fred Casley, and awed the crowd with incredible partner work. Ayre's use of pointe shoes showcased her mastery of ballet and gave more depth to the role because of it.

After all the energy that had been on stage no one expected it to increase even more, but then Miles Jackson, as Billy Flynn, entered. Jackson brought humor and intensity to his role. In "We Both Reached for the Gun" his physicality with Meggie Ferguson, Roxie Hart, drew in viewers with his sincere performance, while also amplifying his comedic stylings.

One of the many high points of the show was Jackson's 21-second high note at the end of this song. It was not just the duration that surprised viewers but the technique behind it. The impressive display highlighted his mastery and voice control.

Peñaranda also showcased her expertise in her duet with Ferguson, "My Own Best Friend." Her voice blended smoothly yet also stood apart to differentiate between the two while also remaining true to the style of the piece.

These vocalists were spectacular and were supported by the talented Killer Diller Orchestra. The orchestra showcased their sophistication by adapting to the actors. The instrumental sections had a variety of solos and they were all impeccable but violinist Chris Deng stood out. The violin would not typically fit the Jazz style of the piece but he adjusted his technique to match and nailed his solo.

Even though the Orchestra was phenomenal it was hard to hear at some points due to the volume of the microphones in use. Microphones ran loud and occasionally peaked which at times made it hard to listen to, but there was no feedback which was very impressive, especially considering the equipment at their disposal.

The overall show had outstanding actors who fully embodied their characters with a large production team supporting them; "Chicago (High School Edition)" was a wonderful representation of how to create a cohesive production to highlight the talent and dedication of those involved.

Josie Binkley
Tuscarora High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Travel back in time to the mid-1920's with the cast of George Mason High School's production of Chicago, written by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb, full of murder lies and jazzy numbers. With an extravagant ensemble, captivating leads, a Killer Diller orchestra, and seamless tech crew, this show is a must see.

The story of Chicago follows wide-eyed Roxie Hart through her transformation from an ambitious girl to a manipulative woman, willing to do anything for fame. It starts with Velma Kelly, the city's jazz sensation, winding up in jail after murdering her husband and sister. She finds Billy Flynn, an attorney with an impeccable record, to defend her. After Roxie Hart joins Velma in jail due to a similar situation, she convinces Billy to defend her as well. The two women fight for fame, attention, and their lives, because losing their trials means being hanged. Eventually, Velma and Roxie join forces, to create a killer finale to the show.

The entire cast of Chicago at George Mason High School worked together to suspend the audience's disbelief through fast-paced songs, snappy dances, and scenes that the audience couldn't look away from. They creatively used props and a simple but effective set to tell the story. The crew was a well-oiled machine, and the orchestration was downright spectacular. Everyone worked together as a team to create a top-notch show.

Roxie Hart (Meggie Ferguson) was onstage for practically the whole show, and never let her energy or performance quality drop. Though Roxie was the main character, Velma Kelly (Mithi Peñaranda) stole the show. Her smooth and jazzy vocals were arguably some of the best in the show, and her stage presence made her extremely captivating. Another notable character in this show was Billy Flynn (Miles Jackson), who played Billy in a goofier way than the original production, giving the audience a fresh take on the character. He held a 30-second-long note in "We Both Reached for the Gun," and didn't let it decay over that time. Billy maintained his impressive vocal quality throughout the entire show.

While the entire ensemble was good, some individual members of the ensemble were great, and they elevated the whole show. One of these individuals was Fred Casely (Sasha Ronning), who used creative facial expressions to entertain the audience. Another standout character was Hunyak (Rebekah Ayre), the ballerina who could only speak Hungarian. She took her character to the next level by learning her lines in Hungarian and dancing en pointe beautifully throughout the show. The character Liz (TiKa Wallace), better known as Pop had excellent physicality, and ensemble member Kevin Hong added to scenes by performing stunning acrobatics.

All 176 lighting cues went off without a hitch, due in large part to the lighting crew (Sam Klemic, Sine Anderson, and Nina Rifkin). The lights designer (Sam Klemic), creatively used the lights to really set the mood throughout the entire show. The costuming (Elizabeth Hoofnagle) was simple, but it effectively told the story. The set designers (Dan Kramer, Callie Russell, Ana Karin Iturralde, and Sam Klemic) created a beautiful set that was creatively used throughout the entire show.

The production of Chicago by George Mason High School is a show worth seeing. As soon as the music starts, the audience is on the edge of their seats and hanging on to every word. As it deals with mature content, Chicago is a difficult show for high school students to pull off. However, George Mason High School did an admirable job. With the talent on and off the stage, no one would want to miss a single second.

Marlaina Horewitz
W. T. Woodson High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Jazz, sequins, fringe, love, silhouette, and murder. The audience had it comin'. George Mason High School's Chicago is a fantastic retelling of one of the most produced musicals of all time. Written by Maurine Dallas Watkins in 1926, Chicago was originally a straight play inspired by her own reporting experience. Embracing the popular vaudeville vignette style characteristic of the 1920's, Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb, and John Kander created a musical loved by audiences everywhere.

The star of the show is Roxie Hart (Meggie Ferguson), a woman who yearns for fame. She finds it in the most unlikely place: death row of the Cook County Jail. Ferguson plays the role quite humorously; over the top facial expressions and dynamic vocal choices add to the overall vaudeville style. She has palpable stage chemistry with her suave lawyer: Billy Flynn (Miles Jackson). Jackson's impeccable comedic timing and steller vocals outshine the sequins on the costumes behind him. Featured in "They Both Reached for the Gun," Jackson hypes up the audience with a high F held for over 20 counts. It is impossible to ignore his contagious energy.

Billy's other fame-desperate client is Velma Kelly (Mithi Peñaranda). Her strong belt-mix guiding the audience through "All That Jazz" sets the high energy tone for the show the second the light comes up. Dancing next to Kelly is Liz (TiKa Wallace) another woman locked up. Wallace commits to playing an intense murderess who the audience cannot take their eyes off of. Fred Casely (Sasha Ronning) also captivates the audience. Ronning leaves the audience gasping and laughing every time he is killed. And who could forget the adorable and invisible Amos Hart (Hansin Arvind), who has a tiny personality but a huge heart.

During dance numbers Rebekah Ayre and Kevin Hong entrance the audience. Ayre plays Hunyak whilst in pointe shoes. She floats eloquently across the stage adding an exquisite contrast to the harsh numbers like "Cellblock Tango." Hong plays Harry, enthralling the audience with flawless tumbling passes and wonderful stage presence in every number.

To compliment a strong cast is a detail-oriented crew. Stage manager Greyson Smith has over 170 cues which he executes with precision. The costumes and props are carefully crafted with care for minor details including significant numbers on the prison uniforms and accurate headlines. The pit is also fantastic, handling a difficult jazz-score without missing a beat. Seated on stage and supplying perfectly timed sound effects, the orchestra and cast function as one unit. Never overshadowing the actors but milking every violin or trumpet solo.

For a night of criminal amounts of fun, go see George AAAaMason High School's Chicago. Just be sure to bring $5,000 for a lawyer.