John Kander
Co-creator of a body of musical theatre work marked by precise rhythm and theatrical contrast.
Musical theatre archive
Chicago
A sharp, stylised Kander and Ebb musical about spectacle, public attention, and the stories people learn to sell.
Broadway musical, 1975
The record
A musical with a knowing grin.
MusicJohn Kander
LyricsFred Ebb
BookFred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Original Broadway opening3 June 1975
Based on a 1926 play by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, Chicago follows Roxie Hart, an aspiring performer whose criminal trial becomes a route to public attention. With the help of lawyer Billy Flynn, Roxie turns a private scandal into a staged public narrative, while fellow performer Velma Kelly competes for the same spotlight.
The musical frames its story through vaudeville-inspired scenes, where courtroom drama, press attention, and performance are deliberately hard to separate. Songs including All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle, and Class give its satire a polished, cabaret-like edge.
The original Broadway production featured Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and Jerry Orbach. A later Broadway revival, shaped with choreography in the Fosse tradition, renewed interest in the work and became a long-running fixture of the musical theatre repertory.
Creative team
The makers behind the score.
Fred Ebb
Known for lyrics that balance polished wit with an alert eye on public behaviour.
Bob Fosse
His theatrical vocabulary remains central to the work's stripped-back, stylised presentation.
A show about performance within performance.
Chicago treats celebrity as an unstable currency. Its world rewards timing, image, and a carefully managed version of the truth, giving the musical a subject that continues to feel recognisable.
The revival's pared-back staging also made its structure especially visible: an ensemble, a band, and a sequence of numbers that repeatedly turn private motives into public display.
Useful notes
About this entry
A short guide to the scope of this archive record.
What is this page focused on?
This entry offers a concise introduction to the musical's creators, premise, original Broadway history, and continuing theatrical significance.
Is Chicago based on an earlier work?
Yes. The musical is based on a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, whose reporting informed its depiction of crime, publicity, and courtroom theatre.
Which songs are commonly associated with the musical?
Frequently recognised numbers include All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle, and Class, among others in the score.
Why is the revival often discussed?
The Broadway revival brought renewed attention to the musical through an economical, performance-forward staging and choreography shaped in the Fosse tradition.
Where can I find related material?
Use the links above for the archive's cast album and sheet music page, or continue to related Kander and Ebb titles.
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