Chicago Brings All That Jazz to Winsor

The Winsor community was transported back in time on April 24 and 25 for the Performing Arts Department’s production of Chicago. A Roaring Twenties celebration, a courtroom drama, a send-up of celebrity and the press alike, the musical was a compelling spectacle, anchored by skillful performances from its Upper School cast, directed and choreographed by Alyssa Tschirgi alongside Theater Director Jeremy Johnson, who co-directed. 

Loosely based on the real-life media circus surrounding of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner—both accused of murder in 1924—the play adeptly builds up and satirizes the public fascination with true-crime stories while still managing to humanize the characters at the center of those dramas. And when, near the play’s close, a reporter anachronistically pulls out a smartphone to capture the acquitted Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly thanking their fans for their support, the connections to today’s cultural moment are made powerfully clear.

“When we hear ‘based on a true story,’ it’s important to separate those two words: True. Story. How does the truth transform into a story? The real events that occurred in Chicago in 1924 have passed through rounds of telephone, one adaptation after another, until real-life Beulah Annan forever transformed into the mythical Roxie Hart,” the play’s Director’s Note reads.

“For this production, the students peeled back each layer of the material to uncover the truths within the text—and themselves—that still demand to be heard. Along the way, we’ve explored vaudeville, the legacy of [choreographer and dancer] Bob Fosse, and the show’s distinctive style that blurs the line between performance and reality.”

The raucous jazz numbers, led by Performing Arts Faculty Andrew Marshall on keys and featuring Tayla Le ’24 expertly keeping time on the drum set, certainly helped to amplify the excitement—as did Ms. Tschirgi’s energetic choreography, set in front of an Art Deco stage design.

Of particular note were the many virtuosic soloists, including Bella Holt ’27 as Roxie Hart, Ana Sofia Chavarro ’29 as Mama Morton, Aiden Sun ’27 as Billy Flynn, Aoife Keane ’27 as Velma Kelly, and Luisa Griffith-Gorgati ’26 as Amos Hart—as well as the talented ensemble cast of Helina Adugna ’29, Maysa Atassi ’29, Chloe Connolly ’29, Sarah Finkelstein ’28, Aya Goldwasser ’27, Mia Gonzalez ’26, Clara Humphrey ’28, Chloe Ko ’29, Caitlin Kucuku ’28, Chloe Lien ’29, Madelyn Litofsky ’28, Annalisa Martinek ’29, Sienna McCabe ’27, Anna McDonnell ’29, Julia Oh ’26, Kendal Pauyo ’26, Cody Villanueva ’28, and Grace Whitworth-Neufeld ’29.

The production’s crew included Performing Arts Faculty Jessica Pribble (costume designer), Theater Technical Director Andres J. Puigbo, Assistant to the Technical Director Wynn Graves, Bryan Brundige (sound designer), Livia Bene ’29 (lighting assistant), Leomana Addo-Fung ’30 (spotlight operator), Jordelys Batista Jaquez ’30 (spotlight operator), Zola Tierney ’29 (makeup assistant), and Orli Goldwasser ’27 (stage manager).

“The production was a great success with some fantastic performances from the students,” said Mr. Johnson. “Ms. Pribble’s costumes looked fantastic under Mr. Puigbo’s lighting, and the choreography by Ms. Tschirgi blended beautifully with the onstage band led by Mr. Marshall. This show is often an audience favorite, and we were fortunate to have several enthusiastic houses.”