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Imagine: a smoky room, plenty of cold gin, hhot piano playing and popping and squishing and ... Lipschitz.
It’s all that jazz, shug-ar — see? See?
“Chicago the Musical – In Concert” is coming to Virginia Beach with Norfolk native and veteran showbiz wiz Rob Fisher conducting its music to be played by Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Unlike a full production of the hit Broadway musical that includes elaborate sets, costumes, dancing and a large cast, the “in concert” performance will focus on the show’s score.
“Chicago the Musical – In Concert” homes in on the music that made the play famous and left catchy — at times, annoyingly unforgettable — tunes buzzing, humming or looping for days on end through listeners’ minds, including “Cell Block Tango,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “All That Jazz.”
Semi-staged, a cast of five soloists will draw upon their previous Broadway laurels and major-stage experiences Saturday to bring the music of “Chicago” to symphonic life on Chrysler Hall’s stage.
“It has five singers,” Fisher said, “five great Broadway singers!”
Bianca Marroquín and Lana Gordon will reprise their roles of, respectively, Roxie and Velma, whom the actors have both played in full Broadway productions.
Matthew Deming, playing Mary and Amos, also previously appeared in “Chicago” on Broadway.
And Lewis Cleale, playing Billy, has been seen on Broadway too, including in hits “The Book of Mormon” and “Spamalot,” while Tari Kelly, playing Mama, boasts acting credits like Broadway productions of “Mr. Saturday Night” and “Something Rotten!”
Fisher, a music director, arranger, pianist and Norview High School alum, has conducted some of the world’s most venerated orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony’s Emmy-winning concert production of “Sweeney Todd.”
In 1994, he helped found “Encores!” in New York City, which revived lost and classic works of American musical theater, and worked on the series for 12 years. During that time, “Chicago” was one of its biggest successes, and in November of 1996, Fisher conducted the musical when it went on to open on Broadway.
These days, as well as helping curate the Virginia Arts Festival’s annual musical theater lineups, Fisher is the worldwide music supervisor for “Chicago.” Wherever the show is performed around the globe, he has a hand in it.
Still, he hasn’t grown tired of the show’s tunes, despite thousands upon thousands of listens.
“It’s the score that still intrigues me,” he said.
In the mid-1990s, he explained, shows like “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Misérables,” with elaborate sets, extravagant costumes and clearly defined fourth walls, were in their heyday. But the performers in “Chicago” were speaking directly to their audiences, “and those audiences went crazy for that.”
“But the biggest difference between this show and those imported shows,” he continued, “is that we tailor the roles to the people, the performers, in front of us, and that’s what really keeps me interested in it.”
No two interpretations of Roxy are the same, just as there are no identical portrayals of Velma, Fisher said, whereas in “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Misérables,” he added, “the Phantoms and the Javerts have to do exactly what everybody else has ever done.”
And just like the full-staged productions of the show, this Saturday’s in-concert version of “Chicago,” which has been designed with pliable choreography, easily adapted to the strengths and vision of individual actors and actresses.
Weekend Scoop
“It’s about: How can we make you look your best doing this; ‘Chicago’ gives more opportunity for that than nearly any other show.”
Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
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If you go
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Paul’s Blvd., Norfolk
Tickets: Start at $29.25
Details: www.vafest.org