Event Information
The Stonehill Theatre Company’s production of "Chicago: The Musical" will run from April 7 to 10 in the College’s Hemingway Theatre. For tickets and showtimes, please visit the link below.
All That Jazz
Stonehill Theatre Company provides a sneak peek of their upcoming production of "Chicago: The Musical."
Kaitlin Costa '22 (left) and Juliette Saint George '25 (right) play murderesses Velma and Roxie in the Stonehill Theatre Company's production of "Chicago."
Juliette Saint George ’25 has always dreamed of portraying Roxie Hart in a production of Chicago, the jazz age-set musical about two vaudevillian murderesses embroiled in a battle for publicity.
“Roxie’s a very entertaining character,” the business administration student said. “She’s self-absorbed and narcissistic. She’ll do whatever she can to get what she wants. She’s also a comedic character. There are a lot of sides to her.”
When the Stonehill Theatre Company (STC) announced plans to present its own version of the popular musical, which will run from April 7 to 10 in the Hemingway Theatre, the first-year student decided to audition for the role, even though she thought she did not have a chance of landing it.
“At some other schools, first-years never get the lead,” Saint George said. “You work your way up to it. So, when I was cast, I was so excited.”
It makes sense that the STC would choose the Connecticut native to play this demanding part. To paraphrase a lyric from one of Chicago’s most famous numbers, she had it coming. Saint George has a great deal of stage experience. She previously played Tinker Bell and Minnie Fay in high school productions of Peter Pan and Hello, Dolly!, respectively. As a child, she also participated in programs run by Camp Broadway, an organization in New York City that provides young people opportunities to learn from experienced Broadway artists.
Associate Professor of Theatre Matthew Greene, director of Chicago, offers his actors some notes.
The STC’s production of Chicago is being shepherded by director Matthew Greene, associate professor of theater.
“I think it’s going to be the best show people have seen at Stonehill,” he said. “I know I’m setting the bar pretty high there, but it really is a blast.”
Prior to working for the College, Greene spent six years performing as a member of the Blue Man Group. Additionally, he has more than 70 theater and film credits.
Greene is not the only person with a professional entertainment background working on Chicago. Among those bringing this show to life are choreographer Aubrey Elson, who previously portrayed Sillabub in the fifth U.S. touring production of Cats; sound designer Ryan Ainsworth, a sound mixer for artists like 50 Cent; technical director Derek Epstein, Stonehill theater faculty fellow; and musical director Scott Koljonen, an accomplished accompanist who has worked for both the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory.
“Every artist that we bring in is a professional in the field,” Greene said. “Our students working on- and off-stage get direct mentorship from people who are actually doing this for a living.”
In addition to playing the character Liz and serving as the understudy for the role of Velma, performing arts major Giana Gualda ’22 is the production’s dance captain. She has worked closely with Elson over the last few months to develop the show’s choreography. She notes that learning from theater veterans has helped her think more intentionally about the messages she conveys through her movements on stage.
“I’m so grateful to work with these professionals,” Gualda said. “It has really helped us enhance this show.”
For some of Chicago’s cast members, the production provides them opportunities to enhance their respective acting repertoires as they prepare to strike out on their own.
Performing arts and communication double major Sarah Barry ’22 plans to pursue a career in theater after she graduates in a few weeks. She has already started auditioning and even recently worked as a background actor on two upcoming projects filmed in the Boston area: Netflix’s The Mothership (a science fiction film starring Halle Berry) and Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She notes that the experience of portraying Mona in Chicago will stay with her as she builds her resume.
“I’m used to playing sweet characters in shows like Mary Poppins,” Barry said. “Playing a murderess is a stretch for me. This show has really helped me expand my acting abilities.”
Whether they are participating in the show to hone their acting craft or just doing it for fun, the artists involved with this production are excited to take to the stage. Chicago is the first musical the STC has produced since the world shut down in 2020.
“I was a sophomore when the pandemic started. I’m now a senior. Back then, I worried a lot that I was never going to be able to perform again,” said performing arts major Abigail Kramer ’22, who plays Hunyak and serves as the understudy for Roxie. “I’m grateful that I can finish my college career performing in such a popular musical. It’s nice to give that to audiences, too, because so many people are craving the opportunity to go to the theater.”