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CORRECTION: The initial online version of this article incorrectly listed Friday and Saturday’s start time as 7:30 p.m. and Belle Galloway as “Bella Galloway”. The Sun apologizes for the error. 

George Rogers Clark High School looks to provide entertainment throughout the year. 

When this week nears an end, attendees will have plenty of reasons for excitement. 

The annual spring musical, a teen edition of the Broadway play “Chicago”, is coming to GRC for public viewing from Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13. 

While the Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:00 p.m., the Sunday show begins at 2:30 p.m. 

“It is a huge part of our student body coming together to have this show come to life,” said Kris Olson, music teacher and choral director at GRC. “‘Chicago’ is a really iconic bit of music theater. It’s one of the longest-running shows on Broadway.” 

Originally produced in 1975 with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and the late, well-known Bob Fosse, ‘Chicago’ – based on a 1926 play of the same name by Maurice Dallas Watkins – takes place in the city during the Jazz Age. 

The film version of the musical, released in 2002, won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture. 

The story focuses on Roxie Hart, a woman with Vaudevillian hopes and dreams who is married to Amos. 

Eventually, the aspiring star is charged with murder, as is aging vaudevillian performer Velma Kelly. 

The two women compete for the services of lawyer Billy Flynn, a shady character who promises to acquit them and make them media celebrities. 

As might be expected, a memorable storyline unfolds. 

The production includes several hit songs, including “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “We Both Reached for the Gun,” and more. 

The latter was featured in a TikTok trend recently, showing that the material has remained timeless. 

“All these songs and dances are still a part of the culture,” Olson added. “It’s really neat that these kids are getting to take part in such an iconic bit of music theater.” 

The cast includes actors, a student pit orchestra, and even a tech crew. 

Plus, the dance numbers are choreographed by one of GRC’s own pupils – junior Belle Galloway. 

“Everyone works well…but where I’ve really been impressed is people practicing on their own,” she said. “This show is really, really choreography heavy…it’s really specific jazz and…that’s been a nice opportunity to be able to teach people a different genre of dance.” 

Olson concluded by stating that he hopes others will appreciate the uniqueness of GRC’s spring production. 

“We’re really lucky here that at GRC, we have great facilities. I have great colleagues [and] passionate students,” he said. “These are people who are dedicated to seeing a show like this come to life. I’ve been really proud that at GRC, we’re doing a lot of shows that maybe aren’t always done in the area.”