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Chicago: The Musical is based on the original play, also named Chicago, created in 1926 by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins created the original Chicago after reporting on the murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune. The character Roxie Hart is based on Annan who was accused of killing Harry Kalstedt on April 3, 1924. Her defense was that she killed him because he ?tried to make love to her.? Velma Kelly is based on Gaertner, a cabaret singer who was on trial for the murder of Walter Law. Annan was found not guilty in May and Gaertner was acquitted shortly after in June of the same year. The articles profiling these cases became so popular that Watkins decided to create a play, which ran for 172 performances and even reached Broadway. Original Broadway production began in 1975 with over 936 performances. The play was revived in 1996 and as of January 2010 has had over 5900 performances.
Chicago: The Musical is set in Chicago in the 1920?s. It begins with Velma who is in jail because she killed both her husband and sister when she found them in bed together. She is a criminal turned celebrity because of the murders. In comes Roxie who is accused of killing her lover, Fred Casely. Roxie tries to convince her husband that the man was a burglar, but he shortly figures out the truth. Roxie is now the next criminal turned celebrity, which kicks Velma out the limelight. Matron ?Mama? Morton watches over the block and is very corrupt. She helped Velma become a criminal celebrity and is now helping Roxie too. Roxie also hires Billy Flynn to be her lawyer, who just so happens to be Velma?s lawyer as well. The two women go back and forth to stay in the media?s view only to be surpassed by the next crime of passion. They focus on their trial and Velma creates many tricks, hoping they will help her get acquitted. Billy passes Velma?s tricks to Roxie and promises her freedom if she makes a show of her trial. As promised, Roxie is acquitted. Unfortunately, her fame is quickly reduced when a more sensational crime creates an even bigger stir for the media, leaving Roxie behind in the dust. By the end of the play Roxie is left with her freedom, no fame, no fortune and no husband.
