July 12, 2023
By Toby Scofield, POL Intern
Photos by Amy Lynn
This July 14-16, Papa Boos is sponsoring Millersport Community Theatre’s performance of Chicago.
Set in the legendary city during the roaring 20s, Chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Nightclub star Velma (Ashley James) is serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding the two involved with each other.
Chorus girl Roxie (Kate MacCabee) has been booked for killing the man she’d been cheating with. After seeking the help of prison matron Mama Morton (Te’rayai Robinson) and slickster lawyer Billy Flynn (Joshua Whetstone), the two found themselves more popular than ever. If you can’t be famous, be infamous.
“Chicago is one of the best-known musicals of all time and probably the one most dancers think of first because of the choreography of the brilliant Bob Fosse,” said co-director Johanna Whetstone-LeuVoy. “That makes this one of the biggest undertakings for Millersport Community Theatre yet. We had sixty people audition for this one, which has been our biggest turn out since our restart in 2021.”
The cast size is comprised of around forty people from multiple counties including Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Muskingum, Athens, and Perry (many of whom are studying musical theater).
“My husband Brenton LeuVoy and I are both directing this production,” said Whetstone-LeuVoy. “We both come from pretty strong theater backgrounds. He specializes in a lot of the technical side of theater, and I specialize in the music side. We decided to co-direct this production to spread a bit of the responsibility between the two of us as we just had a baby boy back in January.
This show, being particularly dance heavy, has required an unusually heavy load on our choreographer, Faith Kaylor. She’s doing a phenomenal job and her work on this show is not only her best work yet, but some of the best work I’ve seen in the Columbus area.”
Ticket prices are $15.00 each with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday. The performances will be held in the Millersport Elementary Auditorium (11850 Lancaster Street, Millersport).
Tickets may be bought at www.mctohio.com or at the door based on availability. The next production for MCT will be She Loves Me this fall.
WARNING: Chicago may not be appropriate for all audiences. Parental guidance is advised. Major plot points include murder and sexual innuendo.
