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(Photo by Matthew Ferro)
Directed by New World School of the Arts theater faculty member Matthew Buffalo, the NWSA musical theater students will present the Tony Award-winning musical Chicago by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
Performances are scheduled Feb. 28; 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 7; 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 8; 2 and 7:30 p.m., in the Louise O. Gerrits Theater, 25 NE Second St., Eighth Floor. General admission is $15; students and seniors, $10. Tickets are available at nwsa.mdc.edu.
Set in the glitz and glamour of the 1920s, Chicago takes the audience on a thrilling journey through a world where crime and celebrity blur, and morality bends to suit ambition. At its core, this show is a darkly comedic satire that explores the seductive power of fame and the way society manipulates — and is manipulated by — the media.
The 26-member cast, guided by Buffalo’s expert directing process, bring a new perspective to the musical, making it highly relevant to today’s age of social media, Instagram and TikTok.
“In directing this production, my goal has been to honor the original spirit of Chicago while bringing a fresh perspective to its narrative,” Buffalo said. “Our talented cast and crew have worked tirelessly to capture the essence of the 1920s jazz age, with its vibrant energy and underlying tension. Chicago is more than just a visual spectacle. It’s a commentary on the timeless human desire for recognition.
In the role of Velma, college junior Rayhana Parris added that, “Chicago is about the reality of society and how they view ‘celebrities.’ Celebrities, whose stories are so outrageous that people believe every second of it. The musical also shows how people are so ambitious that they would do anything to stay on top. Lie, cheat, steal, kill. To stay on top, period.”
The takeaway, though, is much deeper than the realization of the human condition at its most egotistical state. Preparing for the lead role of Roxie Hart, Sundari Davis, a college senior who will receive her BFA degree this spring, highlights some of her gains during the rehearsal process.
“It’s given me a lot of confidence on stage and off stage, reminding me that it’s okay to have that inner confidence in life and to have my own inner diva at times,” she said. “I think it’s important to give yourself the credit and Roxie is all about owning who she is. She teaches me to own who I am as well. And I am my own best.”
Content Advisory: This production contains simulated violence, adult themes and language, theatrical haze, and flashing lights. Recommended for ages 14 and older.
Acting and musical theater students at NWSA hone their craft through acting technique, movement, and speech classes, focusing on fundamentals of physical and emotional preparation. With performance at its core, training is based on the classical texts and the principles of drama as well as practical incursions into the contemporary and experimental edges of theater. Consequently, alumni are found performing onstage nationally and internationally and their talent and vision are recognized and highly regarded in the industry.
New World School of the Arts was created by the Florida Legislature as a center of excellence in the performing and visual arts. It is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College, and the University of Florida.
For information about New World School of the Arts call 305-237-3541.
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