NOTES FROM CHICAGO Production Meeting (5/8/2012)
Revised 5/10/2012
SCENIC FLOW
w/PROPS
Preshow Boom
1 Chicago
á
Top of ACT I, Chicago Boom closed
o
Character of the Master of Ceremonies enters
from SR, carrying a period microphone on floor stand; to be planted DSC
o
On Ò5,6,7,8ÉÓ the band begins as six merry
murderesses enter thru the six Boom doors
á
At the downbeat in the Overture:
1.1
Open
Boom to reveal the Nightclub
á
Reveal to the Nightclub Unit Set
o
8-Round, 30Ó diameter tables, durable for
standing and dancing; will have four legs for support. Legs will need angle irons to attach
tables to the deck. Tops will be
dressed with tablecloths and small practical lamps (either wired or battery
operated), each secured on the US side of tabletop.
o
NOTE: will the table lamps be ON for the entire
show? How will they be operated?
o
16 matching black bent wood chairs.
o
6 more bent woods for the Cell Block Tango
number (these will need to be reinforced).
o
All show principles wander into the nightclub
o
LED: period nightclub venue image/s
o
2-4 couples enter thru the audience
o
Roxie and Fred enter from ÒsubwayÓ stairs, sit
at a table (exact placement to be determined);
o
LED: animated image of Velma KellyÕs name,
beginning small and in the distance, moving forward, getting bigger until her
name in blazing lights, big and bold on the screen, as if on a huge marquee
á
ÒALL THAT
JAZZÓ
o
LED: transitions back to nightclub image
o
Roxie and Fred, obscured by the crowd, use the
escape door and appear in her apt. in the crowÕs nest
acting area (escape ladder and/or stairs to be designed)
o
Period hand gun needed
o
LED: On button of the number—CHICAGO
1.2 Bedroom in
RoxieÕs apartment
o
LED: image to suggest looking out from a
low-rent apartment and onto a 1920Õs Chicago slum neighborhood and/or skyline
o
NOTE: (LED images will establish the location
changes and transitions in and out of specific moments; this must be very clear
and establish a Òshow vocabularyÓ for the audience)
o
NOTE: LED will definitely need a top masking flat; no room
for side masking flats?
o
Roxie shoots Fred from the crowÕs nest (he will
have descended down to the stage floor)
o
Need a period hand gun
o
LED: RoxieÕs name evolves into celebrity status
using the marquee idea; however, not as big and bold as VelmaÕs name
was—Roxie is a minor celebrity, maybe a neon look, rather than big
golf-ball lights
á
ÒFUNNY
HONEYÓ
o
Will use 2 additional cops to carry on a
stretcher; it must be solid, so that Roxie can then use it as a sedan chair
(not made of droopy canvas), no legs
o
One Cop with notepad and fountain pen
o
FredÕs wallet
1.3 Limbo
á
ÒCELL
BLOCK TANGOÓ
o
Announcer and microphone on its stand
o
Women will all enter through the SL curtained
Tunnel
o
All six women will carry on their own bentwood
chair
o
Additional dancers/women in the number will drag
chairs from the tables
o
LED: jail bars images
o
NOTE: Need to discuss with Seth how we might
up-light the womenÕs chorus, who will be draped over and around the banister on
the upper level of the unit set; we may need install lights in the deck or
inside the tables, if they are dancing on the tables.
1.4 Limbo
á
ÒWHEN
YOUÕRE GOOD TO MAMAÓ
o
Announcement will come from the crowÕs
nest/Sunshine balconyÉmicrophone on its standÉ
o
Matron ÒMamaÓ Morton will enter from the SR
curtained Tunnel (NOTE: when the curtains are drawn open, the tunnel will be
very dark/black inside
o
Carried by inmates and surrounded by a German Oompah Band on a small actor driven slip wagon/orchestra
cart dressed to look like a sedan chair (instruments: squeeze box, tuba,
saxophone, coronet, clarinet, drum?)
o
This may need to be designed and built new, if
stock sedan chairs are not appropriate
o
LED: Idea for button of number—ÒMatron
Mama MortonÓ as an animated signature
á
1.5 The Jail
o
Velma will be reading period Chicago newspapers
(Design will supply copy)
v
The Tribune
ÒCrime of the YearÓ
v
The News ÒNot in memory do we recall so fiendish
and horrible a double homicide.Ó
o
Money $50.
1.6 VisitorÕs Area at Jail
á
ÒTAP DANCEÓ
o
Actors will bring on chairs for the jail (table
is cut)
o
Jail partitions (actor operated) will be
separate for each couple
o
CONCERN: will the partitions be clear to the
audience? Will the partitions be
open frames, or solid fronts with stencil lettering ÒCook County JailÓ stamp?
v
3 partitions will sit on stage in a diagonal position. These will need simple brakes. 3-4Õ0Ó wide, up to the waist
v
Simple Frame
v
Suggestion of bars
1.7
Limbo É MC will
announce BillyÕ Entrance
á
ÒALL I
CARE ABOUTÓ
á
Billy will enter from secret door Covered by
girls with fans
o
Feathers, double sided, red and pink; maybe one
fan, painted and glittered on one side to be ÒshimmeryÓ
o
If using double fans, will need 10 sets of fans
o
2Õ0Ó from base to top
o
8 women, add 2 additional from the tunnel
o
LED: Button of number—ÒBilly Flynn
Attorney at LawÓ image that looks like a desk plaque or an engraved sign on an
office door—must look rich and impressive, imposing
o
On the button of the number, BillyÕs desk and
leather chair will be set up—two-three men will bring on the large desk
and leather chair, then serve Billy in some way (shining his shoes, cutting his
hair, shavingÉ)
á
1.8 BillyÕs Office to Jail
o
The desk must house an actor inside and have a
step unit (possibly a drawer) for actors to climb to top of desk; desk must
also have a pocket for a newspaper (location to be determined)
o
SLG will design the desk.
o
Bent wood for Amos
o
Billy will have attendants for shaving and shoe
shining
á
ÒA LITTLE
BIT OF GOODÓ
o
Radio station microphone
o
Additional ÒstaffÓ: sound technician, assistant
with clipboard, assistant with glass of water, aspirator to lubricate the
throat, basically people who work for Sunshine and whom she treats very badly
o
LED should have a radio station logo, call
numbers or image of some kind
á
ÒWE BOTH
REACHED FOR THE GUNÓ
o
Billy FlynnÕs Desk must be able to flip around
for the ventriloquist number
o
This side must be solid and look like something
different, appropriate for the press conference (gold bunting, razzamatazz
fabric, shiny, sequined)
o
Will have 30 reporters, each with a note pad
o
LED: Need to design an image to represent a
press conference
o
LED: Spinning headlines—in the midst of
chaos, ÒRoxie Rocks ChicagoÓ ÒFans
Riot At Roxie AuctionÓ
o
Need a pitcher and a glass of milk
1.9 Limbo. CLOSE
BOOM.
á
ÒROXIEÓ
o
Practical Newspaper with ÔROXIEÕ headline
o
Men come thru Boom doors for number
1.10 Jail
o
Jail table and two chairs
o
Table festooned with Òlow-browÓ feasting
(bourbon bottle in an ice bucket, an attempt at elegance)
o
Newspaper ÒRoxie Rocks ChicagoÓ
o
Flask
1.11 Limbo and RoxieÕs Cell
á
ÒI CANÕT DO IT ALONEÓ
o
Round, 4Õ0Ó diameter table with four legs,
durable for standing and dancing on.
Pin to deck?
o
A cell block inmate will carry it on
1.12 Limbo and Bedroom
á
DISCOVER
KITTY IN TOWER
o
Harry in SL Tunnel
o
Machine gun to hide in a fur coat
o
Flashbulbs with four period cameras
o
Hats, trench coats, small pads of paper for each
o
LED Headlines É ÒLake Shore Drive Massacre!Ó
ÒBerserk Filly Fells Four!Ó ÒGang in Bed – All DeadÓ
1.13 Jail
o
Photographers, Cameras, Sunshine reporter pads,
etc.
á
ÒMY OWN
BEST FRIENDÓ
o
Button with multiple flash bulbs. (We need to find a predictable flash
bulb effect that will not require recharging between flashes. With 4 photographers, we will need 16
flashes in a 4 second time. More or
less.)
o
LAST LED IMAGE before intermission: CHICAGO
INTERMISSION
ACT II
Boom opens to
nightclub; after orchestra:
LED: ÒCharlie Alterman and the
MUNY OrchestraÓ
2.1 Jail
á
ÒI KNOW A
GIRLÓ
o
Reporters with cameras
á
ÒME AND
MY BABYÓ
o
Wheel chair for Roxie, covered with a blanket
o
Doctor, 2 male orderlies
o
2 Big white vaudeville hooks
2.2
Limbo
á
ÒMISTER
CELLOPHANEÓ
o
Need coat/hat stand for AmosÕ costume
accessories
o
When Amos turns upstage, all table lamps in
nightclub go out—everything disappears!
BillyÕs Office
o
Copy of RoxieÕs first statement
2.3
Jail
á
ÒWHEN VELMA TAKES THE STANDÓ
o
Jury box and chair
o
Wagons enter from SR and SL Tunnel—actor
operated
o
We will continue the discussion about SIZE of
these units, so they can be brought in through the SL and SR tunnels
2.4
Anteroom Court
á
HANGING
IN THE TOWER
o
LED: bright lights/marquee lights that will
place actors in silhouette
o
Very simply staged; both actors on same level
o
Need a rope for a hanging noose, actor
operated. Cotton rope, actor will
place over neck.
o
After the hanging, both actors will take a bow!
2.5
Anteroom Court
o
LED: bright marquee lights?
á
ÒRAZZLE
DAZZLEÓ
o
ÒClown faceÓ moment, all 12
ensemble members will break through the faceÉ Secret door masked by huge
clown face; exact size to be determined; clown face profile flat will enter
thru IN One and move to center; will be on its own wagon with wheels and brakes
o
Show girls will bring in whatever is used for
this number
o
4 small parasols as would be used in a tight
rope circus act
o
2 jugglers with juggling pins
o
LED: big time Òrazzle
dazzle,Ó huge MUNY moment with lots of shimmer, sparkle, chase the table lamps
and footlights
2.6 Courtroom
o
Repeat of Courtroom scenic wagons
o
Roxie knitting a baby garment
o
Bible
o
Amos newspaper
o
Billy hands Roxie a handkerchief
2.7 Jail
o
Table (size TBD)
o
LED: Old time, period radio image/effect
o
Repeat Mary Sunshine Mic
á
ÒCLASSÓ
o
Need two chairs only
o
LED: old time radio/Sunshine in her balcony
2.8
and 2.9 Courtroom
o
LED: courtroom image/crest/blind justice image
o
Courtroom scenery in place
o
Mary Sunshine reporting from her balcony
o
Flash bulb period cameras—flash must work
(# to be determined)
o
BillyÕs summation and GRAND EXIT
o
CLOSE BOOM
á
ÒNOWADAYSÓ
á
ÒHOT
HONEY RAGÓ
o
Boom opens at specific moment for LED: Roxie and
Velma shoot their names onto the screen, as in the film
o
Flowers for Roxie and Velma