MADISON, Wis. — You had it coming, Madison.
“Chicago” is coming to the Overture Heart for the Arts from March 21 to 26.
Katie Frieden as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.” (Jeremy Daniel)
The basic musical, set within the Nineteen Twenties, follows two ladies — Roxie and Velma — who’re every incarcerated for homicide. Velma murdered her husband and sister after discovering out they’ve been sleeping collectively. Roxie killed her lover when he tried to finish their affair. Her desires of stardom appear to burn out upon her arrest, however it seems, crime could be the ticket to fame she was on the lookout for.
Katie Frieden portrays main woman Roxie Hart in “Chicago’s” nationwide tour. We caught up along with her as she was preparing for a efficiency in Louisiana the week earlier than she’d take the stage in Wisconsin.
Spectrum Information 1: Why have been you curious about “Chicago?”
Frieden: “Chicago” has all the time been certainly one of my favourite musicals, notably due to the Fosse-style of dance that’s within the present. That’s all the time been a dance fashion that I’ve been very drawn to and the music’s simply so nice. After I noticed that there have been auditions for it, I knew I completely needed to audition for it.
I initially went in for the ensemble, however the inventive group sort of noticed one thing in me they usually tried me out for Roxie Hart. Finally, they noticed that as a match. It was a really grueling, difficult [call back] week, however it was nice; I realized so much by way of it.
Spectrum Information 1: Rising up with this musical, did you ever assume you wouldn’t solely be touring with “Chicago,” however be Roxie?
Frieden: Oh my gosh, I may have solely dreamed. I assume perhaps I might have seen myself as an ensemble member. However to see myself as Roxie, that’s far fetched from what my head used to assume. I all the time considered myself as a dancer first, and now, by way of this function… I’ve actually began to come back into my very own as a singer and actor. This function means a lot to me as a result of it’s challenged me, it’s pushed me and I like the character a lot. It’s such an honor to be part of this legacy that’s “Chicago” the musical.
Katie Frieden and the corporate of “Chicago” (Jeremy Daniel)
Spectrum Information 1: “Chicago” is a really iconic, very well-known musical, and Roxie is an icon herself. What’s it like bringing somebody who so many individuals know and like to life on stage?
Frieden: Really, it was very intimidating. Most likely one of many greatest challenges of this present for me was looking for my very own Roxie, as a result of so many individuals have achieved this function notably that I like a lot and I’ve grown up loving corresponding to Ann Reinking and Charlotte d’Amboise — there’s so many individuals and I simply needed to do what they did. And the inventive group was like, “No, no, no, no. We’ve got to search out your individual Roxie.” In order that they have been actually nice in bringing Katie to Roxie. By my motion I used to be capable of finding it, and thru a number of performances I used to be capable of finding it, and [through] their course. I exploit just a little little bit of my innocence since I’m just a little bit youthful enjoying Roxie than many individuals have been.
Finally, it’s so rewarding. I really feel like now I actually know who Katie’s model of Roxie is… So long as I’m actually truthful to my feelings … I really feel as if it’s my Roxie and I’m not attempting to repeat anybody else.
Spectrum Information 1: Do you’ve gotten a favourite a part of the present?
Frieden: A component that I all the time all the time love is the final quantity that I do with our fantastic Velma Kelly performed by Logan Floyd. We do “These days” and “Sizzling Honey Rag.” It’s the final two numbers we do collectively and it’s all the time simply so enjoyable.
Spectrum Information 1: Do you’ve gotten a favourite look that you simply get to put on?
Frieden: So one thing that’s fascinating is barely Roxie and Velma, they’re the one two characters which have a number of costumes. Everybody else’s costume is like their go well with mainly, their armor. I’ve like three or 4 totally different seems, however I actually love the lace attire. She comes out on this bell sleeve gown at first for her “Humorous Honey” tune. It’s very girly, and that’s all the time lovely.
(Jeremy Daniel)
Spectrum Information 1: What do you hope audiences take away from “Chicago?”
Frieden: The present nonetheless stays so related. It was written within the ‘70s, revised within the ‘90s and now right here we’re within the 2020s, and it’s nonetheless so related in how fame is all the time fleeting. That could possibly be an fascinating story for folks to remove and simply say, “Wow how fascinating that this story, even from the Nineteen Twenties to 100 years later, nonetheless rings true.”
For extra info on “Chicago,” click on right here.
