Review: CHICAGO Razzle Dazzles The Audience at Broadway Palm!

Broadway Palm's production of CHICAGO brought one of the most classic, well-known, jazzy musicals to life. From the costumes, to the music, to the acting, singing, and dancing; Broadway Palm sure knows how to Razzle Dazzle the audience, in the best way possible.

Amy Marie McCleary, who played Velma Kelly, was brilliant. She has a very different, much deeper range than I'm used to hearing in different portrayals of Velma, which at first threw me off in the very beginning. However, her acting was so fantastic that I immediately understood why she was playing Velma. As the show progressed, her voice most definitely grew stronger, and I really enjoyed the unique tone she brought to Velma. By the end of the show, I was a fan.

Sarah Mae Banning played Roxie Hart, and I thought she was absolutely perfect in the role. Her voice was wonderful, and she expressed Roxie's emotions so well through her acting; from her humor, to anger, to fear, and so much more. Near the end of her first number, Funny Honey, I was incredibly impressed with the anger she was able to portray using her voice and movements--and she had this same level of brilliance through the rest of the show. I particularly enjoyed her interactions and performances with McCleary's Velma. They both had amazing stage presence, especially when they were together.

Brian Kalinowski and Daniel A. Lopez, who played Amos Hart and Billy Flynn, respectively, were also very, very good. Kalinowski was great at showcasing Amos's hesitation and excitement throughout the show, and the audience most definitely felt for his character. Lopez was excellent at portraying the very smart, money-hungry Billy Flynn. Both men were excellent singers and actors, and I enjoyed their performances very much.

The orchestra was absolutely fantastic, and they more than did justice to the iconic music of CHICAGO. I also have to mention the ensemble of Broadway Palm's CHICAGO, because they were superb. Each and every one of them was very strong in every aspect of their performance. They made this production truly marvelous.

CHICAGO at Broadway Palm was funny, fierce, and fabulously entertaining... and All That Jazz. I thoroughly enjoyed this production of such an iconic Broadway show, and I highly recommend seeing it if you're looking for an amazing, high-quality afternoon or evening of theatre.

CHICAGO is playing at Broadway Palm now through February 10, 2018. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $45 to $70, with discounts for children and parties of 20 or more. Tickets on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

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