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Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO!

By: Nov. 26, 2014
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Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
Assistant Stage Manager Rick Pessagno: I've been
dancing for over 30 years. So I decided I need to
step off stage for a while. CHICAGO was a big
turning point in my career back in 1997. It's been a
beautiful journey. So here I am--in full circle--
now a stage manager. (Photo: Oliver Oliveros)

New Orleans, LA (NOLA)--The day after the opening night (October 7) of the 16th National Tour of Broadway smash CHICAGO, Rick Pessagno (Broadway's "Sophisticated Ladies," "42nd Street"), who also starred as Roxie Hart's unscrupulous lover, Fred Casely, in CHICAGO's First National Tour in 1997, and now dabbling in backstage work as one of the touring production's three stage managers, generously gave us--BroadwayWorld.com and a small group of Filipino journalists--a glimpse of CHICAGO's rather simple backstage setup at the Saenger Theatre, New Orleans' famed atmospheric theatre.

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CHICAGO, which claimed the title, Second Longest-Running Musical in Broadway History, from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway run of "Cats," just last Sunday, is also in the middle of a 30-city itinerary, which includes return engagements to New Orleans, San Francisco, Kansas City, and Washington, D.C., among others. The same touring company is also set to perform the show for the first time in Manila, Philippines at Solaire Resort and Casino's newly built The Theatre starting next Wednesday, December 3, until Sunday, December 21.

"We travel across the United States with four trucks behind us. For the Manila stop, some of the stuff will come from the United Kingdom because it is closer," Pessagno said. "When we did Dubai last year, some of the stuff came from the U.K. as well."

Pessagno also stressed that "our backstage setup is very simple [thus no heavy costumes] because the show is more performance-driven."

Photos: Oliver Oliveros

Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
CHICAGO's official callboard awaits behind the front door. "We don't post reviews on the callboard. Some actors prefer not to read them; some do. But some people just don't want to know," said Pessagno.
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
The Arrow Signs: Pessagno explained, "When you walk into a new venue, people don't know much about anything. So you're lost. So literally, you follow the arrows to all the departments, and dressing rooms, and all you needed to know."
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
Matron Mama Morton's Road Box: According to Pessagno: "All the road people have requested their own individual road boxes since they are on the road for a long time. Some may have TVs in there; some refrigerators. Each box is very personalized."
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
Feather Fans for Billy Flynn's Grand Entrance: "These are beautiful, beautiful fans. They are real Ostrich feathers, and they are new!" said Pessagno.
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
The Saenger Theatre's fly system that is used for everything that flies and drops.
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
Microphone Pouches
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
Allison Blair McDowell ("La Cage Aux Folles") rehearses for the role of Roxie Hart (understudy).
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO! Image
The casts are in, and they're all very excited to come to Manila! "We're excited to come to Manila. Everybody is really excited about it," said Pessagno.

CHICAGO's ingress at Solaire Resort and Casino's 1,760-seat lyric theatre,The Theatre, is scheduled this weekend.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, and Concertus Manila--the team behind "Wicked," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Mamma Mia!"-- are bringing CHICAGO, featuring Broadway stars Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly and Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, to Manila.

CHICAGO features music by Tony winners John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb; lighting design by Tony winner Ken Billington; choreography by Tony winner Ann Reinking, which has been recreated by David Bushman; musical supervision by Rob Fisher; and costume design by Tony winner William Ivey Long.

For tickets, visit ticketworld.com.ph.



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