Set in the 1920s prohibition era, Chicago is a popular musical that satirizes the idea of fame, tabloid culture, and criminal celebrity. The cast is filled with beautiful and dangerous flappers, femme fatales, gangsters, and corrupt and charismatic lawyers. The musical analyzes the transience of fame and celebrity, and illustrates how people will do anything for their one chance in the limelight. Chicago is derived from a play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Maurine was a newspaper reporter and her play focused on the numerous real-life crimes she reported on. A film version of Chicago was directed by Rob Marshall in 2002. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture that year. A summary of Chicago is best described as the rise and fall of celebrity fame.

In act one the audience is introduced to Velma Kelly. She is a singer and vaudeville star. Velma opens the musical with the song ?All that Jazz.? It is Chicago?s most recognizable tune. In a crime of sordid passion, Velma killed her husband and her sister after she discovered they were having an affair. Meanwhile, we are also introduced to Roxy Hart. Roxy is an unknown but aspiring chorus girl; she longs for fame and notoriety. Taking a cue from Velma, Roxy Hart murders her lover, Fred Casely. Roxy is soon convicted of murder and placed in the Cook County Jail. It is the same place where Velma Kelly is incarcerated. Roxy?s tabloid tale makes her an instant celebrity. At the same time, Velma Kelly?s fame begins to diminish. Tabloid culture is all about the flavor of the week. While the two murderesses are in jail we are introduced to Billy Flynn. Charismatic and corrupt, Billy Flynn is the lawyer for both Velma and Roxy.

In the beginning of act two Roxy Hart is enjoying her rising star of fame and fortune. In order to prolong her celebrity she concocts a story about being pregnant; a woman in jail, pregnant, is sure to keep the newspapers in headlines. Meanwhile, Bobby Flynn cheats and double-crosses Velma. Velma tells Bobby, in confidence, all of the things she is planning to do in her performance to attain an acquittal. Bobby passes this information on to Roxy Hart, and Roxy uses these tricks in her own defense. Roxy is acquitted. However, at the same time the newspapers hear about another sensational murder and Roxy?s fame is over.