Broadway glamour, razor-sharp wit, and sensational choreography return to Manila for a limited engagement from March 9 to 28, 2027, at The Theatre at Solaire. Presented by GMG Productions in association with Barry & Fran Weissler and David Ian, the Tony Award-winning production invites Filipino theatre audiences to rediscover one of musical theatre’s most enduring classics, complete with its legendary songs, seductive jazz rhythms, and signature razzle dazzle.
The upcoming Manila season marks a highly anticipated return more than a decade after the musical’s 2014 Philippine run, which opened at The Theatre at Solaire. Now celebrating 30 years on Broadway, CHICAGO has amassed more than 11,700 performances, reached over 35 million people worldwide, and travelled across 38 countries and more than 525 cities, cementing its status as one of the most successful musicals in theatre history.
A Decade-Long Homecoming
For Carlos Candal, CEO of GMG Productions, bringing the production back to Manila celebrates its enduring appeal and marks a meaningful homecoming. He describes CHICAGO as a show that never goes out of style, balancing glamour and seduction with dark humour, scandal, and a provocative look at fame and ambition. Its iconic numbers, including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “Razzle Dazzle,” continue to resonate with audiences, while its sharp commentary on celebrity culture remains as relevant as ever. With the musical returning to the same venue where it first opened in the Philippines, Candal looks forward to welcoming back longtime fans and introducing a new generation of theatregoers to its unmistakable, pulse-quickening energy.
Behind the Scenes: Creators and Producers
Producer Barry Weissler shares the sentiment, recalling the honour of presenting CHICAGO as the inaugural production at The Theatre at Solaire in 2014. He says its return to the venue feels like a homecoming for a show that continues to prove the timeless relevance of its creative vision. Created by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, the musical remains as compelling today as when audiences first encountered its intoxicating blend of jazz, satire, and sheer spectacle.
The Manila engagement is also part of the production’s global 30th anniversary celebrations. David Ian, co-producer of Crossroads Live, describes CHICAGO as a triple-threat musical that brings together Bob Fosse’s distinctive choreography, Kander’s masterful melodies, and Ebb’s satirical lyrics. With its celebrated company preparing to perform for Manila’s enthusiastic musical theatre community, the upcoming season promises an electrifying return to one of the city’s premier entertainment venues.
Roaring Twenties Scandal and Timeless Spectacle
Set in the dazzling yet dangerous world of 1920s Chicago, CHICAGO follows Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer whose involvement in a murder thrusts her into the spotlight. With help from slick lawyer Billy Flynn, Roxie tries to turn her murder case into a media sensation, only to find herself competing with fellow inmate and nightclub performer Velma Kelly for public attention. Through a wickedly entertaining mix of courtroom drama, ambition, and celebrity obsession, the musical explores the lengths people will go to for fame and the media’s power to turn scandal into spectacle.
The production draws on a celebrated creative legacy: a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Its original production was directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, with a creative team that included John Lee Beatty, William Ivey Long, Ken Billington, and Rick Clarke. A six-time Tony Award winner, including Best Musical Revival, CHICAGO continues to captivate audiences with its minimalist staging, iconic choreography, and unforgettable musical numbers.
More than a decade after its last Manila engagement, the musical returns, offering theatre lovers another chance to experience the seductive world of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly live on stage. Whether revisiting a beloved Broadway classic or discovering its sharp humour and jazz-infused spectacle for the first time, audiences can look forward to a theatrical experience where ambition, scandal, and showbiz glamour collide. From “All That Jazz” to “Nowadays,” CHICAGO The Musical is ready to paint Manila red once again when it takes over The Theatre at Solaire from March 9 to 28, 2027.
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