During the event in Beijing, the show's two leads: Sarah Soetaert, who plays murderess Roxie Hart, and Michelle Antrobus, who plays Velma Kelly, a successful nightclub and vaudeville performer, performed the finale, Hot Honey Rag, and sang My Own Best Friend.
"It's a combination of things that builds up. It's the choreography, the story, the music, and the dance that make people enjoy the performance," says Soetaert, who has been with the musical for about 20 years.
Despite being in the same show for such a long time, she is still excited about every performance. "It's a journey, you do the warm-up, the vocal, you see your colleagues, you get your costume on, makeup and there you are," she says. "By the time the curtain comes up, you are there because you want to be."
Antrobus is also a longtime cast member and has been with the musical for 17 years.
"The two characters are very different. Roxie is impulsive and driven, and dreams of being a vaudeville star, Velma is already a big star. Through all that rivalry, they realize that they need each other. They are very much the same, passionate and ambitious," says Antrobus.
"The two characters resonate with our female audience in particular," she adds.
"Everybody in the show has done it many, many times. They are highly experienced," says Tim Reed, the musical's touring manager, adding that the touring cast is a mix of international talent and local performers, which ensures that the production maintains high standards, while incorporating some local flair.
Reed was in China when the musical toured in 2018.
"The reception for Chicago was overwhelmingly positive. Audiences were drawn to the musical's timeless themes of ambition and crime, vibrant energy, dazzling costumes, and impeccable choreography. For this upcoming tour, we will stay true to its reputation for spectacle and sophistication," Reed says.
