Chicago (NYC)

See it if you haven't gone in a while. The staging/choreography is still some of the best on Broadway.

Don't see it if you have lots of new shows to visit. Go to them...and then return to Chicago.

See it if Classic ageless musical.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals

See it if You love the music, enjoy bob fosse and like whoever is starring in it.

Don't see it if You like lavish costumes and big sets.

See it if You like that old razzle dazzle! Fun. Sharp. A good time. There's a reason it's the longest running revival in Broadway history, it's great!

Don't see it if You're looking for a serious drama. This show is just a lot of fun!

See it if like classic Broadway and celeb cameos.

Don't see it if you'd rather see the movie.

See it if If you like big musicals. Great staging, singing directing. Saw it three times and really liked it every time.

Don't see it if If you don't like musicals or if you don't like big productions.

See it if you enjoy the old time musicals. Loved it at Encores before it made it's revival on Broadway. Look for your favorite to take the female lead

Don't see it if you just dislike musical theater at its best

See it if you love the music, enjoy Kander & Ebb, appreiciate Fosse style dancing, enjoy stark but creative staging

Don't see it if idea of female murderers being celebrated turns you off, you feel that Verdon & Rivera can't be topped, expect full sets

See it if You've never seen it before. You want sexy, Fosse style choreography. You're a fan of the featured guest star.

Don't see it if You want something more contemporary. You don't like sex-fueled, Fosse style choreography. You've already seen it.

See it if you like minimalism (in terms of staging, costumes, and just about everything else).

Don't see it if you're expecting it to be like the movie.

See it if You want to see one of the greatest American musicals of all time.

Don't see it if You dislike the film or expect a lavish production.

See it if you like to sit back and be entertained by great singing and dancing with a lot of fun thrown in.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals that are light and focus more on show than story.

See it if You love classic musicals well performed and brilliantly choreographed !

Don't see it if You can't deal with raw language and suggestive gestures.

See it if You want to enjoy a long -running Broadway hit with sublime dancing, singing and a catchy plot.

Don't see it if You'll be offended to hear of the crimes that these women commit.

See it if Enjoy a classic Broadway show.

Don't see it if You don't like Big dance numbers.

See it if you like a simplistic musical with an excellent orchestra and some good show tunes. You like their celebrity stunt casting of the moment.

Don't see it if you will feel cheated out of a real musical by the cheap, barebones set, you don't want to sit next to tourists falling asleep.

See it if You want to see what a terrific broadway musical looks like

Don't see it if You don't love musical theatre

See it if you want to see a classic Broadway musical.

Don't see it if you don't like being surrounded by tourists or want to see a bigger stage musical (this is very minimalistic).

See it if you’re interested in Broadway artifacts. You have cheap tickets.

Don't see it if you hope the show rivals the movie in creativity and world-building.

Also What I wish I knew before seeing it:
1. Seems like it’s been running for eons, but this production is a revival that originated as a staged concert; it doesn’t have the full blown production value you’d expect from a longstanding Broadway show with legendary designers and choreographers attached to it

2. The published critical acclaim came from 15-20 years ago (!) by critics reacting to the celebrities cast back then and staging choices that were probably daring at the time

Chicago would be less disappointing if it was moved off-Broadway into a more intimate space. Closer proximity to the performers could make the broad style funnier? The old-fashioned jazz dancing sexier? The minimalist design seem judicious and scrappy rather than lazy?

The songs, story, and anti-hero characters are good bones, but this show is overdue for another update.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy great dancing (Fosse) and an engaging​ story

Don't see it if you are looking for a big production

See it if you don't set your expectations too high after seeing the film. The music and choreography are still great, the rest not so much.

Don't see it if you want Broadway leads. You're more likely to get stunt-casted celebs, understandable as a show this old needs that to get butts in seats.

See it if you are a Fosse fan, Great ensemble dancing! Better than the original & Kander and Ebb write Great music - despite the story's Anti-heros

Don't see it if You have seen it before, on Stage or film. It's a stronger story on film, and the leads don't compare to Verdon and Rivera for charisma.

Also I haven't seen Chicago on stage since the original production. Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera where electric. Despite the chorus being phenomenal dancers, the leads could not hold a candle to the originals. I love Kander and Ebb music, but, for most of their shows, I find the anti heroes too dark and dislikable, and this show is one of those cases. Also, please note: This production is now pushing tix to tourist. The lack of theatre etiquette around me was hysterical. I felt like I was the only one who had ever seen a live production before. If you have not seen Chicago before, I would still go for the original fosse choreography, phenomenal dancers and great music. It's really just about the "Razzle Dazzle."... Read more Read less

See it if historic broadway musical revivals are always must-see for you. Still stands the test of time buy only because of its infamous choreography.

Don't see it if fluffy/silly dated shows don't cut it. Will make the grade for theater-history buffs, but this production's more for tourists than purists.

See it if You like Fosse. Although playing for years always good. Music lyrics staging dancing everything works. Cast always fresh and good.

Don't see it if You don't like clever musicals.

See it if you've somehow missed it and have yet to do so; like vaudeville or musicals in 1920s jazz-club style that are slim on storytelling.

Don't see it if needing dramatic sets, intense stories, and even pacing. The opening few numbers are energetic and well-done; then the show loses steam.

Also There may still be glimmers of that old razzle-dazzle, but among the glitter is a slight tarnish. There's no doubt Chicago's ensemble gives its physical all, but I found the leads of Bianca Marroquin (Roxy Hart) and Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly) extremely disappointing--I think part of it has to do with The Ambassador Theatre's sound system; I was in the Rear Mezzanine and found the women's voices so low as to not be able to hear whole sections of what they were saying (and others around me also had the same complaints). In truth, I went to see Tony Yazbeck as Billy Flynn, and the evening I went was his final performance. LaVon Fisher-Wilson as Matron "Mama" Morton seemed to be the fans' favorite, as each time she appeared, the audience went a bit wild. While modestly enjoyable, Chicago's not one that'll leave me thinking and mulling it over much: it's pure spectacle and the satiric tone of the original production, social commentary regarding corruption, feels lost. It's unfulfilled.... Read more Read less