By Erin Flynn Jay<\/p>\n
After 17 years away from Philadelphia, ‘Chicago<\/a>‘ is finally making its long-awaited return to the stage of the Forrest Theatre from May 12 to 17, bringing with it all the scandal, satire and showstopping jazz that made the musical a Broadway institution.<\/p>\n Presented by Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization<\/a>, the Tony Award-winning revival tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago\u2019s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into sensational headlines.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Ellie Roddy, the actress stepping into Roxie\u2019s iconic role, the Philadelphia stop marks both a first visit to the city and the emotional end of a life-changing chapter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s the week that the tour will be closing,\u201d said Roddy. \u201cI’ve been on the tour for two whole years, and so it’s going to be a big week for me, but also I’m excited to explore the city in general.\u201d<\/p>\n Roddy plans to spend her downtime walking through the city, sightseeing and soaking up as much of Philadelphia as possible before the curtain falls on the national tour for good.<\/p>\n While ‘Chicago’ first premiered decades ago, Roddy believes its themes remain strikingly modern.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a very relevant show for this day and age, and I think that it’s really impactful in the way that the show is constructed, too,\u201d said Roddy. \u201cIt’s a timeless story and it’s extremely entertaining.”<\/p>\n Set amid the glitz and corruption of the Jazz Age, ‘Chicago’ has remained one of Broadway\u2019s longest-running hits thanks to its sharp humor, unforgettable score and timeless cynicism about celebrity culture. Roddy says audiences often connect deeply with different characters throughout the show.<\/p>\n \u201cEach character has qualities that each audience member can follow,” she said. “Each person will be drawn to specific characters and follow their journeys.\u201d<\/p>\n Roddy said the group is very close \u2014 \u201cwe are like such a big family unit and it’s really awesome.\u201d \u00a0That closeness is part of why saying goodbye to the tour will be bittersweet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a dream role, a dream show, a dream scenario, and I feel very lucky that I’ve gotten to be Roxie Hart full-time for two whole years,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cAll the people that I’ve met, all the connections that I’ve made and all the memories that we have, it’s a very unique experience.”<\/p>\n Roddy originally auditioned for both Roxie and Velma Kelly before ultimately landing the lead role.<\/p>\n \u201cI was the only girl doing double duty at the audition, and so it really could have gone either way,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a really great experience. It was a lot of fun just being with a handful of girls. We were all having a great time. It was also a bonding experience in a way. I feel very lucky that I got to be the one chosen to play Roxy. I’m definitely so grateful.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n