The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program will present “Chicago,” music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, October 25 to November 3 in the William Granger Ryan Theatre, Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. Tickets are $15, with student and group rates available.  A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on October 25. The opening night performance is sold out. Call the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center Box Office for tickets at 724-552-2929 or purchase tickets online at www.setonhill.edu/tickets.

Performances: October 25, 26 and November 1, 2: 8 p.m.; October 31: 7 p.m.; October 27 and November 3: 2 p.m.

It’s the roaring ’20s in jazz age Chicago. When Velma and Roxie are accused of murder, lawyer Billy Flynn turns their cases into media sensations, pulling out all the stops to generate fame and notoriety. This Tony award winning musical lights up the stage with scintillating dance and syncopated songs:  “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

The Seton Hill student cast of “Chicago” includes Todd Griffin of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jade Hainer of Ellwood City, Pa.; Kenzie Hartnett of Bridgeville, Pa; Moriah Hathaway of McMurray, Pa., Lexie Hellinger of Allison Park, Pa.; Michaela Isenberg of Bethel Park, Pa.; Ryan Jordan of Liberty Township, Ohio; Madeline Kocur of Oakmont, Pa.; Kristina Lindauer of North Versailles, Pa.  Layne Lueckert of Donegal, Pa.; Bethany Malinoski of Sykesville, Md.; Ciara McCarthy of Aliquippa, Pa.; Malcolm McGraw of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Travis Miller of Greensburg, Pa.; Cameron Nickel of Bethel Park, Pa.; Azaria Oglesby of Catonsville, Md.; Ellie Oxley of Molendinar, Australia; Halle Polechko of Harrison City, Pa.; Leah Prestogeorge of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Samantha Sheldon of Catonsville, Md; Riley Tate of Munhall, Pa.; Hannah Taylor of Wexford, Pa.; and Melina Walko of Wexford, Pa.

Band members include Joseph Domencic, associate professor of musical theatre and theatre, Keyboard I/Conductor; Emily Landsman of Wallkill, N.Y., Keyboard II; Teddy DiSanti of Greensburg, Pa., Bass; Lindsey Lamagna of Murrysville, Pa., Drums; Nicole Lamagna of Murrysville, Pa., Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone; Annette Russell, community music instructor, Trumpet; Rebecca Russell, professional musician, Trombone; Lisa Thackrah, music instructor, Clarinet/Alto Saxophone; and Michelle Walters, director of community relations, School of Visual and Performing Arts, Keyboard II.

The Seton Hill student technical staff includes Te’Corey Anderson of Philadelphia, Pa, costume shop crew; Madyson Baer of Lewisberry, Pa., staff electrician; Catherine Balaban of North Huntingdon, Pa., staff electrician and costume shop crew; Ashley Blazczak of Saxonburg, Pa., costume shop crew; Delaney Bortz of Delmont, Pa., deck/run crew and production electrician; Veronica Buell of Duxbury, Mass., scenic paint and props production crew; Brooke Caldwell of Cambridge Springs, Pa., scenic paint and props staff; Kailey Campbell of Annapolis, Md., scenic paint and props staff; Molly Carbone of Allentown, Pa., welder and scene shop crew; Emily Coglio of New Castle, Pa., costume shop crew; Brittany Dilliott of Arnold, Pa., hair and make-up stylist and costume shop crew; Julianna Eyer of Pittsburgh, Pa., microphone technician, costume shop crew and scenic paint and props production crew; Alyssa Frank of New Brighton, Pa., costume shop crew; Nolan Franks of West Newton Pa., deck/run crew and scene shop crew; Bridget Forsythe of Pittsburgh, Pa., scenic paint and props production crew; Melanie Frye of Greensburg, Pa., costume shop crew; Zach Greene of Valencia, Pa., costume shop crew and scenic paint and props production crew; Jade Hainer of Ellwood City, Pa., hair and make-up stylist and costume shop crew; Madison Harry of Greensburg, Pa., dresser and scene shop crew; Kenzie Hartnett of Bridgeville, Pa, costume shop crew; Amelia Heastings of Bethel Park, Pa., stage manager; Nicole Holland of Saltsburg, Pa., assistant to the choreographer and costume shop crew; Amy Hotovchin of Elizabeth, Pa., associate wardrobe manager; Lexi Jenks of Erie, Pa., assistant stage manager; Ryan Jordan of Liberty Township, Ohio, costume shop crew; Brooke Kelly of McKeesport, Pa., costume shop crew and scene shop crew; Julie Lang of Pittsburgh, Pa., lead dresser and costume shop crew; Gwen Little of Carlisle, Pa., costume shop crew; Aubrey Lutz of Bridgeville, Pa., assistant stage manager; Bethany Malinoski of Sykesville, Md., staff electrician; Jessie Malone of Ruffsdale, Pa., scenic paint and props staff; Ciara McCarthy of Aliquippa, Pa., staff electrician; Jordan Mayers of New Park, Pa., scenic paint and props staff; Kaitlyn Mayers of New Park, Pa. scene shop crew; Malcolm McGraw of Pittsburgh, Pa., dance captain and scenic paint and props production crew; Rowan Mentzer of Greenville, Pa., hair and make-up stylist and scene shop crew; Elizabeth Miller of Pittsburgh, Pa., lead dresser and costume shop crew; Breanna O'Brien of North Huntingdon, Pa., sound board operator and staff electrician; Azaria Oglesby of Catonsville, Md, costume shop crew and scene shop crew; Isabel Papariella of Pittsburgh, Pa., scene shop crew; Lili Real of Pittsburgh, Pa., spotlight operator and production electrician; Abigail Rocks of New Salem, Pa., production electrician; Janine Rys of Sammamish, Wash., costume shop crew; Corisa Saitta of Bethel Park, Pa., light board operator and production electrician; Samantha Shaffer of Larimer, Pa, dresser and scenic paint and props production crew; Katelyn Slavin, of Greensburg, Pa., scene shop crew; Dale Streletz of Windber, Pa., spotlight operator and scene shop crew; Julia Stypula of Mars, Pa., scene shop crew; Ashlynn Swauger of West Newton, Pa., assistant to the costume designer; Riley Tate of Munhall, Pa., welder, production electrician, and scene shop crew; Hannah Taylor of Wexford, Pa., costume shop crew; Shelby Walsh of Coraopolis, Pa., costume shop crew and scenic paint and props production crew; Haley Wilt of Cumberland, Md., scene shop crew;   Julia Wingard of Pittsburgh, Pa., scene shop crew; and Noah Zaken of Pittsburgh, Pa., associate wardrobe manager.

The Seton Hill University production of “Chicago” is directed by Denise Pullen, associate professor of theatre.

Professional artistic staff for the production includes Ken Clothier, assistant professor of theatre, lighting design and master electrician; Joseph Domencic, associate professor of musical theatre and theatre, music director; Karen Glass, assistant professor of theatre, set design, charge scenic artist and properties manager; Ryan McMasters, adjunct instructor of theatre, sound design; Elaine Montgomery, costume shop manager; Susan O’Neill, instructor of theatre, costume design and costume director; TaMara Swank, assistant professor of dance, choreographer; Michelle Walters, director of community relations, School of Visual and Performing Arts, associate music director; and Caila Yates, technical director.  

Venue Information: All Seton Hill Theatre performances are held in the William Granger Ryan Theatre in Seton Hill’s Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa.  The Performing Arts Center is a fully accessible and climate-controlled facility.  Parking is available in four nearby Greensburg parking areas:  the Bell Parking Garage on North Otterman Street (across the street from the Performing Arts Center), the Hellman-Ghrist lot on North Main Street, the Albert Grillo lot on Seton Hill Drive and the Wib Albright lot off West Otterman Street.  

Ticket Information:  Single admission tickets are $15.  Seton Hill students (with valid ID) can purchase tickets for $5.  Non-Seton Hill students (with a valid school ID) can purchase advance tickets for $13.  Students from any school can purchase rush tickets five minutes before curtain, subject to availability, for $5 (with valid school ID).  Groups of six or more can purchase tickets at a rate of $11 each with a reservation and advance payment. Order tickets online at http://www.setonhill.edu/tickets by phone at 724-552-2929, or by mail at SHUPAC Theatre Box Office, Seton Hill University, 1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, Pa. 15601-1599.  Box Office Hours, by telephone: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended hours on performance days: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday. 

Seton Hill University’s Performing Arts Center is 73,000 square feet of everything a performing arts major needs to move from student to professional.   The Center houses two dedicated, flexible performance spaces, the Carol Ann Reichgut Concert Hall and the William Granger Ryan Theatre. The Center also includes a performance studio, new classrooms, rehearsal rooms and technical areas that include the best equipment for learning and performing, from Steinway pianos to the latest in lighting, sound, video and acoustics.  The Center is located in downtown Greensburg, putting it squarely in the middle of the city’s cultural district yet still only minutes from Seton Hill’s main hilltop campus.

The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program has a long history of educating performing arts majors for professional careers while playing a vital role in the educational life of the campus.  Seton Hill’s Theatre and Dance Program offers four full-length productions (as well as a number of shorter works) each year that generate audiences of over 3,500 and speak to topics addressed in courses across Seton Hill’s curriculum.  For more information on the Theatre Program at Seton Hill, please visit www.setonhill.edu or call 724-552-2934.

 

PHOTO: Maddie Kocur, Malcolm McGraw and Travis Miller in the Seton Hill University Theatre production of "Chicago."