CHICAGO "NOWADAYS HOT HONEY RAG Stratford Playhouse

[@michaelisennock8391]

They performed it perfectly and at a runaway train tempo. Original choreo, and all.

[@jackdasef7367]

This is a high school production??? Oh...My... freakin'... God...! Thinking back to my days in high school, college and community theater, there is no way in hell any of us could have put on a production of this quality! My high school theater coach would have sold his soul (and those of everyone around him) to be able to do a show like this. From what I've been able to find on-line, this isn't a school for the performing arts, which makes it even more amazing. Hats off to the cast, crew and everybody else involved.

[@ianlombardo9758]

Jack Dasef this was my first college production. I was cast as Amos, and I would play Amos again in a heartbeat if given the chance.

[@LordofFullmetal]

Right? When I was in high school, it was hard enough to get anyone to sing or speak at the right volume - in rehearsals, let alone the show. Everyone had the weirdest stage fright (I say "weird" because everyone there voluntarily signed up either for the show or the class; no one should've been there who didn't want to do it). One of the main characters had to be played by several people, because the first one didn't want to do it despite auditioning for it, and then the second one couldn't sing, so I ended up getting her singing lines. That's not even going into the number of times the teachers had to remind everyone to shut up backstage, because you could hear every word onstage. Personally I don't know why (My friends and I never had this much to talk about, maybe we're just weird) but getting a teenager to stop talking for five minutes was the hardest thing in the world when I was at school. They would. not. shut. up. It was at the point where other students were telling each other to be quiet, because for some of us our grades actually depended on how well the show went. All that to say - my high school production was a MESS! I'm amazed that this one turned out so well.

[@СергейН-х6й]

reading the comment with thoughts: "yes, exactly what i wanted to say" 🙂

[@Makeji]

We did West Side Story, but even so...

[@elphbwckd212]

I feel sorry for people who didn't have the chance to experience being in shows like this in high school. I was fortunate to have a school that put a ton of effort into their arts programs. We had incredible shows and people from around the state to be involved in our theater, choir and band scene. Very blessed.

[@dianedo1234]

OMG! I am well, speechless and full of awe! This choreographer of a high school production of "Chicago" did Fosse? These girls were SO good I felt as if I was watching Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking! The producer of the movie stated when asked: "No, I did not do Fosse, I knew I could not do a good Fosse." This high school choreographer belongs on Broadway! He did the EXACT finale of "Chicago" he did not miss a thing, and I have seen this done HUNDREDS of times. The rest of the numbers, the same! It is SO hard to get high school boys into theatre! Now, to the right I can see Gwen Vernon and Chita Rivera do this number, if I clicked on it, but I will tell you, these girls should be on Broadway NOW, no Ball State University. I was wondering about the cartwheels, the girls did them! (Okay, I was REALLY surprised at that!) The rest of this cast, their numbers should be on the Tonys! Ten stars! Bravo!!

[@teijaflink2226]

The best cartwheel I have seen on this number so far, awesome job girls.

[@saki205]

The lady that played velma is just phenomenal

[@stevew3286]

I have seen community and regional productions that didn't come anywhere close to this. WOW!

[@mouseheadstudios]

Just finished watching this today and this production was amazing! All those young people had amazing skills on the stage. I hope they are all well and I hope some of them continued on in the entertainment business because they all did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing this with us all.

[@rishoulddie8377]

my god noelle was the definitely the best casting choice for velma, i cant imagine anyone portraying it better than her

[@iamaussie]

Wow, this was amazing. Go straight to Broadway!!!

[@pushingdasies1]

One thing I love about the Hot Honey Rag is the original choreography is so timeless, its not messed with. It usually has a lot of the same choreography used from the musical.

[@kyriebaby10]

My ExIt MuSiC pLeAsE

[@michaeljj43]

High Schoo??? These girls are fabulous. and the tempo they take hot honey rag...AMAZING!!!!!

[@terrypfeffer8504]

Those kids must have worked very hard to achieve such a great performance. Congratulations

[@Yoarashi]

AMAZING. I've been watching through all of these in order. Everyone's so talented!

[@ivandalito]

me too!!

[@jcs1025]

Very impressed for Hot Honey Rag you used the exact same choreography as the Broadway production…and nailed it! Great job.

[@peterlawson3078]

Excellent! Bob, Gwen, Rita, Ann and Bebe would have been proud to see this! It is very rare indeed to see MOST of the original Fosse/Reinking choreo incorporated into this finale (Zeta-Jones and Zellweger didn't do it) - let alone in a high school production! Very well done indeed! I complimented Eliza on her Maria a few days ago - and the same notes apply to you both! KUDOS!

[@doug18020]

FYI.....It wasn't Rita. It was Chita. (Rita did WSS, movie)

[@bradyfiscus4723]

I love the lighting

[@juanitacampos9893]

I love Noelle

[@mzmiller52]

I always come back to this video of Chicago because it’s the only one that keeps the commentary on America in the finale.

[@user-on6db4rf4s]

This is amazing!!!! I love it, i was grinning ear to ear watching it. Everyone did such phenomenal jobs. I would sell my soul to be part of such energy and art..

[@josie6923]

Me and my dance friend are doing the hot honey rag dance for our end of year show! Edit: The end of the year show just passed, they did a lot better 😂

[@WWAHP]

Well Done Ladies, you did this show justice.

[@anna94881]

Thank you for uploading this!! I have been waiting for this number! They did such an awesome job!! The show is fantastic!!

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

Jeez, music director, you didn't do those kids any favors with that tempo on Hot Honey Rag! Check the video with Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking, or the one with Gwen Verdon - about 120. This is 130! If the tempo is too frantic, the dancers don't have time to fully execute the gestures. Kudos to the young ladies.

[@Seiya174]

my thoughts exactly! i thought they were going to faint!!

[@Seiya174]

i honestly am most impressed with how well they did at that tempo

[@melclo3641]

That's insane, absolutely brilliant

[@Mura_128]

Ann Reinkings Choreo with the 1975 tempo is fantastic

[@CarmenZynger]

Wow!!!! High school? Amazing! Bravos

[@chloeblewitt4995]

OMGGGG I've watched so many of these extracts of this amazing performance, does anyone know where I can find the full production?

[@MarniCollier]

i love how almost this entire production is just on youtube

[@jtcarrey]

This is absolutely my favorite musical and this made me cry tears of joy 😭😩💕💕💕

[@WilliamB1026]

Wow! Excellent job. Love it.

[@joannc2510]

Well I just saw Chicago again on Broadway wit Pam Anderson, and although she had great star quality- she was no where near these girls talent when it comes to dance! Fosse would be thrilled his work lives on and is tackled by young talent - kudos!

[@mayerlynquintero6764]

Que belloooos!! 🥰 amo este clasico, no me canso de verlo.

[@thomaseide8767]

7:32 this had me rolling lmao.. O-O but its true

[@markbaker2826]

FABULOUS !!!!

[@topogigio2879]

There's a beautiful strain of melancholy in Caitlin' rendition of Nowadays, which I have literally never seen in any other production. It makes the whole ending so much more interesting. Renee Zelwegger was an amateur compared to this young lady.

[@moriahgiov9877]

I saw Caitlin in the tour of 42nd street!

[@bdarci]

Spectacular. Two notes, the whistler was off key, and the lighting guy didn't quite have his game on. Still, what an amazing achievement for a high school productions.

[@stephaniedykes4157]

Incredible

[@blairwoolverton397]

I would love to her about the careers of all of these amazing stars now 6 yers later

[@ChihuahuaPromiscuo]

This is amaziiiing!

[@meredithgrimm8551]

awe the end gave me chills :))))

[@thejupiter2574]

EXCELLENT I loved it. Thank U

[@Makeji]

Wow. Great Velma.

[@jamesjudge3891]

Major Fosse minus. They only attempt to dance. Thanks for comin. Next!

[@fernandolovee1]

Omg 👏👏

[@joeenglert]

ANITA SINGS MUCH BETTER HERE THAN IN WSS I BET SHE HAD MARIA GIVE HER SOME HELP...SHE WAS ALWAYS A GREAT DANCER

[@Tina-qp7py]

I wonder what they're doing now. Did they follow their dreams.

[@drinny26]

Why isnt Roxy blonde?

[@corneliaspindler6714]

Yes...great! But easy things like being in tune should be right.

[@orion8835]

Excellent work. I think it’s rather revealing that this production did the hot honey rag with the Fosse choreography and the Hollywood production cheated it out due to Zellweger being a idiot . It was a little to fast and some moves were slurred but wow they DID it ! Big bravi to all.

[@witharchie9593]

Actually the director of the movie, Rob Marshal, said he didn’t do Fosse because "I’m not Fosee", and so didn’t want to get it wrong or encroach on Fosse’s movements, when the picture itself was not a complete replication of the broadway show, taking influence also from the original film from the 1920s (I may be wrong with the date) as well as the true story that inspired the original film, which I would greatly recommend reading about, it’s fascinating!!

[@davidtyler9576]

OK it seems I got a lot of work to put into this, and I am so impressed that this is a high school production. However, they didn’t even do the Charlston which is the main point of this entire scene!

[@Mariasantacruz2005]

It’s the same choreography from the 1997 Broadway production

[@Satanna.avemaria]

I love the costumes for this production. The costumes for the broadway production are so boring.

[@singer34109]

Great job but the rag was too up tempo! You must have been gasping for air!

[@Rose-ry6gm]

Personally, not a big fan. But they did alright on the choreo.

[@downstageright3298]

Okay, so they did this choreo really well. It's very hard so I applaud them. But..... this is exactly the same choreography from the 1997 Broadway Version. The one that Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking did. Like they hardly changed anything. Don't believe me? Look it up. The performers did a good job don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's right to steal choreography. Maybe a few moves but not the whole thing. That's just lazy and plagiarism.

[@THATBILLMOORE]

The choreography for the show is the choreography for the show, just like the music & lyrics of the show are the music & lyrics. Why would you not use Bob Fosse's choreography if you can pull it off. The point of it all for these kids was to pull off a Broadway caliber show.

[@downstageright3298]

@@THATBILLMOORE Hmm I guess so. I've never thought of it that way before (probably because most schools couldn't pull it off) Well then good job to these kids then! I didn't mean it to offend by the way! I think this cast is amazing and the kids dancing ability is off the charts!

[@bryanleigh6497]

Amateurs tried hard, good effort

[@rodrigoluque1992]

EDGRUIOL

[@ritchiestirling6801]

Surprisingly poor production from Stratford. I've seen this number done badly but it's a real accomplishment to make it boring. And the only thing this has in common with Fosse, is that they are upright and moving.

[@AngryBaldCat]

Agree. What a letdown for the grand finale.

[@whosjuno6992]

Dude it’s a high school production chill

[@maliaeugene6906]

I'm sorry but after watching a lot of their videos, I just can't stand the girl that plays Velma. I just didn't think she captured the essence of the character and just really doesn't have the voice for it at all. Also too much of this show was too different from the original movie it makes me upset tbh

[@nikkosalvador3374]

The movie is based from the musical. Not the musical is based from the movie. This production is replicating the musical not the movie. Watch more youtube videos of Chicago Musical and you will be enlightened.

[@sergiovela7686]

Velma was ok, I didn't really like Roxy. But I mean, it is a high school!! They did it really well

[@daniellelang3785]

Lmfao the original is actually a play not a movie and in the movie they changed bits of it

[@samiiisam_0311]

The movie was based on the show and it changed a lot of things. Also, the show always has been so minimalistic nothing to be with the movie, also this is a high school show

[@samiiisam_0311]

@@snowlinewest1321 actually i think this is based in the 1996 revival, that was the most famous version of chicago and is really different of the original. Also the movie is based more in the 1996 revival. And the 1996 is the most represented version

[@ElizaHamilton1780]

This really sucks. Little girls trying to sing about “nowadays” like they know what that is. And you have no explanation for how Roxie and Velma end up working together.

[@RosalineDaisy]

it's...a play... 😕

[@HappyGamer-br1ls]

They did it for money

[@OosarahrocksoO]

Nobody asked, so shut up

[@guyaonline6385]

Theresa A. You do know that this was a broadway musical and not written by high schoolers. Right?

[@greatmoviesrecaps]

Dude you are annoying af