Avi Hoffman, Patti Gardner and More Set to Lead Boca Raton Theatre Guild's CHICAGO

Add sex and sparkle to a combustible mixture of murder, greed, corruption, and betrayal, blend with music and lyrics by the incomparable John Kander and Fred Ebb, stir in the unmistakable look of Bob Fosse's choreography, combine with an incredibly talented cast of actors - and the result is the Boca Raton Theatre Guild's upcoming production of Chicago.

Chicago will open on March 1st and run through March 17th at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton.

In Chicago, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse created a work that flawlessly evokes its vaudeville setting. Flamboyant flappers, crooked lawyers, and merry murderesses are all part of a sparkling script and a classic score that includes "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango" and "Razzle Dazzle."

BRTG producer/director Keith Garsson has assembled a stellar cast to bring some of Broadway's most beloved and well known characters to life: Avi Hoffman (Billy Flynn), Patti Gardner (Roxie Hart), Krisha Marcano (Velma Kelly), Sally Bondi (Matron Mama Morton), and Ken Clement (Amos Hart) are all on board and looking forward to playing in this classic tale of "...violence, envy, exploitation, adultery and treachery-all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts!"

Hap Erstein (Palm Beach Post/PalmBeachArtsPaper.com) listed the Boca Raton Theatre Guild's recent production of A.R. Gurney's Sylvia as one of his 2012 '10 Favorites of the Year', and Chicago promises to continue to enhance the Guild's reputation as one of South Florida's up and coming professional theatre companies.

"This company - and this production - is going to feature the best of the best," Garsson says. "Just getting the cast together has been a dream, and working with them is proving to be all I could have hoped for... and more."

Garsson's Velma Kelly, Krisha Marcano, originated the role of 'Squeak' in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. Marcano's impressive background includes stints with the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and roles in Fosse, Disney's Aida, Sweet Charity, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and the film Preacher's Kid. She holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and is the co-chair of the business group at Career Transitions for Dancers and the founder of KM Studios.

Avi Hoffman's recent performances in LUV at the Plaza Theatre, and Parade Productions' Brooklyn Boy earned him critical praise, and his turn as Wilbur Turnblad in Actor's Playhouse' 2012 production of Hairspray earned him a Carbonell Award. Hoffman is also known for his award winning one man shows Too Jewish? and Too Jewish, Too! (Performer of the Year '95 - NY Press Magazine; L.A. OVATION award - Best Actor In a Musical 2001; NY Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations). On television he portrays lawyer Sid Raskin in the Starz TV series MAGIC CITY. Avi's newest show Still Jewish After All These Years will run from May 10th - 19th at the Boca Raton Theatre Guild.

Patti Gardner says she "is thrilled, honored and terrified to be performing the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago". Known as one of South Florida's busiest actresses, Patti just reprised her role in The Interview for The Women's Theatre Project and was recently seen in LUV at the Plaza Theatre in Manalapan. She is a Carbonell Award-winner for her performance in Lips Together, Teeth Apart at Palm Beach Dramaworks, and has performed as the "Soap Star" in Menopause the Musical nationally for ten years.

More Articles by This Author...