Off of their sold-out inaugural production of Bonnie and Clyde, emerging theatre company in
Montreal announces Chicago the musical starring META award winner Meghan Vera Starling.
Chicago the musical, will premiere on April 16th and run until April 25th 2020 at the Rialto Hall.
The Contact team will welcome an intimate audience for eight performances over two weeks for
a unique version of this beloved classic.
In the role of Velma Kelly, the notorious merry murderess vying for the spotlight, is Montreal
English Theatre Award winner Meghan Vera Starling. Opposite her is newcomer Ocean
Williams in the role of Roxie Hart. Williams is experiencing a successful theatre career in
Ontario with roles such as Joanne Jefferson in Rent and Vanessa in In the Heights; this is
Ocean’s first production after moving to Montreal. “Getting the opportunity to play an iconic role
like Roxie Hart is something I have dreamed of for a while. Performing alongside this cast of
Chicago and sharing in this unique take on this well-known story is an honour” says Williams.
Portraying everyone’s favorite lawyer, Billy Flynn, is Montreal musical sensation, Julia Kennific.
Contact patrons may recognize Kennific from her role as Blanche Barrow in Contact’s inaugural
production, Bonnie and Clyde, for which she won a BroadwayWorld Award for best supporting
actress. On the unusual casting of a woman in this iconic role, production Director Debora
Friedmann states, “Though the 20s saw great strides in women’s liberation this show particularly
highlights the sexism that was prevalent then and is still evident today. We chose to cross cast
Billy to showcase different ways in which women have manipulated the system to empower
themselves throughout history”.
The Chicago team hopes audiences will leave with an everlasting memory of some very special
razzle dazzle. “Chicago is an amazing classic musical that is known by theatre-goers and nontheatre-
goers alike”. Producer Ally Brumer notes, “What’s exciting about our production is that
we have this unique opportunity to turn the show on its head and bring some of the musical’s
underlying themes to the forefront; all while playing homage to the original production’s values”.
Contact Theatre stormed the Montreal theatre scene last year with their production of Bonnie
and Clyde in April 2019. Due to popular demand, the company remounted the production in
September 2019. In January of 2020, the production was recognized with 11 BroadwayWorld
Awards including Best Independent Musical and Best Independent Theatre Company. Contact
is a new independent theatre company that tackles provocative shows with intense subject
matter in a unique way. The group was founded by prominent talents in the Montreal theatre
scene, Ally Brumer and Debora Friedmann. They are recognized for their teamwork on Bonnie
and Clyde and The Addams Family Musical (with the West Island Theatre Association).
