Chicago El Musical Draws Strong Response In Santo Domingo

“Chicago: El Musical” opened its Dominican run with a standing ovation and strong applause during several of its best-known musical numbers, highlighting the audience response to one of the country’s most ambitious recent musical theater productions.

Presented at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito, the production brings together acting, live music, choreography, lighting, costumes and scenic design in a Dominican staging of the Broadway classic. José Llano serves as general and artistic producer, with María Castillo as general director.

A Large-Scale Production Built Around Music And Dance

The production opens with “All That Jazz” and features 17 musical numbers, including “Cell Block Tango,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “My Own Best Friend” and “Nowadays.” The staging combines the musical performances with choreography and a visual design intended to recreate the atmosphere associated with the story’s 1920s setting.

A band of 16 musicians, under the musical direction of Junior Lomba, provides the live accompaniment, while the choreography and ensemble work give the production much of its visual energy. The result places music and movement at the center of a show built around ambition, fame, crime and the pursuit of publicity.

The Dominican production is based on the long-running Broadway musical created by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Its story follows Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two women accused of murder who use the media and the legal system to pursue fame while navigating Chicago’s world of entertainment and scandal.

Karla Fatule, Robmariel Olea And Javier Grullón Lead The Cast

Karla Fatule plays Roxie Hart, bringing acting, singing and dancing to one of the production’s central roles. Robmariel Olea returns to musical theater as Velma Kelly, a character whose rivalry with Roxie drives much of the story and its major musical sequences.

Javier Grullón portrays Billy Flynn, the influential attorney who understands how to turn criminal cases into public spectacles. The principal cast also includes Luis José Germán as Amos Hart, Laura Cadete as Mama Morton and Guille Martín as Fred Casely.

The production brings together established performers and dancers in a format that requires the cast to move continuously between dramatic scenes, comedy, singing and demanding choreography.

Audience Response Marks Opening Weekend

The strongest public reaction came at the end of the performances, when spectators gave the production a standing ovation. Applause also accompanied several of the show’s principal musical numbers during the opening weekend.

The response adds to the attention surrounding a production that was designed on a larger scale than a conventional theater presentation. The combination of a live orchestra, a substantial dance ensemble and detailed stage and costume work makes the musical a significant addition to Santo Domingo’s current theater calendar.

“Chicago” also adds an internationally recognized title to the Dominican capital’s cultural offering. The Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito, located in Santo Domingo’s Plaza de la Cultura, is one of the country’s principal venues for major performing arts productions.

Final Performances Scheduled For September

The production’s remaining performances are scheduled for September 18, 19 and 20 at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:30 p.m., while Sunday’s performance begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are being sold through UEPA Tickets. The official ticketing information lists the production at the Teatro Nacional and indicates that the event is intended for audiences ages 16 and older, with an adult accompanying younger attendees.

With its combination of a well-known Broadway score, live musicians and a predominantly Dominican creative and performing team, “Chicago: El Musical” gives audiences another large-format theatrical option in Santo Domingo. Its final September performances will conclude a run that has already generated a strong response during its opening weekend.