Chicago cuts tour short

The musical Chicago will cancel most of its China tour performances except for the shows in Beijing and Shanghai. Provided to China Daily

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The tickle of Tango

It was originally supposed to include more than 40 shows in nine cities throughout China. News of the tour was released in November, attracting enthusiastic Shanghai audiences to purchase tickets worth 5 million yuan ($826,400).

But as of now, all the performances in cities other than Beijing and Shanghai have been canceled. The reason is because many theaters in second- and third-tier cities do not have the expertise to host international musicals.

Joyway Culture Co Ltd, the Chinese organizer of the tour, is working closely with the Broadway group to ensure the successful performances in Beijing and Shanghai.

"But nothing is confirmed," says Wu Liangyu, the publicist for Chicago in China. "Joyway is working hard with the cast and the production team. We really want to ensure successful shows in Beijing and Shanghai."

Joyway has added 5 million yuan to the production cost to ensure high-quality shows in Beijing and Shanghai, and it has been in close discussion with the producer Walter Bobbie. Bobbie's successful revival of the 1975 musical on Broadway won six Drama Desk Awards and five Tony Awards in 1996.

The musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb is set in 1920s' Chicago. It is about vaudevillian Velma and chorus girl Roxie. Both women are in prison for murder and contending to get their names and stories on the front-page news, for a chance to avoid their death sentences.

It is the longest-running musical revival, and the longest-running US musical in Broadway history. It has toured 26 countries and regions, giving more than 15,000 shows watched by more than 17 million people.