‘Chicago’ Story and Characters | The BSB Podcast

February 23, 2026 Brian Kitson Broadway, Chicago, Classic Musicals, Musical, New York 2 min read

Broadway’s Chicago is truly all that jazz, and then some. Since its 1975 debut, this vaudeville-inspired musical has been winking at audiences while picking their pockets of sympathy, certainty, and any lingering faith in the justice system. In a show that turns murder into a media event and the courtroom into a cabaret, audiences are transported to a world as flashy as it is dark, reflective of the world we live in. So what makes Chicago a spectacle that continues to draw audiences in day after day, and year after year? That’s certainly what we’re hoping to get to the bottom of in our two-part Chicago musical discussion! So, where do we begin in this breakdown of Broadway’s (currently) longest show? With the characters and story, of course!

In this episode of the BSB podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko explore the story of Chicago and its impact on Broadway. From characters such as Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly, to the incomparable Mama Morton, there are plenty of characters to discuss. Which performances steal the show, and which ones make us wish for a quick sentencing from the jury? Does the story pull us in as much as we thought it would, or did we walk away with a strong desire for something else? Listen to this fun episode to find out!

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