Chicago: The Musical has opened at the Festival Theatre to rave reviews and packed houses. With a star-studded cast and the slickest and hottest choreography, Chicago: The Musical is only in town until the end of August.
Starring in the role of Velma Kelly is the incredible Zoë Ventoura. Zoë has worked across stage, screen and television, and perhaps best known for her role as Mel Rafter in the original cast of Packed To The Rafters.
Zoë spoke to Glam Adelaide about Chicago: The Musical and what led her to pursuing the creative and performing arts as a career.
“I didn’t always want to be a performer, but it’s kind of morphed through the years. When I grew up I wanted to be a dancer – my mum was a dancer and a choreographer. After high school I went to the VCA in Melbourne and studied my Bachelor of Dance, with the goal of getting into a contemporary company. I kind of ended up in musicals in a roundabout way. I loved doing them however I was also interested in the straight acting side, as well as film and TV. I really loved the different sides to acting and performing. I have been extremely lucky to work across so many different creative outlets so far in my career.”
Having worked across stage, screen and television, we were curious to find out if Zoë prefers one creative outlet over another.
“I definitely see the benefit from working across stage, screen and TV. I thought that my stage career, particularly music theatre, just with the physicality of it, was probably a closed door for me. I’m in my 40s now and It just wasn’t on my radar. So when the opportunity came up for Chicago, and Velma being a dream role, I threw my hat in the ring. I didn’t know if I still had the pipes or if my body would still do the moves. Then it just kind of kept snowballing from there, and here I am, nine months later and we’ve almost toured the entire country. It’s been absolutely brilliant. It has kind of reopened that door for me which is great. I still want to work in film and TV when the opportunities arise, but I feel I can look at the stage again, which is wonderful.”
Chicago: The Musical is certainly a crowd favourite musical. Zoë shared with us what she thinks it is about the production that draws audiences in no matter where it’s performed.
“I think it’s a combination of several things. It’s a perfectly crafted musical, Kander and Ebb’s score is stunning, and pretty much every song is well known. Of course the Fosse-inspired choreography is classic. The show is also fast-paced and it’s dark and sexy but it’s also really fun and funny – it’s kind of got everything and people just keep wanting to see it.”
Zoë is playing Velma Kelly in Chicago: The Musical.
“I love her. She’s a real fighter as well as having a great fierceness and full of confidence. She’s also really smart – constantly thinking of her next move. So, when Roxie comes in, she has to fight her way back to the top dog position. Velma has been a wonderful character to get to know.”
Chicago: The Musical is only playing in Adelaide until the 31st of August, and only limited seats remain.
“You don’t want to miss this production. It is something else. There are not too many shows out there where the band is part of the set and part of the action that the audience gets to watch as well. It’s a spectacular production and audiences are really getting into it, which makes performing it so much more fun.”
Chicago – The Musical
Now playing at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre until August 31.
chicagomusical.com.au
Photo credit: Jeff Busby
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