ABOUT CHICAGO The musical Chicago is based on the real-life, high profile, trials of two women accused of murdering their lovers in 1920s Chicago. Set in the age of Jazz, at a time when societal views of women were shifting, the play is an ironic commentary on celebrity criminals and the corruption of justice. The musical version of the play became a Bob Fosse hit in 1975 and its revival remains the longest running in Broadway history. Of course we have to mention the 2003 Academy Award winning film version which was actually shot here in Toronto. Chicago is packed with action and features an array of interesting characters, anchored by two strong, complex female leads, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. The freewheeling feeling of jazz envelopes the production and Fosse’s signature choreography drives Chicago’s continuing appeal along with a string of iconic songs including: When You’re Good to Mama, Cell Block Tango and the unforgettable, All that Jazz.
AUDITION INFORMATION Audition registration is NOW OPEN for our Winter production of Chicago, the musical! For youth ages 11-21. Please read all the information listed below including the important dates and audition requirements before clicking on our "Register Here" button at the bottom right hand side of this page! If this is your first audition and would like a follow up discussion about the process, contact us at admin@mainstagetheatre.com.
Audition Dates: Auditions are June 3rd and 5th from 5:00PM to 9:00 PM Auditions will be scheduled in 10 minute time slots. Time slots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Location for Audition & Callbacks Auditions and callbacks are held at the Winchester Street Theatre at 80 Winchester St.
MEET OUR CREATIVE TEAM
Steve Cota, Director & Choreographer
Stephen (Steve) Cota (he/him) is a choreographer, movement director, and arts educator rooted in dance-based storytelling. Now based in Toronto, he has leapt, turned, and made funny faces on stages across Canada, and found what would be his creative home at The Stratford Festival in 2000. He began his career as a performer where he had the chance to learn from Susan Strohman, Wayne Cilento, John Doyle, Des McAnuff, Antoni Cimolino, Robert McQueen, and many more artists and collaborators who would shape his career for years to come. Steve’s leap from performer to creative is owed to Donna Feore. Donna took Stephen under her wing, and helped him blossom as a creative, growing from her dance captain to her Associate Choreographer and Assistant Director up until the 2020 canceled productions of Chicago and Here’s What It Takes. His work as a creative at The Stratford Festival led Steve to choreographing plays, where he has been fortunate to collaborate with Antoni Cimolino, Scott Wentworth, Morris Panych, and Peter Pasyk. Steve has workshopped new dance-based work with the New Works Department at The Stratford Festival since 2017. During the pandemic, Stephen founded In The Wings, a theatre training platform where he works with artists at all levels of their career to further their training and development. It has been the joy of his career to work with aspiring artists, helping guide them with the knowledge and practical skills to break into the industry. He is currently continuing this work on faculty at Sheridan College and Randolph College for the Performing Arts.. Choreography credits include: Frankenstein Revived,Love's Labor’s Lost, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Mad Woman of Chaillot, Romeo and Juliet, The Hypochondriac (Stratford Festival), Mary Poppins (The Grand Theatre)