Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ESCANABA -- Over 40 students tried out for the musical Chicago.  But it was even more difficult for Bay College Theater to get the rights to put it on at all.

Ninety percent of applicants are rejected.  But theatre director, Crystal Dwyer, got a yes on her sixth request.

“I wrote a letter saying that we had a new facility,” explains Dwyer.  “I said that we would take a lot of pride in Chicago.  I told them that we weren't in competition with their touring company because we were in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

Chicago is set in the roaring '20s and tells the tale of two rival murderesses.  Allison Derouin plays nightclub star Velma Kelly.

“It's not so much just the singing or just the dancing,” explains Derouin.  “It's just the combination of putting the two together.  A lot of people don't realize how physically demanding it is."

But some of the cast members are new Chicago fans.

“I rented the movie and I fell in love with it,” said Tyler Root, who plays Billy Flynn.  “I hadn't seen it before that.  I loved his part.  I loved his songs better than the others.  And I knew I wanted to sing those...at least be a part of it in some way."

And because of the musical's popularity, it's also the first time the theatre will have a record five-night production.

Chicago is the longest running American musical in Broadway history.  Tickets are on sale now online,  https://www.baycollege.edu/?show7tickets, and at the box office.  Performances are at Bay College, November 3-7.