Pioneer Theatre Guild presents Chicago – Teen Edition as their spring musical.
About the Show:
In “Roaring Twenties” Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap… until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal.
Tickets are $20/Adults, $15/Students & Seniors (65+)
Gabby Thompson (Roxie) and the ensemble from Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition rehearse “We Both Reached for the Gun” in Schrieber Auditorium. (photo credit: Quinn Strassel)
Pioneer Students Bring the Roaring 20s Back to Life with Chicago: Teen Edition
[Ann Arbor, MI] Living in the rapidly changing 2020s may feel overwhelming to many of us, but students in Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition are learning that the previous “twenties” were just as wild and tumultuous.
“It’s been fun to play a character who is a little crazy and even a little mean” says senior Gabby Thompson, who plays Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover and leverages the media attention to catapult her to fame. “But we’ve also done masterclasses and we’re learning about (Bob) Fosse and also learning about the ‘roaring twenties” so it’s been educational too.”
Set amid the jazzy decadence of the 1920s, Chicago actually burst onto Broadway in 1975, featuring instant classics like “All that Jazz” and “Mister Cellophane” and the singular choreography of Bob Fosse. An acclaimed revival in 1996 led to the longest run in the history of Broadway which continues today, 30 years later.
(From left) Salem Dinh (Velma), Noelle Clarke, Mia Coulouris, Megan Avsharian, Penelope Lopatin, Maddy Wolfe rehearse the “Cell Block Tango” from Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition. (photo credit: Quinn Strassel)
“When I was young and given responsibility and expectations were clearly laid out, I remember feeling motivated to hold myself to a high standard,” says Brickner, co-director and choreographer for this show. “Right now these kids are doing a musical at a high school but even if they want to pursue other careers, they are learning the value of work ethic, preparation, what it means to really show up and invest time and energy and passion. I’m excited to work with these kids no matter what they go on to do beyond this show.”
Steiner, a Pioneer alum who also happened to perform on a broadway tour as a kid, says he agrees with his directing partner.
“Holding kids to a high standard, especially in a creative space, makes it so much more fun,” Steiner says. “I remember being a student here and I remember that when everyone’s really going for it, there’s nothing more fun and exciting than being at rehearsal.”
With more than 100 kids involved between cast and crew, co-producer Jayme Kelmigian says she’s excited to see the Pioneer Theatre Guild continue to thrive.
“This group is extraordinary and even in the first week of rehearsal, we could tell we had something special,” Kelmigian says. “Between the directing team and the cast and the crew, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a group more focused and I’m so excited to see how it grows.
Schroeder agrees.
“It feels like the stars are aligning for this one,” the junior performer says. “To get the chance to work on such a classic, famous show with such great songs and such a great team, the feeling from everyone involved is that we want this one to be one of PTG’s best.”
The Ann Arbor theatre scene is lively. Several groups produce Ann Arbor theater shows for kids and families – or starring them. I love taking my daughter to see live theater and concerts. The local productions are so much less expensive than the touring productions so we can see more performances. There are lots of […]
Event Details
Date(s): Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 7:00pm
Cost: $20/Adults, $15/Students, Seniors, Pioneer Staff (based on Spongebob pricing in November)
Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be cancelled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, or we can make mistakes.
Pioneer Theatre Guild presents Chicago – Teen Edition as their spring musical.
About the Show:
In “Roaring Twenties” Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap… until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal.
Tickets are $20/Adults, $15/Students & Seniors (65+)
Gabby Thompson (Roxie) and the ensemble from Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition rehearse “We Both Reached for the Gun” in Schrieber Auditorium. (photo credit: Quinn Strassel)
Pioneer Students Bring the Roaring 20s Back to Life with Chicago: Teen Edition
[Ann Arbor, MI] Living in the rapidly changing 2020s may feel overwhelming to many of us, but students in Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition are learning that the previous “twenties” were just as wild and tumultuous.
“It’s been fun to play a character who is a little crazy and even a little mean” says senior Gabby Thompson, who plays Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover and leverages the media attention to catapult her to fame. “But we’ve also done masterclasses and we’re learning about (Bob) Fosse and also learning about the ‘roaring twenties” so it’s been educational too.”
Set amid the jazzy decadence of the 1920s, Chicago actually burst onto Broadway in 1975, featuring instant classics like “All that Jazz” and “Mister Cellophane” and the singular choreography of Bob Fosse. An acclaimed revival in 1996 led to the longest run in the history of Broadway which continues today, 30 years later.
(From left) Salem Dinh (Velma), Noelle Clarke, Mia Coulouris, Megan Avsharian, Penelope Lopatin, Maddy Wolfe rehearse the “Cell Block Tango” from Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition. (photo credit: Quinn Strassel)
“When I was young and given responsibility and expectations were clearly laid out, I remember feeling motivated to hold myself to a high standard,” says Brickner, co-director and choreographer for this show. “Right now these kids are doing a musical at a high school but even if they want to pursue other careers, they are learning the value of work ethic, preparation, what it means to really show up and invest time and energy and passion. I’m excited to work with these kids no matter what they go on to do beyond this show.”
Steiner, a Pioneer alum who also happened to perform on a broadway tour as a kid, says he agrees with his directing partner.
“Holding kids to a high standard, especially in a creative space, makes it so much more fun,” Steiner says. “I remember being a student here and I remember that when everyone’s really going for it, there’s nothing more fun and exciting than being at rehearsal.”
With more than 100 kids involved between cast and crew, co-producer Jayme Kelmigian says she’s excited to see the Pioneer Theatre Guild continue to thrive.
“This group is extraordinary and even in the first week of rehearsal, we could tell we had something special,” Kelmigian says. “Between the directing team and the cast and the crew, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a group more focused and I’m so excited to see how it grows.
Schroeder agrees.
“It feels like the stars are aligning for this one,” the junior performer says. “To get the chance to work on such a classic, famous show with such great songs and such a great team, the feeling from everyone involved is that we want this one to be one of PTG’s best.”
The Ann Arbor theatre scene is lively. Several groups produce Ann Arbor theater shows for kids and families – or starring them. I love taking my daughter to see live theater and concerts. The local productions are so much less expensive than the touring productions so we can see more performances. There are lots of […]
Event Details
Date(s): Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 2:00pm
Cost: $20/Adults, $15/Students, Seniors, Pioneer Staff (based on Spongebob pricing in November)
Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be cancelled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, or we can make mistakes.
