The Razzle-Dazzle Roster: 18 Essential Characters In The Musical Chicago You Need To Know (2025 Update)
The musical Chicago, a timeless masterpiece of theatrical satire, continues to captivate audiences worldwide, becoming the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. As of this current date, December 22, 2025, the show's dark, witty, and dazzling portrayal of corruption and celebrity in the 1920s remains as relevant as ever, all thanks to its unforgettable cast of morally ambiguous characters. At the core of this Kander and Ebb phenomenon is a spectacular ensemble of "jazz murderesses," slick lawyers, and hapless husbands, each embodying a different facet of the American obsession with fame and sensationalism.
This article dives deep into the full roster of characters, from the leading ladies Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, whose rivalry fuels the plot, to the often-overlooked figures who provide the show's essential heart and humor. We explore their motivations, their iconic songs, and the recent cast updates that keep the production fresh and exciting for the 2025-2026 touring season.
The Six Pillars of the Cook County Jail: Main Characters & Their Iconic Songs
The entire narrative of Chicago revolves around six central figures, each a masterclass in theatrical archetypes. These characters drive the plot, deliver the show's most memorable numbers, and serve as a biting commentary on the justice system and media manipulation.
- Roxie Hart: The Sweetie Little Jazz Murderess
- Role: The central protagonist, a naive chorus girl who murders her lover, Fred Casely, and manipulates her way into the public eye. Roxie's journey is one of quick-witted ambition, transforming from a desperate criminal to a celebrated media darling.
- Key Songs: "Funny Honey," "Roxie," "Me and My Baby," "Nowadays" (with Velma Kelly).
- Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano.
- Velma Kelly: The Vaudeville Star
- Role: The show's original celebrity murderess, a seasoned vaudeville performer who killed her sister and husband after finding them together. Velma is initially Roxie's rival, desperate to reclaim the spotlight she lost.
- Key Songs: "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango" (Lead), "I Can't Do It Alone," "Nowadays" (with Roxie Hart).
- Vocal Range: Alto.
- Billy Flynn: The Silver-Tongued Lawyer
- Role: The charismatic, high-priced defense attorney who can "razzle-dazzle" any jury. Billy is a cynical showman who treats the legal system as a form of entertainment, famous for his catchphrase: "All I care about is love."
- Key Songs: "All I Care About," "We Both Reached for the Gun," "Razzle Dazzle."
- Vocal Range: Bass-Baritone.
- Matron "Mama" Morton: The Queen of the Cell Block
- Role: The corrupt, pragmatic matron of the Cook County Jail's Women's Block. Mama operates on a principle of mutual benefit: she helps the murderesses for a price, summarized by her mantra, "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours."
- Key Song: "When You're Good to Mama."
- Vocal Range: Alto.
- Amos Hart: The Invisible Man
- Role: Roxie's long-suffering, simple-minded husband. Amos is the only truly innocent and kind-hearted character, yet he is repeatedly taken advantage of and ignored by everyone, including Roxie and the media.
- Key Song: "Mister Cellophane."
- Vocal Range: Baritone.
- Mary Sunshine: The Sentimental Reporter
- Role: A journalist who covers the murder trials with an overly sentimental, "sob-sister" style. She represents the media's hunger for tear-jerking narratives, and her character holds one of the show's most surprising twists.
- Key Song: "A Little Bit of Good."
- Vocal Range: Countertenor/Mezzo-Soprano (often played by a male actor in drag).
The Merry Murderesses and Essential Supporting Entities
The world of Chicago is populated by a vibrant collection of supporting characters, primarily the infamous women of the Cook County Jail who introduce the audience to the show's dark humor in the iconic "Cell Block Tango." These entities are crucial for building the atmosphere of sensationalized crime and topical authority.
The Merry Murderesses (The 'Cell Block Tango' Girls)
These six women are the ensemble stars of one of the musical's most famous numbers, each recounting her crime with a theatrical flourish, justifying her actions with a single, chilling word: "Pop! Six! Squish! Uh-uh! Cicero! Lipschitz!" The inclusion of these detailed backstories provides a rich tapestry of the era's criminal justice commentary.
- Liz: Killed her husband after he popped his gum too loudly.
- Annie: Poisoned her husband after discovering he was a polygamist.
- June: Killed her husband with a shotgun for accusing her of infidelity.
- Hunyak (Katalin Helinszki): A Hungarian immigrant who speaks no English and is falsely accused of murder. Her story is the only one that is truly tragic, ending with her hanging.
- Mona: Killed her artist boyfriend because he was painting other women.
- Go-To-Hell Kitty: While not traditionally part of the "Cell Block Tango" in the current revival, she is an original "merry murderess" who briefly steals the spotlight from Roxie.
Other Key Supporting Entities
To fully understand the world of Chicago, one must acknowledge the other figures—both named and unnamed—who are manipulated by Billy Flynn and Roxie Hart to achieve their fame.
- Fred Casely: Roxie Hart’s lover, whose murder sets the entire plot in motion.
- The Jury: A nameless, faceless entity that represents the easily swayed public opinion, central to the "We Both Reached for the Gun" number.
- The Judge: The presiding official at Roxie’s trial, often portrayed as a figurehead easily influenced by Billy Flynn's theatrics.
- Harrison (The Prosecutor): The opposing counsel to Billy Flynn, who is always outmaneuvered by the "razzle-dazzle" tactics.
- The Court Clerk: A minor but necessary functionary who swears in witnesses.
- Martin Harrison (The Journalist): A reporter who often relays plot points and media updates to the audience.
- The Ensemble/Chorus: The backbone of the show, embodying the spirit of vaudeville and the cynical backdrop of 1920s Chicago.
The Enduring Rivalry: Velma Kelly vs. Roxie Hart
The dramatic tension that propels Chicago forward is the fierce, yet ultimately collaborative, rivalry between Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. This dynamic is a masterclass in theatrical foil, a central element of the show's topical authority.
Velma Kelly is a professional performer who views murder as an unfortunate career setback. Her crime is calculated, and her initial strategy is to use her celebrity status to secure an acquittal. She is polished, cynical, and a true vaudeville veteran. Her initial song, "All That Jazz," immediately establishes the show’s tone of hedonism and moral decay.
Roxie Hart, by contrast, is an amateur. She is clumsy, naive, and driven purely by a desperate desire for fame. She learns the rules of the celebrity game from Billy Flynn, quickly shedding her "innocent" persona to become a media sensation. The story truly begins when Roxie shoots her lover, Fred Casely, and then manipulates her devoted husband, Amos Hart, into taking the blame.
Their competition for Billy Flynn's attention and the media's focus drives the comedy and the drama. Velma's frustration, expressed in "I Can't Do It Alone," highlights Roxie's ability to steal the spotlight without any actual talent. The ultimate resolution—their joint vaudeville act in "Nowadays / Hot Honey Rag"—is a cynical, perfect ending, suggesting that in the world of Chicago, true celebrity is found not in justice, but in a well-choreographed crime-and-punishment double act. The show suggests that in the 1920s, and arguably today, fame is a commodity, and a good murder story is the hottest ticket in town.
Recent Castings and The Show's Legacy (2025-2026)
The long-running nature of Chicago means the characters are constantly reinterpreted by new talent, keeping the production fresh. For the 2025-2026 North American Tour, the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly continue to be played by exciting new performers, with Ellie Roddy returning as Roxie Hart and Claire Marshall debuting as Velma Kelly. Connor Sullivan also returns to the role of Billy Flynn, showcasing the enduring appeal of these iconic roles to a new generation of performers.
The genius of the musical, created by the legendary team of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, is that the characters are not just people—they are archetypes of corruption, ambition, and media frenzy. Their stories are a timeless critique of the American Dream, proving that a little "razzle-dazzle" is all you need to get away with murder.
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