The world-famous original Broadway musical Chicago is set to return to Shanghai with its 30th anniversary edition, running at Shanghai Majestic Theatre from Nov 5 to 8. Tickets will go on sale across various platforms on Tuesday, including MeiTaZhenXuan.
The Shanghai stop is part of the international tour marking the 30th anniversary of the iconic 1996 revival. Set, costume, lighting, and sound designs are helmed by Tony Award winners, supported by an exclusive star-studded international cast for lead roles.
The musical previously staged at the Majestic Theatre in 2018 to 2019 and became a phenomenal hit in Shanghai's performance market.
Co-created by Bob Fosse, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, Chicago made its Broadway debut in 1975. It is adapted from two real-life murder cases that took place in Chicago in 1924. The production has won more than 50 major international awards, including six Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, two Olivier Awards, and one Grammy Award. Its film adaptation claimed six Academy Awards. To date, Chicago has been performed over 36,000 times in 525 cities across 38 countries, attracting an audience of over 35 million, making it one of the longest-running American musicals worldwide.
Chicago rejects elaborate grand sets. Dances are largely performed with simple props such as chairs, hats, and steel frames, while the live orchestra is placed directly on-stage as part of the performance. Featuring Bob Fosse's signature choreography, the musical blends jazz, blues, and tango, and brings forth timeless classics including All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango.
During its 2024 to 2025 China tour, Chicago visited more than 10 Chinese cities and received the title of Most Popular Imported Original Musical at the annual ceremony of China Musical Association. The Beijing stop grossed over 2 million yuan ($298,612) within one hour after tickets went on sale; Shenzhen performances sold out immediately; six shows in Changsha over four days achieved an average attendance rate of 90 percent, winning both box-office success and critical acclaim.
