Chicago will have its own original twists, turns, steps and lifts in the dance department because choreographer Anna Stuart has wisely steered clear of watching the musical on stage or screen.
Mrs Stuart said her experience in tap dance and group movement, particularly for hip-hop crews, as well as the work of original choreographer Bob Fosse, all influenced her when she created six new sequences for the dancing ensemble of 15 women and five men.
''Since February, we've had constant rehearsals. Some of the cast, the ladies in particular, started off five rehearsals a week for six weeks, so the hours have been huge.
''The boys are divine and quite serious. The Fosse style is very feminine, but we've made it quite masculine for their comfort and to get the best out of their talents.''
The owner-teacher of the Queenstown School of Dance found herself in the position of applying for the role of Chicago choreographer at the end of last year and competed at the national level for the post. She wanted to thank Showbiz Queenstown for her first break in choreographing a musical.
Weeks after securing the job and alongside director Bryan Aitken and musical director Emma Wilson, she found herself in the ironic position of auditioning many of the Wakatipu hopefuls whom she had tutored in preparation for their shot at Chicago over the many months before.
''They had been trying to learn Fosse routines and upskill for all the year, so it was really hard to see everyone and know how hard they worked and not be able to take them all.''
Asked what her criteria was in selection, Mrs Stuart said: ''For me, it's all about acting within your dancing. I can teach someone to move, but not how to perform.''
Acting must come through the singing and dancing. Audiences will note how Velma (Nicole McLean) and Roxie (Fiona Stephenson) may dance the same steps, but Mrs Stuart had them interpret the moves through the prisms of their personalities - experienced sophistication versus fame-hungry wannabe.
''I think people will be really surprised how good our little town can be.''
