Razzle dazzle: Young actors from the Buffalo Theatre Club rehearse for a Vietnamese adaptation of hit Brodway play Chicago to be staged at the HCM City Theatre this month. — Photo courtesy Buffalo Theatre Club

HCMCITY (VNS)— Nguyen Khac Duy, a graduate of the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography, will make his stage debut next week with an adaptation of a Broadway musical.

The 22-year-old director and performers from the Buffalo Theatre Club, a club set up recently to support young actors, will stage the Vietnamese version of the long-running musical Chicago at the HCM City Theatre.

"I have always admired Broadway musicals for their music and sound and light effects," Duy said.

"Broadway [works] allow you and your actors to contact audiences in a whole new way that is very different from traditional theatre."

Duy won a special award for innovation at the National Theatre Competition for Young Talented Directors in HCM City last month.

Chicago, Broadway's longest running musical revival, has musical score by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

The tale of Roxie Hart, a has-been chorus singer who murders her boyfriend and tries to ride the notoriety to show-biz fame and fortune, was first staged in Broadway in 1975.

In prison, Hart and fellow inmate Velma fight to attract lawyer Billy Flynn.

The play tells the story of the two women's conflicts and love secrets.

Their characters are based on two real-life women who were charged with murder.

The musical features jazz, swing, and cabaret music, and includes famous songs like All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle, Funny Honey, and Cell Block Tango.

In 2002 the film version of the musical, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, won six Oscar awards including for best supporting actress for Zeta-Jones.

Diem Phuong and Nha Uyen will play Velma and Roxie, Hoang Quan will be conniving lawyer Billy.

The actors have spent long hours rehearsing with Duy, the choreographers and vocalists.

Chicago will play on June 19, 20, 28, and 30 at the theatre at 30 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 1.

Tickets are available at the venue. More information is available at www.vntic.vn. —VNS