‘Chicago’ in Dayton: Meet the woman playing lead character Velma Kelly

Set in the roaring 1920s, Broadway’s longest running musical deals with themes of corruption and celebrity in both the criminal justice system and the world of showbiz. Lane portrays a vaudeville star sharing a jail cell block with an aspiring dancer. Both women dream of becoming famous; both have been accused of murder.

As rivals, they vie for the attention of defense lawyer Billy Flynn, known for turning his clients into media sensations in order to get them acquitted.

The plot, based on the lives of real murderers, comes from a 1926 play written by a “Chicago Tribune” crime reporter. The music is inspired by real 1920’s vaudeville performers.

“Velma has her own vaudeville act with her sister,” said Lane about her character. “She’s passionate and very funny. She’s clever and confident and determined to get her way.”

A Chicago girl

Lane, who grew up in Chicago, has a “huge love” for her hometown and especially for the jazz music that’s so much a part of the city’s history. As a child she knew famous songs from the musical like “All That Jazz” and “Hot Honey Rag.” She believes the show has become a classic because of its interesting story and vaudeville setting.

“It has a lot of heart and the music and choreography are legendary.”

It was famed singer/dancer Gwen Verdon who first suggested to her husband, choreographer Bob Fosse, that the play could be turned into a musical.

“One of Bob Fosse’s proteges and stars was Ann Reinking who choreographed ‘Chicago’ in Fosse’s style,” said Lane. “When the show premiered in 1975, Velma was played by Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon played Roxie.”

Love of dance

“As a dancer I grew up learning the style of Fosse,” Lane said.

That meant lots of jazz hands and finger snaps, shoulder and hip rolls, hats and gloves.

“My parents put me in everything and dance was what stuck,” she said. “I started in the third grade. My grandmother was a beautiful ballerina and I grew up dancing with her. She is one of my biggest inspirations. At the age of 8, I performed in the historic Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago. I loved being on stage. It lit up my life.”

Lane said her love of performing is about expressing herself through movement and dance. Over the years she studied all styles of dance — from classic ballet to flamenco and from jazz to African dance.

“Dance is a universal language,” she said. “I immediately connect with whoever I meet through the world of dance.”

Her first job after college was dancing at Disneyland in California. “I loved it. I was dancing everyday and that was a dream. I couldn’t believe they were paying me to dance!” Later, she fell in love with singing as well.

She now makes her home in New York, and last year toured in “Jesus Christ, Superstar.” She’s been on the “Chicago” tour since November.

“I watched the movie in high school and loved it,” Lane said. “Catherine Zeta-Jones played Velma in the film and I connected with that part because I liked her guts and the fact she is in vaudeville. I’m a sucker for old movies and classics.”

Life on the road

Lane said she loves touring and sharing a story with different kinds of audiences.

“I especially love getting to perform in beautiful houses and theaters across the country,” she said. “There’s history in the walls of each theater whether it is old or new. Many theaters have a wall tag where performers sign their names on the walls.”

Unlike some performers, Lane loves auditioning.

“It can be stressful but it’s like having a free class and I get to show my talent to the people behind the table.”

She said her profession is both stressful and enjoyable.

“You could book the biggest thing–like Broadway or a tour–but there’s always an expiration date. I’m lucky with booking a nine month tour but the next job is never guaranteed and I’ll have to start auditioning again soon.”

Between gigs, Lane works multiple jobs, teaches fitness, takes voice lessons.

“You have to keep up your craft,” she said. “Right now I’m not tapping but I have to keep it up so I don’t get rusty.”

Lane said the theme of “Chicago” is still relevant today.

“The show is based in the 1920s, but 100 years later we’re still dealing with some of the same issues. In the musical, it’s about not believing everything you read in the papers. Today, it’s about not believing everything you see on social media. People can portray their life in a way that’s totally different than their actual life. That’s this show.”

Behind the scenes

Lauryn Elizabeth is the production stage manager for the “Chicago” tour. In that role, she acts as the hub of communication for the entire show.

“I work with the crew, the cast, the music department,” she said. “I am the central form of communication for everyone.”

Though she’d originally planned to work in film and television, after college graduation and during Covid she took a job as stage manager for a local theme park. “I learned as I went and it opened up my brain to a whole new world of learning. It was definitely challenging but I learned how to communicate with people and enjoyed it right away and didn’t want to stop.”

On tour, she is problem solving all the time. When an understudy needs to replace a performer, for example, Elizabeth has to make sure the new person has the right costumes, props, wigs, audio.

“When we get to a new venue, I have to decide where everyone is going to go–where the production office and dressing rooms will be, what we’ll use as a green room where performers can relax. This show has four trucks and we only have 10 hours to load in. And I have to figure it all out at 6:45 in the morning when I get off the bus.”

Meredith Moss covers arts for the Dayton Daily News. Email her at meredith.moss@coxinc.com.

HOW TO GO

What: “Chicago”

When: Feb. 4-9

Where: Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton

Tickets: 937-228-3630

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