Some of Christina Kelly's friends haven't talked to her in two months. She's been in jail and on trial for murder in Chicago.

East Carolina University's production of "Chicago" that is. The show opens at 8 p.m. Thursday at McGinnis Theater.

Kelly plays Roxie Hart, a chorus-line girl looking for her big break in the 1920s. Roxie lands in jail after she shoots and kills her cheating husband.

"Roxie is really bare bones," she said. "She let out emotions that people often don't show. It's like the pinch and the ouch."

The 36-member cast began working on the show shortly after the college semester began. Only one faculty member, Jill Carlson, is in the production.

The other 35 cast members are ECU students.

"It's such a commitment," said Kelly, a 21-year old professional acting and musical-theater senior. "When you're not in class or rehearsing, you're working on stuff for class or rehearsal."

Her co-leads, Kyle Langworthy and Katie Wilson, agree.

"You really have to have a good handle on your schedule," Wilson said. She is playing the role of vampy Velma Kelly, an established nightclub sensation also in jail for killing her cheating husband.

Velma and Roxie meet in a women's jail.

The two women quickly become adversaries vying for top headlines in the Chicago paper.

"Velma is a lot like Roxie, but seasoned," Wilson said. "That's why they hate each other so much."

Velma and Roxie also share the same lawyer, Billy Flynn, who is more of a showman than a lawyer.

Langworthy — who plays media-hungry Billy — said that nature of acting is very demanding. He's a full-time junior pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in professional acting and musical theater.

"You need to eat healthy and get sleep when you can," the Garner native said.

His character is completely different from his own personality, which he said is part of what he enjoys about this role.

"I get to do a lot of things that I don't do in real life," Langworthy said. "From an audience perspective, I really hope they can see the greed of my character. From an audience perspective, I hope you can really see into people in this play, the ugly part of human beings."

The musical is based on a factual play by the same name which was written by newspaper reporter Maureen Dallas Watkins. Watkins was assigned to cover the murder trails of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner in 1924 for the Chicago Tribune.

The popularity of her columns about the trials prompted her to write "Chicago."

Actress and dancer Gwen Verdon read Watkins' play and wanted her husband, choreographer and director Bob Fosse, to create a musical.

Fosse repeatedly asked for Watkins' permission to adapt the play but she consistently refused. Upon her death in 1969, Watkins' gave the rights to "Chicago" to Fosse and Verdon, which they turned into "Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville."

Famed Broadway songwriting team John Kander and Fred Ebb penned the score for "Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville" modeling each number on a traditional vaudeville number or performer. The show opened June 3, 1975, to mixed reviews because "Chicago" spotlighted the glamorization of criminals and how society makes criminals into celebrities.

The original Broadway production starred Chita Rivera as Velma, Gwen Verdon as Roxie and the late Jerry Orbach of TV's "Law & Order" fame as Billy Flynn.

"Chicago: The Musical" is a pared-down concert version of Fosse's original and was met with praise from critics and audiences.

The production's popularity hasn't waned: Audiences pack the Ambassador Theatre in New York.

In addition to the Broadway show, there is a traveling production as well as a stage production in London.

"Chicago: The Musical" has won six Tony awards — more than any other revival — including Best Musical Review, Best Actress for Bebe Neuwirth and Best Director of Walter Bobbie.

The cast recording also won a 1999 Grammy award for Best Musical Show Album.

If you Go!

What: East Carolina University's "Chicago"

When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Oct. 10 except Oct. 8 when the show will be at 2 p.m.

Where: McGinnis Theater

Cost: $17.50 for adults and at the door, $15 for seniors and $12 for students.

Call: 328-6829

Contact features writer Kelley Kirk-Swindell at 329-9596 at kkirkswindell@coxnc.com.