From left, Rose Wardlow and Maurice Riley rehearse the courtroom scene from “Chicago” during Wednesday evening’s rehearsal at Marietta College. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — The stage is set, the lights are dimmed, and the sultry sounds of jazz fill the air as Marietta College prepares to debut its highly anticipated production of “Chicago.”

Opening this evening, this electrifying musical showcases the college’s growing dance program and the hard work of the Marietta College Theatre Department.

The production opens today at 8 p.m. with additional shows Saturday, Feb. 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. in the Herman Fine Arts Center at Marietta College. Tickets are available through www.mariettacollege.yapsody.com for $20 or at the door an hour before showtime. There is also an additional content warning for the show: The musical contains mature themes, including discussions of murder, implied sexual content, and gun violence. It is not recommended for children under 12.

Set in the Roaring Twenties, “Chicago” follows the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two vaudeville performers who find themselves on trial for murder while competing for fame and media attention. The show is known for its iconic Bob Fosse-inspired choreography and jazz-inspired music.

“‘Chicago’ is a popular, well-established musical known for its amazing dance,” said MC Theatre Department Artistic Director Casiha Felt. “It was a really good choice for our students to highlight the work they’ve been doing.”

From left, Brendon Thompson and Wade Stout practice a scene Wednesday evening for Marietta College’s production of “Chicago.” (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Directed by Aurora Held-Dodd, a professor in the college’s theatre department, the production is a testament to the institution’s dedication to dance and musical theatre. The decision to stage the show came after an evaluation of the college’s dance program, which has flourished in recent years.

“I was approached by other faculty and asked if our dancers were ready for this level of performance. I evaluated, and I thought that we were,” Held-Dodd said.

Marietta College’s dance program, now in its fourth year, has grown rapidly, with the first-ever dance minors graduating later this spring. Held-Dodd credits the students for a good portion of the program’s success and celebrates the collaborative nature of the students involved in this production, with students stepping into leadership roles by choreographing dance numbers for “Chicago.”

“Without them, there is no work,” Held-Dodd said. “Instead of one performance that was completely conceptualized by me, I have a collaborative experience, which is actually better than it would have been by myself.”

Paige Doseck, who plays Velma Kelly, was excited to play a role that varied from her typical casting experience. Doseck is also the very first dance minor at the college and expressed her excitement to perform in a dance-heavy production like “Chicago.”

Director Aurora Held-Dodd, center, addresses the cast during the rehearsal of Marietta College Theatre Department’s production of “Chicago.” (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“(Velma’s) very rough around the edges, kind of like the mob boss of the jail,” Doseck explained. “I could not have imagined as a freshman doing a show like this here. There wasn’t even a dance minor.”

Held-Dodd also praised Doseck and fellow senior Rose Wardlow, who plays Roxie Hart, who have both played instrumental roles in the show’s choreography and artistic direction.

“They have been training with me since day one, and they have completely different backgrounds, completely different experiences. Working with them is a collaborator’s dream,” Held-Dodd said.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com