Mackay audiences will have a great chance to compare the movie and stage versions of the hit musical Chicago this year.

The movie opens at Mackay City Cinemas on February 20 (after a 4MK premiere the night before) and the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) stage production will be held from August 21-23.

Chicago is promoted as a “story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery”.

The John Kander-Fred Ebb musical has long been a Broadway favourite, and now the new movie musical starring Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger has provided a new dimension to the sordid tale.

CQCM Bachelor of Music Theatre coordinator Judith Brown said director Trevor Green (pictured), who would prepare the Mackay stage show, had achieved a long and varied international career as a singer, dancer, actor, costume designer and choreographer.

Green is presently the principal of his own school and production company, Dansing Pty Ltd. He is the Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Queensland, is also in demand as a choreographer and has, among others, choreographed the 2001 Goodwill Games Gala Opening.

ENDS For details call Marc Barnbaum 4923 2558 or Sharon Stephen at the Cinema on 4957 3515.