Tour brings new star, hit musical to area

The musical ‘Chicago’, with lead Bianca Marroqu
ín, will be in San Jose from Jan. 11 to 23 as part of the
national tour.
Marroqu
ín, 28, became the first Mexican woman to star on Broadway when
she took over the role of Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ in 2002.
The musical ‘Chicago’, with lead Bianca Marroquín, will be in San Jose from Jan. 11 to 23 as part of the national tour.

Marroquín, 28, became the first Mexican woman to star on Broadway when she took over the role of Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ in 2002.

After previously playing that role in the Mexican production of the show, Marroquín said she was thrilled when she received the Broadway role, which led to the chance to tour the United States.

“I’m loving it. Everyone has been great.” said Marroquín from her hotel room in Minnesota, where she was touring recently. “I’ve been getting to know the country. This production has been very important to me. It has forever changed my life.”

Marroquín said her upbringing helped prepare her for the role she has now. A native of the state of Monterrey in Mexico, she grew up on the border of Texas and Mexico and attended school in Texas. As a result, she became fluent in both Spanish and English.

After performing only a few Broadway performances in Spanish while in Mexico, such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Rent” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” Marroquín said she was surprised to be picked from the 2,000 women who competed for the lead part in ‘Chicago.’

“At the moment, it was terrifying,” Marroquín said. “There was more stress and responsibility. Because of my age and lack of prominence, I didn’t think I would be chosen.”

In the show, Hart murders her boyfriend, but is befriended in prison by a lawyer who embellishes her case, making her a celebrity.

“I personally love the show,” Marroquín said. “It is an amazing and intelligent script that tells the story of how women struggle in jail to survive and fulfill their dreams. What I like is that it is a very minimal show, and there is hardly any scenery.”

The tight stage forces the audience to pay more attention to the actors, Marroquín said.

“The orchestra is on stage and creates more energy,” she said. “The dance is so different from any other forms of dances. The show is really about the actors. There are a lot of surprises for people who have seen the movie. We break the fourth wall a lot and talk to the audience.”

Marroquín said she was planning to spend the holidays with her parents who are coming from Mexico to visit her in her New Jersey home that she bought last year.

The show runs Jan. 11 to 23 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose. Tickets are $45 to $72. For more information, call 1-888-455-SHOW or 408-453-7108, or visit www.amtsj.org.