Roxie Hart

The playwright, reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, was inspired by the trials, both of which ended in acquittals, of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner (for separate crimes), which she covered for the Chicago Tribune.

Annan's story served as the basis for the play: she had killed her paramour Harry Kalstedt and was able to convince her auto mechanic husband Albert to pay for her successful defense, only to dump him the day after the trial.

[2] During her time as a young adult, Roxanne dreamed of a career in vaudeville but, despite dating noted mobster Al Capelli and getting some press attention as a socialite, is never able to break into the business beyond some work as a chorus girl in a seedy nightclub on Chicago's South Side.

In the end, Roxie is acquitted of the crime, Amos leaves her (both for lack of attention and lying about being pregnant to gain sympathy from the press), and her dreams of superstardom are dashed when the media abandons her story.

Its adaptations include: Performers who have portrayed Roxie Hart in the musical also include Katherine Edgar, Ariana Madix, Paige Davis, Erika Jayne, Lisa Rinna, Liza Minnelli (who substituted for Gwen Verdon in the original production in 1975), Ann Reinking, Bianca Marroquin, Brooke Shields,[3] Ruthie Henshall, Melora Hardin,[4] Ashlee Simpson,[3] Melanie Griffith,[3] Samantha Harris, Michelle Williams,[3] Shiri Maimon, Christie Brinkley,[5] Desi Oakley, Brandy Norwood,[6] Tiffany Young,[7] Pamela Anderson in her Broadway debut and Olivia Holt.