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Thomas Edison High School plunged into the seductive scramble for celebrity with an energetic production of Chicago: Teen Edition, pairing fierce performances with bold lighting, music and choreography.

Set amid sensational murder trials in the 1920s, the musical follows Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two accused killers chasing freedom and the public spotlight. Velma initially commands the attention, aided by a smooth and unscrupulous lawyer, until Roxie’s case becomes the latest sensation. Their competition soon fuels a bitter rivalry over fame and acquittal.

The story originated with Maurine Dallas Watkins’ 1926 play, inspired by the murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, which Watkins covered as a reporter. Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb adapted it into a musical in 1975, with music by John Kander.

Nicoletta Theodora Pelekasis seized the stage as Velma, opening “All That Jazz” with confidence and delivering powerful vocals. Her dancing brought particular intensity to “I Can’t Do It Alone.”

Korina Horvat gave Roxie a striking transformation. Her soft head voice and restrained manner in “Funny Honey” initially suggested innocence, but the performance grew sharper and more self-absorbed as Roxie became consumed by celebrity. Horvat and Pelekasis made the characters’ jealousy clear while also revealing how closely their ambitions mirrored one another. Their harmonies and footwork came together impressively in “Nowadays.”

Jackson Byrd brought charismatic ease to lawyer Billy Flynn, landing quick jokes and polished vocals in “We Both Reached for the Gun.” As Matron “Mama” Morton, Adriana Castillo mixed smug authority with forceful belts and chilling growls during “When You’re Good to Mama,” capturing the character’s transactional use of power.

The production’s technical work helped create an intimate vaudeville atmosphere. Lighting designers Malyha Bashar, Arcadia Perszyk, Anton Weiser and Bryon Pinkney shifted colors and intensity to match individual scenes, including vibrant pink for Billy’s “All I Care About” and vivid red during “Cell Block Tango.”

The lighting also synchronized with musical beats from Alex Lammers and the Jail Bird Jazzers, adding visual punch to key moments. Nicoletta Theodora Pelekasis, Elizabeth Ahl and Sabrina Binetti gave the female performers a unified period-inspired look through the hair and makeup design, including a bold red lip.

Edison’s production embraced the musical’s central warning: notoriety can reward even terrible behavior, but the fame it creates may disappear almost as quickly as it arrives.