Students in Middle Park High School’s theatre department will present their production of “Chicago: Teen Edition” from May 8 to 10. Audiences can catch the shows at 7 p.m. each of the three evenings at the high school.

The story follows Roxie Hart, a chorus girl turned housewife, who dreams of being a vaudeville star. After she murders her lover, she convinces her naive husband, Amos, to take the blame — but the truth comes out, and Roxie ends up in jail.

There, she meets Velma Kelly, a seasoned performer who is in prison for murdering her husband and sister. Both women hire the slick lawyer Billy Flynn, who manipulates public opinion and turns every client’s story into a media circus.

Velma and Roxie compete for the media spotlight with all the classic glamour you can imagine. In the end, showbiz wins the day as they team up to make the most of their celebrity.

The musical, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is based on a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual women criminals of the era. The music is by John Kander and the lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Framed as a vaudeville show, the popular musical is actually a satire on the corruption in the criminal justice system and the concept of “celebrity criminals,” something that’s still just as relevant, if not more, today.

Each number in the show resembles a specific type of act — such as a ventriloquist routine, a magic show, or a sad clown act — and provides a lens for viewing every moral question or human emotion as a spectacle.

While “Chicago: Teen Edition” has been adapted to remove overtly sexual references and most adult language, audiences should note that the adaptation remains true to the original version and includes mature themes and images.

The cast for this production is led by seniors Nathan Chua (Billy Flynn), Sabra Forquer (Velma Kelly), and Tyler Maurais (Amos Hart) with juniors Bella Binkley (Mary Sunshine), AJ Feacher (Matron “Mama” Morton) and Vallie Mace (Roxie Hart).

Theatre professionals Christopher Lengerich (choreographer) and Mary Nye Bennett (costume designer) have provided invaluable instruction and assistance for the school’s production.

Tickets will be available at the door: adults $10, youth $5. Community seniors and East Grand School District students and staff attend for free.