Razzle Dazzle (from the musical Chicago): Score: Choral SoundPax

Larry Shackley's arrangement captures the swagger and rhythmic drive of the original while making it accessible for choral groups without sacrificing the jazz character that makes this number irresistible. The included instrumental parts mean your ensemble can achieve full Broadway sound, whether or not you have a pit band. Programming this as a concert feature or as part of a Broadway-themed showcase gives your singers a genuine showstopper that audiences already love.

Razzle Dazzle exudes confidence and theatrical flair. The arrangement swings with the sleek energy of a 1920s-inspired vaudeville number, delivering bright harmonies and zippy rhythms that make your singers feel like they're performing on a Chicago stage lights. It's audacious, fun, and designed to command the room.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced choirs with solid jazz musicianship and rhythmic independence. High school show choirs, select vocal ensembles, and college groups will find this particularly rewarding, though any ensemble comfortable with syncopation and ensemble blend in a contemporary idiom can tackle it.

• Commit to the rhythmic precision that swing style demands. Lock the eighth-note feel with your rhythm section from day one of rehearsal; this groove is the foundation of the arrangement.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during sectional rehearsals to build confidence in your parts before tackling the full ensemble sound.
• Layer your staging carefully to match the number's theatrical energy. The movement and staging suggestions included with the score are designed to enhance the arrangement, not distract from it.
• Balance the syncopated rhythms in your inner voices so the melody line reads clearly. Jazz voicings can muddy if the harmony parts overshadow the tune.

This is an ideal standalone feature for a spring concert, a jazz-themed program, or any showcase spotlighting Broadway repertoire. It pairs naturally with other contemporary musical theater selections or can anchor an entire concert of Kander and Ebb favorites. The theatrical nature and strong audience recognition make it particularly effective as a finale or as a bridge between classical and contemporary programming.

• Swing rhythm interpretation and ensemble precision in a jazz idiom
• Syncopated part-singing with secure inner voicing
• Theatrical interpretation and confident stage presence
• Blend and balance in contemporary choral arranging
• Reading and performing with recorded accompaniment