It started with a vague exhortation from an editor: It might be fun to do something on “stunt casting” on Broadway, where celebrities of dubious experience are tapped to fill roles, a perennial source of contention. “Chicago” seemed to be the perfect case study, with its revolving door of Roxies, including — fairly recently — “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix. Entertainment writer Mark Kennedy, a longtime theater writer and critic, took the assignment and danced off with it. The result was a saucy, revealing yet empathetic guide to becoming a Roxie in the record-breaking show.
The reporting was rich with insights, from how the casting lists are made to anecdotes about rigorous preparation and how Melanie Griffith overcame her dancing challenges. The full-length story was accompanied by an abridged version that reformatted the main story into a five-step how-to guide, preserving quotes and color for customers’ benefit. Annie Ng, an artist in interactive news, created bold and engaging illustrations that mimicked the evolution of an actor into a Roxie, which digital storytelling producer Nat Casteneda laid out into a unique presentation.
Other outlets had pitched stories to the “Chicago” team, but Mark was able to hold the exclusive access.
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