“The Duchess of Chicago” – when worlds collide in jazz and waltz
Nearly a century after its Viennese premiere in 1928, Imre Kálmán’s operetta “The Duchess of Chicago” will be staged at the Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theatre.
Taking place in the 1920s, the operetta tells the story of Mary Lloyd, a forward-thinking American millionaire enamored with jazz and the Charleston, who arrives in Europe and meets Sándor Boris, a European prince loyal to tradition and the waltz. Though their worlds could hardly be more different, romance blooms, leading to a story rich in contrasts, passion and surprising choices.
“The Duchess of Chicago is more than a performance – it’s an artistic journey through time, contrasts and emotions. When I first encountered this forgotten Kálmán masterpiece, I felt its energy still alive, and its message remains as relevant today as it was in 1928. It’s a story about the collision of worlds: the nostalgic Old Europe meeting the dazzling ‘American dream,’ jazz meeting the waltz, tradition meeting revolution,” says Michał Znaniecki, the director of the production.
The cast features a number of talented singers and actors, including Anna Lasota, Magdalena Stefaniak, Arnold Rutkowski, Jakub Pawlik, Zuzanna Caban, Barbara Mościcka and Ryszard Rembiszewski.
The musical direction is by Krzysztof Herdzin, the set designed by Luigi Scoglio, costumes by Małgorzata Słoniowska, and choreography by Inga Pilchowska.
Who? What? Where? When?
“The Duchess of Chicago” by Imre Kálmán
Premiere: November 29, 2025
Performances: November 30, 2025; December 5–7, 11–13, 2025
Venue: Jan Kiepura Mazovian Musical Theatre, Warsaw