This post was written by Hatchet reporter Katrina Kagan.

Litchfield Penitentiary in “Orange is the New Black” may be the small screen women’s prison we know and love, but Cook County Jail still does lady jailbirds best.

As the curtains rose in the smoky theater hall and a slow jazz tune began to play in The National Theatre, an otherwise dull Tuesday evening transformed into a Prohibition-era cabaret.

As a show that’s been performed countless times around the world, one might expect a bit of a lackluster performance or an unenthusiastic audience with a less notable cast. And as somebody who’s seen the show before, I didn’t expect to be enthralled.

But the D.C. leg of the national tour of “Chicago” proved that the show is as exciting as ever, from the booming orchestra at center stage to the intimate and skilled cast.

At The National Theatre show, the scenes were not set with decorative scenery or elaborate props, but rather were accented by lights, a few ladders, some feathers, sequins and a set of bar stools. The cast filled the barren stage and their performance flooded the theater.

Bianca Marroquin and Terra MacLeod, who play Roxie Hart and Velma Kelley, respectively, were the true stars of the night as they pushed one another vocally. MacLeod’s character as a venerated performer with a rich history in showbiz was excellently executed, while Marroquin brought a quirky and comedic freshness to the young starlet.

In a fight for fame and fortune, the characters sing and dance through a media circus, fool the public and acquit Roxie of her crime, all with a little “Razzle Dazzle.”

This production, directed by David Hyslop and choreographed by David Bushman, pushed the identity of a show that has run for nearly two decades with its dancers and simple, powerful red-and-gold lighting. The all-black costumes contrasted with the textures of mesh, lace, glitter and fishnets.

The cast is comprised of about two dozen actors, including John O’Hurley, who is best known for his role as J. Peterman on “Seinfeld.” He was also the host of “Family Feud” and voiced King Neptune on “SpongeBob SquarePants.” O’Hurely was a convincingly charming Billy Flynn, the character who recognizes the fleeting nature of the fame that the protagonists desire.