Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?

[Magenta02]

Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#0

Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:39pm

I have auditions for Chicago coming up in 2 weeks and am completely torn as to whom I'd rather be! If you had your choice, who would it be and why?

[renthead92]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#1

Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:41pm

Well, if I were a girl, I would want to play Velma. I just think that would be a more fun role. I mean, you do get to sing "All That Jazz," one of my favorite songs. Break a leg! Updated On: 4/17/06 at 04:41 PM

[tthomas76]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#2

Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:42pm

Same for me (male here) however, this is one of my favorite shows and between the two girls I have to say Velma! I totally love her and love her songs... Good luck!


*edit - typo Updated On: 4/17/06 at 04:42 PM

[Thesbijean]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#3

Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:50pm

Velma has better songs, but character wise, I think Roxie is a more difficult part acting wise.

[All_For_Laura]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#4

Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:52pm

I'm a guy...but Velma.

More fun to play, better songs, just more my kind of character!

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

[VonTussleGirl]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#5

Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:10pm

Velma.

[dirty rotten guy]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#6

Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:12pm

Velma is THE character to play in Chicago.

"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"

[Magenta02]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#7

Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:42pm

Do you think the size of Roxie's "book" part is enough to outweigh Velma's kickarse songs? That's my dilemma.

[BrunetteBombshell]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#8

Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:47pm

I'd go out for the part of Velma. I love "All That Jazz".

[ontheT]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#9

Posted: 4/17/06 at 6:50pm

i being male would want to be velma also...

not to hijake the thread but does billy do heavy tap dancing in the stage version? i'm auditioning in a couple months.

[ljay889]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#10

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:06pm

With Roxie, you get to a lot more with the acting.

Velma - you have to be an amazing dancer, and a belter.

Roxie calls for a better actress
Velma calls for a better dancer/singer

Remember, the whole show is about Roxie. Techinically Velma is just a supporting character. But with all her dancing and singing Velma can steal the show - and she really becomes a leading character along with Roxie.

Billy does not tap dance in the stage show. He has minor moves in his 3 numbers. Nothing major.
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 07:06 PM

[almostxfamous]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#11

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:15pm

That is a tough decision. I personally would want to play Velma, because I like characters like that. To me, she's along the lines with parts like Miss Hannigan and Maureen and such, because if you're a good enough performer, you can steal the show, even though you're a supporting character.

Yes, the show surrounds Roxie, but Velma obviously is a crucial character. I personally tend to go for the 'supporting' character, because sometimes, it's more fun. And it doesn't hurt if you can steal the show.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#12

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:16pm

I'm a man, but I have been in Chicago before and I can tell you Velma has amazing tools to steal the show. Given that Chicago is so well-written, both Roxie and Velma are given their 15 minutes of fame, but nothing beats opening both acts, closing Act II (some Velmas can steal that closing scene with the "sh*t" after Roxie faints), and dancing "When Velma Takes The Stand." Like Ljay said, Velma needs a big belter and a spectacular dancer, but I would say that a great actress could steal the book scenes as well.

[Renthead#1]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#13

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:19pm

If I was a girl I would want to play Velma.

Go ask Alice When she's ten feet tall

[dirty rotten guy]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#14

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:20pm

Velma always steals the show. The character is written to be a diva. Who wouldnt want to be the diva?! :)

"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"

[Kitzarina]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#15

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:21pm

I'd love to play both, but I have to go with Roxie. Her big monologue alone would make it all worth it. Plus the fact that I'm not a "dancer."

I do agree with Velma having the best songs, though.

"You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" --Family Guy

"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.

Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"

[ThePinballWizard]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#16

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:29pm

You know I would play both. I would divide myself in half. One side Velma. One side Roxie. Then I can have the best of both worlds.

"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting

[guitargeek0624]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#17

Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:50pm

I'd probably rather play Velma. I like the songs she sings better, and she just appeals to me more as a character. Roxie can get annoying at times, IMO.

Break a leg at your audition!

"A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing." - Thomas Jefferson

[EganFan2]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#18

Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:53pm

Another vote for Velma. She does have kick-ass songs. And gets to be part of "Cell Block Tango", too.

[Unknown User]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#19

Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:58pm

if i were a dancer, i'd KILL to play Velma, and i would steal everything Catherine Zeta Jones did in the movie! LOL!
i love her...

[Isabella2]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#20

Posted: 4/17/06 at 9:11pm

i don't think you'd have to be THAT great of a dancer. especiially if it's just an amatuer production.

I'm hoping that our school will do chicago net year and i'd kil to play velma just because it's a better character. It's more fun and satisfying for me at least.

[pandajen14]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#21

Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:02pm

I would much rather play Velma, but I'm much more suited to the part of Roxie if I'm being perfectly honest with myself.

"Writing should be easy, like a monkey driving a speedboat..." -[title of show] "I'm tired of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and meet up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg

[WickedGeek28]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#22

Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:09pm

Velma, more fun!

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

[dancinfan]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#23

Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:21pm

I auditioned for and wanted to play Roxie in college, but I was cast as Velma. At first I was a tiny bit disappointed, but man, did I have fun playing Velma. Getting to do that opening number and "I Can't Do It Alone" plus "Cell Block Tango," "Class," and the major duets...it was awesome.

I still think Roxie is a desirable part, don't get me wrong!

[ljay889]

re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?#24

Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:25pm

I actually think Roxie has WAY more fun - acting wise. She gets to shoot her lover. She gets a 5 minute monologue, she can improvise the hell out of it too. She gets to faint in the Act 1 Finale, and cause a big comotion. She gets the trial, which is a ton fun - acting wise. And more.

Velma can have more fun musically (song & dance.) Velma gets to show some emotion, when the tables turn on her - "I Can't Do It Alone - Reprise." But she can't nearly express as much Roxie does - acting wise.

But both amazing roles. Look who created him. Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera.