BWW TV: Chicago At The Hollywood Bowl

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 5:59pm

I hope Lucy Lawless gets a chance to play Mama Morton on Broadway. That would be so awesome. I recognized a couple of persons in the ensemble, as they were practicing. There is the veteran theatre performer (seen on the left), Randy Slovacek, who also took part in the documentary: "Carol Channing--Larger Than Life." He was a cast member of the 1994 revival of "Hello Dolly." Also, to the right looks to be Karl Warden. (He's got the spikey hair and very muscular. Some people you don't forget.) I remember him from the "Chicago" tour stop in Forth Worth, TX in 2011. I can't wait for Chicago to stop here in Austin, this coming November. from RC in Austin, Texas

P.S. Also, that was Leslie Stifleman at the piano. She's the current conductor on Chicago on Broadway. Miss Stifleman also began with the original revival company.
BWW TV Chicago At The Hollywood Bowl

Updated On: 7/22/13 at 05:59 PM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 10:28am

Is anyone else actually excited to see how the show shapes up? I think the cast seems more than adequate and Brooke knows the show well. I'm rooting for her.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 11:11am

This article about Randy Slovacek is fascinating. I never knew that he had such a long history with "Chicago." I'm not sure if he's appearing in the Hollywood Bowl production as a member of the ensemble or choreographer.
Randy Slovacek

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 11:49am

Randy's in the ensemble. he's seen in the front during All That Jazz.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 12:37pm

The show is going to kick ass.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 1:10pm

A little disappointed that it seems to be pretty much a copy of the Broadway revival. I was hoping to see a "new" interpretation of it. Then again, Hairspray and The Producers were copies of the Broadway versions too.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 1:22pm

still disappointed that the don't have the ensemble cast listed anywhere.

[James885]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 2:24pm

I"ll be there on Saturday. Looking forward to it!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 7:44pm

Wasn't it said that this production was based of the original 70s Production? That doesn't appear to be the case. Talk about a missed opportunity and what is going to be an incredibly poor visual at 16,000 seats.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 7:55pm

Dear Fran and Barry,
If you put Samantha Barks on broadway as Velma (preferably in her rehearsal top) I will die a happy man.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 8:39pm

What a long and rambling peice about Randy Slovacek. Tons of interesting stuff but I just had to stop reading it. A really super sweet and nice guy. He lives in Vegas now with his husband Michael Caprio who pretty much runs the town.
And by the way Theaterfan: the Bowl seats 18,000. not 16,000.

Updated On: 7/24/13 at 08:39 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 8:41pm

Seeing it on Friday..

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 8:47pm

And by the way Theaterfan: the Bowl seats 18,000. not 16,000.

Which only makes it worse.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 8:52pm

It depends on how you look at it. If your going to see theater then just wait for the tour to hit town again. If your going for the communal experience to picnic, drink a little, and enjoy the outdoor venue ambience then you will have a better time. Musicals don't work at the Bowl. It is pretty much a huge outdoor stadium. So unfortunately going to this should not be about that.

Updated On: 7/24/13 at 08:52 PM

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 9:44pm

How close the interviewer is to their faces makes me cringe.

He obviously was too close if Ashlee Simpson can smell his "good smelling breath"

Updated On: 7/24/13 at 09:44 PM

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 12:40am

Has anyone seen this yet?

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 12:45am

^
The show is still going on in Los Angeles; it's not even 10 PM there.

Just watched the video...wow Samantha Barks! I'm thrilled to see her future projects; she really seems to have 'it'!

Updated On: 7/27/13 at 12:45 AM

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 12:55am

^Yes, but there was a dress rehearsal. Usually someone sees it and reports,but obviously not this year. Hopefully when the show is over we'll get the first reviews.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 1:04am

http://instagram.com/p/cQWL1ENB1a/

http://instagram.com/p/cQTtM1IUmI/

http://instagram.com/p/cQPTO4gtqr/

http://instagram.com/p/cQObmRtYyM/

http://instagram.com/p/cQN6jkp1Yp/

http://instagram.com/p/cQcAPAoUin/

Photos & Videos

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 2:31am

Just came back from the show and overall, it was one of the better-performed musicals at the Bowl in the past few years. The celebrities may not have had the same "star" status as they have had in the past but they were all very good. Bill Moyer even snuck in a True Blood joke during "Razzle Dazzle."

[darreyl102]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 9:24am

Is it just me or does the ensemble look less 'Built' then it's Broadway counterpart ?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 1:56pm

http://www.youtube.com/user/somedia/videos

Shine On Media was given permission to film some of the performances:
We Both Reached For The Gun
Class
Velma Takes The Stand
Cell Block Tango
I Can't Do It Alone
All That Jazz

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 2:25pm

I was there last night and agree with wildcard - it was probably aided by the simple fact that this production of CHICAGO has always been rooted in a 'concert version -- but it was definitely one of the stronger of the musicals they've presented at the Bowl. Enjoyed the entire company- Samantha Barks, though a bit young for Velma, had the spunk and verve of a young Zeta Jones - and it was probably the funniest Cell Block Tango lineup I've seen -- but the real surprise for me was Ashlee Simpson who I thought was simply terrific as Roxie.

Brooke Shields did a really nice job giving the scene work some fresh polish. It was a really lovely night out at the Bowl.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 2:25pm

Those do not look like officially sanctioned videos, by any means.

When you say they got permission to film, I must ask by whom?

These are very unprofessional .

Updated On: 7/27/13 at 02:25 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 2:40pm

Diva; I don't know anything about "officially sanctioned". But technically anyone can film anything at the Bowl since it is deemed a state park. Looking forward to tomorrow. I heard your work is wonderful