Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#0Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/5/06 at 11:53pm
YES!
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/8970
Oh, those pins!
Heybeenfood
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/06
#1re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/5/06 at 11:55pmWow! Velma and then Roxie! They are such different roles
#3re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/5/06 at 11:56pm
Oooh Exciting! I'm so used to her Velma on the cast recording, its's hard imagining her singing Roxie's songs.
Aside from Chita Rivera, Ruthie Henshall, and (I think) Frances Ruffelle, who else has played both Roxie and Velma in the show (Broadway or West End)?
#4re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/5/06 at 11:58pmI wonder who her Velma will be!
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#5re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:00amWow. Nice.
#6re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:03amThe article states that Ann Reinking will join her, so I assume she will play Velma this time around. I just hope she doesn't try to mimic Chita like she did with Gwen. Ugh!
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#7re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:03amI was just talking about her on the Chicago movie post. What a coincidence! ; )
#8re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:04amAmy Spanger played Roxie, but before, she was Velma's u/s.
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#9re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:04amNo, the article said she will join Ann Reiking, Marcia Lewis, and Joel Grey for the Anniversary gala.
#10re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:05am
No, Ann Reinking is just participating in the 10th anniversary celebration. It's a one-night-only thing with her.
But this is beyond fab! I was lucky enough to see her as Velma. Usher didn't get me back to Chicago, but she will. I wonder if her Roxie will be the more dance-intensive version.
#11re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:07amcool thats she's back but let her play vel
#12re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:09amOops! Thanks for the correction, Calvin and BSoBW2.
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#13re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:14amThe question is will they restage "And All That Jazz" so she can sing it? Chita as Roxie did that in some production pre-Broadway revival.
#14re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:16am
Holy frickin' christ, I'm in heaven.
She blew my mind as Velma, and she'll do it again!
Well I know where I'll be on my birthday, 13 Jan!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Jiffy Pop
Swing Joined: 8/29/06
#15re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:20am
How exciting! This will probably get me to see Chicago again. 
#16re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:21amProducer2: God, I hope not! It's Velma's song and it should stay Velma's song.
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#17re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:21am
The question is will they restage "And All That Jazz" so she can sing it? Chita as Roxie did that in some production pre-Broadway revival.
Nothing will be restaged. This production has been directed and has been complete for 10 years. She will play Roxie as Roxie is presented in this revival. And she will kick ass.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#18re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:27amI would rather see her as Velma again, but I'll take her as Roxie.
#19re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:39amTotally wrong for Roxie, but it will be fun to see her do it.
#20re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:40am
HOLY CRAP! Yes. I will be there.
Another triple threat to add to the list of those who have played both Roxie and Velma. Looks like the main three are, Chita Rivera, Ruthie Henshall, and now Bebe!
Wow, I feel like this came out of nowhere. Can't wait though.
#21re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:44am
I don't see how she is totally wrong for Roxie? She is quite a versatile actress. I'm sure many thought 60 something year old Chita Rivera would be wrong as Roxie too, but she is ranked among the finest Roxies, and ofcourse she is the ultimte Velma.
It seems the Weisslers and Bebe have seamed their wounds. Or maybe all that drama with them were just rumors?
Anyway this is such a high from the Ashlee Simpson casting.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#22re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:46amdo you think she can live up to the bar set by ashlee simpson?
PersonofInterest
Featured Actor Joined: 7/9/06
#23re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:56amAmazing! I love this! I am so excited to see her. I will probably have to take a special trip just to see it. Hopefully they will get someone equally amazing to step in to Velma. I don't think she's wrong for Velma at all, actually. Not by the revival standards. No more wrong than Ann was in the first place.
#24re: Bebe Neuwirth to be Roxie Hart!
Posted: 9/6/06 at 1:03am
She is just the wrong type. She is not warm or vulnerable or any of the qualities you look for when you cast the role of Roxie. Neuwirth has made a career out of playing ice princess because that is what she is.
Chita Rivera was not one of the finest Roxies on record, in fact she was kind of absurd in the role and never would have dared attempt it in New York, but she has always had warmth and charm and that worked in her favor. Neuwirth has no warmth. Zero. None. It's what made her a perfect Velma.
Like Rivera as Roxie, this is simply an interesting experiment and I'm not denying it will be fun to see Neuwirth attempt it. Lots of people have played roles on Broadway in which they are miscast, and with CHICAGO, they are so beyond casting anybody who is at all appropriate for any of the roles they are playing that it hardly matters.
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