I really don't care what anyone thinks, I am totally excited to see bebe play Roxie! I just hope they don't put here in a ugly wig! Also, lets just be grateful ashlee simpson is not playing Roxie!
"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"
M.BENNETT: did you SEE her play the role????? I managed to see Rivera as Roxie *TWICE* in the London production and, to this very day, after all the Roxies I've seen she is, by far, one of the best Roxies I have ever seen. Maybe even THE BEST. There was NOTHING absurd about it, she was totally at ease with the role, warm, funny (without trying too much to be), sung and danced the crap out of the role! I wasn't a fan of hers when I went to see the show but I sure was after that performance.
Karen Ziemba is my other favorite Roxie, but she wasn't even nearly as good as Ms Rivera - and as anyone who saw Ms Ziemba knows she was brilliant.
Many of the Roxies I've seen have been hailed for their performances (Charlotte D'Amboise, Belle Calaway, Maria Friedman, Denise van Outen, Anita Louise Combe, Ruthie Henshall, Karen Ziemba, Bonnie Langford to name a few) and most of them have been absolutely delightful in the role (and some totally horrible!!!), but no match to Rivera.
Caitlin Carter was a great Roxie too! She filled in for Sandy Duncan when she broke her foot. Belle Callaway and Michelle DeJean were great as well. Of the Velmas, Bebe was superior to Ruthie Henshall yet Deidre Goodwin had a great take on it. Funny how Bebe played Sheila in A Chorus Line and Diedre is playing it now.