Black Roxie Hart?

[Thetruth]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:18pm

After the black Glinda debate, I got to thinking. I noticed how there have been a couple black Velma's in Chicago (Brenda Braxton, Jasmine Guy) Has there ever been a black Roxie? I'm not looking for a debate on wether there should be or not. I was just curios.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:21pm

None that I've seen, but CJR would be the expert on that.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:22pm

For no particular reason, the tradition has always been a dark Velma and a blonde or redheaded Roxie. Personality wise, the characters just seem to work that way.

I know Ann Reinking was a brunette, bur remember - that was originally a CONCERT STAGING. Joel Grey was really the wrong type for Amos as well. The whole point of "Mister Cellophane" is that he's unnoticable, in spite of being a big lug of a guy. Updated On: 2/6/05 at 09:22 PM

[zoran912]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:22pm

I could see it. It is, however, easier to get away with a black Velma mostly due to vocal requirements. Few black women sound "cutesy."

[Jwei123]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:24pm

I'd love to see a black roxie. I really think that if she were qualified for the role, that'd be great.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:25pm

I believe in London there might've been a black Roxie or understudy.

Right now in the National Tour, Nicole Bridewater understudies Roxie, and she is black.

There have been a ton of Black Velmas tho.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:40pm

i'd imagine if they had a black roxie they'd need a black amos (historically speaking intermarraige (sp?)was uncommon in the 20's) but then again a young black billy flynn (taye, wayne etc) is not uncommon so i guess thats kinda glazed over


disclaimer: if this sounds racist its entirely not meant to be, just my 2 cents from a historical perspective

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:42pm

Don't forget that the second best Velma after Bebe is Deirdre Goodwin, who is black.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:01pm

In the time period, if a black Roxie kills a white man, unless Fred Casely is black as well, she would be hanged no matter what. So, I really don't think it would work, unless we ignore the fact she's black, which would be odd.

-Vincent

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:02pm

In the time period, if a black Roxie kills a white man, unless Fred Casely is black as well, she would be hanged no matter what. So, I really don't think it would work, unless we ignore the fact she's black, which would be odd.

-Vincent

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:03pm

In the time period, if a black Roxie kills a white man, unless Fred Casely is black as well, she would be hanged no matter what. So, I really don't think it would work, unless we ignore the fact she's black, which would be odd.

-Vincent

[parker russel]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:09pm

Maya Days would be awesome in either role...and she has a really sweet quality to her voice that would sound great as Roxie. Or, she can totally vamp it up to for Velma. Either way she'd be great...and SO sexy!

[Thetruth]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:15pm

I just thought the idea was intersting because I see parallels between the "Glinda and Elphaba" pair and "Roxie and Velma' pair.


Zoran, I don't think it's that there are not many "cutesy" sounding black women. I think it's that usually producers want black women on broadway to belt the sh*t out of a song and leave.

[Shoshana BeanieBaby]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 12:09am

Maya Days would rock as Roxie. She can sing, act, and be sexy. She'd be perfect. And I think she can dance...she moved really well in RENT.

Posted: 2/7/05 at 12:13am

"Don't forget that the second best Velma after Bebe is Deirdre Goodwin, who is black."

With all due respect, M.E.F., the best Velma is pretty much accepted to be Chita Rivera - making all who have followed pretenders to the throne

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:20am

there WAS a black Amos in london during Denise Van Outen's 2nd run as Roxie in the Westend!

btw, I would LOVE to see a black Roxie.... afterall, there's been Black Velmas, Mamas, Billy, Amos & ensemble
My CHICAGO the musical group!!!

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:10am

Well, I have seen every role be portrayed by an African American except for Amos and Roxie. The actor who is Fred Casely now is black, I cannot remember his name...

[TGIF]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:27am

I wouldn't consider the history and the time period since every other part has been played by both black and white people.

OrdinaryJukebox1: By your logic they wouldn't be able to have a black Velma either.

[jim]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:05am

Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield,Mo. Deidre Goodwin, who later played Velma in the tour and on B'way, played Roxie. I know that really doesn't annswer your question as the SMSU CHICAGO this was not a professional production but, thought I would pass this on.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 12:10pm

Well, actually, since you don't REALLY ever see Velma's sister and husband, they could just as well be black, if Velma is black. Fred is a larger character than Velma's victims, so I'd have to disagree with you TGIF.

-Vincent

[Justice]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 1:59pm

I think it would work because of the style of the show, but, let's not forget that Roxie Hart was an actual person - so wouldn't that be rewriting history?

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:25pm

I saw Chicago or Broadway like two or three years ago... like a month before the movie, and the Fred Casley was black and the Roxie was white...

[CJR]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:59pm

Justice, both Roxie AND Velma were actual people, so technically they're already re-writing history by having black women playing Velma.

Not that I care at all.

And the name of the current Fred Casely is Greg Butler (or as we all call him 'the man with the abs' )

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:06pm

billy flynn was based heavily on a real person too

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:44pm

The question should be: Should people named Terran McCleshod be any part of the company of CHICAGO?