https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Welcome-to-the-Cell-Block-Grammy-Winner-Brandy-Will-Make-Broadway-Debut-in-CHICAGO-20150324
Not a big fan, but why not? Not a terrible choice. It would have been exciting to see her with Carly, not Amra, UGH.
Updated On: 3/24/15 at 11:12 AM
Meh. Also not a huge fan but she's fine.
I would have rather seen her as Velma.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Brandy's pushing 40. A bit old for Cinderella.
I don't understand why they keep having Amra come back. Isn't it time to let someone else play the role, especially because many reports have stated that she's less than mediocre?
She can sing her ass off. I'm so excited to hear the blue notes she'll dig up in that score. Her "Funny Honey" is gonna be brilliant.
Yeah, Brandy isn't a terrible casting decision at all!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
Carly Is leaving? Why? She usually sits on contracts
For some reason they are bringing back the awful Amra. An African American Roxie and Velma would have been exciting.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
Chicago news that wasn't brought to us by Patti LuPone Fanatic? What's going on in the world?
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
Chicago news that wasn't brought to us by Patti LuPone Fanatic? What's going on in the world?
Amra must have some really bad dirt on the Weisslers.
This is intriguing news. I vaguely remember her from Cinderella. I agree that it would have been a far better pairing of Carly and Brandy. Now, I'm excited to see Brandy as Roxie when I see the show on June 6th. To say that I'm underwhelmed at the prospect of another show with AFW as Velma is an understatement. Except for a few gaps here and there, AFW has been Velma since April 2011. WT__? AEM... I'm at work right now. Normally, I posts news when I'm at home at my desktop (yes, desktop). : ) I can still hope that an u/s will perform as Velma when I see the show. It can happen.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Interesting casting choice. I'm not entirely sure if I can see her in this role, but maybe she'll surprise everyone.
Why not Cinderella? It would have been a treat to see her recreate her role. (I grew up with her version). But, still: good for her!
I don't picture Her as Velma, but hey, good luck to Brandy.
Brandy is 36 but she looks good for her age, it would have been charming to see her in Cinderella but she could be a good Roxie.
I think she'd be a good Velma, too. But it is what it is. Congrats!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
"Brandy's pushing 40. A bit old for Cinderella."
Is it wrong that I wouldn't have cared? While it doesn't hold up as much as an adult (oh, those "special" effects...) I loved that movie and it inspired me to see many productions of R&H's Cinderella. It was my favorite musical for a very long time. Besides, I saw Lea Salonga do Cinderella and she was around she same age.
She doesn't immediately strike me as the perfect fit for Roxie but I can't deny that I'm intrigued. I much prefer them choosing performers from different genres of music (Jennifer Nettles, Brandy) to the stunt casting of non-singers they were doing for years.
Oh, well, why not?
The Weisslers seem to like a steady Velma. For much of the last decade it was Brenda Braxton. Now it's been Amra. I have no issues why, with the exception of short stints, they feel the need to bring in the same old tired Velma. Hell, at this point, I'd rather they brought back that hideous Roxanne Carrasco over Amra again.
I must say that Brandy's enthusiasm is infectious.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=980568#.VTMTeEIgKFY
Featured Actor Joined: 1/26/08
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