CHICAGO - Staging?

[robskynyc]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 4:16pm

does anyone know if the original broadway run of Chicago had the same minimalist staging as the currently running 1996 revival?

 

I made the mistake of watching the movie before I saw the musical, and I was very underwhelmed by the staging.

I can help but think if the broadway show was staged more like the movie, it would be even more amazing? Like if when she goes into "roxie hart" the giant red letters spelling ROXIE come up from the floor and she performs on top of them like she did in the movie? 

I know it really doesnt make a difference because the show has been on for 22 years. But im curious about the original staging and if anyone felt the same as i did?

:)

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 4:22pm

I wish they would replace the current production with an entirely new one. This one is super stale.

[EthelMae]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 4:22pm

Saw the original. Believe me, it was not like this “minimalist” staging! And I love this revival. But the original was not like this version.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 4:23pm

I saw this a few months back and left at intermission.

It was exactly the same as it was when I'd seen it 15 years before.

It really needs a redo, though I guess they see it as a tribute to Fosse.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 4:54pm

This current Broadway revival of CHICAGO is based on a 1996 City Center Encores! Concert staging.  That 4-night concert staging was so well received that a few months later, this same minimalist concert staging was brought to Broadway and still continues to this day in its full-concert staging. 

Bob Fosse's original 1975 Broadway production was not done in a minimalistic concert-staged production.  The original production had full costumes and set design.  The band/orchestra was on a risen platform on stage and the action took place below it (a small curtained proscenium was underneath the band/orchestra's platform).  

Now, the 2002 film adaptation is based on THIS 1975 Broadway production, so references are made to it throughout, like the jail block bars in "Cell Block Tango", the glass of milk in "We Both Reached for the Gun", Roxie sitting on top of a piano for "Funny Honey", the neon ROXIE sign in the "Roxie" number, etc.  

Here is rehearsal footage of the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO so you can see how it looked, etc: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjMMbm6pGXM

 

Here is Tony Walton's fabulous set design for the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO: 



 

Here are photos of the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO: 











 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 5:00pm

Very interesting thanks!

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 5:31pm

The original production was so lavish that that show had to nearly sell out every night just to make its nut.  That's why Liza stepped in to help her friends Kander, Ebb and Fosse out when Gwen had to have emergency surgery and was gone for several weeks.  They were afraid they wouldn't make enough to stay open without her.

I would love to see a production that at least recreates Fosse's original staging and choreography even if not the full set and costumes.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 6:32pm

I wonder who came up  with the idea of the Velma "elevator"?  I think the costumes for the 1996 were a vast improvement over the previous incarnation.  

[Jon_sense]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 6:36pm

Patti, please explain why you think the '96 costumes are a vast improvement over the originals?

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 6:39pm

Impossible2 said: "It was exactly the same as it was when I'd seen it 15 years before."

 

Out of curiosity, what were you expecting? Why would the same production 22 years into its run be vastly different than it was seven years into its run? Would you go see, say, "Phantom" and be disappointed that it is essentially the same as it was 10 years ago? 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 6:54pm

I wonder who came up with the idea of the Velma "elevator"? I think the costumes for the 1996 were a vast improvement over the previous incarnation.

Velma’s “elevator” entrance is from the original 1975 Broadway production, and why it’s used in the current revival as well as in the 2002 film adaptation, which referenced heavily the original 1975 Broadway production.  I’m sure it was Bob Fosse’s idea.   

Also, the “costumes” for the current revival are variations of modern formal wear so they’re not 1920s period costumes as the revival is done in a contemporary concert-style, unlike Bob Fosse’s original.  You can’t compare them as both are totally different interpretations.   

[bk]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 7:25pm

It's not hard to find out information about the original production - there are videos (some posted here), photos (some posted here) - the Encores presentation was perfectly okay for ENCORES - when it moved to B'way it was, for me, exactly what it appeared to be - a money-grabbing opportunity for the Weisslers and boy were they right.  But the "production" was never a production at all and still isn't and I loathed it.  The original was pure Fosse and whether one liked the material or not, his staging was fantastic.

I believe the elevator was Mr. Walton's idea.  He's a genius, you know.

[Solipsist234]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 7:41pm

What people need to understand about the original production of Chicago was that it was meant to be billed as a vaudeville-style show, which of course explains why the Bandleader announces the song and the character to move the story along (the effect was slightly ruined with the current revival and Taye Diggs in the movie.) I do agree, however, with the earlier comment about "different interpretations", which is always warranted and justified when a show that hasn't seen the light of day is revived (in this situation, the current revival of Chicago was just another Encores! production.) I think the overall minamalist approach to the current revival (i.e. the bandstand is the only real set, chairs subsititute for different locations and ideals, etc.) helped it in the long run, literally!

Still doesn't help that the Cell Block Tango is a freaking joke in the current revival; I love Walter Bobbie and Ann Reinking and I respect their work, but DAMN! What happened there!

Updated On: 7/8/18 at 07:41 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 11:49pm

Maybe I'm missing something, but the two productions don't seem to be that dissimilar? The original doesn't look lavish to me at all, especially if they were going for vaudeville. I saw the all-Japanese all-woman version done at Lincoln center - last year? year before? - and it's the first time I'd seen this production - the Encores ones - in some time, and I really thought it felt sharp and fun and fresh. I haven't seen the Broadway version, so can't comment. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 12:12am

RippedMan said: "Maybe I'm missing something, but the two productions don't seem to be that dissimilar? The original doesn't look lavish to me at all, especially if they were going for vaudeville. I saw the all-Japanese all-woman version done at Lincoln center - last year? year before? - and it's the first time I'd seen this production - the Encores ones - in some time, and I really thought it felt sharp and fun and fresh. I haven't seen the Broadway version, so can't comment."

I agree. It doesn't look like it's entirely fair to say the original was fully staged either. It looks like a unit set to me. It actually seems like Robert Brill may have taken some inspiration from the design for his work on the Cabaret revival with the two staircases on either side, playing space between and the band up top.

[A Director]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 1:59am

Patricia Zipprodt's costume designs for the original production had CLASS.  William Ivey Long's costumes for the current production do not.

The current production looks like it was designed for a four day run.

[bk]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 4:52am

CATSNYrevival said: "RippedMan said: "Maybe I'm missing something, but the two productions don't seem to be that dissimilar? The original doesn't look lavish to me at all, especially if they were going for vaudeville. I saw the all-Japanese all-woman version done at Lincoln center - last year? year before? - and it's the first time I'd seen this production - the Encores ones - in some time, and I really thought it felt sharp and fun and fresh. I haven't seen the Broadway version, so can't comment."

I agree. It doesn't look like it's entirely fair to say the original was fully staged either. It looks like a unit set to me. It actually seemslike Robert Brill may have taken some inspiration from the design for his work on the Cabaret revival with the two staircases on either side, playing space between and the band up top."

Of course you say that, having not seen it.  Some of us here saw it - it was FULLY staged by Mr. Fosse, and the set, while it may look simple, did lots of stuff and was brilliant as are all Mr. Walton's set designs.  It was a big, Broadway musical.  The revival was an Encores thing as Encores things were back then - it was not designed for Broadway, it was designed as "A Director" correctly states, for a four-day run.

 

[robskynyc]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 8:53am

BrodyFosse123 said: "This current Broadway revival of CHICAGO is based on a 1996 City Center Encores! Concert staging. That 4-night concert staging was so well received that a few months later, this same minimalist concert staging was brought to Broadway and still continues to this day in its full-concert staging.

Bob Fosse's original 1975 Broadway production was not done in a minimalistic concert-staged production. The original production had full costumes and set design. The band/orchestra was on a risen platform on stage and the action took place below it (a small curtained proscenium was underneath the band/orchestra's platform).
 

 

This is amazing!!!!
Now, the 2002 film adaptation is based on THIS 1975 Broadway production, so references are made to it throughout, like the jail block bars in "Cell Block Tango", the glass of milk in "We Both Reached for the Gun", Roxie sitting on top of a piano for "Funny Honey", the neon ROXIE sign in the "Roxie" number, etc.

Here is rehearsal footage of the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO so you can see how it looked, etc:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjMMbm6pGXM



Here is Tony Walton's fabulous set design for the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO:





Here are photos of the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO:











"

This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 9:16am

Jon_sense said: "Patti, please explain why you think the '96 costumes are a vast improvement over the originals?"

Speaking about the male costumes, I've seen one video where the boys' costumes are half a short pant and half a long pant.  I don't think that was very appealing, in my opinion.  

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 9:25am

So we are seriously saying that a show needs to have lavish sets and costumes to be on Broadway? Something tells me that if Chicago had a blockbuster set, the same people would be sittin here going “it’s only still running because tourists want a big dumb flashy show”. So some of y’all will never be happy.

I think I the staging is effective, creative, and above all, theatrical.

That said, one of my favorite things about Chicago is how polished and strong each performance is when I see it (which is rather often). However, I caught a performance right after the infamous Jeff L. rehearsal and the performances were sloppy and something was definitely off. I was appalled by what I saw onstage that day. Have no idea if it’s connected to what’s in the news lately.

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 9:38am

Phantom4ever said: "Something tells me that if Chicago had a blockbuster set, the same people would be sittin here going “it’s only still running because tourists want a big dumb flashy show”. So some of y’all will never be happy."

[robskynyc]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 11:00am

NoName3 said: "The original production was so lavish that that show had to nearly sell out every night just to make its nut. That's why Liza stepped in to help her friends Kander, Ebb and Fosse out when Gwen had to have emergency surgery and was gone for several weeks. They were afraid they wouldn't make enough to stay open without her.

I would love to see a production that at least recreates Fosse's original staging and choreography even if not the full set and costumes."

 

wasnt her surgery for something crazy? like she swallowed a feather during the show and it somehow affected her vocal chords?

 

[robskynyc]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 11:22am

Phantom4ever said: "So we are seriously saying that a show needs to have lavish sets and costumes to be on Broadway? Something tells me that if Chicago had a blockbuster set, the same people would be sittin here going “it’s only still running because tourists want a big dumb flashy show”. So some of y’all will never be happy."

i never said that. i was simply asking if the original production was more in line with the gorgeous sets we saw in the movie. a show doesn't have to have a lavish set to be on broadway... Falsettos? DEH? Next to Normal? Godspell? The Last Five Years (off bway, but still)? I clearly said that having seen the movie before the minimally staged revival clearly influenced my opinion. I'm honestly not surprised that you consider this lazy staging of the revival to be "creative," because I've also seen you refer to the effects in phantom as "stunning" in other threads. Stunning, maybe 30 years ago. But definitely not for todays audience. But then again, thats just your opinion. If you want stunning, look at the chandelier drop from the vegas phantom show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGL277c3t6I

I know this might shock you but peoples expectations of what they see on stage is constantly growing at the same rate as technology improves and makes "bigger and better" easier to achieve. Do you think people would be impressed by claymation dinosaurs in jurassic park? no. because they know technology is capable of so much more. and so, theatre audiences are also expecting more. Cursed Child has shown us just how far stage effects have come (even if most of them were practical illusions) So while a simple show with a relatively simple set (perfect example, the bands visit) can be amazing, it has more to do with the story. chicago was meant for a big lavish production, not the rinky-dink stage show thats been running for too long.

 

 

 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 2:02pm

Obviously they have no intention or care to ‘revamp’ this production - but I think it would be great if they put out an entirely new national tour, similar to what CM did with Phantom of the Opera.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 3:31pm

I wouldn't mind seeing a new production of Chicago that is more fully staged with sets and costumes and most importantly, Bob Fosse's actual choreography done by dancers who can do it justice. The choreography in the style of Fosse by Ann Reinking is clever as is the entire production, but I do think it needs a face lift. I will say that what impressed with about Chicago when I saw it was that it showed me what can be done with such minimal staging. It makes every little move more important and Reinking's reworking of Fosse's choreography with the cleaner positions stick out. I also think the clean costumes give the show a look that allowed it to last as long as it did. They are more distinctive than the original production's costumes which I felt were pretty hideous though I'm sure designed with a real purpose. I think the film's costumes were inspired by both in that they wanted it to be period but they also wanted it to look aesthetically pleasing so they went with the revival's aesthetic moreso than the original production, and I don't blame them.

ETA:

Here's video footage of the original 1975 production to give you more perspective on what it looked like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjMMbm6pGXM

It must have been during out-of-town tryouts because this one has "Loopin' the Loop" as opposed to "Hot Honey Rag". Also, it has the idea of Chita playing drums and Gwen playing the sax that entertained Kander, Ebb. and Fosse so much but went over with the audience like a lead balloon.

Updated On: 7/9/18 at 03:31 PM