CHICAGO cast changes... (Jerry Springer joining)- Page 3

[Kev]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:24am

Not a fan of Wright's Velma. Ehh.

Hence, why I'm waiting until next week to revisit the show when Terra MacLeod returns as Velma. Wright was fine, but never ignited in the role.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:38am

Kev, do you happen to know what's happened to Donna Marie Asbury. She was not listed as playing her regular role (Solange Sandy is now), but she is listed in the Playbill as "ensemble" and the u/s for Velma and Mama. However, she did not appear in last night's show at all. Is she on vacation?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 11:50am

I wonder if Sands can fit into the costumes they have for Springer...?

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:10pm

I doubt it. Sands frame is just so much larger than Jerrys. Also Sands last day was I think yesterday. Tommorows Springers first day

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 12:53pm

I think Piragua was making a joke. Since Sands is obviously a bigger guy than Springer. And I must say, Sands' suit could have been a tad tighter.

[Kev]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:08pm

Is she on vacation?

adamgreer, bingo. Generally, whenever one of the CHICAGO Ensemblers goes on vacation, he/she remains in the playbill but is listed as "Ensemble," as opposed to the name of his/her regular track.

A shame you couldn't have caught Donna Marie on for Amra instead!
Updated On: 8/17/09 at 01:08 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 1:11pm

I was hoping Donna Marie would be on.. Too bad she was on vacation. Amra was just nothing special. I wonder who they have lined up after Terra on 9/6?

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 7:14pm

I'm glad to see that this show has gotten better. A few months ago, everyone was saying it had gotten really stale...and ever since Samantha Joined, the reviews have been much better. Hopefully Jason will get the chance to play this role for a LONG time...I REALLY like what I've seen of this guy and now that people have said good things about him, I get the feeling that he's knocking them dead (mind you, I haven't seen this guy...so I could be dead wrong).

[tami3]

Posted: 8/17/09 at 7:50pm

I think it would be fun to see Jerry!

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 2:19am

I wonder how student rush will be for this. I'm only gonna have one opportunity to see Springer in the role.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 2:20am

It's general rush. 25 seats.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 2:24am

Have you (or anyone else) attempted lately? I'm going on the first Tuesday in September, so hopefully people will be back to school/not going on a weekday.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 2:33am

I did it this past Sunday. Got there about 10:45, and there were maybe 6-8 people on line.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 8:48pm

I've heard people say that Chicago has THE easiest rush. Tonight is Jerry's first performance.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 8:50pm

People line up for their rush in the summer. During the year, no.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/18/09 at 9:14pm

I've heard people say that Chicago has THE easiest rush.

People definitely line up. Some even attempt to cut the line and claim to not understand English. But that's a whole other story....

[Irrational Number]

Posted: 8/19/09 at 2:55am

With Jerry Springer, Chicago has officially jumped the shark.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 12:38am

Caught the matinee today and was pleasantly surprised by Springer. His singing is good but not great, and his acting was very good.

I also need to say that I LOVED Bianca Marroquin as Roxie. Nicole Bridgewater was on as Mama and she was awful.

For those who asked about rush, my friend picked up our tickets a little before 11 this morning and we were in row G.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 12:58am

saw the show tonight thanks to SRO!! Jerry was very good, I was quite surprised. He really did the best he could. And probably next to Charlotte d'Amboise, Bianca Marroquin is my next favorite Roxie. Amra-Faye Wright was an average Velma. I also got to see Nicole Bridgewater on as "Mama" and it wasn't pleasant. But overall the show was very good and clean with tons of energy(unlike with past visits).

[RachelO]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 1:36pm

I was at Chicago last night as well.
Bianca was wonderful as Roxie, though it wasn't expected after her rendition of Funny Honey, which was...less than fabulous. But she pulled it together for an incredible performance afterward, and was the first to the stagedoor after the show, signing playbills before the vast majority of the audience had even left the theatre.
Amra-Faye was fair, though the only moment where she truly shone was Class. The same goes for Nicole, who was on as Mama.
Jerry was much better than I expected. His singing wasn't incredible, but it wasn't bad either.
For me, the standout performances were those of Raymound as Amos and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
Even so, the production as a whole seemed stale. The vast majority of the cast just seemed to be phoning it in.

[Kev]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 1:46pm

I also got to see Nicole Bridgewater on as "Mama" and it wasn't pleasant.

Be thankful you didn't have to sit through her Velma! It was an underpowered and fairly awful performance.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 1:46pm

I'm surprised how many of you are actually going to see Jerry. Too bad you guys missed Samantha Harris as Roxie, she was a real treat.

I just saw it this past Sunday for the first time in a couple of years, and I thought it was anything but stale. I was quite impressed.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 2:55pm

"Even so, the production as a whole seemed stale. The vast majority of the cast just seemed to be phoning it in."

I disagree about last night's performance. I've seen the show twice where the ensemble was sleep walking through the show and last night was completely different. And I loved Solange Sandy's Jamaican accent during cell block tango. And Raymound is now my favorite Amos. No one else stood out like he did. Great Job!!

[Kev]

Posted: 8/20/09 at 3:09pm

CHICAGO has its highs and lows when it comes to feeling fresh and fun or stale, phoned in, etc. Much like any long-running show. I look forward to returning next week!