CHICAGO or NEWSIES

Newsies simply because the cast still has life and energy. Also the production still it's inital spark that faded in Chicago long before it's 100th attempt at stunt casting.

Updated On: 3/18/13 at 12:15 PM

Newsies!

Do you only have time to see one? Or is it money? Only asking because you can get rush seats for Chicago for $37 that are pretty awesomem and rear mezz at Newsies is usually not too expensive with a great view (mezz is best at that show).

That said, from the two options you give, I'd pick Newsies, although not because I think the cast of Chicago is stale. (The cast is actually transitioning now to new leads, who seem very enthusiastic about their new roles.) The choreography in Newsies is phenomenal, and I grew up on Alan Menken's music, so I'm partial to that show :)

DECarke- the women don't dance during the Cell Block Tango on Broadway, either.

Definitely Newsies. Great choreography and dancing, songs, story, set, characters, costumes. I didn't enjoy Chicago the one time I saw it on Broadway last year - it lacked all of the above elements for me.

I cannot comment on the current cast, but saw Chicago years about in NY and it was ok. I actually liked the movie better (which is backwards for me). I have tickets to see Newsies end of April and decided on that one becuase of the great reivews of it from here. It apparently is high energy with amazing dancing and choreography. Also, I downloaded the music from itunes and ma really enjoying it. Only thing with Newsies is the prime seats are $$$ but apparently the seats int he mezzanine are good too.

There is definitely a strong trend of disliking long-running shows on this board, so the OP should take that into consideration when reading this thread.

Newsies and Chicago are both choreography-driven shows, and I feel Chicago is the superior product. It's a classic, and yes believe it or not, it does still have energy and edge to it like it's still 1996.

CHICAGO was not dance heavy when I saw it... that was what so upsetting about it.

"All that Jazz" - great dancing and lots of it - dance heavy
"Funny Honey" - Roxie climbs a ladder - no dancing
"Cell Block Tango" - sung on stools - no dancing
"When You're Good to Mama" - sung while walking back and forth - no dancing
"All I Care About" - Billy walks, chorus girls do big feather fan dance - minimal dancing
"A Little Bit of Good" - I have no memory of this song what-so-ever. I think it was sung standing in one place... I might be wrong
"We Both Reached for the Gun" - sung from on the stand, with great faocial expressions and looks - no dancing
"Roxie" - minimal dancing, mostly strutting
"I Can't Do It Alone" - dance heavy for 1 character
"My Own Best Friend" - I don't remember this number either
"I Know a Girl" - No memory of this number
"Me and My Baby" - No memory of this number
"Mr. Cellophane" - sung mostly in one place - no dancing
"When Velma Takes the Stand" - sung from behind the stand - minimal to no dancing
"Razzle Dazzle" - strutting, not dancing
"Class" - sung on stolls, no dancing
"Nowadays" - No dancing
"Hot Honey Rag" - a hot rag dance! dance heavy! Best dance in the show!
"Finale" - No memory of this part

The film has more dance (in my memory) than the stage version...

Me and my Baby---no memory? That has my favorite choreography of any Broadway show ever! You should definitely check it out online.

Definitely Newsies

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I saw Chicago in previews with the original cast and the first national tour and LOVED it, but have no idea what shape the Broadway production is in now. But "dancing" is more than just full-body high-energy production numbers featuring the entire cast.

"Cell Block Tango" - sung on stools - no dancing

Has dancing.

"All I Care About" - Billy walks, chorus girls do big feather fan dance - minimal dancing

Billy has minimal movement. Chorus girls dance the intro and the rest of the number.

"We Both Reached for the Gun" - sung from on the stand, with great faocial expressions and looks - no dancing

Brilliant choreography of Billy and Roxie while chorus dances.

"Roxie" - minimal dancing, mostly strutting

Roxie dances with "her boys".

"Me and My Baby" - No memory of this number

Roxie and chorus dance.

"When Velma Takes the Stand" - sung from behind the stand - minimal to no dancing

Dancing choreographed with chair.

"Razzle Dazzle" - strutting, not dancing

Choreographed in slow motion, but it is dancing utilizing the entire chorus.

"Finale" - No memory of this part

Reprise of All that Jazz. Dancing.

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I'm curious -- how did you narrow it down to these two shows?

And I'd pick Newsies because it's "strictly limited to 100 performances...."

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Mister Matt, thank you for your input. Here's the thing, I haven't seen the show in NYC (which I made clear). My post is based on the tour I saw. The tour seemed modeled after the City Center Encores presentation. The set was largely a multi-leveled band stand that could be used for for court room scenes as well. The production I saw skimped on the dances. I put as much info as I could remember. I was very disappointed by the production when I saw it some 8-ish years ago. I remember walking out and thinking, "God, I hope it's not like this on Broadway."