Chicago Tour question

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 11:12pm

Has anybody seen the "Chicago" tour recently? I've never seen the show (just the movie) and I was considering seeing it when it's in town this November. I wanted to see what kind of shape it's in though.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 12:27am

I hope you're fully aware that this Broadway staging AND Rob Marshall's 2002 film adaptation are completely different. The only thing they have in common is that they are related in product and that's it.

The 1996 Broadway revival (which IS the current Broadway production) is a concert-style staging based on the 1996 Encores! Concert Series production. There are no sets and no costumes -- its all slick and black and the orchestra is upstage inside a large golden jury box. The action is performed downstage in front of this jury box.

Now... Rob Marshall's film adaptation of CHICAGO is based on Bob Fosse's original 1975 Broadway production (not this 1996 Broadway revival). Bob Fosse's original DID have period costumes AND sets, etc. Also, Rob Marshall retained/used numerous elements of Bob Fosse's staging for the 2002 film and which are not incorporated in the current Broadway revival.

All this must be taken in consideration if and when you see the current revival of CHCAGO. Many people assume THIS concert-staging is the way Bob Fosse created it... it is not.

[jonmbway4652]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 1:24am

I saw the tour in January and it is excellent. It takes awhile to get used to the simplicity of the show, but once you do its truly an amazing show

[CJR]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 2:41am

They're in Tokyo right now, but this cast is exceptional.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:56am

Yeah, I know it's very minimalistic, but thank you for describing it more fully, BrodyFosse. I'm actually totally cool with it not having the same "razzle dazzle" as the film and original production did.

Great to hear that the cast is fantastic though! I'm trying to get somebody to take me for my birthday! lol

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:28pm

Having seen them in their last stop before Tokyo, they are in tip-top shape and as good as Chicago can be. I was fortunate to see Tom Hewitt in the role of Billy which made it all that much better.

[thejcm]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:17pm

Who is currently playing the leads? It's going to be here in Louisville in a couple of weeks and the cast is kind of the deciding factor for me.

Forgive me if I've overlooked something but I couldn't find anything on google or the actual website as far as the current cast is concerned.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:44am

I love Tom Hewitt! I had no idea he was in the cast... I'm much more commited to seeing this tour now! I hope he doesn't leave before November.

[CJR]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:46am

Terra C MacLeod as Velma
Bianca Marroquin as Roxie
Kevin Richardson as Billy

Not sure who's playing Mama right now. Carol Woods maybe? It's not Roz Ryan. No idea.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:52am

Kevin Richardson, as in The Backstreet Boys Kevin Richardson? I know it's not fair to judge a performer prior to seeing them in a show. But.. still. Ew.

Maybe he'll be marvelous and I'll completely eat my words. I hope he proves me wrong!

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:52am

Kevin Richardson, as in The Backstreet Boys Kevin Richardson? I know it's not fair to judge a performer prior to seeing them in a show. But.. still. Ew.

Maybe he'll be marvelous and I'll completely eat my words. I hope he proves me wrong!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 9:52am

Kevin Richardson played Billy Flynn in the Broadway production several years ago. Much to the surprise of many... he was very well-received.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 9:55am

I actually LOVE it when they cast younger Billy's. It really adds an extra something to the role. I think Kevin very much looks the part, I just don't know if he can act or sing it.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 11:02am

thejcm,

Kevin R is also with the tour in Louisville because that's his hometown; after that who knows

the Chicago facebook does a slightly better job of updating than the main website

[thejcm]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 11:38am

Thanks for the fb heads-up, musicalFan.

I knew Kevin was from here, had no clue he was doing the tour. It would be cool if Paige Davis showed up to play Roxie for the 3 day stop here, she's also from here.

[CJR]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 12:01am

Kevin is actually a wonderful Billy. I was quite skeptical when he was first cast in the Broadway production, but was pleasantly surprised. He actually wound up being one of my favorite Billys

[Dover]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 3:48pm

That's a pretty good cast, if that's who's in it when it comes to your town.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:24pm

I saw the tour when I came to Toronto 3 years ago. The cast was different (Brenda Braxton, Bianca Marroquin, and Kevin Richardson were all the leads. (It was werid, because Brenda and Bianca were in the Broadway cast right before coming to T.O. and then they went back to NYC (Except Kevin, who stayed with the tour)

Kevin was really good! I went in not excited to see him, but he was amazing! I"m now greatful to see his Billy.

[Elke]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:35pm

I second everyone's positive comments on Kevin Richardson as Billy. He played the role in several productions (Broadway, Canada, US Tour, London and Tokyo). I saw him in London several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed his performance. Wouldn't mind seeing him back on Broadway (maybe even in another show, I think he'd make a wonderful Nick Massi in Jersey Boys).

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:06pm

I'm for sure going now! Yay for people buying me birthday tickets!

[Jyn326]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 9:09am

I saw the matinee yesterday in Louisville. I loved it. I only had the movie to compare it to, I've never seen another stage production of Chicago. My friend hadn't seen the movie so she had no idea what to expect. She really liked it, too.

I liked the simplistic staging and costumes. It made the performances stand out. My favorite was "Cell Block Tango".

I LOVED the actress playing Roxie. With all the other stuff going on, it was still hard to look at anything but her. I didn't want to miss her facial expressions whenever she reacted to what someone else said. Mama Morton was great, too. I didn't care so much for Velma. She had a good voice, but she didn't do much for me. I thought Kevin Richardson did a great job as Billy. I didn't know he was going to be there until I was in my seat reading his bio. I admit, I was excited to see someone I used to be a fan of 10 years ago. He was very charming. His performance during "We Both Reached for the Gun" was very entertaining.

The rest of the cast... wow. They were all terrific dancers and I gotta say, the boys were quite nice to look at.

I'm not really good at reviews, so I'm just going to call this my thoughts on yesterday's show. Anybody else see it in Louisville?

[NDR]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 1:45pm

Does anyone have confirmation that Kevin Richardson will be in the Rochester engagement of Chicago?

[wicked1492]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:11am

I'm going to see the show tomorrow night in Columbus, OH. Anyone seen it recently? I'm really looking foward to it! :)

[misto625]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:33am

Dos anyone know who is currently performing in the tour? I can't find a cast list anywhere.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:50am

As of January, Bianca Marroquin and Brenda Braxon were Roxie and Velma, Tom Wopat was Billy, Carol Woods was Mama. Wopat is obviously in SoS right now, but the other leads might still be the same.