Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread — Page 115

ACL2006 said: "Finally got an SRO ticket for today's matinee. The show is in fine shape. Jinkx is such a welcomed, new addition and gives a different, fresh take on Mama. Charlotte is still amazing as Roxie, even after 20 years. Caught Bianca's Velma and it wasn't the best. The ensemble is still solid and once again I got the gift of seeing Sharon Moore in the show(8th time and she's gone on every time I've seen it). Marty Lawson & Colt Adam Weiss(covering Denny Paschall's vacation) were also on.



I hope the show can keep getting names like Pamela Anderson and Jinkx into the show. After tomorrow, I foresee their grosses tanking due to no name. Olivia Holt isn't a name, either, and won't sell tickets. I'm curious to see who the producers can pull in. Also, they're very short on Velmas currently. Lana will be back on April 10. Hopefully some new faces start to get brought into the show."

She's a better Roxie but Bianca's Velma is pretty good, what was off?

Bianca's Velma didn't come off strong enough. And I was surprised that her and Charlotte weren't together during Hot Honey Rag.

I saw it last week. Bianca appeared to me like she was in a lot of pain but powering through it. It worked, but if she was actually in pain I could see how things would deteriorate by the end of the week.

They need new Velmas. Bianca can occasionally do it. It's beyond Amra at this point. So they're really down to just Lana. Time to bring another 2 people in because this isn't sustainable.

I had never seen Charlotte as Roxie and my god she was on fire and sensational. Best shape I've seen Chicago in.

ACL2006 said: "There's so many actresses available to play Velma (& Roxie). Time for some fresh faces for this show." I agree. As I've mentioned before, there could (and should) be a Search For Velma for the show. New Velmas need to be developed for the continued viability of the show.

FYI London already did a Velma Kelly search

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2433LdMOS7w

much like finding a new Roxie, forgettable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9e7odq6y38 Nicole Benoit She will be on as "Go-To-Hell-Kitty" from 3/30--4/2.

Updated On: 3/29/23 at 09:10 PM

Kimberly Marable will be broadway’s NEW VELMA when Bianca departs!

Even though I think she's very likeable, I was pretty surprised to hear that Jinx was helping the show sell out. That must really sting if other, bigger Broadway stars like Jennifer Holliday or Lillias White don't sell out during their stints in the same part. Did they?

Jinx is fun but doesn't have their vocal chops.

Also, how long is Charlotte D'A staying in the production?

I recently was told that the reason there hasn’t been those high profile Roxie, Velma, Billy, Mama, etc happening (aside from Pamela A) is because the Weisslers are quite difficult to negotiate with so agents decline offers (took 10 years for Pamela to agree and she wisely used her run to her advantage on every level). NY theater reps also tell actors/artists who are looking to make their Broadway debuts to avoid CHICAGO.

There's probably a reason why the show constantly recycles their cast members. Majority of the ensemble has been there for at least since the reopening. Most much longer.

Listener said: "Interesting.

...I'm kind of surprised the show managed to recover from one of it's original cast members, you know, killing himself after being brutally grilled during a rehearsal just because they wanted him to quit so they could save a few bucks.

I really thought the theatre community would have a bigger reaction to that long-term, but I guess audiences don't particularly care."

I mean, there was quite a bit of fallout, with the show involved MD being fired from the show in a very public way. But this all happened pre-COVID - and when Broadway reopened, I’m assuming nobody was actively looking to crusade against and bury a show when the industry was recovering

Mary Claire King is Velma for both shows today and tomorrow. Was Bianca scheduled to be out this entire week?