Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 121

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 9:48pm

I remember Jason Danieley as one of my favorite actors to play the role of Billy Flynn.  He hasn't been on in a while.  When he played the role, he used to keep track of how long he could sustain the note of "the".......gun.  Bring him back.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:37pm

Danieley does hold the record for holding that note the longest.

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 8/15/23 at 1:43pm

Still no cast change news? Wouldn't they be in rehearsals by now?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/15/23 at 2:00pm

Before, Telecharge would post the end dates for "Chicago" principal players.  No, the producers seem to be reluctant to share that news with Telecharge...or anyone else...for that matter.  Kimberly has been working on a fairly longer than usual Velma contract.  For me, I would LOVE to see Leigh Zimmerman again in the role.  She was my first Velma in March 2011.  I'm curious to know who will step into Roxie's shoes once Charlotte D'Amboise leaves her current run.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/15/23 at 3:21pm

I'm guessing Lana returns as Velma. Maybe Dylis gets a nice stint as Roxie?

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 4:17pm

I see Telecharge has updated with a new Mama and Amos from September. Don't know if that means Charlotte and Kimberly have extended, or it's just not updated yet 

 

Charlotte d'Amboise as Roxie Hart
Kimberly Marable as Velma Kelly
Ryan Silverman as Billy Flynn
Jennifer Fouché as Matron "Mama" Morton (thru 9/10)
Lili Thomas as Matron "Mama" Morton (begins 9/11)
Evan Harrington as Amos Hart (thru 8/27)
Ray Bokhour as Amos Hart (begins 8/28)
R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 5:27pm

Charlotte doesn't do long runs anymore, so she's likely leaving. Marable will be 6 months and probably exits. I wouldn't be surprised if Lana Gordon returns as Velma.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 10:06pm

I looked up Lili Thomas, as I wasn't familiar with her.  

 

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 7:46am

Kimberly has confirmed on Instagram she is staying until November 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/29/23 at 9:13am

Theatrefan2 said: "Kimberly has confirmed on Instagram she is staying until November"

 

Have heard her Velma isn't that good. I think she keeps getting extensions due to them not having anyone else to come in until they get someone new for the role. If Bianca and Lana aren't available, they really don't have any other options.

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/8/23 at 10:20pm

I'm thinking that Bianca Marroquin will be the next Velma Kelly, as Lana Gordon will be involved with the Hadestown National Tour.  Personally, I would LOVE to see Leigh Zimmerman (saw her in 2011 and 2017) as Velma.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/10/23 at 8:22pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxBEElruDAV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  Lili Thomas singing as Mama Morton.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/10/23 at 9:11pm

Did Charlotte extend her run? I thought today was her final day (for now).

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/11/23 at 1:40pm

I saw Lili Thomas sing WYGTM on the Broadway Up Close concert yesterday afternoon, and thought it was weird she wasn't listed on their website. She's there today. (She was very good on the show, btw.)

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 9/11/23 at 2:46pm

I saw CHICAGO about a month or so ago and and it was my 34th time seeing the show at the Ambassador so I am quite a fan. However, this performance was the first time I did not thoroughly enjoy the show, and it was because of the two leads. At this point, I'd really rather not say the actors' names but you can probably figure it out. The Velma was the worst Velma I have ever seen--could not act or sing the part at all. And the Roxie was one I've seen many, many times and she has been invariably perfect in the role except for this show. I don't even want to get into the specifics of what made her performance so bad because I feel it would be mean spirited because it seemed like she was clearly affected by something personal that she couldn't shake off for her performance. My heart went out to her. I do look forward to seeing the show again.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/11/23 at 3:57pm

Charlotte did call out a lot this summer. Makes me wonder if doing Chicago 8/week now is getting to be too much now.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/11/23 at 4:19pm

ACL2006 said: "Charlotte did call out a lot this summer. Makes me wonder if doing Chicago 8/week now is getting to be too much now."

Has kept many former Broadway folks from ever returning, like Barbra Streisand. 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 1:18am

When Charlotte first came to Broadway in 99. Always out. 
 

anyway

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1gCK4QIe1U

London Brooke! 
i loved Brooke and Luba on Broadway  

 

 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 12:36pm

ACL2006 said: "Charlotte did call out a lot this summer. Makes me wonder if doing Chicago 8/week now is getting to be too much now."

Yeah, I've said before that she's done the role for such a long time, but I think after almost 25 years, it might be time to hang it up. The only problem with that is that there seems to be a limited pool of reliable leads to take over roles during the non-celebrity times.

For Roxie, the rotation seems to just be Charlotte, with Dylis Croman filling in intermittently and maybe Bianca Marroquin (though she seems content in the Velma rotation). For Velma, you have Kimberly now in the role, but the only other ones I know of recently are Bianca and Lana Gordon (who is going back out on tour with Hadestown).

I wish they would mine more of the recent cast of DANCIN' into the show - I know Khori Petinaud is a maternity cover right now, but I feel like she could definitely rock in the Velma role, as well as Yani Marin or Afra Hines. I'd also love to see Manuel Herrera as Billy Flynn

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 2:30pm

quizking101 said: "ACL2006 said: "Charlotte did call out a lot this summer. Makes me wonder if doing Chicago 8/week now is getting to be too much now."

Yeah, I've said before that she's done the role for such a long time, but I think after almost 25 years, it might be time to hang it up. The only problem with that is that there seems to be a limited pool of reliable leads to take over roles during the non-celebrity times.

For Roxie, the rotation seems to just be Charlotte, with Dylis Croman filling in intermittently andmaybeBianca Marroquin (though she seems content in the Velma rotation). For Velma, you have Kimberly now in the role, but the only other ones I know of recently are Bianca and Lana Gordon (who is going back out on tour with Hadestown).

I wish they would mine more of the recent cast of DANCIN' into the show - I know Khori Petinaud is a maternity cover right now, but I feel like she could definitely rock in the Velma role, as well as Yani Marin or Afra Hines. I'd also love to see Manuel Herrera as Billy Flynn"

Manuel would be an EXCELLENT Billy, he constantly caught my eye in DANCIN'. Afra would also make a great Velma! They really need to build up the stable, I could see them giving Charlotte a big send-off with a special run for her last weeks if she chooses to leave soon.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:21pm

There's enough triple threats out there and Fosse trained dancers that the show should have ample, new replacements available. Marable isn't a dancer and isn't getting good reviews, but she keeps getting extensions due to no one else being available. I do think Charlotte needs to announce she's permanently leaving the show so she can get a respectable send off. The show is stale now with no names coming in anytime soon. Either close the show or clean house with some new cast members.

[Voter]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:50pm

ACL2006 said: "There's enough triple threats out there and Fosse trained dancers that the show should have ample, new replacements available. Marable isn't a dancer and isn't getting good reviews, but she keeps getting extensions due to no one else being available. I do think Charlotte needs to announce she's permanently leaving the show so she can get a respectable send off. The show is stale now with no names coming in anytime soon. Either close the show or clean house with some new cast members."

They just announced the next ticket block selling to September 2024... so I hope we get some fresh new faces. When I went for Pamela Anderson how ever many months ago, it was still feeling stale then too.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 9/19/23 at 10:50am

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Give Amber Ardolino a shot as Velma. 

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 10/3/23 at 7:10am

I saw this last night, and while I've never seen it on broadway I thought it was pretty sensational. I've seen the show numerous times over the years but not in over a decade as in the UK its never done without celeb casting. In fact this might be the first time ive seen in without at least one celebrity. Seeing it last night with trained and extremely talented broadway actors showed what a great show Chicago is when the talent is on stage to show it off.

I'd been worried about Kimberley as Velma based on the Bryant park videos, but that performance did her a severe disservice. Everyone has their preferences but I thought her performance was great.  Acting, singing and dancing (and attitude). Not as belty as some, but she was her own Velma and I liked it.

Lili Thomas as Mama...Wow! What a voice! Possibly the best 'when your good to mama' I've heard. Great characterisation too.

We had understudy Roxie, Angel Reda, who was funny and for me exactly how I imagine Roxie to be.

Ryan Silverman as Billy was very good as was Raymond Bokhour as Amos.

Orchestra sounded great, ensemble seemed pretty tight but special shout out to Michael Scirroto who really stands out and was very funny as the jury. 

Maybe for some this isn't the best it's been, but having the chance to see every character played by really talented triple threats with no compromises, was a treat.

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 10/8/23 at 10:25pm

https://youtu.be/qoWdyzMyk2c?si=oldBtfzpqRrApaEN  A Brazilian production of "Chicago".  I can understand individual words in the segment.