Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 136

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/3/25 at 10:07am

Greg Hildreth will begin as Amos this Monday. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/3/25 at 10:25am

Bought tickets to see Erika, and I love Greg Hildreth, so I'm actually more excited to see him!

Updated On: 1/3/25 at 10:25 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/3/25 at 12:17pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Greg Hildreth will begin as Amos this Monday."

A new Amos! Huzzah! Hopefully a new Velma and Roxie come February 10!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 1:18pm

I’d love to see Mikayla Renfrow get bumped up to full time Velma. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/8/25 at 8:48pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEkVdDFuE2g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link    Christine Cornish is back as Hunyak for a short while.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/12/25 at 9:13pm

I was taking a looksey at Telecharge.  This is what I found for Chicago:

Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart):  thru January 19th.

Erika Jayne (Roxie Hart) : Jan. 20-Feb. 9

Kimberly Marable (Velma Kelly):  thru Feb. 9

Max Von Essen (Billy Flynn): thru Feb. 23

Natasha Williams (Matron Mama Morton): thru Jan. 17

Nakiya Peterkin (Matron Mama Morton): Jan. 20 -- Feb. 23

Greg Hildreth (Amos Hart)

R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine): thru March 30th 

 



                                                      Nakiya Peterkin

Updated On: 1/12/25 at 09:13 PM

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/12/25 at 10:23pm

Video of Toni Collette’s audition for the film version has been unearthed. I love Renée in the movie, but Toni would have been a fabulous alternative!


https://x.com/zacharyj/status/1876333095013826560?s=46&t=VIhak-WwKweBmo-BP7FI3g

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 12:01pm

If A Wonderful World closes by the end of January, I wonder if they'll bring back James T Lane as Billy? Charlotte is the typical Roxie Winter fill-in. Just curious to see who's the next Velma. Lana Gordon?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/18/25 at 9:12pm

Swing shortage at Chicago this weekend. Marty Lawson and Mary Claire King are out on vacation this week. Sharon Moore and Chelsea James are out sick. Nicole Benoit was called in this weekend and is split tracking Go-To-Hell Kitty and Liz since Mikayla is on as Velma this weekend. David Bushman is on as Martin Harrison as well.

IMO, it shouldn't have been allowed to have three cast members out on vacation at the same time, but that's just me or they should have had more coverage for this week/weekend.

Updated On: 1/19/25 at 09:12 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/20/25 at 7:25am

I still think there should  be a "Search for Velma", much like the Roxie contest from several years back.  Also, it has been a very long time since there has been a celebrity Velma.  One of my favorite Billy Flynns is Jason Danieley.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 9:56am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Erika-Jayne-Takes-First-Bows-in-Return-to-CHICAGO-20250121    John Michael Fiumara (Fred Casely) is very easy on the eyes!

Updated On: 1/21/25 at 09:56 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/30/25 at 10:28am

New Velma Kelly beginning Feb. 10!

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Sophie-Carmen-Jones-Will-Join-CHICAGO-on-Broadway-20250130

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/31/25 at 8:05pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4bi87iiTZQ    An interview with Sophie Carmen Jones.  I am not familiar with her so this video is very helpful.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/3/25 at 3:15pm

No word on the next Roxie, Billy and Mama starting Feb. 24.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 10:51pm

It's interesting to see that the show currently has four Velma Kelly understudies:  Christine Cornish, Mary Claire King, Kristen Faith Oei and Mikayla Renfrow.  https://playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6db350002&type=cp#cc

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 7:45am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "It's interesting to see that the show currently has four Velma Kelly understudies: Christine Cornish, Mary Claire King, Kristen Faith Oei and Mikayla Renfrow.https://playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6db350002&type=cp#cc"

Considering a longstanding concern has been a lack of Velmas due to it being a more technically complex role than Roxie, I’m glad to see they have a full stable of women who can play the role 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 8:55am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "It's interesting to see that the show currently has four Velma Kelly understudies: Christine Cornish, Mary Claire King, Kristen Faith Oei and Mikayla Renfrow.https://playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6db350002&type=cp#cc"

Christine Cornish is no longer with the show. she returned for 3 weeks to cover Oei's leave as Hunyak. so they only have 3 Velma covers.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/13/25 at 10:28am

Dylis Croman rejoins the company as Roxie, and Rema Webb assumes Mama Morton starting February 24. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/13/25 at 10:44am

Rema as Mama!! Damn, I might have to try and see it again! Croman is a solid Roxie, too. At least Charlotte isn't returning this time. I guess Max von Essen is extending his Billy run again?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dylis-Croman-and-Rema-Webb-Will-Join-the-Cast-of-CHICAGO-20250213

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/13/25 at 7:17pm

I found this video of Rema Webb singing "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from "Sunset Boulevard".  So lovely!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oIAPzbkbdk

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/2/25 at 3:20pm

https://youtu.be/fQaUi3zC_dk?si=IKFWltdcd4wsPwet   Ann Reinking's final curtain call as Roxie Hart:  1997.

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 12:15pm

According to Telecharge, Max has extended again:

Max von Essen as Billy Flynn (thru 6/15)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 12:28pm

onesongglory2 said: "According toTelecharge,Max has extended again:

Max von Essen as Billy Flynn (thru 6/15)"

Good for him. Definitely one of the longest tenured Billy Flynns. Though I thought they'd bring back James T Lane for a few months.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 12:54pm

Saw the show again over the weekend. Webb is excellent as Mama and sang the heck out of her songs. As was Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma. I adored everything about her performance. Hope they stay with the show for a good while.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 7:45pm

Sophie is there through May 4. Webb is there through May 18. Sadly, Dylkis is there only until March 23. Chicago doesn't appear to have a name lined up, and their recent grosses haven't been good.

• Dylis Croman as Roxie Hart (thru 3/23)
• Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly (thru 5/4)
• Max von Essen as Billy Flynn (thru 6/15)
• Rema Webb as Matron "Mama" Morton (thru 5/18)
• Greg Hildreth as Amos Hart (thru 3/30)
• R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine (thru 3/30)