Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 137

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 7:52pm

ACL2006 said: "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."   He's the new AFW.  

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 7:55pm

ACL2006 said: "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)

"

I hope this doesn't mean the finis of R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 8:10pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "ACL2006 said: "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)

"

I hope this doesn't mean the finis of R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine."

 

Hell will freeze over before R. Lowe finally gives up Mary Sunshine.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 8:31pm

I will say that when I saw the show this Sunday, it was a mixed bag. I love this show and the performances of Carmen-Jones and Webb were wonderful. But the show needs another kick in the rear the way it did when Pamela Anderson and Jinkx Monsoon joined the show. The audience was dead and some ensemble members seemed to be sleep walking through the show. I get it's a tough show with a tough weekly schedule to match, but the show seems to have lost the spark that it was able to recapture when Anderson and Monsoon joined.

Updated On: 3/11/25 at 08:31 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 8:40pm

the ensemble needs an overall. some have been there 10+ years. Others joined the show when it reopened from COVID. Tia Altinay, John Michael Fiumara, Chelsea James(swing), and Mikayla Renfrow are the only new ensemble members within the last year.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 9:27am

Ashley Graham joins the company as Roxie Hart from April 15 - May 25.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 9:33am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Ashley Graham joins the company as Roxie Hart from April 15 - May 25."

I have no clue who that is.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 11:14am

I am always on the lookout for long-run-itis every time I see Chicago and I have yet to see it. Although I have sat next to someone at the same exact show where I said the ensemble was on fire and they said the ensemble sleptwalk through the show. I tend to think I am especially sensitive about this topic because I was so upset the last few times I saw RENT on Broadway because that ensemble was sleepwalking through the show and it pained me. But every time I see Chicago, the ensemble goes absolute bonkers during the entre acte like it's the first time they've heard the score in years and they are beyond thrilled to be there. Same with All That Jazz and even Reached for the Gun. Maybe I need ot be more critical of them. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 11:43am

ACL2006 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Ashley Graham joins the company as Roxie Hart from April 15 - May 25."

I have no clue who that is."

She’s a pretty famous model in America. First plus size person to be on the cover of Vogue and Sports Illustrated. Has hosted a variety of backstage gigs like the Oscars and several pageants like Miss Universe & USA. 

Not exactly known for singing & dancing abilities, however that can be said of many if not most of Chicago’s stunt castings. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 11:49am

I guess if she helps the show sell tickets for the month+ she's there. Chicago's grosses have been very poor since Erika Jayne left. Now they have a 3 week gap from when Dylis Croman leaves on March 23 until Graham begins for a Roxie filler(probably Croman extends or Charlotte or Bianca returns).

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 12:01pm

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 1:51pm

Ashley Graham? Sure, whatever. While it's great to see a fuller-figured actress in the role, I don't really care for her. But if it brings excited audiences in it'll be worth it. As someone who's seen the show 70+ times, I think the energy of the audience is a major factor in how much the ensemble will be on fire. I've really only seen a real badly-performed show once, and it was a Sunday, but the audience was dead so at some point I think they just started playing for themselves - AFR was Velma was the biggest perpetrator that show, and it went from the head of the snake down.

[KMKJ]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 3:05pm

everythingtaboo said: "As someone who's seen the show 70+ times, I think the energy of the audience is a major factor in how much the ensemble will be on fire. "

Attended a performance last month with Erika Jayne; the audience was liiiit...unfortunately, the Ensemble was not.  A good portion of them needed a solid note sesh.  Or maybe a new job (or just a new Stage Manager.)  "Cell Block Tango" was missing...grit.  Half of Roxie's boys were lifeless.  Won't call out specific sleepwalkers here but, will give a nod to some worth praising: Kristen Oei as Hunyak (simply lovely), John Michael Fiurmara as Fred (great energy), and swing Sharon Moore (seasoned pro, seen her since 1997; if she's marking then it's better than what's happening elsewhere onstage.)

 

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 8:19pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Ashley Graham joins the company as Roxie Hart from April 15 - May 25."   I'm not sure what to  make of this uncoventional casting choice.  She could surprise people.  

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:07pm

Today marks my 14th anniversary of seeing Chicago.  Although I first went to NYC in 2006, I didn't give Chicago much of a thought.  When I saw it on March 17, 2011, I was dazzled.  Initially, Bianca Marroquin was scheduled as Roxie (maybe for an Evita audition?)  so Dylis Croman (fellow Texan) appeared in her place.  Leigh Zimmerman was Velma.  Here is a picture of me with Jason Patrick Sands.  

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:12pm

with Leigh Zimmerman  

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:15pm

Aw R, you are the cutest fan of this show. I've literally never seen it once. I don't know, it just kind of passed me by. Worth it? 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:23pm

Sutton, you're one of our most venerable members.  When did you first join BWW?  Anyway, if you haven't seen  Dylis Croman as Roxie, you're in for a treat!  She is a master of the Fosse style.  Like Charlotte D'Amboise, Dylis has her special touches she always bring to the role of Roxie.  If you're in the NYC area, go see Dylis! 

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:31pm

Roman - Happy Chicago anniversary! I love seeing all your photos. Chicago is my absolute favorite show.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:35pm

Roman,  I always love when you update this thread.  Curious as to what other shows you like as well. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/17/25 at 7:48pm

DAME said: "Roman, I always love when you update this thread. Curious as to what other shows you like as well."

There is nothing like a ......

If you're talking about past shows, I have some favorites:  Addams Family, Lombardi, Therese Raquin, The Visit, Moulin Rouge, Sweeney Todd, Cagney...etc.  I have booked Chicago for June 20th.  I'm looking at Bus Stop, Old Friends and maybe Boop.