Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 143

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:58pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "What about Jason Patrick Sands?"

He's retired from performing, so he's not coming back.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:33am

Kate Baldwin is Roxie Hart November 10 & Alex Newell is Mama Morton November 17

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:34am

Kate Baldwin, as was rumored, is the next Roxie Hart, from November 10 - January 11.

Alex Newell joins as "Mama" Morton November 17 - January 11.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:36am

KevinKlawitter said: "Kate Baldwin is Roxie Hart November 10 & Alex Newell is Mama Morton November 17"

Okay. I’ll eat crow. Certainly an unexpected casting choice.

Although if anyone is going for Newell, I really hope you enjoy their understudy since their attendance is very selective

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:43am

Times is hard.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:44am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Kate Baldwin, as was rumored, is the next Roxie Hart, from November 10 - January 11.

Alex Newell joins as "Mama" Morton November 17 - January 11."

Does Baldwin need the paycheck? Seriously questionable decision for her to be the 34th Roxie in this show. Newell is fantastic, but again, does Alex need the paycheck? Odd choices for two Tony-level actors to jump into a nearly 30 year old Broadway show.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:50am

I mean, a paycheck’s a paycheck. Newell doesn’t seem to do a lot beyond concert appearances and Baldwin in particular works regionally all the time- she just finished Murder on the Links at Two River Theater in NJ a couple weeks ago. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:54am

I think some of you overestimate how much money even "famous" theatre actors make. And the money made during the run of a show doesn't last forever, especially in this city.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:57am

Doesn’t everyone need a paycheck?

I know we crap on the state of this production around these parts for fun, but while it could use a good shaking off in the breeze, a number of recent replacements (Jinkx Monsoon, Pamela Anderson, Robyn Hurder) have proven that the show still has juice and can really light up with the right performers in place. Kate Baldwin is perhaps a more qualified-than-usual singer/actress than we’ve come to expect in the part, but she’ll no doubt be fantastic.

And again - what’s wrong with a solid, reliable paycheck in between other jobs?

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 09:57 AM

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:58am

I think it's great to see "big names" replacing in shows, I wish we saw more of it. 

(but also Kate Baldwin deserves to be originating roles in new shows all the time. Her voice is gorgeous!)

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:01am

TotallyEffed said: "I think some of you overestimatehow muchmoney even "famous" theatre actors make. And the money made during the run of a show doesn't last forever, especially in this city."

Exactly. I think joining CHICAGO is more or less a long-term game, where basically if you show up, play the role well and, in case of star/stunt casting, bring in the money, you’ll pretty much have a job you can come back to as they need you (see: Charlotte D’Amboise), especially as the old-guard performers are starting to thin out and retire.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:06am

For Baldwin, especially, what better way to demonstrate to the often imagination-deficient casting world that you are multi-talented Broadway lead material than by… being a multi-talented Broadway lead?

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:13am

ACL2006 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Kate Baldwin, as was rumored, is the next Roxie Hart, from November 10 - January 11.

Alex Newell joins as "Mama" Morton November 17 - January 11."

Does Baldwin need the paycheck? Seriously questionable decision for her to be the 34th Roxie in this show. Newell is fantastic, but again, does Alex need the paycheck? Odd choices for two Tony-level actors to jump into a nearly 30 year old Broadway show."

Uhhh... YES. We all need paychecks! There is this bizarre belief that if you're an actor with any type of notoriety, or with a Tony nomination/win, then you are somehow guaranteed to be financially well off. This could not be farther from the truth. Baldwin hasn't been seen on Broadway since 2018 (Hello Dolly). She works consistently in regional theater and does some cabaret/concerts, but that doesn't pay anywhere near a Broadway salary. Newell has been doing workshops of several new works, but obviously none of them have materialized into a production yet. Shucked closed in Jan 2024...was Newell somehow supposed to sustain themself off the earnings of that show for years and years? They are both super talented. So why shouldn't they be able to collect a Broadway paycheck? Shouldn't we be excited that Tony nominees and winners are taking on roles in Chicago? To breathe new life into it? The industry is hard. New Broadway roles don't just pop up every day. There's no shame in them taking on a Broadway lead contract.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:19am

Oscar Winner Dianne Wiest: I’m Struggling to Pay My Rent

[Observation]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:23am

"BuT tHeY mUsT NeEd a PaYcHeCk!?!" is the dumbest comment. I've seen an uptick of it recently. Anytime a show on Broadway closes, and the actors who are now without a paycheck take a regional or replacement gig (essentially something someone deems as a "step backward") someone decides to chime in.

Shaming a performer for taking a job (when me thinks there are a lot of us in this group who have given up dreams of stepping on a Broadway stage that are making those comments) is so tacky. 

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:30am

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "ACL2006 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Kate Baldwin, as was rumored, is the next Roxie Hart, from November 10 - January 11.

Alex Newell joins as "Mama" Morton November 17 - January 11."

Does Baldwin need the paycheck? Seriously questionable decision for her to be the 34th Roxie in this show. Newell is fantastic, but again, does Alex need the paycheck? Odd choices for two Tony-level actors to jump into a nearly 30 year old Broadway show."

Uhhh... YES. We all need paychecks! There is this bizarre belief that if you're an actor with any type of notoriety, or with a Tony nomination/win, then you are somehow guaranteed to be financially well off. This could not be farther from the truth. Baldwin hasn't been seen on Broadway since 2018 (Hello Dolly). She works consistently in regional theater and does some cabaret/concerts, but that doesn't pay anywhere near a Broadway salary. Newell has been doing workshops of several new works, but obviously none of them have materialized into a production yet. Shucked closed in Jan 2024...was Newell somehow supposed to sustain themself off the earnings of that show for years and years? They are both super talented.So why shouldn't they be able to collect a Broadway paycheck? Shouldn't we be excited that Tony nominees and winners are taking on roles in Chicago? To breathe new life into it? The industry is hard. New Broadway roles don't just pop up every day. There's no shame in them taking on aBroadway lead contract.

"

This, and we don't get to decide who takes on what role. Casting and the performers decide. That's it. The only influence audiences have is whether or not they see it. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:31am

ACL2006 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Kate Baldwin, as was rumored, is the next Roxie Hart, from November 10 - January 11.

Alex Newell joins as "Mama" Morton November 17 - January 11."

Does Baldwin need the paycheck? Seriously questionable decision for her to be the 34th Roxie in this show. Newell is fantastic, but again, does Alex need the paycheck? Odd choices for two Tony-level actors to jump into a nearly 30 year old Broadway show."

What is wrong with working and needing a paycheck? Not sure where you are trying to go with this.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:32am

Also, as established, lauded names in principal roles, they're easily going to be making 5 figures a week doing this. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:25am

Kad said: "Also, as established, lauded names in principal roles, they're easily going to be making 5 figures a week doing this."

Just that both actors are more worthy and talented then being the 34th replacement in this show.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:26am

ACL2006 said: "Kad said: "Also, as established, lauded names in principal roles, they're easily going to be making 5 figures a week doing this."

Just that both actors are more worthy and talented then being the 34th replacement in this show."

 

An offer comes, you take.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:40am

ACL2006 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "What about Jason Patrick Sands?"

He's retired from performing, so he's not coming back."

I know that.  Someone mentioned JPS all of a sudden.  I merely wondered why the OP mentioned him out of the blue.

[Tokyo Banana]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:38pm

I’m happy for Kate Baldwin, she’s been doing a lot of little regional theater/community theater shows out in Jersey.  She was outstanding in The Bridges of Madison county, and excellent in What the Constitution means to me.  
 

it’s funny, I was hoping either her or Betsy Wolfe would replace in Ragtime. Guess not 
 

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:52pm

Is the news about Alex Newell a rumor or is it the real deal?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:53pm

Can I get a bite of that hat? I earned it by doubting Baldwin's casting.

Both are very unexpected, but like others have said, a paycheck's a paycheck. 

While Baldwin won't move the needle in ticket sales, I'm excited to see a real singer-actor in the role again. And Newell will be great in promoting the show anyway. 

[mar6411]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:59pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Is the news about Alex Newell a rumor or is it the real deal?"

https://www.theatermania.com/news/kate-baldwin-alex-newell-joining-chicago-on-broadway-this-holiday-season_1808524/
(from post 3551)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Winner-Alex-Newell-and-Tony-Nominee-Kate-Baldwin-to-Join-the-Cast-of-CHICAGO-On-Broadway-20251021