Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 144

[TotallyEffed]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3575

Posted: 10/21/25 at 2:05pm

I’m excited for a redheaded Roxie!

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3576

Posted: 10/21/25 at 2:24pm

Tokyo Banana said: "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


"

Baldwin could still replace Levy in Ragtime.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3577

Posted: 11/2/25 at 8:25pm

Angela Grovey is leaving two weeks early. She was out most of last week. Nakiya Peterkin will rejoin the show for two weeks before Newell joins the show on Nov. 17.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[EDSOSLO858]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3578

Posted: 11/10/25 at 1:22pm

Anyone here catching Kate Baldwin’s Roxie debut this evening?

"When we die, we go bye bye." - Abe Lincolns

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3579

Posted: 11/10/25 at 3:13pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Anyone here catching Kate Baldwin’sRoxie debut this evening?"

i'll wait until Alex joins and hear reviews about both of them.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3580

Posted: 11/10/25 at 10:24pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ5pBuAjYxg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[Observation]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3581

Posted: 11/10/25 at 10:34pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ5pBuAjYxg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ=="

 

She looks fantastic! 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3582

Posted: 11/11/25 at 9:04am

A few years ago, the Chicago cast presented me with this video greeting on my birthday (11 11 61).   Today's my 64th.  https://youtu.be/H6U8CGv7n_E?si=KfXVvLup-jYze_UL

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3583

Posted: 11/14/25 at 7:52am

Has anyone seen Kate Baldwin as Roxie?   Details please.

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3584

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:52am

Lots of seats available tonight for Alex's Mama debut.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[EDSOSLO858]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3585

Posted: 11/17/25 at 5:27pm

Anyone going to see Alex tonight?

"When we die, we go bye bye." - Abe Lincolns

[quizking101]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3586

Posted: 11/17/25 at 6:29pm

What’s the over/under on Alex’s understudy going on at least once this week?

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3587

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:00pm

quizking101 said: "What’s the over/under on Alex’s understudy going on at least once this week?"

I'd bet on it once Alex has a few weeks under their belt. Newell will get bored with the role shortly.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[Jordan Catalano]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3588

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:01pm

After saying the show was in horrible shape last month, they seem to have been rejuvenated by this new cast. Kate is WONDERFUL. Alex is maybe the best Mama I’ve seen in many many years and Tam is a perfect Billy. Even Sophie is giving a sharper performance (and i love her Velma). I went tonight since it’s probably the only show you can guarantee Alex being in and I’m very glad i did. The audience was half asleep and pretty sparse but I had a much better time than i expected to have. 

[Melissa25]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3589

Posted: 11/17/25 at 11:28pm

I was there tonight too. I went to see Kate and agree that she is phenomenal.  Is there anything that she cannot do? Sophie is a terrific Velma and reminded me of Chita.  I had a wonderful time. This show still stands up. The song Class took on even more meaning for me today. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3590

Posted: 11/18/25 at 6:12am

Jordan Catalano said: "After saying the show was in horrible shape last month, they seem to have been rejuvenated by this new cast. Kate is WONDERFUL. Alex is maybe the best Mama I’ve seen in many many years and Tam is a perfect Billy. Even Sophie is giving a sharper performance (and i love her Velma). I went tonight since it’s probably the only show you can guarantee Alex being in and I’m very glad i did. The audience was half asleep and pretty sparse but I had a much better time than i expected to have."

Jordan, would you describe Kate's singing and dancing in some detail?

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3591

Posted: 11/18/25 at 7:31am

Jordan Catalano said: "After saying the show was in horrible shape last month, they seem to have been rejuvenated by this new cast. Kate is WONDERFUL. Alex is maybe the best Mama I’ve seen in many many years and Tam is a perfect Billy. Even Sophie is giving a sharper performance (and i love her Velma). I went tonight since it’s probably the only show you can guarantee Alex being in and I’m very glad i did. The audience was half asleep and pretty sparse but I had a much better time than i expected to have."

I'm also curious about Baldwin's dancing. In her interviews leading up to it, she said she was taking some vocals "up" as most of Roxie's singing is lower than what she usually sings.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[Jordan Catalano]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3592

Posted: 11/18/25 at 9:51am

I mean, she’s not Ann Reinking but she looked great! Maybe I’m just judging against what Sorvino did but she really looked great up there. And they both did the cartwheels, for anyone wondering.
 

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3593

Posted: 11/18/25 at 10:02am

Considering last night was also their 29th Anniversary and Newell's debut was a surprise that they weren't even close to being soldout.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3594

Posted: 11/24/25 at 11:33am

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRa7fDtjz35/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Chita as Roxie

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3595

Posted: 11/24/25 at 11:51am

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRckd9GEWgh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Barney Martin as Amos (original Broadway production)  In this IG article, there's a story about the real life inspiration for the  character of Amos Hart: 

Did you know, “Mr. Cellophane” in Bob Fosse’s Chicago was based performances by Bert Williams? Williams was the first modern Black entertainment star: the first Black recording artist, one of the earliest Black leading men on film, and the first Black performer to star in a major Broadway production (Ziegfeld Follies) with white actors. His signature song, “Nobody,” a hauntingly comic lament about being unseen, directly inspired the creation and tone of “Mr. Cellophane.” Fosse and Kander & Ebb drew on Williams’s bittersweet blend of humor and pathos — the ability to make audiences laugh while revealing something painful underneath.

Williams’s career was full of contradictions. He achieved tremendous success while navigating a segregated industry that forced him into blackface even as he tried to subvert it. Unlike many other blackface performers, Williams did not play for laughs at the expense of other African Americans or black culture. Instead, he based his humor on universal situations in which any members of his audience might find themselves. In the style of vaudeville, Williams performed in blackface makeup like his white counterparts. Blackface worked like a double mask for him. It emphasized the difference between Williams, his fellow vaudevillians, and his white audiences.

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

Updated On: 11/24/25 at 11:51 AM

[ACL2006]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3596

Posted: 11/24/25 at 12:12pm

Longtime veteran swing, Jennifer Dunne, is back in the show as Chelsea James's last day was yesterday.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[everythingtaboo]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3597

Posted: 11/24/25 at 2:06pm

ACL2006 said: "Considering last night was also their 29th Anniversary and Newell's debut was a surprise thatthey weren't even close to being soldout."

Did they do a lot to even promote it? (FWIW technically, their opening night was November 14, 1996.) I'm sure next year will be a much bigger deal. 

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3598

Posted: 11/24/25 at 2:42pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRadA1fkeLE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   The vaudevillian inspiration for Me and My Baby (Eddie Cantor).

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3599

Posted: 11/24/25 at 3:00pm

Lenora Nemetz on her mid show debut as Roxie in the 1975 production.  https://www.instagram.com/p/DRXgDDgDukc/

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)