Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 146

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 3:25pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "ColdClimateDude said: "Any news on the tour cast? Is it non-equity?" Yes. As far as I can tell, the last Cellblock Tour equity production was in 2019, with Lana Gordon and Dylis Croman (I saw them two times in Houston.)

"

Yeah. If you follow Gregory Butler (the associate choreographer for all of the international productions) on Instagram, you would see he’s been putting new non-equity companies out on the road for a while now. He’s also the guy that crash-courses all the new celebrity casting before it’s decided if they are good enough to go on stage by the producers.

Re: Alex being out. I’m actually a bit shocked they didn’t announce this at the time of the run. We know Alex has a less than subpar attendance record in their shows, but this was obviously a negotiated out and so I hope people don’t jump on them unfairly for their absences.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 5:53am

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR2sDmNEShY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Liza Minnelli singing "My Own Best Friend".  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 5:58am

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR2oiI8kY18/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Liza singing 'Roxie".  (There are a few gaps in this audio clip.)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 2:06pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/DR0Yosakcw-/    Liza and Chita rehearse Hot Honey Rag.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 6:31pm

ACL2006 said: "FYI, Alex is out of the show the rest of this week/weekend due to previous scheduled concerts."

some kind of bug/virus going around at the Ambassador this weekend. Sophia Carmen-Jones has been out all week and Alex had their prescheduled absense since Thursday. Kristen Faith Oei was Velma with Celina Nightengale as Mama. Sharon was covered June, Jennifer Dunne covered Hunyak, Marty Lawson was on as Fred Casely and David Bushman was on as Bailiff/Court Clerk. Bushman was Aaron on Mon & Tues, and then Harry/Jury on Thur, Fri & Sat.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 10:02pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR_ERBkDBOi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Celina Nightengale comments on a very busy week.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 10:15pm

Why would they change the choreo for the overture 29 years into the run?

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 12/8/25 at 8:40am

ACL2006 said: "Why would they change the choreo for the overture 29 years into the run?"

Can anyone report how it was changed? I'm seeing the show next week but it's been 20 years since I've seen it so don't think i'll be able to remember what it was before.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/8/25 at 8:30pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSATRRfESxZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==   Mikayla Renfro's recent turn as Velma Kelly.  

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:55pm

FANtomFollies said: "ACL2006 said: "Why would they change the choreo for the overture 29 years into the run?"

Can anyone report how it was changed? I'm seeing the show next week but it's been 20 years since I've seen it so don't think i'll be able to remember what it was before."

I'm going back on Tuesday - Baldwin and Hurder, hello! - but I've seen it upwards of 75 times. There have definitely been adjustments to the overture choreo, but not as much as when it first started and seemed more attuned to the cast at the time. (That said, there haven't been that many changes to the cast since it reopened post-pandemic.) Last time I was there was for Erika Jayne's encore run, I'll be curious to see if there's anything significant.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 2:40pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.instagram.com/p/DSATRRfESxZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Mikayla Renfro's recent turn as Velma Kelly."

She was a mid-show swing on last night for Velma. Sophia Carmen-Jones attempted to return last night but bowed out at intermission.

[Fireplace]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:00pm

Has anyone tried rushing the show recently?  How late did you get to the theater?  Last time I got rush right before curtain. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:08pm

Fireplace said: "Has anyone tried rushing the show recently? How late did you get to the theater? Last time I got rush right before curtain."

Haven't done it recently, but the show hasn't been close to selling out despite the combo of Baldwin & Newell in the show. The trio of Hurder/Baldwin/Newell seems to have sparked people's interest so that it might pick up, plus the upcoming Christmas schedule.

[Fireplace]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:17pm

I haven’t seen it in a few years but I have to see Kate in the show. Who’s the better Velma, Sophie Carmen or Robyn hurder?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:19pm

I've seen the revival twice, both times on tour 15 years apart (the first tour, with Charlotte D'Amboise and Brent Barrett, stands out.)  And I don't even *remember* any choreography in the Overture...

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:02pm

Fireplace said: "I haven’t seen it in a few years but I have to see Kate in the show. Who’s the better Velma, Sophie Carmen or Robyn hurder?"

Robyn. Sophie's been known to mark the choreo.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/13/25 at 3:47pm

Sam Sturm is making her Mama debut today. Alex is out of both shows. Sophie Carmen-Jones has missed most of these past two weeks and Kate Baldwin has been out since Thursday.

Updated On: 12/13/25 at 03:47 PM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 12/13/25 at 4:26pm

ACL2006 said: "Sam Sturm is making her Mama debut today. Alex is out of both shows. Sophie Carmen-Jones has missed most of these past two weeks and Kate Baldwin has been out since Thursday."

I'm going on Monday and am getting nervous since the entire reason I'm going is to see Robyn, Kate and Alex.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/13/25 at 5:11pm

FANtomFollies said: "ACL2006 said: "Sam Sturm is making her Mama debut today. Alex is out of both shows. Sophie Carmen-Jones has missed most of these past two weeks and Kate Baldwin has been out since Thursday."

I'm going on Monday and am getting nervous since the entire reason I'm going is to see Robyn, Kate and Alex."

Probably a bug going around the Ambassador now. I don't think Baldwin's absences where previously scheduled and she's supposed to be back tonight. Alex has done just three shows this week. Sophie Carmen-Jones was back today. Robyn Hurder returning on Monday should be amazing and hopefully a full cast.

Updated On: 12/13/25 at 05:11 PM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 12/13/25 at 5:47pm

ACL2006 said: "Probably a big going around the Ambassador now. I don't think Baldwin's absences where previously scheduled and she's supposed to be back tonight. Alex has done just three shows this week. Sophie Carmen-Jones was back today. Robyn Hurder returning on Monday should be amazing and hopefully a full cast."

Fingers crossed! I specifically booked monday's show thinking that would have the best chance of the leads being in, assuming they would really want to be there for Robyn's first show back.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/13/25 at 6:08pm

Welp, Baldwin is out again tonight.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/14/25 at 1:21pm

Alex Newell has extended for two more weeks, through January 25.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/14/25 at 3:27pm

Looks like everyone is back today for both shows.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 12/14/25 at 4:04pm

ACL2006 said: "Looks like everyone is back today for both shows."

Yay! Thanks for the update, this gives me a lot of hope they'll be in the show tomorrow :)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/15/25 at 8:13pm

FANtomFollies said: "ACL2006 said: "Looks like everyone is back today for both shows."

Yay! Thanks for the update, this gives me a lot of hope they'll be in the show tomorrow :)"

I'd love to hear a review of this cast. Tonight's show is apparently soldout.