Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3625
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3626
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".
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3627
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.)
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3628
Posted: 12/7/25 at 2:06pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/DR0Yosakcw-/ Liza and Chita rehearse Hot Honey Rag.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3629
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3630
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3631
Posted: 12/7/25 at 10:15pm
Why would they change the choreo for the overture 29 years into the run?
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3632
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3633
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3634
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.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3635
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3636
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3637
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3638
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?
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3639
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...
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3640
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3641
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3642
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3643
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3644
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3645
Posted: 12/13/25 at 6:08pm
Welp, Baldwin is out again tonight.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3646
Posted: 12/14/25 at 1:21pm
Alex Newell has extended for two more weeks, through January 25.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3647
Posted: 12/14/25 at 3:27pm
Looks like everyone is back today for both shows.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3648
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 :)
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3649
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.
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