Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 148

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 5:16pm

Barrett Martin just announced on IG that he is also leaving on Feb. 1, 2026.  Wow.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 5:55pm

A big factor here is we don’t know how many musicians are being replaced. For all we know, the only cast that are leaving on 2/1 are Kate, Drew, and Barrett.

A look on the Telecharge website also shows that, in addition to Alex leaving on 1/11, Ray Bokhour and Robyn Hurder are both leaving. (I actually didn’t know Robyn was just a limited run).

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 7:19pm

I saw the current cast. Kate, Robyn, Tam, and Alex are wonderful, and I thought the ensemble was extremely strong. Let’s keep adding talent like this to the cast!!!

And then there’s Ray Bokhour and Ryan Lowe. I HOPE they are part of this alleged house-cleaning. They are doing amateur-level work. Ryan’s voice sounded shot and there’s no nuance in the acting, and Ray feels like a caricature, when Amos is supposed to be the moral character in the show. I’ve never understood Barry’s willingness to let people overstay their welcome. It would be wise to cycle out anyone who’s been there since before Covid. (This sentiment is not limited to Chicago!) Looks like Ryan L has been in and out of the show since 2010, and Ray B since ***2005***. Crazy. There are other, better countertenors and character actors in this town.

I wonder if the musicians being let go are because they’ve missed over their quota of performances? That’s common in a long running show, but some do not enforce it. For a long runner like this, almost the entire band could be subs on a given night. Some music directors care more about this than others, but it could be a good (and legal) excuse to clean house.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 7:43pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Barrett Martin just announced on IG that he is also leaving on Feb. 1, 2026. Wow."

Not surprised. Last time I saw it(then Hurder's final performance), he was clearly bored then despite it being an electric audience.

 

Dear Lord, please let Ryan Lowe & Ray Bokhour be in this group as well. Bokhour is the dullest Amos I've ever saw. Lowe continues to sleepwalk through the show. Lowe also celebrated 20 years recently. Time to go!

Updated On: 12/30/25 at 07:43 PM

[yyys]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 7:43pm

Are they selling rush for this?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 7:46pm

yyys said: "Are they selling rush for this?"

Yes. Rush is super easy for this. Maybe not come February with the new "celebrity" coming in.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 7:47pm

quizking101 said: "A big factor here is we don’t know how many musicians are being replaced. For all we know, the only cast that are leaving on 2/1 are Kate, Drew, and Barrett.

A look on the Telecharge website also shows that, in addition to Alex leaving on 1/11, Ray Bokhour and Robyn Hurder are both leaving. (I actually didn’t know Robyn was just a limited run)."

Newell extended through Jan. 25.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 8:56pm

ACL2006 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Barrett Martin just announced on IG that he is also leaving on Feb. 1, 2026. Wow."

Not surprised. Last time I saw it(then Hurder's final performance), he was clearly bored then despite it being an electric audience.

Dear Lord, please let Ryan Lowe & Ray Bokhourbe in this group as well. Bokhour is the dullest Amos I've ever saw. Lowe continues to sleepwalk through the show. Lowe also celebrated 20 years recently. Time to go!"

Lowe was my first Mary Sunshine…back in 2011! I can’t think of many male operatic countertenors so I won’t begin to speculate on a replacement, but there was something definitely “off” last night, though I chalk it up to them being out sick for 3 days and returning in the middle of the holiday rush.

Bokhour to me was…fine. I always thought Amos was a bit of a princess track to me, but he’s been with it a long while. Having seen Robert Creighton and Evan Harrington, I wouldn’t mind a return for either of them. I also saw Greg Hildreth did a nice extended stint before QOV started so maybe he can go back. Same with Todd Buonopane after FROZEN wraps at PMP

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 8:57pm

Kind of funny that Barrett went on as Bully tonight. 

 

Hey, you're fired, but we need you to play Billy tonight..."

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/30/25 at 11:37pm

Sad to hear Barrett is on the list to go. (Yes, all the newbies are hotties, but Barrett and Denny have always done it for me.)

Ever since Lowe took the role, I've literally never not seen him as Mary. I've even tried to book tickets based on when I heard he would be out, and I still got him. He's sturdy in the role, but he was admittedly a weak spot when I saw the show a few weeks ago. The reveal was just awkwardly staged also.

Bokhour I was like meh when I saw he was still there, because he didn't excite me any time I saw him. But this most recent time, I was so surprised to be impressed. Maybe he just carried along with the upbeat mood of the cast. I remember back when they'd get a Chris Sullivan (pre-This Is Us) as Amos. Hildreth was also great when I saw him last year. And remember Christopher Fitzgerald? So many great options for this role if they bothered to try.

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/31/25 at 12:12am

Is it possible they are trying, but the ones they want for Amos are booked and busy doing literally anything else? It seems like Bokhour is the Charlotte d’Amboise of the Amos track - always available to pinch hit.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/31/25 at 8:22am

quizking101 said: "Is it possible they are trying, but the ones they want for Amos are booked and busy doing literally anything else? It seems like Bokhour is the Charlotte d’Amboise of the Amos track - always available to pinch hit."

sadly, Bokhour seems like the go-to Amos fill-in. What pissed me off is that they brought back James T. Lane in an ensemble role when Lane has played both Amos & Billy full-time. But maybe James is doing a one-year contract, and it's rare for an Amos to be signed on for a whole year?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 3:24pm

Oh no, another Chicago cast member is leaving!  Jeff Gorti announced on IG that he's leaving the show.  Beginning Jan. 19, he'll be teaching at the Broadway Dance Center.  What is going on at the Ambassador?  

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 3:36pm

Per Playbill Vault, he left his track at the end of October (Max Clayton rejoined the cast). I don’t know if he’s a major part of the cast shakeup/departures. He’s been in for 4 years, so maybe he just declined to come back when asked after rotating out.

I am actually surprised I totally missed that he wasn’t there when I went since he was in the three times I went in 2023

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 3:56pm

https://www.instagram.com/stories/jeffgorti/3800699538882244399/   If other departures will follow, does this mean that the producers already have a group of replacements to take their place?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 5:12pm

quizking101 said: "Is it possible they are trying, but the ones they want for Amos are booked and busy doing literally anything else? It seems like Bokhour is the Charlotte d’Amboise of the Amos track - always available to pinch hit."

Can't they just, you know, audition for the role? I'm sure there's thousands of actors that have Broadway resumes and have aged into the role.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 5:31pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.instagram.com/stories/jeffgorti/3800699538882244399/ If other departures will follow, does this mean that the producers already have a group of replacements to take their place?"

Of course they do. Interesting with Jeff Gorti is he left the show due to an injury and Max Clayton came in as a temporary replacement so they'd have another Billy u/s. Makes me wonder if Max is staying on long-term?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 7:01pm

Barrett Martin is on as Billy Flynn tonight, per his IG.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/1/26 at 9:46pm

quizking101 said: "Per Playbill Vault, he left his track at the end of October (Max Clayton rejoined the cast). I don’t know if he’s a major part of the cast shakeup/departures. He’s been in for 4 years, so maybe he just declined to come back when asked after rotating out.

I am actually surprised I totally missed that he wasn’t there when I went since he was in the three times I went in 2023"

he got injured back in October and Max Clayton was called in as a temp. replacement so they'd have another Billy u/s. I take this as Gorti was probably supposed to return in February, but the producers said no.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 1/6/26 at 6:50pm

Shout out to the entire cast at Chicago. I went back last night to specifically see Robyn and Kate. They were terrific together. That Hot Honey Rag brought the house down. I’m so glad they ditched that old wig that Kate wore earlier. It appears she is not wearing a wig at all now as it looks quite natural. Vast improvement.

Celina Nightingale as June really got her “squishes” to delightfully land and Mikayla Renfro (Liz) really “popped” her portion of Cell Block Tango. It is such a wonderful number and I always look forward to it.

I am so happy I went back again to see Robyn. She was giving 200% and is really on fire.  I feel lucky that this show is still providing such artful joy.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/6/26 at 7:55pm

I'm going again on Sunday.

 

Surprised it hasn't been announced that Sophie Carmen-Jones is returning as Velma. Or who the next Amos is. Or who the next round of ensemble members are?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/6/26 at 8:56pm

ACL2006 said: "I'm going again on Sunday.



Surprised it hasn't been announced that Sophie Carmen-Jones is returning as Velma. Or who the next Amos is. Or who the next round of ensemble members are?"  Is it  possible that they're not forthcoming because a certain theatre site will share their views on the changes before they begin?  Just a thought.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/6/26 at 9:27pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "ACL2006 said: "I'm going again on Sunday.



Surprised it hasn't been announced that Sophie Carmen-Jones is returning as Velma. Or who the next Amos is. Or who the next round of ensemble members are?" Isit possible that they're not forthcoming because a certain theatre site will share their views on the changes before they begin? Just a thought.

"

No

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 6:44pm

Robyn Hurder has extended and will stay on until 1/25/26.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 7:42pm

Melissa25 said: "Robyn Hurder has extended and will stay on until 1/25/26. "

Brilliant. Maybe I'll wait until then to see it again. Makes me wonder what's up with Sophie Carmen-Jones returning.