Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 149

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/8/26 at 2:02pm

Ray Bokhour has extended as Amos through Feb. 1.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/8/26 at 2:13pm

There seems to be a pause on announcements of departing veteran cast members.  Are there more to come?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/11/26 at 2:59pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "There seems to be a pause on announcements of departing veteran cast members. Are tudihere more to come?"

That's probably it. 3 cast members and the others are likely musicians.

 

Now I'm really happy Hurder extended. She's out of both shows today with the flu. Lots of understudies on this week.

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 1/11/26 at 3:06pm

How has the rush been lately?  I would love to see this with Kate, Robyn, and Alex, but wouldn’t be able to feasibly get to the theatre until 6pm-ish…

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/11/26 at 6:52pm

ACL2006 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "There seems to be a pause on announcements of departing veteran cast members. Are tudihere more to come?"

That's probably it. 3 cast members and the others are likely musicians.



Now I'm really happy Hurder extended. She's out of both shows today with the flu. Lots of understudies on thisweek."

 

UPDATE: Celina Nightengale just announced her final day is Feb. 1.

This podcast says 7 actors in total were fired. We've found out about 4 so far. I think Arian Keddell is another one.

https://www.tiktok.com/@stagecombatthepodcast/video/7593364158851075359?lang=en

Updated On: 1/11/26 at 06:52 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/11/26 at 11:38pm

Per the podcast - seven were fired - four were people of color and two were new mothers (overlap unknown)

So the running list:

- Barrett Martin

- Celina Nightengale

- Drew Nellesen

- Jeff Gorti (?)

Based on the info given, two of the three unknown terminated is likely Arian Keddell (POC/New Mom) and Jessica Ernest (New Mom).

If I’m guessing who the last one might be - since 4 POC were terminated, I’m thinking it might be Sharon Moore. (If only because Sean Samuels is new and James T. Lane is a jack-of-all-trades they’d be foolish to fire.

Updated On: 1/11/26 at 11:38 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 7:43am

Sharon Moore getting fired would be a shock. I would think they'd allow her to leave on her own like Donna Marie Asbury did(20 years). Guess we'll find out in a few weeks.

[MimiChika]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 9:26am

ACL2006 said: "Sharon Moore getting fired would be a shock. I would think they'd allow her to leave on her own like Donna Marie Asbury did(20 years). Guess we'll find out in a few weeks."

I can confirm she also got fired. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 10:00am

MimiChika said: "ACL2006 said: "Sharon Moore getting fired would be a shock. I would think they'd allow her to leave on her own like Donna Marie Asbury did(20 years). Guess we'll find out in a few weeks."

I can confirm she also got fired."

Feels like this is the producers way of saving money. Not renewing contracts of their long-tenured ensemble members and bringing in newbies on a cheaper contract. Jennifer Dunne has also been a long time swing with the show. Maybe she's also out on Feb. 1? That would be the seven.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 10:08am

Unless Jeff Gorti is counted in that 7 since he left on leave and said he isn’t coming back

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 10:11am

quizking101 said: "Unless Jeff Gorti is counted in that 7 since he left on leave and said he isn’t coming back"

Then the fourth POC would be either James or Sean. I wonder if Chicago will have a press release announcing the 7 new cast members?

Updated On: 1/12/26 at 10:11 AM

[KMKJ]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 10:22am

MimiChika said: "ACL2006 said: "Sharon Moore getting fired would be a shock. I would think they'd allow her to leave on her own like Donna Marie Asbury did(20 years). Guess we'll find out in a few weeks."

I can confirm she also got fired."

 

Bummer.  But mad respect for Sharon Moore; always giving & a treat to watch in the show for 25 years.  

Cost-cutting aside, from strictly a performance review angle: was anyone from Stage Management also let go?  (A department equally responsible for the lifeless marking that happened often on the Ambassador stage...)

 

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 10:34am

KMKJ said: "MimiChika said: "ACL2006 said: "Sharon Moore getting fired would be a shock. I would think they'd allow her to leave on her own like Donna Marie Asbury did(20 years). Guess we'll find out in a few weeks."

I can confirm she also got fired."



Bummer. But mad respect for Sharon Moore; always giving & a treat to watch in the show for 25 years.

Cost-cutting aside, from strictly a performance review angle: was anyone from Stage Management also let go? (A department equally responsible for the lifeless marking that happened often on the Ambassador stage...)



"

Not sure. But 15 total is the confirmed number which includes musicians.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 11:46am

Now what is this? https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1qagr19/chicago_firings_drama/

[Kad]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 11:52am

Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 1:04pm

Kad said: "Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired."

Correct. Though, I feel like there is a conflation because all of the performers here have been with the show for an extended period of time (practically unheard of for 99% of Broadway shows) and so them being let go at the end of a contract and them not seeming too thrilled about it has a similar vibe of “oh, they were fired”.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 1:07pm

iKad said: "Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired."

I think it's because it's numerous people leaving on the same date. So it comes off as a mass firing for a show. Again, it's 15 people in total, 7 actors plus musicians and possibly stage manager(s).

[MimiChika]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 1:11pm

Kad said: "Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired."

I have confirmation that several of the folk getting let go are on “run show” contracts. Hence AEA is involved. They indeed got fired 

Updated On: 1/12/26 at 01:11 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 1:30pm

MimiChika said: "Kad said: "Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired."

I have confirmation that several of the folk getting let go are on “run show” contracts. Hence AEA is involved. They indeedgot fired"

They had this issue before with the J. Loeffelholz situation. Assuming that new contracts for everyone were signed upon returning from the COVID hiatus, why in the hell would they have that type of contract with any performer again?

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 1:49pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Now what is this?https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1qagr19/chicago_firings_drama/"

It's the video ACL2006 posted at #3704 that was being discussed.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 2:01pm

quizking101 said: "MimiChika said: "Kad said: "Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired."

I have confirmation that several of the folk getting let go are on “run show” contracts. Hence AEA is involved. They indeedgot fired"

They had this issue before with the J. Loeffelholz situation. Assuming that new contracts for everyone were signed upon returning from the COVID hiatus, why in the hell would they have that type of contract with any performer again?"

I believe CHICAGO was grandfathered in under an old AEA rule. Something similar happened to PHANTOM well into its run, where a bunch of long-tenured ensemble members were fired.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 2:18pm

I know it's "showbiz" and while it's not technically being fired, I'm sure giving over a decade (or two) to a show and then being told we don't need your services anymore, without a need to explain why, I'm sure it still feels like a firing. I feel for these folks, especially after seeing the show recently and seeing in the best shape it's been in years.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/12/26 at 2:54pm

everythingtaboo said: "I know it's "showbiz" and while it's not technically being fired, I'm sure giving over a decade (or two) to a show and then being told we don't need your services anymore, without a need to explain why, I'm sure it still feels like a firing. I feel for these folks, especially after seeing the show recently and seeing in the best shape it's been in years."

Sharon Moore getting told after nearly 25 years, "you're not getting renewed", feels wrong. But who knows the meeting that took place in December? Or maybe Moore is ready to retire and she agreed to leave? 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/13/26 at 12:17pm

Sean Samuels might be the last one only due to the reason that he's been out of the show a lot since mid December when they did they firings.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/13/26 at 4:17pm

Surprised it might be Sean Samuels since he just joined the cast in June 2025.