Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 149
Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3700
Posted: 1/8/26 at 2:02pm
Ray Bokhour has extended as Amos through Feb. 1.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3701
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?
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3702
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.
Stand-by Joined: 11/15/13
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3703
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…
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3704
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
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3705
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3706
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3707
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3708
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3709
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
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3710
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?
Swing Joined: 11/20/19
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3711
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...)
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3712
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/23
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3713
Posted: 1/12/26 at 11:46am
Now what is this? https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1qagr19/chicago_firings_drama/
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3714
Posted: 1/12/26 at 11:52am
Contracts not being renewed is not the same thing as being fired.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3715
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”.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3716
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).
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3717
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
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3718
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?
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3719
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3720
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3721
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.
"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#3722
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?
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3723
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.
Chicago The Musical Appreciation Thread#3724
Posted: 1/13/26 at 4:17pm
Surprised it might be Sean Samuels since he just joined the cast in June 2025.
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