Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread — Page 153
Posted: 3/3/26 at 6:43am
Later in the spring, Max Von Essen will play the role of Tommy Albright in a Pasadena Playhouse production of "Brigadoon" (May13--June 14). His stay in Chicago will be somewhat limited.
Posted: 3/3/26 at 6:59am
Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Later in the spring, Max Von Essen will play the role of Tommy Albright in a Pasadena Playhouse production of "Brigadoon" (May13--June 14). His stay in Chicago will be somewhat limited."
And he's currently in Florida now doing a show. So Max feels like he's only going to be there for about 4 weeks.
Posted: 3/3/26 at 9:12pm
Whitney did a TikTok last week hinting at something with Mark Ballas. Could he be going in?
Posted: 3/3/26 at 9:19pm
smidge said: "Whitney did a TikTok last week hinting at something with Mark Ballas. Could he be going in?"
He'd be going in when she's leaving, so it's odd if she's hinting at a future Billy Flynn that she won't be sharing the stage with.
Posted: 3/4/26 at 10:13am
The added matinee tomorrow isn't selling. Easy rush ticket for anyone wanting to see her($59). All cast members have been pushing the matinee rush tickets gor tomorrow.
Posted: 3/4/26 at 10:54am
ACL2006 said: "The added matinee tomorrow isn't selling. Easy rush ticket for anyone wanting to see her($59). All cast members have been pushing the matinee rush tickets gor tomorrow."
They also announced that there is going to be a $20 for the first 150 buyers
Posted: 3/5/26 at 9:47pm
ACL2006 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Later in the spring, Max Von Essen will play the role of Tommy Albright in a Pasadena Playhouse production of "Brigadoon" (May13--June 14). His stay in Chicago will be somewhat limited."
And he's currently in Florida now doing a show. So Max feels like he's only going to be there for about 4 weeks."
Max posted he's there through April 5 only.
Posted: 3/8/26 at 11:24am
Question for fans of this show. Why has the revival run so much longer than the original which ran about 2 years? Did the original just have bad timing running against "Chorus Line"? Did the revival make significant changes (choreography, staging etc.) that led to the incredible popularity of this show? Did the successful movie of the show play a big factor? How much credit does stunt casting get for the longevity of the show?
Posted: 3/8/26 at 1:56pm
Yes, the original Chicago got pushed out because of ACL getting all of the attention. Liza coming into the show saved it, otherwise it would have only ran a year. The revival is incredibly cheap to run. They bring in someone like Whitney or a Pam Anderson or a Jinkx Monsoon and their sales go through the roof. The producers plan to keep it running until it passes Phantom to become the longest running Broadway show ever
Posted: 3/8/26 at 2:16pm
Recently, Mikayla Renfrow left the show. She is now working with "Aladdin" as an ensemble member AND Jasmine understudy.
Posted: 3/8/26 at 4:32pm
I hope the Ambassador is one day renamed the Kander & Ebb. And that John Kander is here to see it. I’m sure he’d be deeply moved by it.
Posted: 3/8/26 at 7:30pm
Ensemble17591322022 said: "I hope the Ambassador is one day renamed the Kander & Ebb. And that John Kander is here to see it. I’m sure he’d be deeply moved by it."
I always thought either that or the Fosse/Verdon.
Posted: 3/9/26 at 7:46pm
Tia Altinay is making her "Mama" debut tonight.
Posted: 3/9/26 at 7:58pm
The Kander-Ebb Theatre sounds good, like Lunt-Fontanne.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 3/9/26 at 9:02pm
everythingtaboo said: "The Kander-Ebb Theatre sounds good, like Lunt-Fontanne."
Studio 54 should be renamed the Kander-Ebb. The Ambassador should be renamed the Fosse-Verdon Theater.
Posted: 3/10/26 at 9:09am
Leavitt has extended her run once more to May 3, and will reunite with her fellow "Dancing With the Stars" semifinalist Mark Ballas, who will play Billy Flynn from April 6 - May 3.
Updated On: 3/10/26 at 09:09 AM
Posted: 3/10/26 at 10:00am
EDSOSLO858 said: "Leavitt has extended her run once more to May 3, and will reunite with her fellow "Dancing With the Stars" semifinalist Mark Ballas, who will playBilly Flynn from April 6 - May 3."
Their box office numbers are going to be crazy.
Posted: 3/10/26 at 12:22pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Leavitt has extended her run once more to May 3, and will reunite with her fellow "Dancing With the Stars" semifinalist Mark Ballas, who will playBilly Flynn from April 6 - May 3."
A reminder that Ballas was terrible in Kinky Boots. Just a heads up.
Posted: 3/10/26 at 4:08pm
ACL2006 said: "smidge said: "Whitney did a TikTok last week hinting at something with Mark Ballas. Could he be going in?"
He'd be going in when she's leaving, so it's odd if she's hinting at a future Billy Flynn that she won't be sharing the stage with."
Mark's going in April 6 - May 3rd alongside her Roxie (she's extending again), she announced today.
Updated On: 3/10/26 at 04:08 PM
Posted: 3/10/26 at 4:57pm
ACL2006 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Leavitt has extended her run once more to May 3, and will reunite with her fellow "Dancing With the Stars" semifinalist Mark Ballas, who will playBilly Flynn from April 6 - May 3."
A reminder that Ballas was terrible in Kinky Boots. Just a heads up."
Counterpoint: He was actually a really good Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. I was actually shocked at how well he could sing that role.
Billy Flynn isn’t exactly a ginormous reach - Jerry Springer played the role for goodness sake. He can likely coast on a ton of charisma, basic singing, and built in chemistry with Whitney and people will eat that up with a spoon.
Posted: 3/10/26 at 5:02pm
Jerry Springer remains my all-time surprisingly good stunt casting in any show I've seen. I expected a trainwreck, but he was a good actor, had good comic timing and sang quite well.
Posted: 3/16/26 at 9:27pm
Dylis Croman is covering Roxie for this week.
Posted: 3/17/26 at 6:25pm
Today marks my 15th anniversary with Chicago. On St. Patrick's Day 2011, I saw the show for the first time. Dylis Croman was Roxie and Leigh Zimmerman was Velma Kelly.
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