Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread — Page 158

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#3926

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/10/26 at 11:10am

JSquared2 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://playbill.com/article/video-theres-history-in-the-outfit-and-newness-in-the-role-krysta-rodriguez-talks-playing-roxie-in-broadways-chicago This is an interview with the lovely Krysta Rodriguez. The interviewer was J. Viscaino. I think she came across very well with her responses to the interviewer's somewhat iffy questions. Towards the beginning, he was interviewing her and came up with "a survivor of SMASH". I don't know if he was trying to be witty, but it seemed a bit off putting to me. As far as I can tell, this person didn't smile once. One of the interesting points of this interview was find out that Rodriguez has a passion for interior decorating, specifically dressing rooms. I thought that was interesting. He kind of put her in a corner by asking who was the greater villain: Ivy Lynn or Karen. She replied "Karen", mentioning Eve Harrington in All About Eve. They went into great detail about dressing rooms. It would have been appropriate to have seen a picture or two of Krysta's dressing room at the Ambassador (unless permission was denied). Krysta had a lovely beige colored dress. One of the last things he mentioned was "stop using beige". He could have said "that's a lovely beige fashion choice", but didn't. I realize some of the banter between them was tongue in cheek, but I really wasn't impressed with the interviewer....at all. When he asked the question: "Do you take me seriously as a journalist"? I wanted to respond: "NO"."

Buddy, you've got WAY too much time on your hands..."

Unfortunately, he spends his days stalking current and former cast members on IG.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#3927

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/13/26 at 11:34pm

Saw this tonight.

Matteo Lane acts like he doesn’t really care about anything. I think that’s just his style, but it’s really annoying for Billy.

Christa Rodriguez is serviceable as Roxy but there’s no attempt at a character. She’s just kind of a modern girl who talks really fast and is devoid of emotion.

Sophia is pretty fabulous dancing-wise but, as with so many people in this show, she talks too fast and not loud enough so you miss a lot of what’s going on.

Interesting moment when they sang Class. The audience didn’t laugh or respond much at all. Too many snowflakes in the audience maybe?

One thing a lot of these performers don’t get is a broader acting style, which is more appropriate for Chicago. They’re playing it like they’re playing to a movie camera and not a Broadway house. Too bad because this is subtitled a Musical Vaudeville. Nothing vaudevillian about these performances.

And BTW, who is this Jeff Sullivan? I could watch him all night. Did he perform last week in the Liza tribute In the Losing My Mind number? I may have to go back again when he’s doing Billy Flynn.

And also, BTW - This is still one of the best shows on Broadway. The structure, the songs! It got me, wondering - is Chicago aging better than A Chorus Line?

#3928

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/14/26 at 1:10pm

I wonder if the producers /casting team have ever considered two seasoned Broadway veterans like Cheyenne Jackson or Nick Adams. They could sing, dance and act the role of Billy out of the park.

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#3929

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/14/26 at 2:02pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I wonder if the producers /casting team have ever considered two seasoned Broadway veterans like Cheyenne Jackson or Nick Adams. They could sing, dance and act the role of Billy out of the park."

Love Nick but has hasn't been cast in anything major in over a decade, his one time as a lead. Don't think they'd be knocking down his door. Cheyenne doesn't need the show, at least at this point.

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

#3930

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/20/26 at 10:48pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbBK_UixgqE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Sophie Carmen Jones (Velma Kelly) on the differences between American and British theatre audiences.

#3931

Current Principal Cast

Posted: 7/21/26 at 8:05am

Skip23 said: And also, BTW - This is still one of the best shows on Broadway. The structure, the songs! It got me, wondering - is Chicago aging better than AChorus Line? "

I don’t think the comparison is fully apt because both shows were very highly regarded when they came out, but A CHORUS LINE was just too big of a juggernaut for CHICAGO to get the legs of a much longer life (although it clocked nearly 1000 performances in the original).

The thing about CHICAGO that keeps it fresh (especially when the cast really sells the material) is that, since the O.J Simpson era when this revival was conceived, the crime-as-celebrity motif has boomed into a mainstream cultural phenomenon as opposed to a morbid cultural curiosity. Even the opening lines really summarize the voyeuristic nature of the audience

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

#3932

Re: Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

Posted: 7/21/26 at 9:21am

Chicago is very cheap to run. That's why it's still open.

#3933

Re: Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

Posted: 7/21/26 at 9:33am

everythingtaboo said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I wonder if the producers /casting team have ever considered two seasoned Broadway veterans like Cheyenne Jackson or Nick Adams. They could sing, dance and act the role of Billy out of the park."

Love Nick but has hasn't been cast in anything major in over a decade, his one time as a lead. Don't think they'd be knocking down his door. Cheyenne doesn't need the show, at least at this point."

Also, Cheyenne and his family live out in California. Short of a semi-decent pile of money (which the Weisslers would most certainly not give him), there is no incentive for him to come out here for a few months and leave his family. OH, MARY probably paid him a LOT more to come out and join the show (and it was worth every delicious cent)

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

#3934

Re: Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

Posted: 7/21/26 at 12:03pm

What would be some other possibilities for the role of Billy Flynn, who haven't been mentioned here before? What theatre veterans out there could do a smashing job in the role? One of my favorites is Jason Danieley. He was very charismatic and could sing it out of the ballpark. I do remember that the last time he was at the Ambassador, he used to keep track of long he could hold the "the" note in "The Gun". Max Von Essen comes close to Danieley when it comes to that particular part of the song. But, Danieley has been working with other endeavors in recent years. There is a soap actor whose name is Billy Flynn. I wonder if he sings?

Updated On: 7/21/26 at 12:03 PM

#3935

Re: Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

Posted: 7/30/26 at 11:25pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbbMccDqgM_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Chicago at Bryant Park with Tia Altinay (Roxie) and Her Boys

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