Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 54

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/10/17 at 10:16pm

A fond farewell to the fabulous Leigh Zimmerman.  She performed (after a 6 year absence) the role of Velma Kelly for a few weeks.  It was a pleasure to see her in the show.   

https://imgflip.com/i/20uoxt

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 10:27pm

Drew  Nellesen is making his Broadway debut as Aaron in "Chicago".  He has extensive experience with the show in national/international tours.  Denny Paschall recently left the show.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:04am

I'm not going to lie, part of the reason I loved going back to the show dozens of times and sitting in the first row was because Denny was so great in the show, and admittedly very easy on the eyes. He did leave and come back I believe, so maybe he'll be back again, but I'm hopeful he's on to something fun and different. 

Leigh's left already? I was hoping to go back and see her and Charlotte together. Any chance AFW can go open the West End production that's coming back? (Where I also saw her as Velma, PS.) I'd just love a nice rotation of Velmas  here for frequent visitors as myself. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 2:39pm

Donna Marie Asbury is on as Velma Kelly tonite.  Merry Xmas!

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 12:22pm

I'd love to see Donna Marie as Velma! Do you know if she'll be on again anytime soon?

[Jessetenny]

Posted: 12/28/17 at 7:20am

Any word on how Todrick Hall is doing in Chicago?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/1/18 at 10:46am

FYI: Sam Lips (Cats, Pippin, R+H's Cinderella) joins the cast through May 20th. Judging by the costume, I'm guessing he's taking over Denny's roles?

Sam Lips' Facebook post

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/1/18 at 11:15am

Drew Nellessen took over for Denny's track(Aaron) last week. Possibly replacing Barrett Martin(Bailiff)?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

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

It is possible that Sam Lips (most recently  in CATS) might be joining the cast very soon.  He had a picture of the Chicago logo on his Instagram.  

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 3:34pm

he did join the cast.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 5:37pm

JBradshaw said: "he did join the cast."

 

I think the question now is, who'd he replace?

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/6/18 at 8:37am

This goes waaaay back to the 1980's in the London production of "Chicago".  This person is playing "Mama Morton".   I didn't like it all that much.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvW6tuL4Q0

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 3:58pm

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/950752127089020928   Many references to "Chicago".   

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 9:42pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/All-He-Cares-About-is-Love-Cuba-Gooding-Jr-to-Play-Billy-Flynn-in-CHICAGOs-West-End-Return-20180111     Interesting.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 12:37pm

Tom Hewitt is returning as Billy Flynn (Jan. 15-- March 11).  https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Chicago/Overview

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 1:16pm

When I saw the show a couple weeks ago, the twentysomething group of friends around here were in awe of how OLD everyone in the show was. They thought that AFW and Charlotte must both be pushing 60 at least and that the majority of the ensemble was in their 50's. One of them said "You see? That's the magic of a director's vision. Even people in the 50's and 60's can see the vision through!"   LOL

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 2:15pm

Learn Five Dazzling secrets about "Chicago".  Hosted by Donna Marie Asbury (Velma Kelly u/s, Mama Morton u/s).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rC2LdtazEc  (Broadway.com)

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 2:42pm

Kandi looks damn good! If anyone has seen her I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 5:08pm

Bianca Marroquin is Roxie Hart once more beginning on Monday, January 22, 2018.  I guess Charlotte d'Amboise is leaving early, since Telecharge is having her in the show until Jan. 28th.  If you have never seen Bianca as Roxie, you're in for a treat!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 5:45pm

According to her Instagram page, Bianca Marroquin will be Roxie Hart from January 22, 2018 --- April  29, 2018.  Note:  She will not be performing from March 31--April 7.  This will give the Roxie understudies (Robyn Hurder and Tonya Wathen) a chance to shine.  

Updated On: 1/17/18 at 05:45 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/21/18 at 11:08pm

with the original revival Go-To-Hell-Kitty and recent Velma Kelly (Nov. 2017), the lovely Leigh Zimmerman

Updated On: 1/21/18 at 11:08 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/28/18 at 8:22pm

https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Chicago/Overview   Evan Harrington is playing the role of Amos Hart from Jan. 30--June 17, 2018.  I have never heard of him.  Upon checking his website, he does have an impressive resume.

Updated On: 1/28/18 at 08:22 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/4/18 at 11:22am

 AFW is Velma Kelly till March 11, 2018.  Terra C will (re) join the current tour in the same month.  I guess that means that the current tour Velma, Lana Gordon, will return to the Broadway cast once again when AFW leaves.  

[newintown]

Posted: 2/5/18 at 1:24pm

Out of town visitors took me back to this the other night. Always fun to revisit (for free), but the show is in rather sloppy shape in many places, with (what seemed to me) a bit of phoning it in from the principals.

Wright and Marroquin both danced and acted quite well (although Marroquin does a great deal of muttered ad libbing that, I imagine, she thinks is comedy gold), but both verge on inaudible vocally. I don't know if they just have weak, small voices or if they mark it vocally, but the sounds they produce are far from exciting, and they are often drowned out by the (still excellent) band. Tom Hewitt made me think, "Aww, poor Tom Hewitt - what happened to him?" He seemed to be rather bored and tired, as did whoever we saw as Amos (I wasn't familiar with him, and can't remember his name). Kandi Burruss sang ... uniquely, but can't act or stand still. Both she and Wright seem to miss the entire point of "Class," singing it demurely and prettily.

The women of the ensemble are, as always, terrific; a few of the men didn't (to me eye) move like natural dancers, missing freezes and sharp movements in places. There was no standing ovation.

It's always a bit strange to revisit these decades-old war horses and see shadowy reminders of why they became successful.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/11/18 at 8:17pm

Robyn Hurder has ended her current run with the cast of Chicago (Instagram).  I'm thinking that Angel Reda will return soon.