Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread — Page 61

There is a new Roxie understudy, Rachel Schur, joining the cast of "Chicago".  The other two Roxie understudies are Jessica Ernest and Tonya Wathen.  Nicole Bridgewater and Gabrielle Mc Clinton are no longer in the cast list.  John O' Hurley will step into the shoes of Billy Flynn beginning July 23rd.  http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6db350002&type=cp#cc

Updated On: 7/17/18 at 09:26 PM

I just noticed on Telecharge that Cady Huffman has extended until September 9, 2018.  I wish I could be in NYC right now.  It's boiling here in Texas!  Roman in Austin

It looks like the West End revival of the revival is closing on January 5th unless they can find a new theater because Come From Away is set to open at the same theater in late January.  

Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise.  If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense.  

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise. If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense."

Well I don't what Dallas Theatre Fan knows, but what I can tell you as someone who sells theatre tickets for a living is that the business isn't that great at all, especially with Cuba ending his time as Billy. The magic of this show is how cheap it is to run, but at this point nobody in Theatreland cares that it's back, so again, unless another theatre needs filler...

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise. If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense."

Pretty much what everthingtaboo said and, you have to remember it first closed only five years earlier and has toured extensively ever since.   It came back when nobody really was dying for it to be back and right from the gate they were stunt casting with Cuba Gooding Jr.  Aside Gooding Jr. Most of the cast was recycled from previous productions so when it opened the cast was already phoning it in.  Ticket sales where never amazing even with Gooding Jr. in the cast and they are really bad now with an actor named Martin Kemp from a band I never heard of as the stunt casting star.

I wouldn't put moving theaters off the books because technically a closing notice hasn't been posted even though Come From Away is starting performances as the Phoenix in late January.  But, if they are going to move theaters the announcement needs to come soon as they are only selling tickets until Jan 5th.

adamgreer said: "The NY Times has their story on the suicide of Jeff Loeffholz today. Not a lot of new information, except for the fact that Stifelman hasn’t been at the show since his passing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/theater/chicago-musical-actor-suicide-broadway.html"

I put this on the other thread.  But it seems ABC news is looking into it.   I would imagine for one of their investigative news shows like 20/20.  

Have any of you read Ethan Morddon's book, "All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical Chicago"? I really want to read it but, none of the libraries around me has it so, I might buy it on Amazon, which is not cheap.  What are your thoughts about the book and is it worth the money.?

There is a new  "understudy" for Mary  in the chorus and Leslie's "vacation" has been extended.

Updated On: 8/10/18 at 09:43 AM

That's actually an error by Playbill Vault. Moore only covers for Mama when one of the two covers is on vacation. Moore covered Mama and Velma back in the day and when she was on tour.

Updated On: 8/4/18 at 07:01 PM

The book takes a while to get to the musical, because it starts with the city and then the twenties as a decade. Then there's the Chicago play and the two movies.

But once it reaches the musical, it really gets into it--the writing, the backstage, Fosse's anger, Verdon's last hurrah on Broadway. There's an analysis of the show that moves from scene to scene and song to song that sort of recreates it for you, explaining all the underpinnings, character motivations, Fisse staging tricks, etc.

The author's style is quirky and often funny, very unlike the other writers in this field. Very opinionated and spirited. Some readers find him too sophisticated. He breaks rules.