Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 61

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/15/18 at 11:17pm

kelsey1389 said: "Just saw her today as Roxie and she BLEW ME AWAY. amazing performance- vocals, acting, everything was fantastic"

Sounds about right! Michelle was a standout in the ensemble for years before becoming a regular Roxie on Broadway and on tour. Several years later, she announced her retirement from theater. I am surprised and happy to see she’s back, she is just stunning. 

Updated On: 7/15/18 at 11:17 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 9:26pm

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

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/18/18 at 8:43am

I have seen John O Hurley perform as Billy Flynn.  He has a certain suaveness that is appealing.  I don't remember him from "Seinfeld", but many others do.  He will  play Billy Flynn until October 4, 2018.

Updated On: 7/19/18 at 08:43 AM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 7:38pm

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

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 9:33pm

This is the first time I've seen this video.  Terra C (Velma Kelly) and Dylis Croman (Roxie Hart) are interviewed on Korean (Seoul) television.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYxO2t3s_oY

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 10:51pm

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.  

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:02pm

I can't imagine the London remounting moving to a new theatre, especially after the wretched reviews it got upon its return, unless another theatre needs filler. But I can see it going back out on tour again. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:13pm

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.  

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:27pm

re Tim Bano’s review - he’s obviously deaf and blind w what he said about Ruthie.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 12:02am

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...

[EdEval]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 8:30am

Bob Fossee has his revenge.  Watching a tape of the 1976 Tony Awards I could see the disappointment over Bob's face as Michael Bennet kept winning award after award for Chorus Line.  Well guess whose show has been running for decades now?

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 12:12pm

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]

Posted: 7/28/18 at 1:27pm

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

[DAME]

Posted: 7/28/18 at 1:30pm

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.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/18 at 10:00pm

Just curious how long Equity will let the show continue without a standby/understudy for Mary Sunshine?

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 8/3/18 at 2:30pm

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.?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 5:26am

This is interesting.  Naomi C. Walley, one of the two Velma Kelly understudies, is scheduled for a week of performances in that role: Aug. 6- Aug. 12, 2018.  https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Chicago/Overview   (The other Velma understudy is Donna Marie Asbury. )

Updated On: 8/4/18 at 05:26 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:30am

Just a filler before a new Velma begins(or AFW returns).

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:33am

Dallas Theatre Fan said: "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.?"

I'm currently reading it! If you like Mordden's work, you will enjoy this book. It's not primarily focused on the musical itself, but the evolution of how we know Chicago today. It goes from a brief history of Chicago, the city, as well as the scene and attitudes in America during the 1920s. To the play Chicago, etc. etc. 

I recommend it. 

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:43am

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

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 3:21pm

I'm curious who  has been conducting the band lately.  I know that Robert Billig was the conductor during the most recent tour.  I had a brief chat with him.  He seemed real nice and down to earth.  The Playbill vault lists long time veteran Sharon Moore, Donna Marie Asbury and Naomi C. Walley (also Velma u/s).  as Mama understudies.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 7:01pm

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

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:06pm

I remember Nicole Bridgewater used to cover for Mama, but she's not part of the cast anymore.  

[Roland von Berlin]

Posted: 8/5/18 at 3:10am

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.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 6:23pm

No word who is Velma starting Monday? Unless Terra is just on vacation this week. As long as it's not AFW. And I'm surprised AEA has let them go this long without a Mary Sunshine u/s or standby.