Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 66

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/2/19 at 4:05pm

Maybe he'll be u/s for him? Don't know. I mean JPS is still on the site, maybe it's not completely current?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 8:19pm

 Gary Cooper (yes) is listed as "Judge", "Doctor" and Billy Flynn u/s.  He replaces Jason Patrick Sands who left the show on March 31, 2019.  https://chicagothemusical.com/cast/

Updated On: 4/3/19 at 08:19 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 7:33am

Terra C. MacLeod is with the Broadway company for two weeks filling in while AFW is on vacation. Terra's there until May 12.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 2:16pm

Donna Marie Asbury just announced that her last day with "Chicago" is Monday, June 3, 2019.  I will miss her fantastic performances!   

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 2:56pm

I remember her saying in an interview that she wanted to hit an anniversary mark(25th?) and she'd retire. Kudos to her!

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 6:59pm

Donna Marie is really leaving? I've seen the show many dozens of times on Broadway (among other cities/countries) and I can't imagine the show without her. With the ensemble getting increasingly younger, unlike when the revival first started, it was nice to have someone who can still steal that song decade after decade.

I guess I'm going to have to go back to the show, hopefully for her final night.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 11:01pm

Could Mauricio Martinez be the next Billy? He’s hinted that he will be back on the NY stage soon on Instagram- I see Tom is done May 12, he’d be a good fit for the role.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 11:34pm

This is a bit of the Velma Kelly audition process for the West End Chicago.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2433LdMOS7w

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 9:59pm

According to Playbill Vault, Desi Oakley arrives on May 13, 2019 as Roxie Hart.  There is a gap between May 13-26, until Charlotte D'Amboise returns.  I don't know if she's a new Roxie u/s.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/8/19 at 1:55pm

An interview with Donna Marie Asbury.  https://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/five-burning-questions-with-chicago-legend-donna-marie-asbury/?fbclid=IwAR2ioXcDPSkFTiofW0VhkXWV3q6dglLHk2_suUzAOaT5UfAdjtPMAbyfsKw

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:56pm

Ryan Silverman will be "Chicago's" next Billy Flynn from May 13, 2019 -- July 14, 2019.  

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 5/9/19 at 2:25pm

CONFIRMED: DESI OAKLEY WILL BE JOINING THE CAST!!

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 5/9/19 at 3:01pm

Based on her instagram, she’s doing three chunks of a couple weeks, with about three weeks between each? Is she covering between stunt casts?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/9/19 at 7:44pm

http://www.playbill.com/article/desi-oakley-to-join-broadway-cast-of-chicago

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/9/19 at 8:13pm

Very odd that she's just a filler. Tell Charlotte to take the summer off and give Oakley a three month run.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 5/10/19 at 12:45am

I saw the national tour of Chicago tonight, in Chicago!  I have seen the Broadway production 29 times, so it was fun to compare and contrast the two productions. 

The audience LOVED the show. So much cheering---dare I say MUCH more cheering than the last time I saw Chicago's Hamilton. However, there were some major sound issues. I would say that about 90% of Billy Flynn's lines were not heard, partly because of Eddie George's mumbling and partly because of the poor sound system.  At first I thought maybe it was some weird directorial decision for the tour to have the chorus whisper, but then I realized as the show went on that the sound was not amped up enough for the cavernous Cadillac Palace. Quiet mics, no projected voices and a faulty sound design made quiet a few lines get lost. 

Eddie George was fun to watch because I could tell he absolutely loved being on that stage. Especially during Reached for the Gun. Dylis Croman----my my my WHY is this woman not the permanent Velma on Broadway?  She is so talented!!  

Some tech differences: no elevator for Roxie at the top of the show; she simply walks up the stairs upstage. The stage right ladder swung on a hinge, but the stage left ladder was rolled out and rolled back. Weird, right?  For the courtroom scene, the light rig did not fly in and was instead just a light panel underneath the "jury box" set.  Razzle Dazzle was about 90% new choreography with lots of acrobatic tricks that looked unique to the specific actor's talents. The song did not even start with a chorus boy gliding across the stage on his back to give Billy a baton. Instead, he was on the stage left ladder riding it like a bicycle--very strange but somehow effective. The orchestra was good but definitely not as polished as Broadway's. And yikes the precision during All That Jazz was not there; Velma was always a beat ahead of the chorus and several chorus members were definitely frustrated by it by the looks on their faces. Paul Vogt gave the longest Broadway Cares speech I've ever heard. Not that I'm complaining---it's a worthy cause, but the length of the speech did make quite a few people decide to get up and leave. All in all, a great show and I wish it were in town for more than a week!!!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/11/19 at 11:11am

If you're a fan of "Chicago" and love Donna Marie Asbury, she will play Velma Kelly on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18th.  Those are probably the last times you'll catch her in that role, before she leaves the show on June 3, 2019.  I wish I could be there!  

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/12/19 at 10:26am

Damn, I really hope there's another last-minute chance to see her as Velma, I'm out of town next weekend.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/12/19 at 11:33pm

Phantom4ever said: "I saw the national tour of Chicago tonight, in Chicago! I have seen the Broadway production 29 times, so it was fun to compare and contrast the two productions.

The audience LOVED the show. So much cheering---dare I say MUCH more cheering than the last time I saw Chicago's Hamilton. However, there were some major sound issues. I would say that about 90% of Billy Flynn's lines were not heard, partly because of Eddie George's mumbling and partly because of the poor sound system. At first I thought maybe it was some weird directorial decision for the tour to have the chorus whisper, but then I realized as the show went on that the sound was not amped up enough for the cavernous Cadillac Palace. Quiet mics, no projected voices and a faulty sound design made quiet a few lines get lost.

Eddie George was fun to watch because I could tell he absolutely loved being on that stage. Especially during Reached for the Gun. Dylis Croman----my my my WHY is this woman not the permanent Velma on Broadway? She is so talented!!

Some tech differences: no elevator for Roxie at the top of the show; she simply walks up the stairs upstage. The stage right ladder swung on a hinge, but the stage left ladder was rolled out and rolled back. Weird, right? For the courtroom scene, the light rig did not fly in and was instead just a light panel underneath the "jury box" set. Razzle Dazzle was about 90% new choreographywith lots of acrobatic tricks that looked unique to the specific actor's talents. The song did not even start with a chorus boy gliding across the stage on his back to give Billy a baton. Instead, he was on the stage left ladder riding it like a bicycle--very strange but somehow effective. The orchestra was good but definitely not as polished as Broadway's. And yikes the precision during All That Jazz was not there; Velma was always a beat ahead of the chorus and several chorus members were definitely frustrated by it by the looks on their faces. Paul Vogt gave the longest Broadway Cares speech I've ever heard. Not that I'm complaining---it's a worthy cause, but the length of the speech did make quite a few people decide to get up and leave. All in all, a great show and I wish it were in town for more than a week!!!"

I onced asked Dylis Croman if she'd ever want to play Velma Kelly.  She said she would love to.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/13/19 at 5:00pm

This is some classic footage that I have never seen.  From the original  production of "Chicago".  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHpd1KxvnF8

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 6:17pm

I read in Naomi C Walley's (Chicago Velma Kelly u/s and Mama Morton u/s) Instagram that she's winding up her run in the show.  Who will be coming in as the new Velma Kelly u/s?  ACL..?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 8:22pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I read in Naomi C Walley's (Chicago Velma Kelly u/s and Mama Morton u/s) Instagram that she's winding up her run in the show. Who will be coming in as the new Velma Kelly u/s? ACL..?"

 

No clue, but it looks like by June we'll have two new Velma u/s with Donna leaving, too.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/18/19 at 2:14pm

In an interview, DMA mentioned a new cast member who was 23 years of age.  I'm thinking maybe she was referring to the new Billy Flynn understudy, Gary Cooper.  Chicago has seen some significant cast changes within the past year.  I think the newly hired cast members will benefit the show.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/21/19 at 9:45pm

• Pilar Millhollen
• as Velma Kelly (Understudy)
  as Matron "Mama" Morton (Understudy)   I think this veteran "Chicago" cast member is one of the new Velma  understudies.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/21/19 at 9:56pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "

• Pilar Millhollen
• as Velma Kelly (Understudy)
  as Matron "Mama" Morton (Understudy) I think this veteran "Chicago" cast member is one of the new Velma understudies.

"

Pilar has replaced Naomi C. Walley. Don't know if it's just temporary or a long time stint. Pilar has been in and out of the show for about 6 months now as a vacation cover.