"The production did not confirm Villafañe's casting and did not mention the actor portraying Billy Flynn."
Velma – Bianca Marroquín
Mama – Lillias White
Amos – Raymond Bokhour
Mary Sunshine – Ryan Lowe
Ensemble – David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Brian O'Brien, Denny Paschall, Angel Reda, Jermaine R. Rembert, Michael Scirrotto, Christine C. Smith, and Brian Spitulnik
What on earth are the Weisslers and Boneau / Bryan-Brown trying to accomplish with the lack of transparency??
"The production did not confirm Villafañe's casting and did not mention the actor portraying Billy Flynn."
Velma –Bianca Marroquín
Mama –Lillias White
Amos –Raymond Bokhour
Mary Sunshine – Ryan Lowe
Ensemble –David Bushman, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Brian O'Brien, Denny Paschall, Angel Reda, Jermaine R. Rembert, Michael Scirrotto, Christine C. Smith, and Brian Spitulnik
What on earth are the Weisslers andBoneau / Bryan-Brown trying to accomplish with the lack of transparency??"
Tag said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "What on earth are the Weisslers andBoneau / Bryan-Brown trying to accomplish with the lack of transparency??"
What a ridiculous statement.
Anyway, they probably haven't signed a Billy yet, and are waiting for full casting, before announcing."
"Casting for the roles of Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn will officially be announced soon, but according to an Instagram post from casting office Stewart/Whitley, Ana Villafañe will play Roxie."
Confused by this, so is Ana V. confirmed for Roxie?
Quite possibly whoever they had for Billy backed out last minute and they could be scrambling now. Can't ask Tom Hewitt since he's going into Hadestown. Tony Yazbeck has Flying Over Sunset. Wayne Brady is in Los Angeles. Is Jerry Springer free?
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.
The official Chicago Instagram page has confirmed Bianca Marroquín as Velma Kelly!
Updated: Ryan Lowe and Ray Bokhour will return to the production as Mary Sunshine and Amos Hart. Entire ensemble mentioned by Ermengarde just earlier has also been confirmed.
Lillias White and the Chicago ensemble cast have also been confirmed on their Instagram page! I wonder if they will confirm Roxie and Billy Flynn's casting on Wednesday?
While not a "stale fart" as someone else said, I really am hoping for a WOW! Billy announcement to jazz up this casting. Love to see some of my favorite performers up there, but at least a little stunt casting couldn't have hurt.
I do wonder if bigger-name stars are worried about Covid in the theatres, and that's keeping them from coming to Broadway in the fall.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
"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)
Very odd Billy is the only casting not announced. I wonder if we'll find out on Wednesday during the GMA performance?
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.
Bianca Marroquin just posted this on her Facebook page, 6 minutes ago. "Chicago" will perform on GMA on Wed. Aug. 25th at 8:49 a.m. I'm assuming that's EST. Yay! P.S. I'm a bit sad that previous cast member Gary Cooper will not return with the cast.
"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)
If Billy stunt casting fails (I cringe at the thought of a lackluster "gun" note) There's always Brent Barrett, Chris Sieber or Jason Daniely.
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
"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)
jonartdesigns said: "If Billy stunt casting fails (I cringe at the thought of a lackluster "gun" note) There's always Brent Barrett, Chris Sieberor Jason Daniely."
Christopher Sieber is working on the Company revival right now
Although not the first time, how wonderful is it that the three leading ladies of Chicago are all women of color?! Not to mention how great it is that there is a LATINX pairing of Velma and Roxie. Definitely worth celebrating.
"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)
Tag said: "Is that something to celebrate now? They've had pretty diverse casting for the better part of 20+ years..."
Yes, it is.
Broadway has been gone for 16+ months. No one knew exactly what to expect with long running shows. I'm excited to see fresh takes on Roxie and Velma from two women talented women of color who have never played these roles before (to my knowledge) and to see the great Lillias White on Broadway once again. This is celebratory news.
BCfitasafiddle said: "Tag said: "Is that something to celebrate now? They've had pretty diverse casting for the better part of 20+ years..."
Yes, it is.
Broadway has been gone for 16+ months. No one knew exactly what to expect with long running shows. I'm excited to see fresh takes on Roxie and Velma from two women talented women of color who have never played these roles before (to my knowledge) and to see the great Lillias White on Broadway once again. This is celebratory news."
Lillias White coming back to Broadway, quite possibly, the best news of today.
Jeff Gorti is one of the three newest Chicago cast members. According to his Instagram profile, he's a Billy Flynn u/s. https://www.jeffgorti.com/
"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)