Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 82

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:42am

New cast member Celina Nightengale.  https://www.celinanightengale.com/

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 6:20am

Joseph London is also back as the Mary Sunshine/Amos standby.

Understudies:

Velma: Mary Claire King, Christine C. Smith

Roxie: Jessica Ernest, Angel Reda

Billy: Brian O'Brien, Jeff Gorti

Amos: Drew Nellessen

Mama, Arian Keddell, Celina Nightengale

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 7:20am

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)?

You must be kidding.  Both roles have been played my many nationalities and ethnicities.  The original Broadway Velma and her replacement were Latinas: Chita Rivera and Lenora Nemetz.  Not to mention the endless POC that have played both roles in the revival.  

[willep]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 7:35am

I didn’t read that comment as saying the roles have never been played by women of color before, just that these specific women haven’t played them.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 7:49am

BrodyFosse123 said: "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)?

You must be kidding. Both roles have been played my many nationalities and ethnicities. The original Broadway Velma and her replacement were Latinas: Chita Rivera and Lenora Nemetz. Not to mention the endless POC that have played both roles in the revival. "

They meant the actors have never played the roles before…

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 10:12am

Chicago officially confirmed Ana Villafane as Roxie via their Instagram!

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 11:43am

“You must be kidding”

And you must not know how to read a sentence.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 6:51am

According to Angel Reda's Instagram page, "Chicago's" segment on Good Morning America will begin at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 7:05am

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 9:09am

And suddenly, “All That Jazz” bursts again with new life. Great job Bianca!

Can’t wait for initial reports on her Velma on a future 9/14 reopening nights thread.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 10:08am

Bianca seems like a no brainer for Velma, because many times her name has come up when discussing who could play roles previously done by Chita Rivera (ie: Aurora, Rosie, an Encores version of Bajour!). Also, seeing as she played Chita in Fosse/Verdon. 

I saw Bianca as Roxie with Brenda Braxton as Velma about 15 years ago, and it was an amazing night in the theatre. 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 10:20am

i found the gma performance a lil *yawn* boring.
i did enjoy the new females though

[DAME]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 11:05am

Jordan Levinson said: "And suddenly, “All That Jazz” bursts again with new life. Great job Bianca!

Can’t wait for initial reports on her Velma on a future 9/14 reopening nights thread."

Meh.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 11:24am

Thought she was fantastic!

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 11:40am

DAME said: "Jordan Levinson said: "And suddenly, “All That Jazz” bursts again with new life. Great job Bianca!

Can’t wait for initial reports on her Velma on a future 9/14 reopening nights thread."

Meh."

Really?  Thought she was great.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 11:40am

DAME said: "Jordan Levinson said: "And suddenly, “All That Jazz” bursts again with new life. Great job Bianca!

Can’t wait for initial reports on her Velma on a future 9/14 reopening nights thread."

Meh."

Really?  Thought she was great.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:27pm

Has the performance been posted anywhere? I'd like to see, but was working this AM.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:30pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Has the performance been posted anywhere? I'd like to see, but was working this AM."

Cast of ‘Chicago’ performs ‘All That Jazz’ live in Times Square | GMA (goodmorningamerica.com)

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:32pm

TaffyDavenport said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Has the performance been posted anywhere? I'd like to see, but was working this AM."

Cast of ‘Chicago’ performs ‘All That Jazz’ live in Times Square | GMA (goodmorningamerica.com)"

Thank you so much! I looked for it on YouTube, but nothing was there yet. I should've thought to check the GMA site first. Thanks again!

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:53pm

thought the overall performance was kinda meh and her vocals were nothing remarkable by any stretch, but she looks incredible and has the right tone/demeanor/presence to open and carry the show. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 1:00pm

I thought it was fine. I'm sure she's gonna be great - she is great. But again I'm confused by this show, more than any other, not being able to stunt the hell out of reopening casting to make it an "event" and something locals (which they're gonna need) are going to want to go back to. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 1:27pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I thought it was fine. I'm sure she's gonna be great - she is great. But again I'm confused by this show, more than any other, not being able to stunt the hell out of reopening casting to make it an "event" and something locals (which they're gonna need) are going to want to go back to."

With all due respect, Ana Villafañe IS their idea of stunt casting.  I’m not kidding nor being sarcastic.  

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 1:32pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I thought it was fine. I'm sure she's gonna be great - she is great. But again I'm confused by this show, more than any other, not being able to stunt the hell out of reopening casting to make it an "event" and something locals (which they're gonna need) are going to want to go back to."

I do wonder if Covid cases rising again are making "bigger names" less likely to commit to a NYC run this fall. Maybe they're worried about being in the city, or Broadway delaying again, or maybe just worried about playing less performances and to less full houses.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 1:38pm

I do like Ana, but I was hoping for some heavy hitters to breathe some new life into a tired production. Looks like it will be a bit before I return to the Ambassador (most likely a new production, but won’t turn down oa Housewife Is a stunt cast)

[StardustsChild]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 2:55pm

everythingtaboo said: I do wonder if Covid cases rising again are making "bigger names" less likely to commit to a NYC run this fall. Maybe they're worried about being in the city, or Broadway delaying again, or maybe just worried about playing less performances and to less full houses."

This is absolutely something that is happening. A lot of casting that was borderline official has fallen through over the last two months because of the delta variant. Putting aside the obvious health concerns, no star wants to be on a project that turns into a Typhoid Mary situation like what happened to Moulin Rouge last year. They don't want to come back until they can really be back, in all ways.