Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 85

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/31/21 at 2:21pm

Ana Villafañe was the original Gloria Estefan in the Broadway production of ON YOUR FEET!

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/31/21 at 2:28pm

Anyone seeing the reopening performance on the 14th? Appears to have been sold out for a while.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/31/21 at 7:57pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay/VIDEO-Get-A-First-Look-At-CHICAGO-at-The-Muny-20210831

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/1/21 at 12:13am

That MUNY production looks a hell of a lot more interesting than what's playing at the Ambassador –– in both casting (save for Roxie) and design.

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 9/1/21 at 4:13pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jane-Krakowski-Joins-NBCs-ANNIE-LIVE-as-Lily-St-Regis-20210901

Could this be the reason she dropped out of Chicago last minute?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/1/21 at 7:21pm

Definitely.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/1/21 at 7:54pm

It seems to me that the marketing of the new Velma-Roxie team could be improved.  Maybe, they could take a picture at the Ambassador...inside or outside, with Bianca Marroquin and Ana Villafane wearing their show clothes.  They need to step it up.  

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/1/21 at 9:48pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "That MUNY production looks a hell of a lot more interesting than what's playing at the Ambassador –– in both casting (save for Roxie) and design."

Seriously, don't think so! The casting looks dreadful from the video and what is Harrison J. Ghee doing!?

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 2:47am

Robbie2 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "That MUNY production looks a hell of a lot more interesting than what's playing at the Ambassador –– in both casting (save for Roxie) and design."

Seriously, don't think so! The casting looks dreadful from the video and what is Harrison J. Ghee doing!?"

 

bless you Robbie  

I feel the same. ?  I don’t get it  

is Velma a gal, since she’s not a romantic lead, just believe she’s a she?

is Velma “too Wong fooing” it and a lady w an Adam’s apple?

 

or does Velma use they/them pronouns and we can’t ask? 
 

 

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 7:13am

Yeah, I'm not liking those clips from the Muny's production. Looks like everything is over-choreographed.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 8:20am

What ever happened to Class?

Adore this version.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 8:34am

I love Emily Skinner, but that video makes it seem like Mama Morton is also a Middle School Principal. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 10:19am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "It seems to me that the marketing of the new Velma-Roxie team could be improved. Maybe, they could take a picture at the Ambassador...inside or outside, with Bianca Marroquin and Ana Villafane wearing their show clothes. They need to step it up."

Relative to other Broadway returns, they've done more than most anybody so far, with the GMA appearance and at the Empire State Building. I'm willing to bet with all the daytime talk shows returning next week, we'll be seeing a lot more of them, if Barry and Fran have any in the matter. 

Updated On: 9/3/21 at 10:19 AM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 9:36pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Muny-Cancels-Closing-Performances-of-CHICAGO-Due-to-Covid-19-Infections-in-Cast-20210903

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 10:35pm

JBradshaw said: "bless you Robbie

I feel the same. ? I don’t get it

is Velma a gal, since she’s not a romantic lead, just believe she’s a she?

is Velma “too Wong fooing” it and a lady w an Adam’s apple?

or does Velma use they/them pronouns and we can’t ask?"


Doesn't seem very complicated to "get". J. Harrison Ghee uses they/he pronouns, and they're playing a character who presents as female. Not that the presence of an Adam's Apple matters one bit in a theatre as vast as the Muny (where you also have age-questionable casting such as Adam Heller as Amos, 58-year-old Debbie Reynolds in Unsinkable Molly Brown, and 51-year-old Jennifer Holliday as Effie in Dreamgirls.....and the production seems to be leaning into the Vaudeville performance aspect more than the Walter Bobbie revival.)

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/3/21 at 11:14pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Muny-Cancels-Closing-Performances-of-CHICAGO-Due-to-Covid-19-Infections-in-Cast-20210903"

That's a real shame.

[Trish2]

Posted: 9/4/21 at 2:18pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Muny-Cancels-Closing-Performances-of-CHICAGO-Due-to-Covid-19-Infections-in-Cast-20210903"

That's a real shame."

 

It's more than a real shame--it's discouraging for the return of theatre in general. Granted, those MUNY casts are huge, and they use a lot of local, teenage talent. It must've been difficult to monitor.

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 1:06am

Hello all.  My upcoming trip to NYC is getting closer and closer (Sept.17-20).  I haven't been back since 2018.  I've uploaded that NYC Covid app (where you can store a state ID, a vaccination card and a recent Covid test).  I've done the first two and will take a test shortly before my departure.  I am seeing "Chicago" on Fri. Sept. 17th  (with a guest very familiar to the show....if all works out). On Saturday, I see "Wicked" in the evening.  Then on Sun. Sept. 19th, I see "Chicago" twice.  I'll be wearing my mask of course when I'm not eating or drinking.  With regards to the trip, I read with some concern about the uptick in crime in the Times Square area.  Every day, I read the NYT and NY Daily News online editions.  I have always been aware of my surroundings during the 10 times I've visited NYC.  I've never ventured outside of Manhattan and would love to visit Brooklyn.  Are there certain areas of Manhattan (like Bryant Park ) or Brooklyn that I should be extra wary or avoid entirely?  Also, what is the general cooperation with regards to mask wearing and such.  Any helpful advice would be much appreciated.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 4:56pm

On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the current cast of "Chicago" will make a comback...."I hate that word.  It's a return" to the Ambassador Theatre after so many months away from their home.  

Updated On: 9/6/21 at 04:56 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 5:01pm

Regarding crime in the city - having been there throughout the entire pandemic and seeing the worst of it, it’s MUCH better now. Maybe if you’re from out of town, use a little extra caution but things really are starting to feel like they’re getting back to “normal” again.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 5:57pm

When I first visited NYC in March 2006, I made plans to meet a very well known New Yorker at the now defunct club "Happy Valley".  All I remember that I got off my subway at 11:30 p.m., near the Parson School of Design.  It was dark of course, but I wasn't really scared.  I walked a short distance to that club and met Michael Musto inside the club.  He was carrying this little writing pad.  I had a chance to also meet Jai Rodriguez of Queer Eye fame.  It never occured to me to ask to take a picture with MM.  (This is a true story...not made up at all.)  I've read some dodgy reports about Bryant Park.  Should I avoid that place?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/7/21 at 9:58am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "When I first visited NYC in March 2006, I made plans to meet a very well known New Yorker at the now defunct club "Happy Valley". All I remember that I got off my subway at 11:30 p.m., near the Parson School of Design. It was dark of course, but I wasn't really scared. I walked a short distance to that club and met Michael Musto inside the club. He was carrying this little writing pad. I had a chance to also meet Jai Rodriguez of Queer Eye fame. It never occured to me to ask to take a picture with MM.(This is a true story...not made up at all.) I've read some dodgy reports about Bryant Park. Should I avoid that place?"

Bryant Park closes at 11pm so don't try to meet Michael Musto there if he asks you to meet him at 11:30pm again.

The level of activity and tourism, while not what it used to be, is still pretty strong at the moment, and with the number of shows coming back by the time you're here, it'll probably feel like normal. You'll probably notice the large number of closed stores, and perhaps a stronger level of homelessness, but if you're as savvy a visitors as you've been on previous trips, you'll be fine. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/7/21 at 7:01pm

I wouldn't mind meeting up with someone  from BWW.  In all the times I've been to NYC, I've only met one member of this site.  I'm thinking of going to Marie's, if it's not too crowded.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/7/21 at 7:01pm

I wouldn't mind meeting up with someone  from BWW.  In all the times I've been to NYC, I've only met one member of this site.  I'm thinking of going to Marie's, if it's not too crowded.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/8/21 at 8:04pm

I had intended to take a guest to see "Chicago" on Friday, Sept, 17th.  So I bought two tickets:  Front Orchestra Row A 110-111.  My guest would have been a former cast member who was part of the show for some 10  years, but business plans in the West Coast made that not possible.  So now, I have an extra ticket.