This is the text of Emma Pittman's IG post. Seriously, "Chicago" needs to setttle on a date and allow that talented lady to shine. "As the Queen Mother says in The Crown: "she needs to shine." E.P. is being kind and diplomatic. The producers of the show should step up!
"Today marks 2 years since the announcement of #thesearchforroxie holy cow two whole years.. I’ve had so many people reaching out to me recently about my dates for Chicago, and I feel terrible telling them, I still don’t have an answer 😩 when the pandemic hit, they shifted my initial dates into the future, and at the moment they are still unconfirmed. but!!!! the truth of the matter is, they are dealing with so many more variables here, ~*especially*~ with Miss Rona stil running around. although there are so many elements out of my control, i am training my body, voice, and mind in preparations for this role. whenever Chicago is ready for me, I’ll be here."
"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)
To remind people of Emma Pittman's audition, here are two of the casting directors and Charlotte D'Amboise seeing Emma Pittman's "spectacular shimmy." It begins at 1:13. "Alright, we love her!!" "She's sharp!" https://youtu.be/Ajo1qdPeqm4
"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)
According to this interview, Emma was never given a contract and is not an Equity member. Sadly, it seems her win was only symbolic, but had no guaranteed reward. (Her statement about not being given a contract upon winning is at the end of the interview.)
I mean even if they only put Emma in the show for 2-3 weeks as Roxie (Are they reluctant because of ticket sales?), just put Emma onstage and put her on the playbill.
I wish I could've seen this in the fall with Ana, Bianca, and Lillias. It felt like Chicago really had a new sense of excitement and energy. Charlotte is a great Roxie, but it's not gonna get me to the show anytime soon. And if Amra is there still... that's not a draw for me either. Just feels stale.
If she ever plays Roxie, which I doubt will ever happen, I’ll eat crow. as a Chicago hardcore fan ( I’ve seen it over one hundred times) I’d rather see Charlotte/Bianca - them doing nowadays and the rag I bet is amazing. Watching Charlotte dance is nothing short of perfection.
I also think that the days of Roxie and Velma doing the cartwheel at the end are gone.
"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)
JBradshaw said: "If she ever plays Roxie, which I doubt will ever happen, I’ll eat crow. as a Chicago hardcore fan ( I’ve seen it over one hundred times) I’d rather see Charlotte/Bianca - them doing nowadays and the rag I bet is amazing. Watching Charlotte dance is nothing short of perfection.
While there is a fairly good selection of possible Roxies, the number of available and experienced Velmas is not large. If the producers wanted to go really radical in a Velma choice, then maybe J Harrison McGee might be a possibility. McG played Velma at the MUNY at one point.
"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)
stuntwise go “company-like” and have Bebe as Billi Flynn"
THIS would be fantastic, plus Billy Flynn has zero romantic plot lines with anyone in CHICAGO so no altering of the script is needed. Even the “we love Billy” chant can imply many things not just sexual. I think this idea would add a new spark to the show and bring new interest once again.
Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "The search for stunt casting resumes, I guess? Could we start reconsidering Jane Krakowski again?"
I can't go through that Jane Krakowski speculation again! LOL
But I love the idea of gender-swapped casting. The clips I saw of J. Harrison Ghee didn't really do anything for me, but I think that was more the direction, but I love the idea of finding a "Billie Flynn" assuming they adjust the keys into something comfortable for the ear.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
stuntwise go “company-like” and have Bebe as Billi Flynn"
THIS would be fantastic, plus Billy Flynn has zero romantic plot lines with anyone in CHICAGO so no altering of the script is needed. Even the “we love Billy” chant can imply many things not just sexual. "
Even if the script did have romantic/sexual implications for Billy, why would that be a problem with a female Billy?
Bianca Marroquin is suffering from vertigo (per her IG page) and will not return until Jan. 17th. Who is Velma until then? I guess this will enable the Velma understudies to have a chance to shine.
"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)
Hopefully, the two Velma understudies: "Mary Claire King and Christine Cornish Smith, have been getting a chance to shine during Bianca Marroquin's absence.
"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)
"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)