Lenora Nemetz CHICAGO both roles in the same day!

This may be old news but I remember Nemetz being super in the original CHICAGO. Read on...

" Nemetz has earned a reputation for being the understudy everyone is thrilled to see go on, especially during her stint with Chicago on Broadway. "I replaced Chita, with Ann Reinking and with Gwenn (Verdon)," she said, "and I played both roles - I stood by for both Gwenn and Chita, and they were kind enough to let me play both roles in the same day. At the matinee I played Velma Kelly and in the evening performance I played Roxie Hart. It was so thrilling!"

What a versatile performer!




talkinbroadway

She talks about this in her cabaret and then preceeds to do:

"When Velma Takes the Stand"
"Me and My Baby"
"Roxie"
"All that Jazz"
and the "Hot Honey Rag."

She is huge.

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Lenora is such an excellent performer. I've been able to see her in several productions in Pittsburgh and she's still such an amazing dancer and all around performer.

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She has one. I made them for her...

Just kidding, but seriously, that woman is my inspiration. Part of me wants to do a kind of "Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches" for my senior project and re-enact her cabaret act, but I couldn't do it justice.

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I would just like to make it clear that my signature is a quote from Auntie Lenora.

She dated my uncle, so I can actually say that with some conviction.

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Just kidding, but seriously, that woman is my inspiration. Part of me wants to do a kind of "Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches" for my senior project and re-enact her cabaret act, but I couldn't do it justice.

Do it! Do it! You don't know how much I'd pay to see that!

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Wow...I didn't realize Nancy Hess also made the same accomplishment. I can't imagine what a rush that must be for a performer.

She truly is a treasure.

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Oh Teddy Teddy Teddy... I think you are the 1 person who loves Ra-Ra more than me! Ehh.. Possibly the McGills

During the summer of 1977, I saw her as Velma Kelly (opposite a young Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart) in CHICAGO, during the end of the original CHICAGO's Broadway run.

I'll post photos of her (and Ann) in CHICAGO (back in 1977) later today.

I was there on the day....saw both shows....Marsha Bagwell is a great friend of mine and she was in the show, she told me it was going to happen, so I went! Fabulous, is the only word for Lenora Nemetz! I got to work with her later in GUYS AND DOLLS and she was an Adelaide to die for! And later I saw her in THE RINK, also with Chita Rivera. An incredible talent...she would be great in DROWSY CHAPERONE....

Here they are...from the original CHICAGO souvenir program from 1977 -- photos of a 27 year old Ann Reinking (playing Roxie Hart) and Lenora Nemetz playing Velma Kelly. I was 12 that summer. STAR WARS opened a few months earlier and I couldn't keep away from the Alvin Theatre on W. 52nd Street which was housing that brand new musical ANNIE. Between 1975 and the summer of 1977, I saw the original Broadway production of CHICAGO about 15 times.


Alaina Reed as Matron "Mama" Morton and the ladies:


The ladies with original cast member Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn:


The ladies in their "My Own Best Friend" costumes:


Lenora Nemetz as Velma Kelly (in her "All That Jazz" costume):


Lenora Nemetz in her "When Velma Takes the Stand" costume:


Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart (in her "Roxie" costume):


Jerry Orbach and Ann Reinking:

Thank you! Those pics are gorge!

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