Lenora Nemetz CHICAGO both roles in the same day!

[morosco]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:22pm

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

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:31pm

I know! Can you imagine?

Lenora is fantastic, she coulda and shoulda been huge.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:55pm

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.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:57pm

That sounds like a very incredible thing to do, so nice of Chita and Gwen to allow her the courtesy.

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:11pm

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.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:12pm

She is huge.

I'm sure you of all people can agree with me when I say that she deserves a shelf of Tonys.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:14pm

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.

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:16pm

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

And she deserves it. But seriously, it makes me love you all the much more.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:17pm

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.

[ILUVTOMG]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:34pm

Nancy Hess also played roxie and velma in the same day.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:42pm

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!

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:51pm

Oh, honey, you just moved waaay up in my book.

And, Nancy Hess is not Lenora Nemetz. Sorry, she may be fantastically talented, but I will defend Lenora against....well, God.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:51pm

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.

[sfs1414]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 1:05am

I've had the honor of performing in three productions with Lenora in Pittsburgh. She is the nicest,sweetest most talented lady. She needs to return to Broadway!!!!

[etoile]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 1:28am

She truly is a treasure.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 1:54am

I worked as an intern at West Virginia Public Theatre last summer, and Lenora played Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie - I got to meet her, and she's such an extraordinary presence and talent. I also just recently saw her perform as Fraulein Kost in a terrific production of Cabaret at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

She's truly one of the wittiest and most electric performers I've seen.

[b0b3rt831]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 12:14pm

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

[lildogs]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:08pm

I saw her on PBS' broadcast of SHOWBOAT and I still remember almost everything she did--just terrific!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:52pm

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.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 3:17pm

After seeing Nancy Hess' abysmal turn as Roxie Hart early in the run of the revival of Chicago, I would hesitate to put her in the same category as Lenora Nemetz.

[Musical Director]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 7:59pm

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....

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:00pm

Robert, you know it.

BrodyFosse, if you post those pictures, I will marry you.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:23pm

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:

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:25pm

Thank you!!

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:51pm

Thank you! Those pics are gorge!