MELANIE EXTENDS CONTRACT!!!!:(:(:(:(:(

[bernadette88]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:29am

NNNNNOOOOOOO....this can't be happening...melanie griffith has extended her run through 10/5....somebody needs to get that chic the hell out of that role...i am sorry....but she is pretty bad

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:39am

Why am I not surprised? You know, Antonio leaves "Nine" on the same date.

[bernadette88]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:41am

...your right!!!! i never even thought of that....why is she doing that to us!!!!!!!!!! aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhh

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:18am

Thank you Melanie Griffith!!!!!! You continue to dazzle thousands of theatergoers with your star performance as Roxie and have the audience leaping to their feet, cheering at every performance.

Broadway lovers should all be thankful to the star wattage you have added to the New York theater scene and the great financial influx you have added to midtown Manhattan.

I have not heard from a solitary person I know who has actually SEEN Melanie Griffith in CHICAGO, who thinks her performance is anything short of dazzling. The audiences love her and the theater community loves what she is doing for the New York theater scene. Bravo.

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:21am

to add to that post TEACHEROFTHEATER... BEN BRANTLEY loves her lololol. I will def. have to go see her when I have a night off. Has she ever missed a show?

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:27am

Okay Okay Okay... I know I am going to get a lot of backlash for this. (Or Maybe not...) but I think the fact that she is up there doing the show is gutsy. Sure she may not be able to sing and dance as well as Caroline O'Conner (my favorite Velma) and say any of the other Roxie's. But the fact that she is up there every night. You know that 1/2 of the audience is there to see Melanie do the show and 1/2 the audience is there to see Melanie fail. It must be hard for her. I am not saying she should do the show or not but give her a little credit.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:30am

Amneris, I don't know if she has missed any shows. I doubt it. We would likely have heard.

I just got off the phone with my friend Billy who was at Chicago Friday night and he says he still "feels like he is glowing" from her performance."

I have not spoken with anyone yet who has actually seen her who was not bowled over by her performance.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:05pm

My brother in law got us free tickets for 9/6. My wife & I see Hairspray in the afternoon (house seats) & Chiacago in the evening (for our 5 th wedding anniversary) . I will let you know what I think re melanies performance.Not sure if it will matter much but I will give it in case anyone is interested

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:27pm

I'm not even going to comment. Seen her, hate her, scuse me while I go play in traffic.

Aside from which, if she's been Roxie this long already everyone can calm down about an extra WEEK. It's not like she extended for an extra MONTH.

[lass]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:33pm

TOT,

You missed broadwaylady's review in which she was less than dazzled. Also, you can follow what audiences think of her dancing and singing on All That Chat.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:51pm

lass, I was referring to folks I actually know in "real life."

Writings on a message board are often not accurately reflective of reality. Internet message boards often have a "bandwagon" mentality, lots of folks jumping on cause it is simply fun to do.

Again, I do not know one individual, personally, who has not loved Melanie Griffith in Chicago. I hope there is a chance I can see her Roxie in the future.

From the receptions she has received from the critics and the audience and the box office, I would not be surprised if a special Tony award were voted to Ms. Griffith for her performance in Chicago. It has happened for replacements very few times in the past. It did not happen for Reba McIntyre in Annie Get Your Gun and I suspect the Tony committee may not let such a thing happen again.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:54pm

I agree I've been guilty of jumping on the bandwagon, disliking Melanie without seeing her play the role. I've actualy heard she has gotten better, but the choreography is still a joke. Does anyone know if the Roxie cover were to go on, if she'd do the real choreography, or the dumbed down version? CJR, I'm looking in your direction.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 2:16pm

Real choreography. It's a slap in the face to Belle Calaway or Michelle Potterf to have them do the frightening "choreography" tailored to La Train Wreck.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 2:31pm

IMHO, I think she might not be that bad. If Brantley liked her, she can't be that much of a disaster.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 3:34pm

God, get a grip. CJR saw the show over 36 times!!!!!!! She should know what is good and what is not. She is also aware of all the choreography that was cut out or modified for Melanie's benefit. The two people I was with absolutey hated her in it. One was mad for spending $100.00 on a ticket. I have been attending Broadway performances for over 20 years. I think, Teacher of Theater, I know what I am talking about. If you saw Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera as Roxie and Velma, maybe I would think you knew what you were talking about. She was filing her nails during Deidre Goodwin's number and when she slipped on her cartwheel, she yelled out "Oh SH*T". Yes, real Broadway caliber. She is coordinating her departure with her husband's. Get real

Updated On: 8/24/03 at 03:34 PM

[bernadette88]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 3:53pm

thank you BL...at least someone agrees with me!!!!

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 4:49pm

Thank you Broadwaylady :)

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 4:57pm

I'd also like to add to TOT (because I really didn't read your disgustingly ass kissing post to Melanie before now) audiences are NOT leaping to their feet at her performances... in fact I have a friend who was there just Wednesday evening who said only a few people stood out of the whole theatre.

Personally, I think they were standing for Deidre anyway

And BrdwyThtr, Brantly is an idiot for giving her such a glowing review, and I think he should personally apologize to every prior Roxie for calling Melanie "the best replacement Roxie Chicago has ever had".

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:00pm

BroadwayLady, I do not understand what you mean, I am sorry. Perhaps you should reread what I have written. I saw CHICAGO with Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera twice and two more times with Ann Reinking and Lenora Nemetz. I have not seen the revival and I have not seen Melanie Griffith. Perhaps you should reread what I wrote? I don't know what you mean by "get real."

I am basically just reiterating the reality of a film star who has received some magnificent reviews as a Broadway replacement and is adding great star wattage and financial resources to the Broadway scene. This is not at all, even a comment on how good or bad she is, is it???? Its kinda just commenting on the outcome. I am sorry some folks here did not enjoy her performance...I wish I had the chance to see it:)

Updated On: 8/24/03 at 05:00 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:10pm

Could we all PLEASE stop referring to her good reviews as proof she is good. If you read them all the way through, they ALL say that she can't sing or dance or act the part well before they say she's great, they loved her, she's wonderful. It doesn't make any sense. Why do they love her so much if she can't do anything required by the role?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:13pm

I'm also not sure if Melanie should get the credit for bringing audiences and cash in since the show was running at 100-101% after moving to the Ambassador and after the movie came out.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:16pm

I agree completely Namo and Popcultureboy.

Tony week -- with two virtual no names in the leads (Roxane Carrasco and Tracy Shayne) the show was selling out every night. Capacity that week AND in weeks prior was 103%.

We can thank the MOVIE for the show selling so well -- NOT Melanie.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:25pm

But TOT is technically still right, CJR, it IS the added star wattage that has been selling out the Ambassador. It just happens to be the star wattage of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, et al.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:26pm

CJR, I think it is wonderful and I envy the fact, how much you love CHICAGO. The fact that you have the capacity to love this show so much says some wonderful things about you, and perhaps some wonderful things about the show too.

I didn't mean to be insensitive about your feelings regarding Melanie's performance. I do understand your passion and being a CHICAGO lover too, were I in New York now, there is a chance I might be freaking out about the alterations done in the show for and the ultimate performance by Melanie Griffith.

Take solace in the fact that she won't be with the show a great deal longer.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:31pm

Nik/Garry, I have missed you so! Remember when we made nice at the end of Broadway.com? Good times, good times.