Robin Givens as Roxie Hart

[g4rat]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 1:54pm

I've been looking all over the web for information of Robin Givens in chicago as Roxie Hart.
I haven't found much.
I just would like to see an interveiw a reveiw or some pics of her in the show.
If anyone can find something, please let me know.

You'd think that since she was the first African American woman to play the role, there would be more out there, but there isn't.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 1:56pm

By all accounts, both Robin and John O'Hurley (who played opposite her as Billy Flynn) were fantastic during their run in the show.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 1:58pm

google:
Robin Givens Chicago

...plenty there.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 2:05pm

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 2:12pm

Opening Night Photos for John O'Hurley and Robin Givens:
http://www.broadway.com/gen/pop_Photo_Op.aspx?ci=523957&pn=1

Rehearsal Press Photos:
http://www.broadway.com/gen/pop_Photo_Op.aspx?ci=523645&pn=9

Press Photo Shoot of Huey Lewis and Robin Givens:
http://www.broadway.com/gen/pop_photo_op.aspx?ci=518417

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 8:28pm

Bump.


See, I bumped this thread instead of creating a new one.

Updated On: 4/11/07 at 08:28 PM

[Kev]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 9:50am

John O'Hurley was fine. He was essentially playing himself, but his hammy character personality worked for the most part.

Robin Givens was fantastic. She looked to be having a ball onstage, and was a FIERCE dancer.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 10:49am

Maybe we saw a different Robin Givens, because the Robin Givens I saw in Chicago was not strong, and that's putting it lightly. Her voice was weak, her acting was weak, and she looked extremely uncomfortable on the stage.

How soon we forget that she was mysteriously taken out of the Broadway production to go do a leg of the tour in her home town of Detroit before returning to the Broadway company. Something tells me it wasn't just so she could see family. She obviously was not ready for Broadway yet, and from what I saw, the time on the road didn't help.

John O'Hurley was great, but Robin Givens gave one of the weakest performances I have seen on a Broadway stage by a leading actor. No question. I think she is good in some of her television and film work though.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 10:58am

I think Robin was fantastic, but not as appreciated as O'Hurley who was quite fantastic in my opinion. Out of Melanie Griffith, Brynn Dowling, Robin, and Bebe, Robin was probably my 2nd favorite Roxie that I have seen.

Her monologue was definitely my favorite part of her performance and her acting was quite convincing for the most part.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 12:19pm

"Something tells me it wasn't just so she could see family. She obviously was not ready for Broadway yet..."

Was the tour non-Equity? The talent of people chosen for the tour is usually Broadway-calibar anyway, so just because she decided to do a leg of the tour doesn't mean she wasn't ready for Broadway yet.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 12:36pm

No Millie, it was the Equity tour of 'Chicago', but the point is she had already opened on Broadway only to be announced shortly there after that she would be leaving the Broadway cast to go do some time on the road (no pun intended). I have no doubt that the cast of the tour was top notch, I just think that audiences on the road tend to be more forgiving which is why they thought she might benefit from some more exposure there rather than being thrown to the wolves every night in NYC.

Of course, I can't be positive that this was the case, but it was all a little shady if you ask me. None the less, she was a very disappointing Roxie IMO.

[HumATune]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 12:39pm

Was the tour non-Equity? The talent of people chosen for the tour is usually Broadway-calibar anyway, so just because she decided to do a leg of the tour doesn't mean she wasn't ready for Broadway yet.

Amen. I saw the tour in San Francisco in fall 2006 almost all the leads had played their roles on Broadway at some point. (Huey Lewis was the only weak link in my opinion.) performers of all skill levels exist both on Broadway and Tour.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 12:42pm

The tour is just as professional as the Broadway company. The Weisslers tranfer actors in and out of both companies all the time.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 1:03pm

"How soon we forget that she was mysteriously taken out of the Broadway production to go do a leg of the tour in her home town of Detroit before returning to the Broadway company. Something tells me it wasn't just so she could see family. She obviously was not ready for Broadway yet, and from what I saw, the time on the road didn't help."

You are actually incorrect in your assumption.

The Detroit stop wasn't selling well, and since it happened to be Givens home town (and because she'd been playing the role in New York to such a glowing reception,) the Weisslers decided to bring her out on the road for that one limited stop in order to boost revenue.

Updated On: 4/12/07 at 01:03 PM

[sidjones09]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 1:10pm

Thank you for your clarification. I stand corrected in my assumption as you seem like a credible source.

I just did not care for her Roxie at all. I just don't get how so many people loved her. I'd say I'm usually in line with the majority opinion, but I guess this is one where I will have to stand alone.

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 1:39pm

I saw Robin Givens in Chicago and it was the first time I had ever seen the show before. I thought she was a very good Roxie and she did a great job. She wasn't a very strong singer especially when she had to sing with Velma; but Roxie isn't supposed to be a great singer so that fit the role to me. But she did a great job of acting the role and she was a great dancer..way better than I was expecting. You could tell she was having lots of fun.

[jewelchk]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 1:46pm

You're not alone, Sid. I agree with you :) It was the first time I saw the show on stage, and I liked it more than I thought it would, but I didn't care for her in the part either. Not a bad deal for the rush tickets I got, though, so I can't really complain.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 1:58pm

I guess seeing Karen Ziemba as Roxie my first time alongside Bebe was just a really hard act to follow.

[g4rat]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:43pm

Bump Updated On: 4/14/07 at 08:43 PM

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:06pm

Chicago always has the best photoshoots when they cast new people.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:29pm

somethingwicked is right about Robin Givens and her doing the tour in Detroit last year

the tour was booked in Detroit for 3!!! weeks.
what were they thinking???
it's been touring the country for 4 years and had been to Detroit at least twice before

just this past winter in Philadelphia they cut back from 2 weeks to just 1 week and that is even with Melba Moore and Tom Wopat being broadcast as the "stars" for the stop

after she went to Detroit for the 3 weeks, Robin Givens Broadway stint was extended by those 3 weeks

I saw her. She seemed genuinely thrilled to be on Broadway

[g4rat]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:13pm

Bump