Robin Givens as Roxie Hart???

[Albin]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:07am

That thud you just heard was Gwen Verdon turning over in her grave.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:08am

What? I don't see a problem with it.

The Weisslers are really trying some new things with Chicago, it's been 9 years, and still trying some creative casting.

There have been black Roxie understudies. But I think Robin might be one of the first full time black Roxies.

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:09am

Can't be any worse than some of the others who have played her. :)

I am still getting over Sandi Duncan.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:10am

This should be a walk in the park for her after playing the role of Mike Tyson's wife. I am sure when she shoots Fred she'll be picturing Tyson.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:15am

Yeah. I was just on IMDB. They don't have some nice things to say about her.

But they said Tyson beat her up a lot.

So she'll def be shooting Tyson, not Fred.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:18am

I have no problem with Roxie or Velma being black I do have a problem with less than talented has beens playing those parts. Of course then again, there goes most of the casting of Broadway as of late.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:18am

She's not a bad actress (I love her in Women of Brewster Place), but it'll be interesting to see her singing and dancing skills.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:21am

Not like I wasn't a Head of the Class fan way back when....but WHAT?? Agree on the Tyson visualization. But can she even sing or dance?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:21am

Well. We don't know her singing & dancing skills. But it's the Weisslers, this is expected.

There have been a ton of black Velmas. And some really amazing ones.. (Brenda Braxton, Deidre Goodwin, etc)

So I think a black Roxie will be exciting.
Updated On: 9/5/05 at 11:21 AM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:24am

ANYONE is better than Brooke, granted she can sing!

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:29am

I have adored Brenda Braxton since she sauntered on stage in LEGS DIAMOND but I found her Velma to be sloppy and rather uninspired to say the very least.

If I recall correctly HEAD OF THE CLASS did an episode where they did HAIR, I wonder if she sang in that?

I think she is a fine actress but I'm really tired of lackluster performers who cannot do the dancing and singing justice. Honor the work not the name!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:30am

I remember that episode. We need to get our hands on it!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:32am

Maybe you saw Braxton when she first started?

Because I've heard when she first started she wasn't too hot. But she's been playing the role for quite some time now, and has really grown into it. She was fantastic the both times I saw her. She can sing her ass off, her only lackluster moments in the dance department is her "I Can't Do It Alone", and a lot of others have agreed, she lacks the high kicks.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:36am

It is kinda crazy that I recall that, huh? I remember Michael DeLorenzo was Berger and the parachute at the end and them singing "Let The Sunshine In" and that is about it. Anyone remember anything else about that episode?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:41am

Yes ljay!!! Her "I Can't Do It Alone" really got to me!!!!

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:44am

I saw her Velma here in Los Angeles earlier this year and she was fine, but she didn't wow me.

[kim1061]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:42pm

I can't wait to see her. I thought her acting skills were good in the movies i saw her in.


This may actually prompt me to see Chicago finally.

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 1:05pm

Wow... when you have to list "the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire" on your resume... you know you're stretching it. Sounds like she won't be around for long though. Maybe people will just stop going for a bit.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:05pm

My favorite episodes of "Head of the Class" were the two where they did "Hair" and "Little Shop of Horrors." I don't remember Robin Givens having solos in either one. I do, however, remember Elaine Stritch as the teacher who was against the school doing "Hair." If I remember correctly, Elaine's character had a son who died in Vietnam.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:09pm

You are SO right! It's all coming back to me now!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:17pm

I'm really surprised the Weisslers haven't signed Mike Tyson yet to play Billy.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:23pm

Thanks sidneybruhl. It's all coming back to me now too. I forgot about the Little Shop episode, and forgot Stritch was in it (I was young when I saw that episodes and I doubt I truly understood who Stritch was at the time).
Updated On: 9/5/05 at 03:23 PM

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:37pm

BobbyBubby, dear we will be needing your card back now along with the complimentary Belgian waffle iron or did you get the blender?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:39pm

It was a blender. And you ain't taking it back! I didn't get my card until after the Little Shop Episode. It turned me gay!

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:45pm

Okay then. We'll let it pass this time!