#1
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:39pm
I have auditions for Chicago coming up in 2 weeks and am completely torn as to whom I'd rather be! If you had your choice, who would it be and why?
Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
#2
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:41pm
Well, if I were a girl, I would want to play Velma. I just think that would be a more fun role. I mean, you do get to sing "All That Jazz," one of my favorite songs. Break a leg!
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 04:41 PM
#3
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:42pm
Same for me (male here) however, this is one of my favorite shows and between the two girls I have to say Velma! I totally love her and love her songs... 
Good luck!
*edit - typo
Good luck! *edit - typo
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 04:42 PM
#4
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:50pm
Velma has better songs, but character wise, I think Roxie is a more difficult part acting wise.
#5
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:52pm
I'm a guy...but Velma.
More fun to play, better songs, just more my kind of character!
More fun to play, better songs, just more my kind of character!
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#7
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:12pm
Velma is THE character to play in Chicago.
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
#8
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:42pm
Do you think the size of Roxie's "book" part is enough to outweigh Velma's kickarse songs? That's my dilemma.
#9
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:47pm
I'd go out for the part of Velma. I love "All That Jazz".
#10
Posted: 4/17/06 at 6:50pm
i being male would want to be velma also...
not to hijake the thread but does billy do heavy tap dancing in the stage version? i'm auditioning in a couple months.
not to hijake the thread but does billy do heavy tap dancing in the stage version? i'm auditioning in a couple months.
#11
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:06pm
With Roxie, you get to a lot more with the acting.
Velma - you have to be an amazing dancer, and a belter.
Roxie calls for a better actress
Velma calls for a better dancer/singer
Remember, the whole show is about Roxie. Techinically Velma is just a supporting character. But with all her dancing and singing Velma can steal the show - and she really becomes a leading character along with Roxie.
Billy does not tap dance in the stage show. He has minor moves in his 3 numbers. Nothing major.
Velma - you have to be an amazing dancer, and a belter.
Roxie calls for a better actress
Velma calls for a better dancer/singer
Remember, the whole show is about Roxie. Techinically Velma is just a supporting character. But with all her dancing and singing Velma can steal the show - and she really becomes a leading character along with Roxie.
Billy does not tap dance in the stage show. He has minor moves in his 3 numbers. Nothing major.
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 07:06 PM
#12
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:15pm
That is a tough decision. I personally would want to play Velma, because I like characters like that. To me, she's along the lines with parts like Miss Hannigan and Maureen and such, because if you're a good enough performer, you can steal the show, even though you're a supporting character.
Yes, the show surrounds Roxie, but Velma obviously is a crucial character. I personally tend to go for the 'supporting' character, because sometimes, it's more fun. And it doesn't hurt if you can steal the show.
Yes, the show surrounds Roxie, but Velma obviously is a crucial character. I personally tend to go for the 'supporting' character, because sometimes, it's more fun. And it doesn't hurt if you can steal the show.
#13
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:16pm
I'm a man, but I have been in Chicago before and I can tell you Velma has amazing tools to steal the show. Given that Chicago is so well-written, both Roxie and Velma are given their 15 minutes of fame, but nothing beats opening both acts, closing Act II (some Velmas can steal that closing scene with the "sh*t" after Roxie faints), and dancing "When Velma Takes The Stand." Like Ljay said, Velma needs a big belter and a spectacular dancer, but I would say that a great actress could steal the book scenes as well.
#14
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:19pm
If I was a girl I would want to play Velma.
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall
#15
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:20pm
Velma always steals the show. The character is written to be a diva. Who wouldnt want to be the diva?! :)
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
#16
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:21pm
I'd love to play both, but I have to go with Roxie. Her big monologue alone would make it all worth it. Plus the fact that I'm not a "dancer."
I do agree with Velma having the best songs, though.
I do agree with Velma having the best songs, though.
"You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" --Family Guy
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
#17
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:29pm
You know I would play both. I would divide myself in half. One side Velma. One side Roxie. Then I can have the best of both worlds.
"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting
#18
Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:50pm
I'd probably rather play Velma. I like the songs she sings better, and she just appeals to me more as a character. Roxie can get annoying at times, IMO.
Break a leg at your audition!
Break a leg at your audition!
"A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing." - Thomas Jefferson
#19
Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:53pm
Another vote for Velma. She does have kick-ass songs. And gets to be part of "Cell Block Tango", too.
#20
Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:58pm
if i were a dancer, i'd KILL to play Velma, and i would steal everything Catherine Zeta Jones did in the movie! LOL!
i love her...
i love her...
#21
Posted: 4/17/06 at 9:11pm
i don't think you'd have to be THAT great of a dancer. especiially if it's just an amatuer production.
I'm hoping that our school will do chicago net year and i'd kil to play velma just because it's a better character. It's more fun and satisfying for me at least.
I'm hoping that our school will do chicago net year and i'd kil to play velma just because it's a better character. It's more fun and satisfying for me at least.
#22
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:02pm
I would much rather play Velma, but I'm much more suited to the part of Roxie if I'm being perfectly honest with myself.
"Writing should be easy, like a monkey driving a speedboat..." -[title of show]
"I'm tired of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and meet up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg
#23
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:09pm
Velma, more fun!
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
#24
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:21pm
I auditioned for and wanted to play Roxie in college, but I was cast as Velma. At first I was a tiny bit disappointed, but man, did I have fun playing Velma. Getting to do that opening number and "I Can't Do It Alone" plus "Cell Block Tango," "Class," and the major duets...it was awesome.
I still think Roxie is a desirable part, don't get me wrong!
I still think Roxie is a desirable part, don't get me wrong!
#25
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:25pm
I actually think Roxie has WAY more fun - acting wise. She gets to shoot her lover. She gets a 5 minute monologue, she can improvise the hell out of it too. She gets to faint in the Act 1 Finale, and cause a big comotion. She gets the trial, which is a ton fun - acting wise. And more.
Velma can have more fun musically (song & dance.) Velma gets to show some emotion, when the tables turn on her - "I Can't Do It Alone - Reprise." But she can't nearly express as much Roxie does - acting wise.
But both amazing roles. Look who created him. Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera.
Velma can have more fun musically (song & dance.) Velma gets to show some emotion, when the tables turn on her - "I Can't Do It Alone - Reprise." But she can't nearly express as much Roxie does - acting wise.
But both amazing roles. Look who created him. Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera.
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