Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Magenta02
Chorus Member Joined: 6/30/03
#0Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:39pmI 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?
renthead92
Broadway Star Joined: 10/23/05
#1re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:41pmWell, 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
#2re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 04:42 PM
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#3re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 4:50pmVelma has better songs, but character wise, I think Roxie is a more difficult part acting wise.
#4re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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!
...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...
#6re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:12pmVelma is THE character to play in Chicago.
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
Magenta02
Chorus Member Joined: 6/30/03
#7re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:42pmDo you think the size of Roxie's "book" part is enough to outweigh Velma's kickarse songs? That's my dilemma.
BrunetteBombshell
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/06
#8re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 5:47pmI'd go out for the part of Velma. I love "All That Jazz".
ontheT
Understudy Joined: 7/25/04
#9re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
#10re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
Updated On: 4/17/06 at 07:06 PM
#11re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
FoscasBohemianDream
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/06
#12re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:16pmI'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.
#13re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:19pmIf I was a girl I would want to play Velma.
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall
#14re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:20pmVelma 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!"
#15re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
"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.
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"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"
ThePinballWizard
Leading Actor Joined: 1/25/06
#16re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:29pmYou 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
#17re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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!
"A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing." - Thomas Jefferson
EganFan2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/8/04
#18re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 8:53pmAnother vote for Velma. She does have kick-ass songs. And gets to be part of "Cell Block Tango", too.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#19re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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...
Isabella2
Broadway Star Joined: 10/6/05
#20re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
pandajen14
Stand-by Joined: 3/22/06
#21re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:02pmI 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
#22re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
Posted: 4/17/06 at 10:09pmVelma, 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
dancinfan
Broadway Star Joined: 8/9/04
#23re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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!
#24re: Roxie or Velma -- who would you rather play?
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.
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