Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
#1Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 12:37pm
Exciting. I've never seen Tom Wopat, but I saw Michelle DeJean as Roxie in December and she was fantastic.
Playbill article
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
#2re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 12:44pmI loved Michelle when I saw her on tour but this show recyles more than Wicked.
#2re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 12:48pm
Tom is a very debonair guy with a nice baritone. I've seen him in concert and in Annie Get Your Gun. I always thought he was a good fit for Chicago, but I haven't actually seen him as Billy.
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
Updated On: 8/3/07 at 12:48 PM
#3re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:56pmBrenda Braxton is becoming the Marlene Danielle of 'Chicago.'
"Y'all have a GRAND day now"
#4re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:57pm
Brenda really needs a LONNNNNNNNNNG break. I don't think they've had a new Velma since Luba Mason. And that was 2 years ago! The Weissler's never stunt Velma because she's too difficult of a role. So they keep extending Brenda.
Brenda is a sensation in the role - but Velma needs some new blood.
Also - Michelle DeJean is goddess.
Updated On: 8/3/07 at 01:57 PM
AJ--Law
Chorus Member Joined: 1/24/05
#5re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:59pmMichelle DeJean rocks my world. I love her so much as Roxie.
musicalsFan
Broadway Star Joined: 3/3/04
#6re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 2:42pm
Wopat may have a nice baritone, but he was comatose when I saw him as Billy Flynn when the tour was in Philadelphia December 2006.
He's probably a placeholder until Brian McNight shows up.
#7re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 3:23pm
I believe Vicki Lewis (of "Newsradio") is the only real "stunt casting" they've ever tried for Velma, and apparently she was fantastic.
I guess Jasmine Guy could also be considered in that veign of casting, but she was recycled from the tour by the time she got to Broadway.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 8/3/07 at 03:23 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#8re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 4:15pmSharon Lawrence was on NYPD Blue at the time when she played Velma
#9re: Tom Wopat and Michelle DeJean return to CHICAGO 8/7
Posted: 8/3/07 at 4:21pmI wouldn't consider Jasmine, Vicki, or Sharon stunt-casting in the least. None of those ladies were used to generate sales or sizable attention; CHICAGO didn't need "names" to sell. All three had solid backgrounds in theatre, and all three were triple-threats (though Lewis wasn't as consistent as the other two Velmas.) All were wonderful in their own way.
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