Since there's a Roxie thread, might as well do a Velma thread.
1. Ute Lemper
2. Deidre Goodwin
3. Terra C. MacLeod
4. Lana Gordon
5. Donna Marie Asbury
6. Mamie Duncan-Gibbs
7. Brenda Braxton
8. Amra Faye Wright
What is Bebe? Sliced bread? LOL @ these lists.
HogansHero said: "What is Bebe? Sliced bread? LOL @ these lists."
Never got to see Bebe in the role.
She don't look like a Kelly, but Chita Rivera. I saw her Velma three times in New York and on the road. No one comes close.
Ute Lemper and Caroline O’Connor were the best in my opinion. They projected a harshness and a world weariness that would imbue a tough broad like Velma. It transcended caricature.
My mind immediately jumped to Linda Cardellini, but she was a different Velma. Still, she’s always the best part of anything she’s in, so if she ever does Chicago I’m sure she’ll be great. Maybe.
Well of course.. Chita in the original. But in the current production Ute is untouchable.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
1. Bebe Neuwirth
2. Chita Rivera
3. Ute Lemper
A lot of other excellent ones, but for me, these three stood above the crowd by a significant margin.
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
Of the ones that I've seen:
1. Bebe Neuwirth
2. Caroline O'Connor
3. Deidre Goodwin
4.Carly Hughes
5. Brenda Braxton
6. Lana Gordon
7. Nikka Graff Lanzarone
8. Ruthie Henshall
9. Terra MacLeod
10. Leigh Zimmerman
Terra C, Leigh Zimmerman and Lana Gordon (in no particular order)
I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious
NOWaWarning said: "I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious"
I thought Catherine Zeta-Jones was absolutely spectacular as Velma and embodied the role perfectly. Favorite stage Velma (out of the ones I have seen) would have to be Terra C. MacLeod.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
NOWaWarning said: "I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious"
I thought that she was great; however, it ia difficult to compare her dancing, since she benefitted from constant film editing. Whether she could have given anywhere near the ongoing performances given by all of the ladies previously mentioned is something we will never know; but, in the movie, she was terrific.
Swing Joined: 5/9/11
Bebe Neuwirth. Also really enjoyed Donna Marie Asbury, Brenda Braxton and Ruthie Henshall. Wish I had gotten the chance to see Ute Lemper (but Bebe had come back!), Vicki Lewis (she was out that performance) and Pia Douwes.
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