Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

[¿Macavity?]

^^^Thank you so much!^^^

[everythingtaboo]

Charlotte's coming back?!?! Wow, I thought those days were over. I've seen her countless times in the role and I can't wait to have her back again. Even if that means seeing her opposite you know who. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

It appears that Chrissie Whitehead has joined the cast of "Chicago" as a member of the ensemble.  I have fond memories of her in "A Chorus Line."  http://chicagothemusical.com/cast_ny.php

[ACL2006]

Chryssie is replacing Lara Seibert Young as Go-To-Hell Kitty & is also a Velma u/s. I think she officially starts on May 9.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

ACL, that's great news! Since the show has  three Velma understudies, one would hope that we'd see MORE of them and LESS of ......

[JBradshaw]

Doubtful you'll see more of them. 

1) Amra hardly misses 

2) Kelcy stil hasn't been taught the Velma track. Chryssie is still learning Kitty. 

3) Amra is scheduled out next month, will probably be Donna on - who's amazing 

4) aside from 3 Velma understudies there's also two others that have done the role in the past - Sharon Moore and Bridgewater 

5) I don't get all Amra hate. I, personally, don't love her Velma but she's really not as awful as she's made out to be. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/JANE-THE-VIRGINs-Jaime-Camil-Will-Be-CHICAGOs-Next-Billy-Flynn-20160516    Chicago's newest Billy Flynn...Jaime Camil.  

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/JANE-THE-VIRGINs-Jaime-Camil-Will-Be-CHICAGOs-Next-Billy-Flynn-20160516    Chicago's newest Billy Flynn...Jaime Camil.  

 

I was just thinking that Chicago hasn't done any stunt casting in quite awhile.

 

[Sertzo19]

Jaime is a PERFECT choice for this role. He's a huge telenovela star in Latin America and his characters are all basically different versions of Billy Flynn, so he's got this in the bag. Sad that he won't be playing opposite Bianca's Roxie though, as I'm sure they'd have incredible chemistry, at least he gets to play off Charlotte. Should be a fun cast. I would be in for this 100% if it wasn't for Amra. *yawn

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

This is the Chicago International Tour group for a press event in Manila, Phillipines.   (2014)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FESNZNR-r-8

[everythingtaboo]

JBradshaw said: "Doubtful you'll see more of them. 

1) Amra hardly misses 

2) Kelcy stil hasn't been taught the Velma track. Chryssie is still learning Kitty. 

3) Amra is scheduled out next month, will probably be Donna on - who's amazing 

4) aside from 3 Velma understudies there's also two others that have done the role in the past - Sharon Moore and Bridgewater 

5) I don't get all Amra hate. I, personally, don't love her Velma but she's really not as awful as she's made out to be. 

 

"

Do you know the dates Amra will be out?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Just checking thru Telecharge concerning the principals of the show.  I noticed that Raymond Bokhour is in the show thru the end of October.  That is a vote of confidence for him.   https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Chicago/Overview

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Who is replacing Roz Ryan? Last time I checked it looked like she was scheduled to depart in early June. Thinking about seeing this with Camil, who is an inspired choice for Billy.

[suddenlyseymour]

Does anyone know who is replacing Charlotte in July?

[ACL2006]

their Roxie's typically don't have long runs. Maybe a "name" will join the show for the summer? Hopefully someone replaces AFM after July 3.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Well, ACL...you know the drill.  AFW finishes a LONG run....take a break and then somehow comes back for another lengthy run.  Why...I don't know.  I vote for the fabulous Leigh Zimmerman to return as Velma.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Jaime Camil starts as "Billy Flynn" on May 31st.  Here are some shots of him with the cast.  http://www.playbill.com/gallery/first-look-at-jaime-camil-in-chicago?slide=1

[Phantom4ever]

 

I saw Chicago on Sunday night, June 5. Glad to say they show is in fabulous shape and there were a few new energetic faces in the chorus since I saw the show last in March. 

Yes AFW was still Velma, but this is the third time in a row I've seen her give a very strong performance. I think somebody must have sat her down and confronted her or something because she is firing on all cylinders. I saw the great Dylis Croman as Roxie. Pretty sure I had never seen her before and she was excellent. She did some ad-libs, that I had never seen before, especially during "I just Can't do it Alone". What's one of the most important things for me in a Roxie is how well she can execute the Me and My Baby specialty dance, and wowzers she sure did. 

I sat next to two curmudgeonly older gentlemen who had a lot of negative things to say about the show--------before it started. One of them had seen the original cast when the show was still, briefly, at the Rodgers Theater. They went on and on and how tired the show was and the cast phones it in, etc. At least that's what they had heard. Well the show started and those two were guffawing and ooohh-ing and ahh-ing all over the place. But then intermission came and all they could say is that they didn't like Jaime Camil's accent because a lawyer in 1920's Chicago would not speak with an accent. Yikes. But they begrudgingly admitted that the show was in good shape. It was fun to sit next to two grumps like that and watch them melt. 

[¿Macavity?]

^That's quite an amusing story. I'm happy to hear that the AFW is doing well.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I would love to hear how Charlotte is doing in her "return."  Although I recall someone saying that she could do the requisite dances in her sleep, it would still be fun to hear someone's opinions on Charlotte D'Amboise.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I would love to hear how Charlotte is doing in her "return."  Although I recall someone saying that she could do the requisite dances in her sleep, it would still be fun to hear someone's opinions on Charlotte D'Amboise.

[JBradshaw]

It's super fun tonight 

Velma understudy 

Mama understudy 

Liz u/s

June u/s

...and yes Chatlotte's dancing is amazing. 4/5 months pregnant she was doing leaps and cartwheels 

[ACL2006]

based on this, I'm assuming Donna's Velma & Nicole Bridgewater is Mama? I've seen Bridgewater's Mama, and it wasn't good. I wonder why Sharon Moore isn't on as Mama.

[JBradshaw]

Sharon doesn't cover the role. 

Yes you're correct  btw  

 

 

 

 

[darreyl102]

^ How were they? Especially Bridgewater

[KanderEbb]

I was there yesterday. Ms Bridgewater was fine as Mama Morton. She didn't have as much charisma as Donna Marie Asbury in this role, but her acting choices were thoughtful.

Donna Marie Asbury is a wonderful and funny Velma, and Charlotte d'Amboise is my favorite Roxie so far. However, they together didn't blend well, in my opinion. We can tell from Ms Asbury's body, especially upper body (arms and back) that she had little or no ballet training background, while Charlotte d'Amboise was well trained & a daughter of one of the greatest danseurs in New York City.  Maybe it's just me, but this comparison made Ms Asbury looked a bit weird. In addition, Ms Asbury owns a great vocal instrument, while Ms d'Amboise doesn't. But I still highly recommend people to witness their performance themselves. Charlotte's Roxie monologue was gold, and I like her grand jete in "Me and My Baby". Donna Marie has fireworks!

By the way, I like Sharon Moore in Liz better than her in June.