Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

[HorseTears]

[ljay889]

I don't think anyone has been too nasty here. People are just tired of Amra. Vincent must be part of the show.

[ACL2006]

Amra's back in the show. She must of simply been on vacation last week. I wonder how much longer she'll be with the show.

[Mister Matt]

just dont want to be part of this board any more. It;s turned into something I no longer wish to participate in.

You've pretty much only been a part of this board when it is Chicago-related and it hasn't turned into anything different than it ever was. It is still a discussion board made up of different people with different opinions. What did you think it was?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Here is Terra C MacLeod in a Vancouver production of "Spamalot".

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Has anyone in here actually seen a performance by the Mary Sunshine standby J. LOEFFELHOLZ? He seems to be like a stealth member of the cast. Apparently, he's been the standby since the revival opened in 1996. Wow. (picture of J. Loeffelholz with Denis Jones)

[ACL2006]

basically outside of leaving the show for vacations or personal reasons, Jeff Loeffelholz has been with the show since the beginning. pretty nice gig.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I came upon this video of "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag", as played by two members of the YOungstown Playhouse (2010). It look like a mixture of the 1975 Chicago, plus the revival choreography for "Hot Honey Rag." Is it just me or is their interpretation of Hot Honey Rag that bad? Thoughts?
Youngstown Playhouse Chicago

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

This is Bianca Marroquin and the Men of Chicago performing "Roxie".
Chicago In Stars In The Alley

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Apparently, Chicago has updated its website. It appears that Amra Faye Wright will remain as Velma for some time now. If you haven't had enough of her Velma for the past two years, then you're in for a "treat."
Chicago the Musical Website

[evic]

Bless those dolls......aren't some of them in their 50's? Now that is what I call discipline. The Chita/Gwen work ethic is alive and well at The Ambassador!

[ACL2006]

Amra's probably close to 50. Donna Marie Asbury's been with the show for roughly 10 years. Some of the other ensemble members have been with the show 5+ years. And I guess the tour closed?? That didn't last long(6 months??).

[HorseTears]

Wasn't here a Broadway (or West End?) show in the 90s or early 2000s in which he producers basically fired (or declined to renew the contracts of) virtually the entire cast and brought in a whole new cast to refresh the production? I seem to vaguely remember this happening. No idea why I posted this in the Chicago thread. Ahem.

[bwaylvsong]

^Les Miz on Broadway

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

The Weisslers are loyal to their favorite performers on the show. Since Roxie and Velma are two of the roles that stand out, you'd think they'd find some new/different Roxies and Velmas. On the Roxie side, you have Bianca Marroquin (a bundle of energy plus extremely talented). She's currently on long term contract till March 2015. Ann Horak is one of the three Roxie understudies (in addition to Melissa Rae Mahon (who's on once in a blue moon and Tonya Wathen). The other long term Roxie is Amy Spanger, a Fosse veteran. On the Velma side, you have the two Velma understudies: Donna Marie Asbury (fantastic voice) and Stephanie Pope...longtime theatre veterans. I know that Velma is the veteran over Roxie, but depending on one person for the past 3 years or so for Velma causes a great deal of consternation among many Chicago fans.

[HorseTears]

I saw Donna Marie Asbury play Velma years ago opposite Charlote d'amboise. They were dynamite together.

[ljay889]

THE long time Roxie is Charlotte d'Amboise. She has played more performances than any other Roxie. Bianca must be coming close though.

[DottieD'Luscia]

The only time I've seen Jeff Loeffelholz perform was at 88s in the late 80s when he was doing an act called, "Dangerous Duets" (or something like that).

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

This is the first time I've seen this video. I recognize Brenda Braxton and Charlotte D'Amboise, but am not familiar with the gentleman playing Billy Flynn.


Chicago

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Here is a video of a recent Televisa performance by Bianca Marroquin and the Men of Chicago (4 guys from the national tour company). They perform a spirited rendintion of "Hot Honey Rag." The dark haired guy with the boy next door smile is Mitchell Dudas. P.S. The video is not the best quality, but the performances are awesome.




Bianca Marroquin

[jonartdesigns]

for the record Amra is 53, google is your friend.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Here is a collection of celebs performing in "Chicago" thru the years. Courtesy of Pinterest.
Chicago Celebrity Cellbock

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Bianca Marroquin, current "Chicago" Roxie, will be performing on July 9th at 54 Below. See the array of artists who will be playing at that venue.
54 Below

[jonartdesigns]

The Billy Flynn in that video is Obba Babatundé the original CC in Dreamgirls.

sorry bob, don't know where that M came from

[FishermanBob]

"The Billy Flynn in that video is Obba Babatundem the original CC in Dreamgirls."

Spell his name right, will ya? It's only the greatest name in the history of musical theater.

Obba Babatundé

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Longtime "Chicago" national tour veteran Lindsay Roginski will make her Broadway debut as "Roxie Hart" beginning June 30, 2014 for one week only. If you have a chance to see her, she's an awesome performer!