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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread
Dallas Theatre Fan
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1526
Posted: 8/3/18 at 2:30pm

Have any of you read Ethan Morddon's book, "All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical Chicago"? I really want to read it but, none of the libraries around me has it so, I might buy it on Amazon, which is not cheap.  What are your thoughts about the book and is it worth the money.?

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1527
Posted: 8/4/18 at 5:26am

This is interesting.  Naomi C. Walley, one of the two Velma Kelly understudies, is scheduled for a week of performances in that role: Aug. 6- Aug. 12, 2018.  https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Chicago/Overview   (The other Velma understudy is Donna Marie Asbury. )

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Updated On: 8/4/18 at 05:26 AM
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1528
Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:30am
Just a filler before a new Velma begins(or AFW returns).
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour will be starting up in Somerville, NJ on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City, MO(May 29-Jun 3) and is now then touring throughout Japan August & September 2018. Japan schedule: Tokyo(Aug 15-21), Kanagawa(Aug 28-29), Shizuoka(Aug 30), Osaka(Aug 31 - Sept 2).
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1529
Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:33am

Dallas Theatre Fan said: "Have any of you read Ethan Morddon's book, "All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical Chicago"? I really want to read it but, none of the libraries around me has it so, I might buy it on Amazon, which is not cheap. What are your thoughts about the book and is it worth the money.?"

I'm currently reading it! If you like Mordden's work, you will enjoy this book. It's not primarily focused on the musical itself, but the evolution of how we know Chicago today. It goes from a brief history of Chicago, the city, as well as the scene and attitudes in America during the 1920s. To the play Chicago, etc. etc. 

I recommend it. 

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1530
Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:43am

There is a new  "understudy" for Mama in the chorus and Leslie's "vacation" has been extended.

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1531
Posted: 8/4/18 at 3:21pm

I'm curious who  has been conducting the band lately.  I know that Robert Billig was the conductor during the most recent tour.  I had a brief chat with him.  He seemed real nice and down to earth.  The Playbill vault lists long time veteran Sharon Moore, Donna Marie Asbury and Naomi C. Walley (also Velma u/s).  as Mama understudies.  

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1532
Posted: 8/4/18 at 7:01pm

That's actually an error by Playbill Vault. Moore only covers for Mama when one of the two covers is on vacation. Moore covered Mama and Velma back in the day and when she was on tour.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour will be starting up in Somerville, NJ on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City, MO(May 29-Jun 3) and is now then touring throughout Japan August & September 2018. Japan schedule: Tokyo(Aug 15-21), Kanagawa(Aug 28-29), Shizuoka(Aug 30), Osaka(Aug 31 - Sept 2).
Updated On: 8/4/18 at 07:01 PM
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1533
Posted: 8/4/18 at 9:06pm

I remember Nicole Bridgewater used to cover for Mama, but she's not part of the cast anymore.  

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1534
Posted: 8/5/18 at 3:10am

The book takes a while to get to the musical, because it starts with the city and then the twenties as a decade. Then there's the Chicago play and the two movies.

But once it reaches the musical, it really gets into it--the writing, the backstage, Fosse's anger, Verdon's last hurrah on Broadway. There's an analysis of the show that moves from scene to scene and song to song that sort of recreates it for you, explaining all the underpinnings, character motivations, Fisse staging tricks, etc.

The author's style is quirky and often funny, very unlike the other writers in this field. Very opinionated and spirited. Some readers find him too sophisticated. He breaks rules.


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