Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1501
Posted: 7/7/18 at 1:56am

How about a little appreciation?  Jeff as Mary Sunshine, 1997.

 

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1502
Posted: 7/8/18 at 10:13pm

Michelle De Jean will return to "Chicago" as Roxie  Hart from July 12 -- September 20.  I've seen her in that You Tube video.   Charlotte D' Amboise will stay on as Roxie until July 10.  (per Telecharge)

"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#1503
Posted: 7/8/18 at 10:40pm

It’s Jeff but David’s vocals 

 

NoName3 said: "How about a little appreciation? Jeff as Mary Sunshine, 1997.

 

"

 

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1504
Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:57pm

I am eager to see the video footage of the cast of "Chicago" in today's Bryant Park performance.  

"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#1505
Posted: 7/14/18 at 1:18pm
"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#1506
Posted: 7/14/18 at 10:18pm

I had no idea DeJean has left retirement and is back as Roxie. She is amazing. So nice to see her back. 

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1507
Posted: 7/14/18 at 10:33pm

I have never seen her  in person, but only via this video.  She is probably the best Roxie (I haven't seen).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPtdfojnTb4

"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#1508
Posted: 7/15/18 at 9:37pm

Just saw her today as Roxie and she BLEW ME AWAY. amazing performance- vocals, acting, everything was fantastic

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1509
Posted: 7/15/18 at 9:43pm

I am glad that you enjoyed her performance.  The only thing I have to go by is that video on You Tube.  And to think that she had basically been in retirement!   

"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#1510
Posted: 7/15/18 at 9:57pm
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1511
Posted: 7/15/18 at 11:17pm

kelsey1389 said: "Just saw her today as Roxie and she BLEW ME AWAY. amazing performance- vocals, acting, everything was fantastic"

Sounds about right! Michelle was a standout in the ensemble for years before becoming a regular Roxie on Broadway and on tour. Several years later, she announced her retirement from theater. I am surprised and happy to see she’s back, she is just stunning. 

Updated On: 7/15/18 at 11:17 PM
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1512
Posted: 7/17/18 at 9:26pm

There is a new Roxie understudy, Rachel Schur, joining the cast of "Chicago".  The other two Roxie understudies are Jessica Ernest and Tonya Wathen.  Nicole Bridgewater and Gabrielle Mc Clinton are no longer in the cast list.  John O' Hurley will step into the shoes of Billy Flynn beginning July 23rd.  http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6db350002&type=cp#cc

"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: 7/17/18 at 09:26 PM
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1513
Posted: 7/18/18 at 8:43am

I have seen John O Hurley perform as Billy Flynn.  He has a certain suaveness that is appealing.  I don't remember him from "Seinfeld", but many others do.  He will  play Billy Flynn until October 4, 2018.

"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: 7/19/18 at 08:43 AM
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1514
Posted: 7/20/18 at 7:38pm

I just noticed on Telecharge that Cady Huffman has extended until September 9, 2018.  I wish I could be in NYC right now.  It's boiling here in Texas!  Roman in Austin

"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#1515
Posted: 7/21/18 at 9:33pm

This is the first time I've seen this video.  Terra C (Velma Kelly) and Dylis Croman (Roxie Hart) are interviewed on Korean (Seoul) television.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYxO2t3s_oY

"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#1516
Posted: 7/21/18 at 10:51pm

It looks like the West End revival of the revival is closing on January 5th unless they can find a new theater because Come From Away is set to open at the same theater in late January.  

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1517
Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:02pm

I can't imagine the London remounting moving to a new theatre, especially after the wretched reviews it got upon its return, unless another theatre needs filler. But I can see it going back out on tour again. 



"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1518
Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:13pm

Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise.  If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense.  

"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#1519
Posted: 7/21/18 at 11:27pm
re Tim Bano’s review - he’s obviously deaf and blind w what he said about Ruthie.
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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1520
Posted: 7/22/18 at 12:02am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise. If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense."

Well I don't what Dallas Theatre Fan knows, but what I can tell you as someone who sells theatre tickets for a living is that the business isn't that great at all, especially with Cuba ending his time as Billy. The magic of this show is how cheap it is to run, but at this point nobody in Theatreland cares that it's back, so again, unless another theatre needs filler...



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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1521
Posted: 7/22/18 at 8:30am

Bob Fossee has his revenge.  Watching a tape of the 1976 Tony Awards I could see the disappointment over Bob's face as Michael Bennet kept winning award after award for Chorus Line.  Well guess whose show has been running for decades now?

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1522
Posted: 7/22/18 at 12:12pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Dallas Fan, I am curious if you have any idea how the West End Chicago is doing business-wise. If they're doing well enough, then a theatre transfer would make sense."

Pretty much what everthingtaboo said and, you have to remember it first closed only five years earlier and has toured extensively ever since.   It came back when nobody really was dying for it to be back and right from the gate they were stunt casting with Cuba Gooding Jr.  Aside Gooding Jr. Most of the cast was recycled from previous productions so when it opened the cast was already phoning it in.  Ticket sales where never amazing even with Gooding Jr. in the cast and they are really bad now with an actor named Martin Kemp from a band I never heard of as the stunt casting star.

I wouldn't put moving theaters off the books because technically a closing notice hasn't been posted even though Come From Away is starting performances as the Phoenix in late January.  But, if they are going to move theaters the announcement needs to come soon as they are only selling tickets until Jan 5th.

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1523
Posted: 7/28/18 at 1:27pm
The NY Times has their story on the suicide of Jeff Loeffholz today. Not a lot of new information, except for the fact that Stifelman hasn’t been at the show since his passing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/theater/chicago-musical-actor-suicide-broadway.html

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1524
Posted: 7/28/18 at 1:30pm

adamgreer said: "The NY Times has their story on the suicide of Jeff Loeffholz today. Not a lot of new information, except for the fact that Stifelman hasn’t been at the show since his passing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/theater/chicago-musical-actor-suicide-broadway.html
"

I put this on the other thread.  But it seems ABC news is looking into it.   I would imagine for one of their investigative news shows like 20/20.  

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Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread#1525
Posted: 7/28/18 at 10:00pm

Just curious how long Equity will let the show continue without a standby/understudy for Mary Sunshine?

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).