Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Chita Rivera playing Roxie
#1Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/20/19 at 3:09pm
Why do people not often talk about Chita playing Roxie? I had no idea!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAEhm3KZzD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP2hDhOKLbo
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#2Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/20/19 at 3:58pm
TBecause there’s nothing to talk about. Chita played Roxie. Bebe played Mama Morton. Chita also played Charity in the 1st Nat’l Tour of SWEET CHARITY. Bebe has also played Charity and Lola. Both women played Nickie (in SWEET CHARITY) and Velma Kelly (in CHICAGO). Chita plays roles originated by Gwen Verdon. Heck, Chita was Gwen’s understudy in CAN-CAN. Then there’s Ann Reinking playing roles originated by Gwen Verdon like Roxie and Charity.
Discuss.
Cesare2
Stand-by Joined: 2/13/15
#3Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/20/19 at 4:25pm
Years before this, Chita played Roxie in a production in Atlantic City. Harry Guardino played Billy Flynn. And Velma was played by Kirsten "Bubbling Black Girl" Childs.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#4Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/20/19 at 4:37pm
Cesare2 said: "Years before this, Chita played Roxie in a production in Atlantic City. Harry Guardino played Billy Flynn. And Velma was played by Kirsten "Bubbling Black Girl" Childs."
And here’s a little 13 minute glimpse of that. It featured Tony Walton’s original 1975 2-level Broadway set and the original costumes as well as Bob Fosse’s original choreography:
https://youtu.be/HHpd1KxvnF8
SomethingPeculiar
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/14
#6Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/20/19 at 5:20pm
Harry Guardino sounds so much better as Billy Flynn than he did in Anyone Can Whistle and Woman of the Year!
#7Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/21/19 at 1:38am
I guess you know that Chita will be doing six shows at 54 Below between May 27th and June 4th. These performances were moved here to replace a canceled run earlier this year.
If you didn't know and were interested, they are down to top end ringside tables at $160 and low end bar seats at $100. Plus fees, cover, etc.
Could be a memorable night.
#8Chita Rivera playing Roxie
Posted: 5/21/19 at 6:09pmI saw her perform what will probably be the same show in London a month or two ago and it was great. Chita was in great voice, very high energy and danced often. It was nothing like seeing her about 5 years ago where she seemed rather low energy, but maybe she was tired. She actually did a Gwen Verdon impersonation that was hilarious.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
