Who was the best Velma Kelly?

ACL2006 Profile Photo
ACL2006
#1Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:09am

Since there's a Roxie thread, might as well do a Velma thread.

1. Ute Lemper

2. Deidre Goodwin

3. Terra C. MacLeod

4. Lana Gordon

5. Donna Marie Asbury

6. Mamie Duncan-Gibbs

7. Brenda Braxton

8. Amra Faye Wright


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 launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

HogansHero Profile Photo
HogansHero
#2Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:14am

What is Bebe? Sliced bread? LOL @ these lists. 

ACL2006 Profile Photo
ACL2006
#3Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:20am

HogansHero said: "What is Bebe? Sliced bread? LOL @ these lists."

 

Never got to see Bebe in the role.


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 launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

justoldbill Profile Photo
justoldbill
#4Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:55am

She don't look like a Kelly, but Chita Rivera.  I saw her Velma three times in New York and on the road.  No one comes close.


Well-well-well-what-do-you-think-of-that-I-have-nothing-here-to-pay-my-train-fare-with-only-large-bills-fives-and-sevens....

Bettyboy72 Profile Photo
Bettyboy72
#5Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:58am

Ute Lemper and Caroline O’Connor were the best in my opinion. They projected a harshness and a world weariness that would imbue a tough broad like Velma. It transcended caricature.


"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

darquegk Profile Photo
darquegk
#6Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 1:05pm

My mind immediately jumped to Linda Cardellini, but she was a different Velma. Still, she’s always the best part of anything she’s in, so if she ever does Chicago I’m sure she’ll be great. Maybe.

DAME Profile Photo
DAME
#7Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 1:47pm

Well of course.. Chita in the original.  But in the current production Ute is untouchable.


HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

Jarethan
#8Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 3:09pm

1. Bebe Neuwirth

2. Chita Rivera

3. Ute Lemper


A lot of other excellent ones, but for me, these three stood above the crowd by a significant margin.

fosterfan2
#9Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/21/21 at 5:41pm

Bebe Neuwirth.

everythingtaboo Profile Photo
everythingtaboo
#10Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/22/21 at 8:56am

Of the ones that I've seen:

1. Bebe Neuwirth

2. Caroline O'Connor

3. Deidre Goodwin

4.Carly Hughes

5. Brenda Braxton

6. Lana Gordon

7. Nikka Graff Lanzarone

8. Ruthie Henshall

9. Terra MacLeod

10. Leigh Zimmerman




"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

Patti LuPone FANatic Profile Photo
Patti LuPone FANatic
#11Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/22/21 at 9:25pm

Terra C, Leigh Zimmerman and Lana Gordon (in no particular order)


"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)

NOWaWarning Profile Photo
NOWaWarning
#12Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/22/21 at 11:14pm

I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious

rougeduck Profile Photo
rougeduck
#13Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/23/21 at 1:36am

Reva Rice was my first and fav!

bwayphreak234 Profile Photo
bwayphreak234
#14Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/23/21 at 5:13am

NOWaWarning said: "I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious"

I thought Catherine Zeta-Jones was absolutely spectacular as Velma and embodied the role perfectly. Favorite stage Velma (out of the ones I have seen) would have to be Terra C. MacLeod.


"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

Jarethan
#15Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/23/21 at 7:47pm

NOWaWarning said: "I’ve only ever gotten to see Amra-Faye Wright, who was fine. I’m curious how people think Catherine Zeta-Jones stacked up against stage Velmas. I know it’s a different medium and she didn’t have the same choreography and the role was more supporting in the film, but I’m just curious"

I thought that she was great; however, it ia difficult to compare her dancing, since she benefitted from constant film editing.  Whether she could have given anywhere near the ongoing performances given by all of the ladies previously mentioned is something we will never know; but, in the movie, she was terrific.

Templeton33
#16Who was the best Velma Kelly?
Posted: 2/24/21 at 1:55pm

Bebe Neuwirth.  Also really enjoyed Donna Marie Asbury, Brenda Braxton and Ruthie Henshall.  Wish I had gotten the chance to see Ute Lemper (but Bebe had come back!), Vicki Lewis (she was out that performance) and Pia Douwes.