Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.
Today in 2005, the second Broadway revival of Sweet Charity opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 279 performances. Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon alongside John McMartin. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, and also ran in the West End as well as having revivals and international productions. THe 2005 revival starred Christina Applegate in he title role.
Today in 2001, the first Broadway revival of Bells Are Ringing opened at the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Shoenfeld Theatre), where it ran for 68 performances. Bells Are Ringing is a musical with a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Jule Styne. The story revolves around Ella, who works at an answering service and the characters that she meets there. The original Broadway production, directed by Jerome Robbins and choreographed by Robbins and Bob Fosse, opened on November 29, 1956 at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for slightly more than two years, and starred Judy Holliday as Ella and Sydney Chaplin as Jeff Moss.
CHICAGO, Broadway's longest running American musical, just held a celebratory cocktail reception yesterday at New York City's The Palm Restaurant West Side location to officially launch the show's 20th anniversary year. Lead producer Barry Weissler addressed the crowd to toast the occasion and announce initiatives taking place over the next year in the lead-up to the official anniversary celebration and performance this November. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out interviews with CHICAGO stars of past and present below!
Today in 1966, Sweet Charity opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 608 performances. Featuring music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon, the musical was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, and also ran in the West End as well as having revivals and international productions.
Today in 1925, the late Broadway legend Gwen Verdon was born. Verdon was an actress and dancer who won four Tony awards for her musical comedy performances. With flaming red hair and an endearing quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed dancer on Broadway in the 1950s and 1960s. She is also strongly identified with her second husband, director-choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer-collaborator-muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death. Verdon is most remembered for starring in Sweet Charity, Chicago, and Damn Yankees.
Happy Birthday, Graciela Daniele! As a performer, Daniele made her Broadway debut in What Makes Sammy Run? in 1964. She studied with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham while working with such luminaries as Bob Fosse, Agnes de Mille, and Michael Bennett, who hired her to assist him with Follies in 1971. Her first credit as a full-fledged choreographer was the 1979 revival of The Most Happy Fella. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, including, most recently, The Glorious Ones (2007) and Dessa Rose (2005) at the Off-Broadway Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Michael John LaChiusa Off-Broadway, most recently Bernarda Alba (2006) and Little Fish (2003).
Watch the touring cast of CHICAGO, starring Dylis Croman and Terra C. MacLeod, sing classics from the show, including 'Nowadays,' 'Roxie,' 'And All That Jazz,' and more!
Today in 1996, the first Broadway revival of Chicago opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, and it continues to run at the Ambassador Theatre. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. Chicago's 1996 Broadway revival holds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway and is its fourth longest-running show.
Happy Birthday Ann Reinking! Reinking came to critical notice in 'Over Here!' (Theatre World Award), and later went on to originate roles in 'Goodtime Charley' (with Tony and Drama Desk nominations) and 'Bob Fosse's Dancin' (Tony nomination). She also took over leads in 'Chicago', 'A Chorus Line', and 'Sweet Charity'. She appeared in Fosse's semi-autobiographical film All That Jazz, as well as the films Annie and Micki and Maude.
Today in 1972, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.
Actress and singer Rumer Willis, daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, is currently making her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the long running musical CHICAGO.
Actress and DANCING WITH THE STARS winner Rumer Willis made her Broadway debut as 'Roxie Hart' in Broadway's Chicago just last week. She will now play a 6-week limited engagement at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St., NYC) through Sunday, November 1, 2015. She just stopped by GMA to chat with Robin Roberts about her debut and perform what else, but 'Roxie'. Check out a video, followed by photos from the appearance below!