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Post by Rory on Dec 15, 2017 7:57:49 GMT
Baz says that "The Phoenix unexpectedly became available when the star of a high-profile new production had a 'scheduling conflict' so [Barry] Weissler (Chicago's producer) has been able to secure the theatre for an initial year's run".
I wonder what the other show / star were?!
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 15, 2017 8:37:50 GMT
Oh dear. It is time for a new production of Chicago, it really is. It will inevitably have some stunt casting - which will have many rolling their eyes. Surely someone has the vision to give us something fresh - it is a great score. But enough already.
There was one in Leicester 4 years ago which was superb. (directed by Paul Kerryson, choreographed by Drew McOnie)
Loved it equally as much at the "black and white" production. Unfortunately it didn't gain a further life.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 9:49:43 GMT
Oh marvellous. Time to pull out the black tights again.
I hope I can still remember the routines.
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2,701 posts
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Post by viserys on Dec 15, 2017 9:59:27 GMT
Baz says that "The Phoenix unexpectedly became available when the star of a high-profile new production had a 'scheduling conflict' so [Barry] Weissler (Chicago's producer) has been able to secure the theatre for an initial year's run". I wonder what the other show / star were?! I stumbled over that, too. My guess is that that was All about Eve with Cate Blanchett, which has gone completely quiet. |
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 15, 2017 10:31:32 GMT
Razzle bloody dazzle ........ ugh!
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 15, 2017 10:51:16 GMT
My guess was that's All About Eve that collapsed - Baz told me about 4 weeks ago he 'couldn't give me any information about it at this time' so yeah... gutting.
I'd also put money on Redknapp, it seems the (il)logical move
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 10:57:35 GMT
I saw the broadway production in the summer and that was enough to put me off Chicago for a lifetime. Will be avoiding this.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 11:13:41 GMT
Money on Louise Redknapp? Very confident of them to say a year "initially". Louise Redknapp is so last year. There's another pop singer in the 'Strictly' final this year who might need some work and will want to show off her dance skills and all that jazz . . . |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 15, 2017 11:16:00 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if Mr McFadden didn't make the leap back to MT from Strictly into this.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 11:20:11 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if Mr McFadden didn't make the leap back to MT from Strictly into this. Maybe they could do a 'Strictly' version? Louise and Alexandra as Roxie and Velma, Joe as Billy and Debbie as Mama Morton. Mollie and Gemma could do the matinees as Roxie and Velma. Craig can direct. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 15, 2017 11:23:15 GMT
Surely Craig would want to double Mama and Miss Sunshine - as well as directing
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Post by ellie1981 on Dec 15, 2017 11:23:37 GMT
I saw this on Broadway in 2016 and thought it was wonderful, so I’m not quite sure if I understand the “tired” accusations. Mind you the only other time I’d seen it was rather late into the West End run which really was going through the motions then.
Still not jazzed about another WE run though as I agree, some new blood would be preferred. The Phoenix has been struggling to find a potential long running show, so maybe ATG are desperate to go with a tried and tested production that doesn’t involve too much promo.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 15, 2017 11:49:25 GMT
I wonder if Ruthie has it in her to make her 20th return to the show.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 11:55:55 GMT
Baz says that "The Phoenix unexpectedly became available when the star of a high-profile new production had a 'scheduling conflict' so [Barry] Weissler (Chicago's producer) has been able to secure the theatre for an initial year's run". I wonder what the other show / star were?! I stumbled over that, too. My guess is that that was All about Eve with Cate Blanchett, which has gone completely quiet. They had a few options, as far as I know – at one point they almost secured Jake Gyllenhaal in SITPWG. And yet here we are. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 12:01:58 GMT
What did the english trainer bark at the welsh dog? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 12:04:09 GMT
Oh I don't know, you can see their train of thought. It makes perfect sense.
"Let's do a play of that really old film with a double Oscar winning actress in it" "Yaaaay"
"Oh damn"
"OK, plan B. Let's do a revival of that old musical with an Oscar nominated actor in it" "Yaaaaay"
"Oh damn"
"Right, I've got it. Let's do another revival of the revival of that really old musical and we might get someone from 'Strictly' to do it"
"Yaaa . . really? Well if we don't have any other choice"
"Yaaaaay"
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Post by lou105 on Dec 15, 2017 12:33:19 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if Mr McFadden didn't make the leap back to MT from Strictly into this. Maybe they could do a 'Strictly' version? Louise and Alexandra as Roxie and Velma, Joe as Billy and Debbie as Mama Morton. Mollie and Gemma could do the matinees as Roxie and Velma. Craig can direct. Strictly tour finishes mid February, so some of this may come to pass.. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 15:36:58 GMT
On the one hand, I'm thinking I've never seen it live, so here is my chance.
On the other hand, I'm thinking why drag this back into the West End and waste a good theatre when this tours regularly and does fairly well each time. There must be decent casting.
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Post by showtoones on Dec 15, 2017 16:22:30 GMT
This show lives and dies by the casting of Roxie and Velma. It came a long way down from Ute and Ruthie as the Weisslers began putting in X factor and East Enders stars in it who weren't up to it, dance it poorly and dumbed down the choreography.
If they were smart they'd get stars who can actually dance. I hate to say it but Nicole Scherzinger would be awesome in this as Velma and would definitely sell.
What about Tamsin Outhwaite? Joanna Riding?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 16:35:23 GMT
I still stand by the fact Nicole Scherzinger was amazing in Cats and should of won the Olivier.
If she wants to do Velma, she'd be amazing.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 15, 2017 17:06:53 GMT
Wasn't Joanna Riding in it already? Or Josefina Gabrielle? I always confuse these two.
Any rate, Joanna is a bit unexciting as far as I'm concerned. I don't mind stunt/celebrity casting as long as they are good.
Nicole sounds like she could be fun.
The London production did have some good casts in it. Hello, did we all forget that God in the form of Chita Rivera played Roxy at the Adelphi in the late '90s?!
Maria Friedman was fabulous, and from what I heard, Brooke Shields and Denise Van Outen were pretty amazing too.
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Dec 15, 2017 17:11:22 GMT
Wasn't Joanna Riding in it already? Or Josefina Gabrielle? I always confuse these two. Josefina Gabrielle has definitely been in it. I saw her years and years ago. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 17:11:48 GMT
Wasn't Caroline Flack previously in talks about joining Chicago a while back?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 17:14:41 GMT
How smashing. And Nicole can flog her yoghurts in the interval instead of ice creams for a bit of extra cash.
Just the thought of her giving every line of 'All That Jazz' a touch of the melisma would make me want to take a flaming torch to the Phoenix Theatre before the show even got started.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 15, 2017 17:18:31 GMT
I love me some Beverley Knight but they cannot approach her to do this. She has given us no indication that she can dance (does the 6 minute beginning of Cats count?), and though they can always modify Roxy's dance bits as they have done for a dozen actresses, I don't think she's funny enough to pull it off.
There is no dancing around Velma's choreography (get it?). Whoever plays Velma needs to be a very serious dancer to pull it off. Though Bev's All That Jazz could blow the roof off and she'd look hot in these costumes.
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