PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With Chicago Star Leigh Zimmerman
Leigh Zimmerman, currently starring as merry murderess Velma Kelly in the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago, offers Playbill.com readers an exclusive look at a recent two-show day, from morning wakeup to final bows.
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Tuesday 28 December 2010
CHICAGO CELEBRATES 14 YEARS ON BROADWAY
Chicago Celebrates 14th Anniversary Nov. 14
Brent Barrett
The long-running, Tony-winning Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago celebrates its 14th anniversary Nov. 14. The production currently plays the Ambassador Theatre.
The company currently boasts Tony nominee Charlotte d'Amboise as Roxie Hart, Leigh Zimmerman as Velma Kelly, Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton.
The current revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. About that evening, James Naughton — who created the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn — previously told Playbill.com, "Every single number the whole night long, the audience roared back at us. They literally roared. It's the most wonderful sound I've ever heard in the theatre. And what became apparent that night, and what I thought at the time, was this audience is starved for this kind of performing. All that we're doing is the most basic kind of in-your-face performing. There weren't any falling chandeliers or helicopters. It was just what actors, singers and dancers do best."
Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, the musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in Nov. 1996 where it remained through Feb. 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre on Feb. 11, 1997, and played that house through Jan. 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre, its current home, on Jan. 29, 2003.
By Andrew Gans
14 Nov 2010
2003: PATRICK SWAYZE (R.I.P.) TO JOIN BROADWAY'S CHICAGO
Patrick Swayze to Join Broadway's Chicago
Film star Patrick Swayze will join the Broadway company of Chicago for a limited engagement this month.
According to the Telecharge website, Swayze will begin his stint as slick lawyer Billy Flynn Dec. 15, playing through Dec. 28. A spokesperson for the musical was unable to confirm the Broadway casting news.
Swayze's New York run will precede his previously announced engagement in the show's national tour. Kander and Ebb's Tony-winning musical is set to play San Diego's Civic Center, Dec. 30, 2003-Jan. 4, 2004. The production will then move on to the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles from Jan. 7-Jan. 18, 2004. On Broadway and in the national tour, Swayze will play opposite the Roxie Hart of Bianca Marroquin and Reva Rice's Velma Kelly.
Patrick Swayze appeared in the Broadway productions of Grease and Goodtime Charley. The actor, however, is best known for his film work, which includes Golden Globe nominations for his performances in "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost" and "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar."
Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.
By Andrew Gans
03 Dec 2003
BROADWAY CARES
December 14, 2010, 1:00 pm Ebb Foundation Donates $1 Million to Broadway Cares
By ERIK PIEPENBURG
The Fred Ebb Foundation has given Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS a gift of $1 million, the largest donation in the organization’s history. The contribution is to be announced on Tuesday.
The foundation, established after the death of the Tony Award-winning lyricist in 2004, has given money annually to Broadway Cares, a New York-based nonprofit HIV/AIDS grant-making organization that is perhaps best known for producing benefits by and for the Broadway community, including the striptease-centered Broadway Bares.
Ebb collaborated with the composer John Kander on several Tony Award-winning musicals, including “Cabaret,” “Chicago” and “Kiss of the Spiderwoman.” One of the duo’s last works, the musical “The Scottsboro Boys,” closed on Broadway on Sunday.
Mitchell Bernard, the foundation’s trustee and a nephew of Ebb’s, said in a phone interview that consistent with his uncle’s wishes, no restrictions were placed on the money.
“He focused his efforts and life in the New York theater community, and the people at Broadway Cares know that,” he said. “We’re interested in the funds being used to help actors, writers, designers and other people in the theater who need assistance for medical or other reasons.”
Last week’s Gypsy of the Year competition, an annual event produced by Broadway Cares, raised over $3.7 million.
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