CHICAGO Encores!

[@Pww642]

The name on every grateful theater nerd’s lips is Aurora Spiderwoman.

[@isthisryan7899]

It’s absolutely mind blowing that they are performing this show having NO idea how major this production would end up becoming.

[@dianamitchell7128]

I just adore Bebe Neuwirth. I listened to the CD of this show my entire junior and senior years of high school. I wish I had been able to see Bebe on Broadway. I saw the touring production twice in Toronto (once with Chita playing Roxie), but never Bebe.

[@MisterJeffy]

Bebe was phenomenal. She has played Velma, Roxie, and Mama Morton in Broadway, and Billy for Broadway Backward : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWnJnpt_idSFnbs

[@danholden4344]

RIP Ann Reinking

[@stressmuffin]

I’m crying my eyes out, because I’m devastated by Ann’s death last month. I just found out about her passing here in You Tube. As an ‘80’s kid, who watched the movie version of Annie, not only is Aileen Quinn, who played Annie (she’s a girl my age at the time), the reason why I wanted to sing, act & dance so much, but also, because I found out about my new Broadway musical idol at the time, Ann Reinking, who played Daddy Warbuck’s beautiful & kind secretary, Grace Farrell. I’m devastated that I‘ll never have a chance to see her perform on stage in person, much less see & meet her in person. RIP my Broadway musical queen, Ann 👸🏻😪🙏

[@nursebridgie]

Same same same. Our stories are similar it seems. She will forever be my first musical idol. 💜 It’s crazy how much of an impact she had.

[@user-jl7ym4en5b]

Oh, Such sadness to lose Ann Reinking. RIP.

[@estelleevert6734]

I saw Chicago in 1996 with the original cast. A truly wonderful amazing musical show.

[@vincentmcgrath4179]

that would not be the original cast

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

This isnt the original cast that was in.1976 with Gwen Verdon Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse This is the nineties revival with Ann Reiking and Bebe Newarth.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Whoops! Sorry to all-I had a totally incorrect date on this when I first posted it. Of course, the Encores! "Chicago" was May '96, and transferred to Broadway in Nov. '96.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

Rip Ann Reiking Here she is with Bebe Newarth James Naughton Marsha Lewis and the great Joel Grey in the nineties Chicago revival. Marveleus

[@garynorris3575]

Thank you, Bob Fosse. You had visions and broke the spirit of many to make them real. Most of the people that followed you, willingly or with malice, now realize how important and right you were. The world will take the idea that you were important and will see that you always are important. Kudos to Bebe for this showcase and the same and great thanks to Ann, Gwen, and all of you who have all that you have to realize the vision.

[@FPalace]

Ann just naturally just flow on that stage. It’s remarkable.

[@jcs1025]

Amazing that very little changed from the Encore performance to the actual Broadway production.

[@doniellecotton]

As far as I’m concerned The ONLY “CHICAGO “!!!

[@darthilli]

Agreed

[@raymundoyanez3282]

AND IMO !..THAT'S ! BECAUSE ! YOU MUST ! 🙄 HAVE NOT ! SEEN ! THE WHOLE ORIGINAL FAR RAUNCHIER! CREEPY ! FOSSE ! CONCEPT !!!!! OF THE SHOW !! WITH THE STORY..i. BEEN TOLD !n ! USING ICONIC! FIGURES in ! MUSICAL VIGNETTES In An OLD1920s AMERICAN 🇺🇸VAUDEVILLE SHOW!!!!! WHICH IN THE 90 'S MINIMILISTIC MONOCHROME ! VERSION ! A.K.A) (LESS EXPENSIVE ! for (THE PRODUCERS)..... Even though ! It's VERY GOOD !.. SCARED DOWN ! VERSION !!... DOES ! NOT ! PORTRAY !!!!!!!......

[@MyChewbacca]

Always happy to see another one of your great posts - thank you!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Thank you, very nice to hear.

[@mikegarcia7986]

Saw the revival on Broadway with Bebe and Anne Reinking..Awesome!!!

[@waldemarlopess]

I saw that show and what a wonderful Fosse musical it is. What an incredible cast! Great dancers! How wonderful Bebe, Joel, and Ann Reinking are. I can't believe Ann passed, she was amazing.

[@treesny]

And what would that "wonderful Fosse musical" be without the terrific score by composer John Kander and fantastic lyrics by the late Fred Ebb? One of the pleasures of these clips is to hear the totally spontaneous laughter of an audience that hasn't (yet) heard these songs a hundred times. Comic/satirical numbers are among the toughest to write, and Kander & Ebb were on incredible form in "Chicago."

[@markbraunstein58]

Sharpest ensemble of all the clips I've seen of dozens of casts, best Velma ever, a priceless document

[@kham6006]

She sounds like a child singing -zeta Jones was the best Velma -Bebe she/her us horrible

[@zato71]

Omg I just realised it’s been 24 years since I saw this.. fuck 😳

[@sjcohen4444]

I remember running into David Sabella (Mary Sunshine) near City Center when he was rehearsing this and he told me how fantastic this was going to be. Boy, was he ever right.

[@dsabella_amandareckonwith]

Hi!

[@TylerFortier1]

@@dsabella_amandareckonwith omg????????

[@princessJayNay22]

This is the only cast for me! Bebe and Ann, are the best!!!!!

[@MichelleVazEbers]

Bebe is amazing!!!!

[@MisterJeffy]

Yes, she is,

[@MrBBunny-rv1mk]

Amazing...thank you for sharing. Can you post the full show?

[@DavidAsset78]

The success of this revival is all the more amazing, since the original Broadway show was not a big success. Thanks for uploading the video!

[@hashtagStevePike]

The original Broadway production ran for over 2 years, not a success?

[@TX1961]

@@hashtagStevePike I guess the original show would have been more successful had it not been for that juggernaut that was A Chorus Line.

[@tomgallowitz]

TX1961 yes and no, yes it would got more attention but looking at some of the reviews people weren’t ready for it’s satire, instant celebrity culture, yet. It came back at the perfect time when the OJ trial occurred and cable/reality tv really took off.

[@mzmiller52]

@@TX1961 and a newspaper strike, I think.

[@mzmiller52]

Anne is nowhere near as good as Gwen Verdon.

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Terrific show. Love it.

[@chocolatesouljah]

7:42, the late great Marcia Lewis!

[@j0287garcia]

she would have been an excellent Ursula in the little mermaid.

[@chocolatesouljah]

J Garcia yes indeed! A real trooper with a discipline performance and none of that missing shows business! I love how she got married in her early 60s and basically retired to a quiet life… She died at 72 but I still think that’s way too young! It’s the quality of life not the quantity I guess!

[@alejandroluciani2848]

best Chicago ever. Period.

[@donatellodimaggio4841]

I saw this on Broadway when Liza Minnelli filled in for I forget who and was blown away by the music and performances. This just be very close!!!

[@joejoern]

That would be Gwen Verdon - the original!

[@skipp4295]

She subbed in for Gwen who had throat surgery

[@johnkroll2151]

Velma is a perfect part for Bebe, who is fundamentally a cold performer. She was wrong for her earlier part as Lola in "Damn Yankees" because she lacked the vulnerability that Gwen Verdon brought to the role.

[@terriseaton3049]

FABULOUS!!!!!!

[@hansvonrittern9168]

PERFECTION!!

[@robertmanssen5261]

Fosse forever

[@vitorhugosantana7053]

Thanks!!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

You're welcome---glad you liked it.

[@holdyourhats]

Thank You!!!!!!

[@Coco24994508]

Fantastic! Thank you

[@holdyourhats]

Oh Boy !! Is this Good!!!!!

[@francoiserepain3208]

saw it twice in NY, once in London, encore et encore j'espère

[@alwaysnew189]

RIP Reinking! Evivva bebe

[@danromero]

Delicious! I loved it!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Thanks!

[@mikegarcia7986]

So boost me up my ladder, kid, and i’ll boost you UP YOURS!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Fred Ebb=genius (John Kander also =genius)

[@hopedegeus3878]

I really loved watching this! But I saw some parts missing, did you cut that out or didn't film it? I would really appreciate it if you'd put the whole video online. But if you don't have it i'm very happy with this too!! I do love you for putting this online😊

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Glad you enjoyed this and thanks for asking. This is all that was shot by that particular camera crew, enough for brief clips to be used on a cable TV program. I suspect, though, that Lincoln Center's Theater on Film and Tape collection shot the complete Encores! "Chicago."

[@hopedegeus3878]

aurora spiderwoman do you know where i could get that? Sorry if i'm bothering you😅

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

No bother. You would need to go to the T.O.F.T. collection at the library at Lincoln Center, and make an appointment to watch it.

[@JaredGoerke]

You also need to have a reason for doing it. You can't just be a theater fan looking to view the show.

[@Johanna.EG.]

FWIW: I just checked the NYPL's online catalog. The Theatre on Film and Tape Archive has a recording from the Shubert Theater from May 21, 1997. There is not a recording from the Encores run.

[@DanielLizzama]

WOW

[@wickedfan7681]

Is that Ben Stiller on stage left in the beginning 😂

[@Pww642]

Is it heresy to say I prefer Ann’s choreography to the original Fosse? I know there are some similarities and hers builds on his whole style, but man this is so great.

[@import26]

It is heressy, as it is practically tweaked Fosse. None of it is original Reiking.

[@MrKomninakis]

Incredible thanks for this! Anne and Bebe were the best Velma/Roxy EVER. Great footage! Stunning production and the chores is genius! The film although great i would have preferred Goldie Hawn/Madonna as they were originally cast and Bob Fosse himself said only Madonna could play Velma. Too bad that didn't turn out to be. Catherine was good not great and Rene was just ok. Her facial expressions annoy me and she looks like she's constantly constipated lol. Do you have more footage? Thanks again for posting this!

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

Madonna would stunk up the movie, just like she did with Eva 😎😎😎

[@jboao]

This is fun but I just have a special place in my heart for the movie

[@this_Joe_Smith]

I respect the movie for using cinematic abilities to bring all of this to wider audiences

[@needtoknowbasis3499]

oh please

[@lanceanderson-copeman4054]

Bebe Neuwirth is my all time girl crush, but that's not much to crow about since I'm super gay. But my high school life was filled with her singing All That Jazz.

[@dsabella_amandareckonwith]

Do you have any footage of “A Little Bit of Good?”

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Hi David, so nice to hear from a leading original cast member of the "Chicago" revival! Yes, I'm sure you are on the videos with the original cast, and I do believe you're also in the one from Toronto with Chita, Ute, and Ben.

[@dsabella_amandareckonwith]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 I only did Broadway and Las Vegas. I did not do Toronto. Thank you.

[@estelleevert6734]

Do you have the footage of the entire show? I would adore seeing it. I saw the play on B'way in '96 with original cast and loved it. The movie leave much to be desired

[@justme6767]

Miss Ann

[@서수지-p5p]

4:53 Funney Honey

[@laser2sail]

Please do not edit out parts of routines.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

This is all I have---it's a press reel already edited for distribution.

[@remyfacade]

Bebe is not much of a singer by any means but "All that jazz" was made for her voice.

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

"Not much of a singer"??? Ok, she won't be singing Violetta, but she is *quite* good at what she does! 😎😎😎

[@remyfacade]

@@rugby8-Philadelphia 💯 agree

[@darthilli]

I Strongly disagree

[@emmaprior7402]

Why do they have the music books onstage?

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Encores! shows began more as concerts than as full productions, and the actors have always been permitted to carry scripts owing to the short rehearsal period. While the Playbills for Encores! shows still have a disclaimer that the cast may be holding books, performers for the last decade or so of Encores! rarely carry books on stage.

[@emmaprior7402]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Oh I didn't know this was before it hit Broadway! I was like "shouldn't they know it by now 😂" How cool we get to see this 😍

[@anonymousposter6671]

I don’t think the show is gonna make it!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Doubtful :)

[@ekcentrik]

This is the sizzling dancing and energy that the dreadful movie lacked.

[@heaintloveu]

Did we just watch the same thing?

[@LionWriter1012]

Too bad it’s a become a pathetic revolving door of talentless stunt casting.

[@kham6006]

Bebe she/her doesn’t sounds that good zeta Jones kills it -Bebe sounds like a child singing