Bebe Neuwirth All That Jazz

[@onthe165]

i was able to be in the audience on bebe's last night playing velma in chicago on broadway, & let me tell you, she was absolutely FABULOUS! i feel so fortunate to have seen her in this role, live on broadway. i've seen the show on broadway several times since then & no other actress has ever even come CLOSE to playing that part as well as she did. she's such a talent, truly.

[@thegreenmanofnorwich]

I know you wrote that almost a decade ago, but believe me, I'm envious

[@debschaefer7820]

OP, what did you think of the film version?

[@michaelstracener1247]

Bebe neu

[@olgamendez8682]

I had the chance to see her when she started doing Chicago. I even still have the Playbill. That was my first time in NYC. She was and still is the best Velma Kelly ever!

[@jiggsuhhh]

I saw Ms. Neuwirth play Velma Kelly in "Chicago" on Broadway in 1996. She was astounding. Her dancing was perfect, as was all the rest. I loved it!

[@thompinto3949]

Me too! I feel exactly the same as you !

[@connie1wilson]

I wish, I saw it in London, with people I can’t recall, but it was a great show!

[@brucelee8819]

She is one helluva actor, singer and dancer. The complete package!😎👍🏻🎼👏🏻💐💗😘 3:54

[@gabrieltanguay9695]

This footage is phenomenal

[@cards0486]

One of my greatest thrills was seeing Bebe do this on Broadway. Nobody works harder. She was beyond belief. She's THE Velma Kelly to me! The movie was great. And I know he wrote this tailored for Chita Rivera. But, in modern times, Bebe is it in a Fosse number!

[@chocolatesouljah]

Same experience here!

[@r33dbrodie]

she reminds me of those early cartoons from back when they couldn't animate realistic human movements so the characters moved as if they didn't have bones. It's eerie and beautiful.

[@richardmayora1289]

No one compares to Chita Rivera. Fosse made this a real showcase for her.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Both Bebe Neuwirth and Chita Rivera own this role.

[@sjoldzic10]

Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking are the definitive Velma and Roxie. Although, I LOVE Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma too

[@CCoburn3]

I wish she had done more television and movies. She had boatloads of talent.

[@ellenchavez2043]

Fosse's choreography is stunning. Both Gwen Version and Anne Reinking held tight reins on use of his material, preserving much of his lose-limbed, yet tight choreographed steps... especially group dances. Love his stuff.

[@sofiamenta8680]

this cast was truely spectacular

[@honeyjbc1]

This performance by Bebe Neuwirth was the greatest performance I ever saw on Broadway.

[@79Cor]

honeyjbc1 agreed! Saw this in 97.

[@richardmayora1289]

Get out more.

[@marktombazian6490]

There are natural stage/theater performers who are simply in their element and love what they do. Bebe was one. First, last, always she was/is theater, and lucky us for it!!! Just a great wonderfully beautiful gal. Love her forever!

[@VonBlade]

Finally. It's only taken 10 years but I've managed to close my jaw after this performance.

[@hunterjoe805]

Few can match Bebe's version of All That Jazz. She's is one hell of a dancer.

[@roj0riot]

The way she moves her arms when she walks is really mesmerizing. I don't know how she does it

[@charlotteziggy8353]

Bob Fosse does this very move in a dance scene in the movie, The Little Prince ,he is portraying a snake.

[@sosexymagazinerobinwatkins8467]

THIS IS A CLASSIC FOSSE MOVE. She learned from the best

[@sosexymagazinerobinwatkins8467]

Check out movie version SWEET CHARITY W/PHENOMENAL SHIRLEY MACLAINE...ITS THERE💖

[@markmh835]

"Snake arms." 😊👍❤

[@BabyBoomerChannel]

The choreography is like another musical part playing in synchronization. Like another horn part. But we don't hear it, we see it. The film version loses this. Bebe's arms/shoulders add a whole other dimension. Just beautiful

[@RobertAller-s9z]

You can't get better than Reinking and Fosse! Love it!!

[@honeyjbc1]

I was unable to vote up so I will reply. Bebe Neuwirth in Chicago was the greatest all around performance of anybody I have ever experienced on a Broadway stage.

[@luvmenow33]

Being a young teen in the 90s I had only ever seen Bebe as Lilith in Cheers so I remember just being totally mesmerized with this performance. It was the first time I was truly able to appreciate what talent these Actors & Actresses have.

[@mistergrieves]

William Fetters Yes, same here!!!

[@raymondmaurer1838]

While not a teen in the '90's I too was introduced to Ms. Neuwirth through "Cheers" and am constantly amazed by each new thing I see her do.

[@cards0486]

I saw Bebe in CHICAGO on Broadway. When she came up from the back, walked down those steps and started singing ALL THAT JAZZ I swear, I could have died happy that night! She is THE BEST!!!

[@caryns8389]

I love how minimalist her performance is. She does the choreography, but it doesn't seem like there is any extra movement. Each movement is calculated and grounded. Her movements stop when they are supposed to. They are sharp and controlled while also being fluid and sexy.

[@scattygirl1]

@Robert Lee, Countertenor Fosse said that bending just one finger could be a dance move. Less really can be more.

[@burningisis]

It really embodies Fosse's minimalist style. Every muscle movement has meaning, and this just raw sensuality about it. I see so many who play Velma take it so over the top, and it ruins the dance

[@sosexymagazinerobinwatkins8467]

@@scattygirl1 Yes. He showed that in the CLASSIC NUMBER, "BIG SPENDER". Check it out on KZbin in the movie SWEET CHARITY, BIG SPENDER is such a phenomenal number and it's all about the stillness and it's all about the calculated small movements even a blink of the eye is a hot small movement in that scene

[@Witer494CP]

It is called Bob Fosse

[@Kimbaface]

In other words, they are pure Fosse.

[@Lee-xs9ee]

The talent of this woman is phenomenal. I saw her do this twice one of the greatest performances I have ever seen.

[@zentraveler1834]

I saw the movie when it came out, I liked allot. Recently I’ve been watching clips of the current stage production, I’m now thinking what an over bloated mess the film was. The stage production is perfectly minimalist. Thus, showcasing the the story through singing and dance. It’s pure precision of talent and physicality. My hats off to all the men and women who trained to get their bodies and minds in shape to perform this show seven days a week

[@hbdragon88]

I kind of feel that's unfair to the movie. If it's over bloated compared to the musical, it was a stylistic change. Unfortunately I'm not really familiar with all the terms and analysis of making movie adaptations of musicals/plays. Lindsey Ellis has several essays about it (Cats, RENT, Phantom). Some movie adaptations basically turn out to be pro-shot versions of the stage because they don't make the changes or use the language of the film (like close-ups, multiple takes, etc.) From what i gather, Ellis criticizes Phantom of the Opera (2004) for not making any of the changes to successfully translate it to film, whereas Chicago did, such as by making all but two of its musical numbers being non-diegetic (in an alternate reality). I guess I just want to say that they shouldn't be compared side-by-side exactly, as critical success or failure hinges on how much Hollywood is willing to transform the musical to fit the needs and expectations of film.

[@paulataylor8608]

YES!,,,,,!!!!!!!

[@jenniferwilkerson2163]

Brilliant choreography! The small, tight, precise movements of the dance are stunning! It's all about the arms and legs! Bravo BeBe!

[@jhb61249]

All about hands, arms and shoulders. Fantastic.

[@chrysalissartorious7648]

& the whole Fosse vibe running through her.

[@markmh835]

"Snake arms." 😊👍❤

[@ub6025]

If you only see Bebe Neuwirth as actor in Film/TV like "Greencard" or "Cheers" she is good. But if you see her in "Chicago" you know she is fantastic👏👏👏

[@josephfroude6056]

Fantastic number! As Fosse as Fosse can get!

[@ClaudiaKZ]

Bebe Neuwirth is fabulous!! I remember when she was Lilith on the TV show "Frasier" with Kelsey Grammer.

[@marytheresaburns4728]

Absolutely amazing performance, Bebe is incredible.

[@bonniebickett4520]

I live in Branson.MO the theatre here did Chicago. I was overwhelmed and had chills form the voices and professialism! ( excuse my spelling) The vocals were out of this world, on spot! When the actor sang "We both reached fooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrr the gun, it was incredible!

[@Jerreh-s4q]

LOVE! Thanks for posting. I saw Chicago after Bebe had left, but when we got to the theater there was a huge sign, Bebe’s back! Idk how long she returned for, this was before internet controlled our lives, but I could not believe how lucky I was to see her performance!

[@lacybug_ra3291]

I just realized that the line "oh I'm no one's wife" is referring to the fact that she killed her husband like that day. It never really processed in my brain before now lol

[@gyrozeppeli289]

LacyBug_Ra3 me either. Holy crap!

[@SDoesNotKnow]

Holy crap, I didn't even think about that.

[@flashcraft]

@@SDoesNotKnow Right! I didn't either, wow! The asshole bitch murdered her husband.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

@@flashcraft Her husband who was cheating on her with her sister.

[@Pogueconductor]

Prob one of the most re-done chorogrophy in musical history. Because absolutely nothing could beat it.

[@samiegrrl]

yessssss this is Fosse!!!! i love this!!!! she is incredible!

[@roylorenzo5821]

These women are amaizing together, in that rolls, the fabulous Ann Raiking, and Bebe Neuwirth

[@jorgejuarez4995]

Una de las mejores Bailarinas e Intérpretes vocales que he visto de esta Ibra en Broadway 👏👏👏❤❤❤

[@peteribanez05]

I can't stop watching this clip!!!

[@frankcorrenti5941]

I forever keep coming back to the disaffection, the timing, the timing is everything except for the spontaneous musicalityy/athlectivity and I just can't say it alone!!!

[@Historian212]

This number echoes the opening number in “Pippin,” which I saw in its original run on Broadway. The great Ben Vereen played the Emcee, in his prime, and did very similar moves - you’d swear he didn’t have a skeleton. Like butter. Ms. Neuwirth here is so similar. A worthy inheritor of that great performance style. Few people can bring it off so brilliantly; Vereen was one, and Neuwirth is another. Simply the best.

[@Ayyeliki]

And before that, Gene Kelly 🥰🥰

[@mslauralew]

It's funny to think that this dance style was revolutionary at one point. I was 8 in 1975.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Fosse was a genius.

[@beaverstandig1747]

Bebe is fabulous

[@phileasfoxx2006]

Спасибо! Никогда не видел "это прочтение")) Восторг!

[@miguelarce4159]

One darned Sunday morning I decided to venture onto Broadway for a matinee.....unbeknownst to me I was going to score orchestra seat onto Cabaret......Well, Bebe and Ann happened to be performing that day.....nothing else to say....BROADWAY PLATINUM !!!!!!!!! and, well All That Jazz.....Yes INDEED !!!!!!!!!!!!! For all wo might doubt the MAGIC associated with being in a dark room and being able to witness such........Just MAGIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Wartonite]

A BIG thank you for posting this gem!!!

[@angellguardiandl0111]

Nobody does this part better than Bebe!

[@christinacschroeder]

In always wished I could see her do this role. She is epic, like none other. Thanks for sharing.

[@tillyboos]

Catherine Zeta Jones for the film version worked, but Bebe Neuwirth was AWESOME as Velma in the B'way revival. Saw her in NYC in 1997. BRILLIA NT! And that was 5yrs. before the film!

[@newton21989]

Lilith can sing.

[@christinec.2372]

Love Bebe. Amra-Faye stole my heart. She knocked me out of my seat last Feb. Both ladies are mega talented.

[@thegreenmanofnorwich]

God, she's so fluid but makes it look totally effortless, like she just happened to oh-so-coolly lead the choreography

[@astrol64]

Bebe baby you are sooo good in this! Thank you for performing it!

[@vereda61]

WOW! Just amazing!

[@laurenceseale]

I can't believe thats Lilith.

[@lizmil]

Saw this on Broadway- fantastic!

[@milhouseburns]

the way Bebe performs All That Jazz is something i can never see to the others and idk what it is, it's just so great

[@KimbaLorber]

OMG...absolutely brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing. Now folks like me who never got to see Ann and Bebe in person in those roles can at least get a taste. Incredible stuff! :)

[@sherrylcallander1491]

Where is Bebe and Ann now? They are marvelous!

[@deanchampion6777]

Unbelievable. I got to see her perform it on Broadway, then got to see Ann Reinking in Boston. I only wish that I could have seen them perform together !!! Bebe moves like an incredibly sexy, sultry version of Olive Oyl (from the old Popeye cartoons)... like there isn't a solid joint in her body !!!!

[@tiamia7139]

She has a very fluid port de bras and every move is sharp and precise ("clean"), no waste of movement. Excellent dancer.

[@paulataylor8608]

Exactly! And I grew up with Olive Oil on tv,, then Mr. Rogers!

[@pen-and-guin]

This video is old treasure. I just saw all about Chicago musical in youtube

[@BLFulle]

Woody: Mrs Crane? *Blushes Frasier: Lillith! You're half naked. I demand you get down right now. Sam: Calm down Frasier. Let her finish.

[@armitius66]

Be be,you are stunning!!!

[@beachgirl48]

Bebe is the best! I have the CD and just love to sing to it!

[@olivialynch6430]

Iconic!

[@rudyangell8158]

She is absolutely amazing!!! Please put her on Broadway as soon as possible!!!

[@filipokded8922]

She dances Wonderfully - BUT sha can NOT sing Check this - Russia Girl (Zetta Jons left in dust) < Аглая Шиловская. Кэтрин Зета‐Джонс - «All That Jazz» >

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Bebe can dance and sing. She is the best Velma since Chita performed the role.

[@sherryhannah9262]

Rudy Angel please is unnecessary

[@rudyangell8158]

@@sherryhannah9262 To you maybe; but to me, please put her back on Broadway AGAIN means a lot to me.

[@prosen8966]

I saw Bebe in Chicago and I did something I never did w another B’way show - I came back to see her again!! I thought she was simply amazing! 🤩 (Of course, ticket prices hadn’t yet reached the obscene level of 2024.) But my point is, like Liza Minelli and Ben Vereen and Gwen & Anne from ‘75, Bebe was made to dance Fosse’s choreography. She’s a natural. And that body! If I could somehow steal it away, make it my own, I definitely would. I mean, I saw in Frasier the same thing altho now I can’t remember which came first (altho I’m almost positive Chicago came first and then I saw she hadn’t lost a step in Frasier. Like ooh la la!! Don’t keep it all for yourself. Share the wealth!) I kid. Sort of. 😂

[@almostfm]

Something I just noticed--it's nothing big, but it's one of the hundred little things a great performer does that an good performer might not. When Bebe comes down the steps, every step is exactly in time with the music. It actually makes going down the stairs part of the dance sequence.

[@elphbwckd212]

almostfm that is the way it should be done. It is actually part of the choreography. I've never seen it done anything other way in this production or the tour. it IS part of the choreography. Not just something Bebe, and only Bebe, did.

[@BoHista23]

I mean, you could comment about the small moves she does to accentuate every word she speaks, or the way she brings a different nuance into every single sentence she sings; but in a spring of pretentiousness you insinuate that walking in time is some great feat performed by professionals only.

[@almostfm]

@@BoHista23 Wow-are you always such a dickhead, or are you making a special effort just for me?

[@harmoniabalanza]

uh it is

[@radioactivman23]

I'm going to drama school rn and I would do it like her, walk in the rhythm, and our dance coach would always call us out for that because when you're the main act you're "not supposed to", or at least that's what he says... so seeing a broadway/fosse-style production doing the exact thing he calls us out for makes me wonder

[@ingriddubbel8468]

Oh my!. She is Brilliant.

[@spammie29]

It's too bad the footage is so grainy. I really enjoyed this performance.

[@peachmarie6079]

My theatre professor saw her in this revival years ago. :)

[@kennethbrady]

Well...that made my night. Thanks:)

[@daveyork0]

Does the term 'American National Treasure' come to mind?

[@robertgrant4950]

Love Bebe. Always have. Even as Lilith."

[@derkie1231]

The revival opened on Broadway in November 1996- this video is sometime around then (as it features the original revival cast).

[@izzytepe]

I just learned her choreo from this :)

[@KarlieStarrSings]

I might be directing a short version of this show and this is GREAT inspiration xD

[@marilynfosseen1541]

I remember when she sang it on A Capital Fourth. She brought the house down, or rather would have if it had been in a house.

[@limoreshakar6686]

Best Velma Kelly .... legend! I saw Chicago 2x but unfortunately did not see it with Bebe because it was much more recent 😉 but Velma when I saw it on Broadway rocked it and of course Zeta in the movie 🍿

[@redsoxlady2004]

Annie bananie! You are such an inspiration! Please keep playing Roxie

[@TheHawk1959]

Bebe Neuwirth should have gotten the role of Velma in the film version of Chicago.Bebe is a far better singer and actress than CVJ will ever be.For example look at her role as Lilith in Cheers she nailed that part.Looking at that part who would have known that she was such a wonderful singer and dancer or so sexy for that matter.

[@peterschulze491]

Read "Nothing Like A Dame" if you haven't already. Full of fantastic interviews with great ladies of Broadway, including Bebe!!

[@gayfairs]

So much love for Bebe in this role. Electric. I agree that Bebe vs Catherine is not really a fair comparison. Catherine's Velma is a totally different character (not to mention she was pregnant) but they both nailed the character.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Perfection.

[@AmyAnderson-fields]

Every move, every pose, classic Fosse.

[@HomoAnarky1958]

WE LOOOVE YA BEBE!

[@cherylfrench440]

Great number

[@SueBeaWho]

TY TY TY!!!!

[@tonyktown]

Wow, Lillith unplugged! ;-) God I LOVE this woman!

[@MichaelCH2007]

She definitely should have played the role in the film version. I don't see why she couldn't have.

[@modernofficefan]

Since you put it that way u are completely correct I'm just saying she had a great performance in chicago, addams family and sweet charity

[@RebaRocks100]

A - FREAKING - MAZING!!!!!! I

[@culthosmythos]

There's 1 particular scene where she (LIlith, Bebe's character) is in bed with 1 leg out of the sheets, and you can see in an instant that Bebe is a DANCER, unquestionably. Put simply, she's stunning in that whole episode, but especially in that scene.

[@here-for-songs--standup2468]

It's the one where she sleeps with Niles I think!

[@dropkickmurphy4114]

Referencing the show to which you are referring is helpful for those of us who have not yet seen it! Thank you!!

[@LuvsUlf5]

Well, I genuinely do not even know how to respond other than to agree with you that we all have our own personal preferences regardless of what those preferences are based on. We sure do have one thing in common....Patti is royalty! Her incomparable talent is equaled only by what an incredible sweetheart she is. Have a good evening.

[@echeleteich3347]

Pure Fosse at his best.

[@Life15Juicy]

Okay, comparing Bebe to Catherine is like comparing apples to oranges, they're different. The movie Chicago was meant to be very different from the show, so Velma is different. In the movie she was supposed to be more serious and dynamic while in the stage play she's meant to be more humorous. When you think about it that way, they both did an outstanding job portraying their characters, so really they're neck-in-neck.

[@dropkickmurphy4114]

*neck AND neck

[@anne-mariegaller8514]

I too am a Broadway dancer, and having studied with... and danced with both... you are comparing apples and oranges. You could almost put Rob in a different generation of dancers... harder edged / more athletic than many Fosse dancers. Annie's technique may not have been the strongest, but she - and Dana Moore - are still the epitome of Fosse stylistically.

[@rocketdawg19]

Fantastic

[@joecclesvamps8511]

Genial

[@redfender93]

I loooooove fosse

[@christopherbacon1077]

When performing Fosse it helps if you're part snake

[@TheHoneyDrums]

ojalá puedas subir toda la obra completa gracias

[@yourtrekpal]

BEBE

[@earltrombley7646]

terrific!

[@mmbr01rrf]

You can't compare the two performances because the choreography is COMPLETELY different, the staging is TOTALLY different, lighting is different, orchestral arrangement is different, - the TOTAL approach is different. The only things that are the same are: the leads are both female and the music melody line & lyrics are Kander & Ebb.