CHICAGO: 9 Roxies

[@hair1671]

I hadnt expected to like Melanie so much but she brings something completely different to the part. She is so sweet. She has a Marilyn quality to her. Loved it :)

[@mizboots72]

hair1671 I know! Like a sweet menace that catches a prey on guard but has some sort of vulnerability...

[@billyflynn2]

No she hasn't

[@rosejustice]

@hair1671 - I agree. I also thought Lisa Rinna brought something nice to the scene as well. The two I groaned at when I saw their names were a very pleasant surprise when I saw their scene.

[@rubydube7280]

She has one note: "Working Girl"

[@quinnmorlotti]

Tresa H. what do you mean?

[@songlangthemovie3771]

Melanie killed it! So refreshing to see a film actress' take on the monologue.

[@1105pitbull]

Loved her in Working Girl.

[@davidpellegrene1133]

Melanie is so underrated. She's fantastic. She's so natural and she always makes me smile.

[@46foryounger]

I think she’s a great actress she slayed this wish I could see the whole performance

[@davidpellegrene1133]

@@46foryounger I would have loved to see her entire performance too.

[@teijaflink2226]

She really nailed the comedic part of this role, would be interesting to know how her singing and dancing was too

[@Marcel_Audubon]

nice surprise: Melanie Griffith was in total control of the house, the character and our hearts from the first line. Sentimental favorite: Ann Reinking whose fingerprints were all over the production in 1,000 ways. Ann passed away yesterday 😢

[@GOberdorf]

Well, of course Chita and Anne were leagues above everyone else. But who would’ve thunk Melanie Griffith would be so darn good??!! I was captivated by her stage presence. Great timing and delivery. What a pleasant surprise!

[@46foryounger]

I prefer to watch Anne dance. Her voice here sounds like James Cagney. Chita was my favorite and Melanie.

[@alvarovelarde1612]

RIGHT?? She sounded like renne

[@khloeknievel3874]

Brittany Murphy would have been a great Roxie

[@misfittoys5873]

Omg YES!!

[@CulinaryGuide]

Hell yeah!

[@SimplyTrishx]

🙌 Yes

[@alvarovelarde1612]

I see it

[@JoeSnoe126]

This comment broke my heart because wow just imagining it feels special

[@larrystuckeyii2238]

I saw Melanie live - and she was utterly compelling

[@46foryounger]

Yes that’s exactly how I felt watching this clip. I had no idea she played this role so first I was surprised and happy to see her and then I was completely engulfed in her performance

[@johnmeyer77]

I watched ‘em all and thought I’d share my revelation that Melanie Griffith was the best. I then read a dozen other comments only to find that they all had the same reaction.

[@janetstrzelec521]

No one holds a candle to Ann Reinking. I saw the first tour with her and have been in love ever since. RIP Annie❤️

[@sweeney60]

Personally, Sandy Duncan gave me the closest thing to how I envision Roxie. She’s so present and so dialed in and I think that really says something about Roxie. Roxie only knows how to live in the moment she doesn’t care about how any of her actions affect anyone else and I really get that in Sandy’s performance.

[@pjb2773]

Melanie had the audience eating out of her hand. Fantastic.

[@46foryounger]

I agree I think she’s a great actress. In this role she drew me right in also Chita❤️

[@pinesmotion-picturespresents]

She's closest to the movie ver.

[@michellefinnegan-nixonprom6503]

She was the best

[@twogayswatch8388]

WE NEED A FULL BOOTLEG! AM I RIGHT??

[@sothathappened]

what melanie captured, with her girlish voice, was what rene z brought across on the screen, a veneer of innocence that makes us want to feel for roxie even though she's a sociopath

[@charlotteziggy8353]

Wow, I am shook, out of these clips Melanie was the best!

[@uptownsunni3560]

What an abundance of talent! It's amazing to see the performances one after another, like a a primer in the different options and interpretations. You can see a real difference between the experienced stage dancer/singer/actors and the film actresses.

[@alyssa01825]

charlotte is the absolute best. greatest roxie to ever grace the stage. i saw her live last night. wish i could watch it all over again.

[@hulingfoster9389]

This video is a gem. And more Melanie please. Would love to see her singing and dancing.

[@kennydonovan848]

Shockingly Melanie is hands down the best. Would love to see more of her.

[@SamSung-nf6tr]

One of the best. Maybe #2. We all have our favorites. Shame her plastic surgery didn't go as expected.

[@AllGreyEverything]

@@SamSung-nf6tr too bad she got mauled by an actual lion. What a crazy thing.

[@sarahfuller5482]

Lisa Rinna was not landing those lines but her little stunt with the orchestra was cute.

[@CarmenZynger]

Charlotte Dambois was perfect! Saw her in NYC - loved it.

[@beaellie9766]

I thought she was channelling Ellen Greene a bit too much.

[@YensidBuckingham]

Wow...Melanie Griffith was amazing here

[@paulliberti2048]

What I love about this production - and the reason it lasts so long - is so evident here. Each one of these very special performers is given the opportunity to create their very own unique Roxie. I have a feeling Gary Chryst had something to do with this (he himself is a very very special performer and Annie's Dance supervisor) No two Roxies are alike - each one shines uniquely - with their own moments. Not all long running productions give performers that opportunity. Some ladies here have better abilities from each other - but each one truly shines and holds that stage so powerfully. Wish Brandy and Paige Davis were also included here.. they brought once again their very own special style to this wonderful piece. For me - they are all spectacular - Thank you for this wonderful post! So very glad to see each and every one. Broadway and Chicago has had some spectacular Roxies - Now I would love to see the London Roxies!! I am sure that they are lovingly allowed to make this role so unique.

[@tomgallowitz]

Paul Liberti true same for Velma too,

[@meredithchandler73]

Well said. I also believe that every Roxie has her costume redesigned for her so no two are exactly the same. And I love that Chita's and Karen's are the two that are distinctly different from all the others (which are variations of the same design).

[@kevinhogan7814]

Oh my Melanie! She's so perfect for the part.

[@ozzian2000]

I saw Melanie and she was FANTASTIC!

[@jaylondarby21]

Brandy really revived the role as of recent. She is amazing👌🏾

[@niteowl365]

Gosh! Chita Rivera, Melanie Griffith, and Sandy Duncan seem to really have it!

[@Figure8snowman]

Wow, Melanie is EXQUISITE.

[@AtWordsPoetic]

Chita Rivera moves like she's 20-something in this...In this video, she's 66. Let that sink in.

[@billyflynn2]

No, she isn't

[@margarethamilton1562]

She's awesome. Her movements just flow one into another. Verdon was dancing late too. Thete must have been something about not working against the body as in classical ballet. Also Chita was/is happy. There's nothing she'd rather be doing. They also kept their shapes post menopausal. Interesting observation. Fosse was great. No, he couldn't leap as high but he didn't have to.

[@marthawelch4289]

@@billyflynn2 Chita was born in January of 1933 per Wikipedia. The description in this video states that Chita did this performance in a 1999 run of Chicago. That data would make her 66 years old at that time. She looked great then and I saw her perform on stage just recently and she still looks great for 86 years old.

[@46foryounger]

I freakin love Chita Rivera. She’s incredible she dances from every inch of her body

[@lisacooks]

Melanie was AMAZING.

[@allansolis5760]

Awesome! Thank you for putting this together.

[@skadibell3722]

jennifer tilly would have been a great roxie

[@carlodelarosaManuelito]

She and renee zellweger

[@minx2528]

OMG!! Jennifer, is perfect for the role!! She was born to play Roxie Hart!!

[@ghlee2300]

Best by one million percent was Melanie Griffith!!!! Put all others to shame. So naturally funny 😄

[@dolores9429]

Yes & the worst was Lisa Rinna 🤢

[@jasonlemoine2074]

All of these women are amazing, but especially Reinking. She has an ironclad grip on the audience the whole time.

[@nope_no_nunya.]

Wow, Melanie😍

[@LWSJS]

Ruthie Henshall for me really acted out that switch in the musical where Roxie moved from vulnerable to big headed. She has a hint of psychotic and delusion which we see a lot of in stars who hit big so soon.

[@sweeney60]

I may be in the minority but I think she’s totally wrong for Roxie, she comes off like a Velma to me.

[@hieuscottle2494]

Not sure how she came off live and how her singing/dancing was, but for Roxie's monologue on camera (even bootleg camera), I found Melanie Griffith to be the most compelling and winning Roxie. I loved her line delivery here. Bebe Neuwirth was very strange as Roxie but I loved her clips as Velma. From this clip, Lisa Rinna was the worst actress by far, but I liked how she had fun with the stick. I saw Charlotte D'amboise live last year and she was absolutely amazing as Roxie. She played up Roxie's crazy and it worked.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Yep, at least for the minutes seen here, Melanie kind of IS Roxie.

[@tomgallowitz]

aurora spiderwoman She can act, but can't sing nor dance

[@BamaFan-vc4gn]

Funny. I thought Griffith was stiff as a board. Basically delivers her lines like all her acting parts. Rinna on the other hand seemed natural and charming, effortless.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

@@BamaFan-vc4gn I thought Rinna offered no sort of character to her line deliveries. She just screamed and was doing moves to show off her own body. I think she left the character of Roxie a while back during that clip and was hamming it up to promote her own self.

[@sothathappened]

bebe looked very strange.... too much forehead and too old for the role

[@pbohearn]

Thanks for this video of the Roxies! Like many people, I surprisingly agree that Melanie acquitted herself nicely LOL and Chita is always compelling. Was Gwen Verdon in here? The ladies that clearly were “of a certain age”, “brought something to it that I had not seen before, which is this character really was too old for her act, and was starting to realize it too

[@jessedalton2387]

Melanie is somehow the greatest Roxie ever.

[@TheAngiehubbard]

Jesse Eberl nope! That honor goes to Brandy Norwood 😊

[@notgoinnowhere]

Jesse Eberl but I agree with you. She just gets it.

[@bootybebouncin]

Jesse Eberl no

[@robertr798]

Ick. I mean, she has some good moments, but I wish her choices were bigger and more specific.

[@margarethamilton1562]

She's underrated for the same reasons Marilyn was. She showed her vulnerability and her joy. This performance shows how good she is. She becomes the part. When Shirley McClaine performs I always think "Shirley is on the screen playing ..." I think it's acting and the Hollywood star thing. Why are women who are courageous enough to show their true selves thought of as a little dumb for not being canny and sly? I didn't think I'd like Melanie. I couldn't envision her until I saw her.

[@anhw3303]

I've seen quite a few, including the original City Center original cast, but I must say Sandy Duncan really made me laugh out loud. And Chita... it's just special to see her as Roxie and only in a limited run.

[@basilrodericks7791]

Melanie was fantastic, as were they all, but Anne Reinking - just the Fosse way of of holding her fingers holding that paper and her true NY characterization - girl u win.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Agreed. Thanks for the comment.

[@BamaFan-vc4gn]

Yikers, no... that voices was just weird AF.

[@orion8835]

BamaFan1962 .....THATSTHE POINT. The show is a vaudeville. Wake up. It’s not freaking Annie. Which ironically Reinking did legit voiced on the screen.

[@MrKomninakis]

yes

[@trevorstime9897]

Griffith and d'Amboise were amazingggg

[@angelus2002]

Ruthie Henshall's Roxie has a killer psychotic edge love it

[@beaellie9766]

I saw M. Griffith do the show. She was very good...I really liked her performance in "They Both Reached for the Gun" as well. She was kind of heartbreaking.

[@rosemarymagrino772]

The only one missing was the original...Gwen Verdon⭐️

[@yodaya70]

Rosemary Magrino and Liza Minnelli :)

[@ashleyregina]

The BEST ONE

[@genevieveshaffer4568]

i saw chicago front row this past december and charlotte connected with me so much it was insane. best experience of my life.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

um ... 'front row' are the worst seats in the house, sorry to burst your bubble

[@Sunshine_day]

Sandy Duncan suprisingly reminded me of Gwen Verdon's Charity.

[@rayyanez3527]

WOW!!!🙄 🥰Melanie!!!! KILLED! IT !!! In The Monologue!!!🤣😂🥰💕

[@michaelmalaret1399]

Why is there no mention of Chita being the ORIGINAL Velma to Gwen Verdon's Roxie on Broadway from 1970s

[@pabbiepoe]

Do you have any footage of Melanie singing? She was my favorite out of these performers.

[@hefinrosser8685]

I love how Melanie Griffiths works wonders with this role. She's magnificent xxx

[@Sunny1414100]

Wow...Melanie was great 👏

[@AT-jm4dl]

I wish we could've seen the entire number from Melanie. She was very good in this clip.

[@leecooper4213]

I was surprised to see Melanie here, but MAN! She's just SOOO vulnerable w/ a little naitivity, and a little crazy thrown in. I loved Rene Z. in this role (the film) & always said that nobody else could EVER perform Roxie like Rene. Until I saw this clip of Melanie....Wow! Have to say that I bet Ann Reinking (the original Roxie) would be a real HOOT to see in this role as she seems to play a special kind of crazy. All 9 women were awesome, but Melanie really portrayed the Roxie that I envision ~

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

All good points, and I agree with all of the them. Well said.

[@MrKomninakis]

Rene is the worst ever Roxie imo....her face looks constantly constipated and her performance was over acted......Madonna/Goldie Hawn would have been the perfect pair for the film even Bob Fosse wanted those 2 for the film before he died....i must admit i agree

[@rickramos1292]

I loved Melanie but I think my favorite is Ann Reinking. Her character is truly original. Nobody has ever played it that way and it totally works. I've seen Chicago twice on Broadway. First time was in July 1997 with Bebe as Velma and Marilu Henner as Roxie. Great cast. Second time was in June 2000 also a great cast with Sharon Lawrence as Velma. Seen the national tours with Charlotte d'Amboise as Roxie. Last time I saw Chicago was way back in 2006 when a national tour swung by Long Beach. Terra McLeod was Roxie. I'm not surprised the show is still playing on Broadway all these years later. It's a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying musical and production. Some people complain that the revival is too spare and has no real sets but it's all we need. Out of curiosity, I'd love to see a fully staged production but I just know I would prefer the revival concert staging. The revival has always felt like a big, spectacular show even though it's stunningly little more than skimpy outfits and chairs. They achieved a great thing with that revival; they trusted the audience to fill in the rest using their imagination. They give us all we need to reach that place where a simplistic show is perceived as a major spectacle. It's those musicals that-to me--define the magic of theatre. Nowadays theatre is losing its sense of theatricality and replacing that with elements designed to spell out to an audience what to feel and how to think. Projections showing literally movies now fill many stages and it's all so sloppy and lazy now. Shows like Chicago are theatre at its most effective and show-stopping and--like A Chorus Line--sucks you into the story so that you don't even notice the only set decoration is a white line on the floor and in the case of Chicago a jury box and the orchestra. I need to see the revival again. It's been a long time.

[@amahra100]

Melanie was the best.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

the second "ya got that, Charlie?" wins his category - hubba hubba

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

OK, you forced me to go back and take a look, and I have to agree.

[@t.e.burgos3263]

Melanie Griffith would have been an amazing big-screen Roxie if the film had been made in the late nineties. I would have loved to see her alongside Madonna as Velma and John Travolta as Billy Flynn.

[@elphbwckd212]

Madonna I can see, but Richard Geere was perfect as Billy Flynn. I don't think Travolta would have been as good in that role.

[@t.e.burgos3263]

@oofahman mooch "Mudonna"? Who the hell is "Mudonna"? You cannot read OR spell.

[@t.e.burgos3263]

@@elphbwckd212 Travolta is a much stronger singer and definitely a real dancer. Not to take away from Gere's Billy, which I enjoyed, but I feel that Travolta would have killed the role.

[@romanvgotti1340]

Ruthie Henshall. Every time she is on stage it is a masterclass in Musical Theatre.

[@lorrainefeuerstein8620]

Wow--Chita Rivera was 66 when she did this!!! And she's great! I saw Charlotte d'Amboise in L.A. and she was fabulous--and you can tell here how good she is. Sandy Duncan is so wonderful on stage. She's always worth watching. But the celebrated Ann Reinking, usually so good---Oh, dear, what was that?

[@heaintloveu]

I thought the same! And other people seemed to love her

[@Scorchy666]

I've always loved Melanie. She really IS as tough as Roxie.

[@remyfacade]

I've seen Chicago so many times with many different lead cast members. I have to say the best Roxie that wasn't a song and dance person was Robin Givens. She was surprisingly great.

[@orion8835]

Jae Mery ....awesomeness! wow it seems everybody was in this show .

[@cjcarp9438]

When I saw Melanie Griffith I thought she was going to be one of the worst.....I Thought WRONG! BEST HANDS DOWN!

[@horrorfanatic6990]

Same! I was never a fan of her as an actress, but she really blew me away here!

[@bernieappugliese2029]

Thank you as always. But the problem with a video compilation like this - it shows the very big differences between the theatre professionals and the "celebrities". I for one am tired of celebrity casting and especially what they have done to this wonderful piece of art. And people going to the theatre for the celebrities are not going to experience this piece of art or even to experience theatre itself.

[@leodeleo18]

This vid should be updated with Pamela Anderson’s fabulous take on Roxie.

[@neonmoon82]

I would have never imagined Melenie in this roll but she is great! I wish I would have seen her.

[@Theadambshapiro]

I'm just curious, was Anne actively trying to do Gwen or was that just kinda what happened. She sounds just like her!

[@TheKelJacob]

I know, isn't that strange. Although, I just learned that she took over for Gwen in the original production.

[@orion8835]

Yes she totally did a homage to Verdon in the run.

[@kennetpon]

She unabashedly admitted it. She did her to a capital T.

[@jonathancatunao3646]

Melanie's acting is powerful.

[@rd3271]

Melanie holds her own against the unbeatable Ann. Both fabulous in their own way.

[@SamSung-nf6tr]

Thanks watched 3x over 3 days. Didn't know Lisa R. actually acted other than housewives. I wish I had the money to go to NYC & see a show. U have to be in the upper 20% to afford it. And I'm way older then I ever intended to be. Floss.

[@Cmc995]

Lisa Rinna was on Days of our lives on and off since 1992, Melrose Place for a couple years, numerous tv shows and TV movies before housewives

[@catherinecozzano2580]

Melanie is my favorite. She does the best impro. I miss her. ❤️

[@ellegarret]

I’d love to see Charlotte do it now and see how much she’s changed it

[@peblrox]

I saw her thanksgiving 2019 and she knocked it out of the park!

[@stephenrichardhamilton6112]

Ruthie henshall is so under rated.she has an ibcredible voice and her interpretaion of the part she plays is astounding.

[@baz7055]

Loved Sandy Duncan! She's adorable

[@johndalton3180]

I saw Christie Brinkley do it on tour. Holy hell. The poor woman could barely speak, let alone sing or dance.

[@minx2528]

Right??!! She was absolutley pathetic in the role and so is Pamela Anderson...

[@johndalton3180]

@@minx2528 the producers were doing her such a disservice by casting her. I felt sorry for her the whole time.

[@mst3kanita]

Dang, I didn't know Sandy "Wheat Thins" Duncan was in Chicago. Melanie is my fav, then Bebe.

[@tombennett3827]

I think Marie Osmond would be a good Roxie. And if you believe that.....

[@Loty2023]

Melanie , just WOW!

[@pedrolerin8222]

My favorite roxy’s ever is Bianca Marroquín and chita rivera

[@oscarphile]

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I really like a Roxie with a hint of vulnerability under the swagger, so for me, Sandy and Charlotte nailed it. And of course Melanie and Lisa (who I got to see live) have such winning, bubbly personalities that they're hard to resist. And of course I have to hand it to Bebe and Chita for having at one point or another crossed BOTH leading roles off their bucket lists (Bebe was of course the original Velma in this revival, Chita was the original Velma in the original production).

[@tomgallowitz]

oscarphile for Bebe it's all 3 main female roles: Velma, Roxie, and Mama

[@tomgallowitz]

oscarphile and don't forget Ruthie Roxie and Velma in both London and Broadway

[@lazarelazaro52]

Saw Ruthie as Mama Morton two weeks ago, so...

[@aml519]

well fuck me sideways but Melanie Griffith is actually the best Roxie in that montage.

[@GiannaDellett]

Oh my gosh. I never expected to say but have to admit Melanie Griffith was the best of this group. And sorry to the late Anne Reinking she was so talented but here she sounds like Mrs Lovett as Roxie. Whoa.

[@robertocedillo8263]

where is Bianca Marroquín??? is the BEST Roxie in my opinion

[@paolabarr5692]

Me too

[@carwyncymru]

Is it me or is bebe neworth like Norma Desmond as roxie?

[@jameskowal8962]

Saw Marilu Henner as Roxie soon after Ann Reinking departed in 1997. Saw the show again about 2012 but don't remember who played Roxie.

[@terealamillo8144]

Bianca Marroquín excelente cantante actriz de Chicago musical

[@ferdinandoschiavone835]

Melanie Griffith is the best Roxie!

[@sheltonrt]

Further proof that Lisa Rinna is talent-free.

[@minx2528]

Thank You!! 😉

[@dmm9714]

All hail Queen Chita

[@porterhouse1974]

Lisa Rinna was actually pretty good, her directing the band was hilarious

[@mrjamiecrawford]

I saw Ruthie in this with Ute Lemper. The good old days. Now I feel like you could win the part of Roxie in a prize draw 😂

[@austinpuppy]

I was Sandy’s personal dresser. Not for this show but another one.

[@eirikastokes9652]

Melanie was actually incredible! But Chita was fantastic too.

[@swaingles]

There were three who were way beyond the desirable age-looking for the part. You figure it out!

[@krpbdp]

None of these ladies had the voice of Ruthie Henshall; wish you could see her entire performance.

[@Bertoboy41]

Well my personal favorites were Melanie, Sandy (!) and Chita. But mostly Melanie. I agree with hair1671.⬇️

[@AlexHurleyMusic]

As much as I hate to admit it, cause we've all seen the vile person she is on RHOBH, Lisa Rinna absolutely ate that monologue.

[@minx2528]

I agree that Rinna is a vile person but I thought out of the non singing dancing actresses that Melanie Griffin nailed it..

[@alvarovelarde1612]

Melanie 🙌🙌🙌

[@izzyc127]

If you still have the footage of Nana Visitor as Roxie could you still upload it please?

[@CaseyBlizzard]

Chita’s GOT IT. Not a false moment to be found.

[@raquelnunes9793]

0:43 her daughter looks so much like her ❤

[@fransherrie8052]

I really love Lisa & Charlotte

[@nicholemonade]

Melanie is hilarious!! She gives me a very Harley Quinn vibe :)