The original set was surrounded by black patent leather with images of an audience of leering old men projected on it - as if watching the show from the balconies. Plus, the neon signs and the vaudeville sets that were rolled out from under the orchestra stage for the scenes. I was so fortunate to watch Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach perform.
I would think so. But, it’s not like I could go up to it and check. Like I replied before, I was going by the description of a newspaper critic. I had no reason to question his description - it just wasn’t all that important. What was important was that the set and the mechanics of the scenery was fantastic - not to mention the music, the costumes and the performances. As popular as the revivals have been, I feel the audiences of today are missing out on the full production of the original. Oh, well.
Thanks for posting! Love it. First saw this in 1977 at the Muny in St. Louis with Ann Reinking as Roxie, Lenore Nemitz as Velma and Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn. It was apparently the Broadway cast-having been shipped to the Muny in its entirety after it closed on Broadway. Was blown away by the razor-sharp performances but have to admit-wasn't prepared for the staging: the bizarre Patricia Zipprodt costumes and the way the ensemble moved like a Greek chorus, didn't know what to think of it. But it stayed with me. What a visionary Bob Fosse was. My favorite musical.
Thank you so much. I saw the original touring production in San Francisco with the sets, staging, costumes and original Broadway cast - it was all spectacular. I kind of feel sorry for the audiences who have only seen the stripped down staging and costumes of the revival - despite it’s talented casts.
I can’t believe it’s been forty years since I saw the show at either the Curran or the Orpheum theaters - I can’t remember which. Within about the same year - or a little longer - I saw the original touring companies of Chicago, Annie and On the 20th Century. On the 20th Century featured Judy Kahn, Imogene Coco and the miscast Rock Hudson - who, unfortunately, appeared to already be sick from the disease that eventually took his life.
At the time, it never even occurred to me that Barney Martin wasn’t in the production I saw. I guess I was too focused on the brilliance of Ms. Verdon, Ms. Rivera and Mr. Orbach. I’m pretty sure M. O’Haughey was in the production - and had s lot of the audience fooled. In 1978, even in San Francisco, many people were shocked at one of the “thing that weren’t always what they seemed”. :) The whole show was brilliant - probably the best and most enjoyable musicals I had the privilege of seeing in San Francisco.
@@chrisnorman9980 That was quite a time. Chicago played at the Orpheum on Market Street. Chita Rivera would later play there in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Same orchestrations Same book Same choreography Except the revival didn’t open the same year as A Chorus Line God bless you for posting this Spiderwoman!!!
Actually the set was different in some scenes. And there were definitely differences throughout. The costumes were a major change for one. There were also differences in the choreography. The revival was based on this choreography but some things we're altered. But I agree the original didn't get its due
@@flagler88 For this 1985 production, the direction and choreography was recreated by Bob Fosse's assistant Tony Stevens. Fosse did not work on that production.
My first Broadway show and my first day in NYC. The entire original cast at the 46th Street Theater. I thought they would all be like this. They weren't.
She played Roxie in the revival too - Las Vegas, Toronto and London, opposite Stephanie Pope and Valarie Pettiford. 1999. She wouldn’t do it on Broadway out of reverence for Gwen, however.
Am I wrong to assume this production didn't include the original massive Neons? I can only see the "Chicago: Late 20's" and I can only imagine the others would be difficult to store and ship for subsequent productions a decade later (I know at least one of them ended up at Studio 54...). Anyways, still amazing footage, merci vielmal.
Oddly, one full set ended up at SUNY Plattsburgh way upstate. I think it was the national tour copy. We borrowed the whole set for a production I conducted.
I would adore seeing more of "Good to Mama" since it's the closest we can get to (the divine) Mary McCarty's interpretation! Of the three films of the original, none captures her singing it, right Aurora?
I never knew Chita played Roxy... I only know that Liza replaced Gwen for some shows.... So, who can tell me the story behind that video... and where is Jerry Orbach? I mean, is that the original? Where is Gwen? Who's that Velma? Does anyone know...?
I prefer this so much more! I Don’t understand why the revamped version is nothing but ripped black clothing and inner wear as outer wear-style ! it doesn’t really suits a period piece which Chicago is supposed to be!
It was meant to be stripped back and a little bit meta. They must be doing something right…it’s the 2nd longest running production in Broadway history and on its 27th year.
Wow I saw the London and broawday cast in 96 and 97 but unfortunately I wasn't born for this one 😢 Why did most of the Broadway magic happen pre 1980 😂
Chita created and played the role of Velma in the 1975 original Broadway production. Here she is trying on the role of Roxie for the first time. In 1999, she would again play Roxie, in the '96 revival version, in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.
Thank you for your amazing posting ! by the way, could you upload Natasha Richardson's and Michelle Williams' Cabaret again ? I wanna see them once more until I die...!
That seems to be because Kirsten Childs was a newcomer at the time (she has in recent years become a writer of musicals), while Chita and Harry Guardino had numerous Broadway credits by this time.
Thank you for reminding everyone what this show truly is and how it is supposed to be produced. Never never understood the appeal of the current version and it's "Roxie of the Month" Crap. Sorry - just being honest.
Shortened versions of shows which were once popular in Las Vegas and elsewhere. They reduced full-length, one-intermission shows to one act of about 90 minutes. Songs and sometimes whole characters would be eliminated. Hits from "Mame" to "Hairspray" frequently underwent this treatment, and shows were rarely seen complete.
No, this was a one-off revival that played Atlantic City eleven years before the Broadway revival. Chita did eventually play Roxie in the Broadway revival staging, but not on Broadway; she did it in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.
No this is how it was originally I believe. It was reconceived for the revival using elements from the original and adding the vocals. Worked better I think ?
@@aamarbutt8987 Well, 4 years later UA-cam recommends this to me again and I completely forgot I'd even seen it. The version we know from the revival was in the licensed version of the show for many years. In the handwritten score, it's there, interestingly marked "Original Version - Preferred by John Kander and Fred Ebb" -- I can only presume now that the version shown in the video was put into play at some point by Bob Fosse.
The original set was surrounded by black patent leather with images of an audience of leering old men projected on it - as if watching the show from the balconies.
Plus, the neon signs and the vaudeville sets that were rolled out from under the orchestra stage for the scenes.
I was so fortunate to watch Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach perform.
Set was made of black mylar, and the images were from the 20's, including a rather grotesque one of Eddie Cantor.
Whatever. I had read in a review at the time that it was patent leather - I guess the reviewer was wrong.
Chris Norman
Mylar sure would be cheaper than patent leather.
I would think so.
But, it’s not like I could go up to it and check.
Like I replied before, I was going by the description of a newspaper critic.
I had no reason to question his description - it just wasn’t all that important.
What was important was that the set and the mechanics of the scenery was fantastic - not to mention the music, the costumes and the performances.
As popular as the revivals have been, I feel the audiences of today are missing out on the full production of the original.
Oh, well.
I was lucky to see it with Chita, Liza and Jerry. It was amazing of Liza to fill in. The audience was electric to see her.
Your posts are so full of WOW. Thank you. Bootlegs CAN be respectful.
Love this comment.
Thanks for posting! Love it. First saw this in 1977 at the Muny in St. Louis with Ann Reinking as Roxie, Lenore Nemitz as Velma and Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn. It was apparently the Broadway cast-having been shipped to the Muny in its entirety after it closed on Broadway. Was blown away by the razor-sharp performances but have to admit-wasn't prepared for the staging: the bizarre Patricia Zipprodt costumes and the way the ensemble moved like a Greek chorus, didn't know what to think of it. But it stayed with me. What a visionary Bob Fosse was. My favorite musical.
I worked tech on this show. Lot's of fun. Chita would hang with the crew after the shows at the dive . bars in Atlantic City!
Thank you so much.
I saw the original touring production in San Francisco with the sets, staging, costumes and original Broadway cast - it was all spectacular.
I kind of feel sorry for the audiences who have only seen the stripped down staging and costumes of the revival - despite it’s talented casts.
Yes, the original was brilliant, and you were lucky to have seen the original leads.
I can’t believe it’s been forty years since I saw the show at either the Curran or the Orpheum theaters - I can’t remember which.
Within about the same year - or a little longer - I saw the original touring companies of Chicago, Annie and On the 20th Century.
On the 20th Century featured Judy Kahn, Imogene Coco and the miscast Rock Hudson - who, unfortunately, appeared to already be sick from the disease that eventually took his life.
At the time, it never even occurred to me that Barney Martin wasn’t in the production I saw. I guess I was too focused on the brilliance of Ms. Verdon, Ms. Rivera and Mr. Orbach.
I’m pretty sure M. O’Haughey was in the production - and had s lot of the audience fooled. In 1978, even in San Francisco, many people were shocked at one of the “thing that weren’t always what they seemed”.
:)
The whole show was brilliant - probably the best and most enjoyable musicals I had the privilege of seeing in San Francisco.
@@chrisnorman9980 That was quite a time. Chicago played at the Orpheum on Market Street. Chita Rivera would later play there in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Getting to see so much of Fosse's Razzle Dazzle made my day! Thank you!
Very glad you liked it.
Costumes aren’t the originals, as far as I can tell, but the choreography is near exact.
I love that it was the 70s & the cast was multi-cultural!!!
Shocking in such a racist country -
I can´t belive i finaly got to see this! Thank you so much for sharing
Same orchestrations
Same book
Same choreography
Except the revival didn’t open the same year as A Chorus Line
God bless you for posting this Spiderwoman!!!
Actually the set was different in some scenes. And there were definitely differences throughout. The costumes were a major change for one. There were also differences in the choreography. The revival was based on this choreography but some things we're altered. But I agree the original didn't get its due
@@flagler88 For this 1985 production, the direction and choreography was recreated by Bob Fosse's assistant Tony Stevens. Fosse did not work on that production.
My Drama club in High School went to NYC for a week and this was one of the shows we had tickets for.
The audio is so clean! Thank you so much.
Me watching the 1997 revival, "How in the hell did A Chorus Line best this show"? After watching these clips, "Oh"!
Seriously? Seeing the original concepts and choreography make it seem unreal that it lost. The 90s version? Meh
@@bigred8432 Difference of opinion. To me, the material gets buried here.
Thank you so much for posting this ❤❤❤ xx
Only Aurora Spiderwoman to bring us something like this! Yessss!!!!
Thank you, honored by this distinction.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
what amazing and valuable footage! wish one could see more of chita performing the honey rag or other numbers. :) thanks a lot for posting.
This is treasured material!
Thanks---glad you liked it.
I worked on a production of this back in ' 88; one of my happier theatrical experiences.
Amazing. Thank you!
Holy shit, the production of Chicago I’m in now opens Friday, good timing
You poor bastard…
My first Broadway show and my first day in NYC. The entire original cast at the 46th Street Theater. I thought they would all be like this. They weren't.
This is wonderful!! thanks for posting!!
Very glad to hear you enjoyed.
Thank you so much for posting this!!! Does a full version exist? I’d give my eye teeth to see it!
Thank you so much
I never knew Chita switch roles and played Roxie
She played Roxie in the revival too - Las Vegas, Toronto and London, opposite Stephanie Pope and Valarie Pettiford. 1999. She wouldn’t do it on Broadway out of reverence for Gwen, however.
This is priceless!
One of the highest possible compliments, thank you.
Am I wrong to assume this production didn't include the original massive Neons? I can only see the "Chicago: Late 20's" and I can only imagine the others would be difficult to store and ship for subsequent productions a decade later (I know at least one of them ended up at Studio 54...). Anyways, still amazing footage, merci vielmal.
Oddly, one full set ended up at SUNY Plattsburgh way upstate. I think it was the national tour copy. We borrowed the whole set for a production I conducted.
I would adore seeing more of "Good to Mama" since it's the closest we can get to (the divine) Mary McCarty's interpretation! Of the three films of the original, none captures her singing it, right Aurora?
oh wow... that cell block sure is something.
Kirsten Child wrote The Bubbly Black Girl! She’s great! There’s a whole song about Bob Fosse in that show!
Yes, she had a history with this show: she was Velma on the tour in the late '70s. No doubt both Kirsten and Chita helped with the recreation here.
Like the different orchestrations!
I never knew Chita played Roxy... I only know that Liza replaced Gwen for some shows....
So, who can tell me the story behind that video... and where is Jerry Orbach? I mean, is that the original? Where is Gwen? Who's that Velma?
Does anyone know...?
The cast is in the description
I think this is the tour. Chita played Roxie
I am to you as Manfred is to Norma Desmond because I am still your greatest fan!
With grateful thanks.
I prefer this so much more! I Don’t understand why the revamped version is nothing but ripped black clothing and inner wear as outer wear-style ! it doesn’t really suits a period piece which Chicago is supposed to be!
The revival began as an Encores! production (a staged concert version) that was so popular it transferred to broadway and not much has changed since.
It was meant to be stripped back and a little bit meta. They must be doing something right…it’s the 2nd longest running production in Broadway history and on its 27th year.
Production costs.
It started as special *Encore* Production.
It did so well it moved to B'way.
Wow I saw the London and broawday cast in 96 and 97 but unfortunately I wasn't born for this one 😢 Why did most of the Broadway magic happen pre 1980 😂
Lt. Bressler as Billy? Amazing
I had to look that one up.
aurora spiderwoman I know him from the Dirty Harry movies, didn’t know he could sing/dance too!
I had NO IDEA that Chita Rivera ever played Roxie Hart!
And she did it again in the revival production, in which she was Roxie in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London (but not NY).
@@auroraspiderwoman5886 She didn't think highly of the new production - she made a significant dismissive gesture when I mentioned it to her...
Thank you so much for posting this indelible trip down memory lane! Does anyone know who the actress is that is playing Velma?
Kirsten Childs, who later created the off-Broadway musicals "The Bubbling Black Girl" and, more recently, "Bella."
the wonderful Kirsten Childs
Wow!
I’m confused why Chita is playing Roxie. I thought she was Velma? Did they switch at some point?
Chita created and played the role of Velma in the 1975 original Broadway production. Here she is trying on the role of Roxie for the first time. In 1999, she would again play Roxie, in the '96 revival version, in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.
Thank you for your amazing posting ! by the way, could you upload Natasha Richardson's and Michelle Williams' Cabaret again ? I wanna see them once more until I die...!
Please !
Interesting how Velma seems to be on second fiddle billing in this version...
That seems to be because Kirsten Childs was a newcomer at the time (she has in recent years become a writer of musicals), while Chita and Harry Guardino had numerous Broadway credits by this time.
Magnificent show! If A Chorus Line hadn't' been the same year it would have swept the Tony Awards!
Thank you for reminding everyone what this show truly is and how it is supposed to be produced. Never never understood the appeal of the current version and it's "Roxie of the Month" Crap. Sorry - just being honest.
The Original ! Cellblock Tango !.. was SO MUCH ! MORE ! ORIGINAL !.. than The 90s Revival !.. with ! The MEIN HEIR ! CABARET Chairs 😝 Ripoff !!!
What's a tab production?
Shortened versions of shows which were once popular in Las Vegas and elsewhere. They reduced full-length, one-intermission shows to one act of about 90 minutes. Songs and sometimes whole characters would be eliminated. Hits from "Mame" to "Hairspray" frequently underwent this treatment, and shows were rarely seen complete.
@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Thanks.
i prefer the original
This is from the 1998 revival of Chicago when Chita Rivera play Roxie.
No, this was a one-off revival that played Atlantic City eleven years before the Broadway revival. Chita did eventually play Roxie in the Broadway revival staging, but not on Broadway; she did it in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.
Is this a completely different number in place of Me and My Baby?
No this is how it was originally I believe. It was reconceived for the revival using elements from the original and adding the vocals. Worked better I think ?
@@aamarbutt8987 Well, 4 years later UA-cam recommends this to me again and I completely forgot I'd even seen it. The version we know from the revival was in the licensed version of the show for many years. In the handwritten score, it's there, interestingly marked "Original Version - Preferred by John Kander and Fred Ebb" -- I can only presume now that the version shown in the video was put into play at some point by Bob Fosse.
Ermmm Chita is not Roxy, sorry. I am sorry but to me, this setting is inferior to the Revival. Especially the Cell Block Tango sextet.
To bad they didn't record the Hot Honey Rag. Richard Korthaze was a friend, he passed away recently at 94.