On July 31-Aug. 5, Durham Performing Arts Center will present ?Chicago,? starring Christie Brinkley as former showgirl-turned-sexy jazz slayer Roxanne ?Roxie? Hart (photo by Jeremy Daniel)
Supermodel and actress Christie Brinkley will star as former showgirl-turned-sexy jazz slayer Roxie Hart, who shoots her boyfriend three times when he tries to dump her and then tries to convince her husband to take the blame, in the national tour of legendary director and choreographer Bob Fosse?s Roaring Twenties musical, Chicago, which will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on July 31-Aug. 5. The 58-year-old Monroe, MI native has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers and made, perhaps, her biggest modeling splash as modeling for a number of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues.
The touring version of Chicago that will play eight performances at DPAC is based on the award-winning 1996 Broadway revival of the show, which was directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking, whose work is faithfully recreated on tour by director Scott Faris and choreographer Gary Chryst. This ?Musical Vaudeville,? which is set in Chicago at the end of the 1920s, features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and original director/choreographer Bob Fosse, based on Maurine Dallas Watkins? vintage comedy Chicago (1927).
Besides Christie Brinkley as Roxie Hart, the tour stars Amra-Faye Wright as former vaudevillian and nightclub singer Velma Kelly, whom Roxie?s headline-grabbing crime makes yesterday?s news; and Tony Yazbeck as Velma?s high-priced Windy City criminal defense attorney Billy Flynn, who puts Velma?s case on the backburner while he gin ups favorable publicity for Roxie.
Ron Orbach plays Roxie?s sad-sack husband Amos Hart (a.k.a. ?Mr. Cellophane?); Brent Heuser adds a crisp cameo as Roxie?s no good rat of a boyfriend Fred Casely; Roz Ryan is terrific as corrupt Cook County Jail matron ?Mama? Morton; and R. Lowe portrays sobsister Mary Sunshine, a gullible newspaper columnist who eagerly swallows Flynn?s latest lies neat, with no chaser.
According to the Durham Performing Arts Center:
?After her critically-acclaimed debut as Roxie Hart on Broadway and in London?s West End [both in 2011], Christie Brinkley, one of the world?s most successful supermodels, will make her highly-anticipated Broadway tour debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in the six-time Tony Award?-winning musical smash hit Chicago.
?Chicago producer Barry Weissler said: ?We are thrilled to welcome Christie and her incredible dedication, focus, and determination that she exhibits?. I?m excited to share with audiences the stellar performance that she delivers.?
?Throughout her phenomenal career as one of the country?s most successful and recognizable supermodels, Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. But more than that, she also excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist, environmentalist, and political activist. Christie Brinkley recently launched a line of natural skin care products as part of her new company, Christie Brinkley Beauty [https://www.christiebrinkleyskincare.com/shared-beauty.html]. Combining her modeling experience with her artistic talents and diverse interests, Christie?s career over the years has been interesting and dynamic.
?A Ford model for over 30 years, Christie was discovered by a photographer in Paris at the age of eighteen. Since then, she has become the first model to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated for three consecutive years, and appeared in the publication?s annual Swimsuit Issues and television specials for years to follow.
?In 1976, CoverGirl gave Christie her first ?big break? in modeling with a contract, which launched the start of a 20-year partnership that marks the longest-running cosmetics contract of any model in history.
?Christie is known for her commitment to health and fitness. Christie wrote and illustrated a health and beauty book, Christie Brinkley?s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Guide [1983], which topped The New York Times bestseller list.
?On the big screen, she made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the hit feature film National Lampoon?s Vacation and its 1997 sequel, Vegas Vacation. She has also famously appeared in Billy Joel?s classic music videos ?Uptown Girl,? ?Keeping the Faith,? and ?All About Soul,? as well as Mick Jones? music video ?Just Wanna Hold.?
?On television, Christie has appeared on NBC?s ?Mad About You? and hosted Lifetime Television?s ?InStyle Celebrity Weddings,? which became the highest-rated special in Lifetime?s history. She has also been featured in Vh1?s ?Pop Culture Icons? series. Christie has been the subject of many documentaries including the HBO program ?Beautiful Baby, Beautiful,? Lifetime?s ?Intimate Portrait,? and ?Barbara Walters? Oscar Night Special.?
?Christie is an active member and dedicated supporter/activist for many organizations including UNICEF?s Art and Entertainment Support Committee, Handgun Control, Ovarian Cancer, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Cousteau Society, Southern Poverty Law, The Wilderness Society, and http://stopglobalwarming.org/.
?She currently lives in New York with two of her three children, Sailor Lee and Jack Paris. Her daughter, actress/singer Alexa Ray Joel, lives in New York City.?
The original Broadway production of Chicago earned ten 1976 Tony Award? nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn), Best Actress in a Musical (both Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly and Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart), Best Direction of a Musical (Bob Fosse), and Best Choreography (Fosse). But it took home no Tonys.
By contrast, the 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago received eight 1997 Tony Award? nominations and won six Tonys, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Walter Bobbie), Best Choreography (Ann Reinking), Best Actor in a Musical (James Naughton as Billy Flynn), and Best Actress in a Musical (Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly). It also won the 1997 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.
The vivacious 2002 motion-picture version of Chicago, directed by Rob Marshall, starred Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. It received thirteen 2003 Academy Award? nominations and won six Oscars, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Catherine Zeta-Jones).
The Durham Performing Arts Center also writes:
?Now in its 16th glorious year of girls, glitz, and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical Chicago is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.
?With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.
?Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media, and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago?s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today?s tabloids.
?Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, Chicago features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and sound design by Scott Lehrer.?
SECOND OPINION: July 27th Raleigh, NC News & Observer interview with Christie Brinkley, conducted by Betsy Church: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/07/26/2220250/christie-brinkley-strikes-a-new.html; and Durham, NC Herald-Sun preview by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/19587129/article-Christie-Brinkley-makes-her-parents-proud? (Note: You may have to register to read this article).
Durham Performing Arts Center presents CHICAGO, starring Christie Brinkley as Roxie Hart, at 7:30 p.m. July 31-Aug. 2, 8 p.m. Aug. 3, 2 and 8 p.m. Aug. 4, and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at 123 Vivian St., Durham, North Carolina 27701.
TICKETS: $25-$95 (including fees), except $11 Student Rush Tickets (limit 2) to the day of the performance to students with valid ID.
BOX OFFICE:
DPAC Box Office: 919-680-ARTS (2787), tickets@dpacnc.com, or http://www.dpacnc.com/events/how_to_buy_tickets.
Ticketmaster: 800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/115558/844316.
GROUP RATES (10+ tickets): 919/281-0587, Groups@DPACnc.com, or http://www.dpacnc.com/events/group_services/broadway_group_pricing.?
SHOW: http://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/chicago-1.
SERIES: http://www.dpacnc.com/suntrust-broadway-series.
VIDEO PREVIEW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQHBGDdqjM&feature=youtu.be&hd=1.
PRESENTER/VENUE: http://www.dpacnc.com/.
DIRECTIONS: http://www.dpacnc.com/plan_your_visit/getting_here.
PARKING: http://www.dpacnc.com/plan_your_visit/parking_guide.
OTHER LINKS:
The Musical: http://www.chicagothemusical.com/ (official website) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_musical (Wikipedia).
The Script: ?http://books.google.com/ (Google Books).
The U.S. Tour: http://www.chicagothemusical.com/ustour.php (official web page).
The Film: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/439832/Chicago/ (TCM Movie Database), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(2002_film) (Wikipedia), and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299658/ (Internet Movie Database).
Christie Brinkley: http://christiebrinkley.com/ (official website) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christie_Brinkley (Wikipedia).
EDITOR?S NOTE:
Robert W. McDowell is editor and publisher of Triangle Theater Review, a FREE weekly e-mail theatrical newsletter that provides more comprehensive, in-depth coverage of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill theater than all of the other news media combined. This preview is reprinted with permission from Triangle Theater Review.
To start your FREE subscription to this newsletter, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE TTR in the Subject: line.
To read all of Robert W. McDowell?s Triangle Theater Review previews and reviews online at Triangle Arts & Entertainment, click http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/author/robert-w-mcdowell/.
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