Immortal Icons of Dance

Chicago is celebrating 30 years on Broadway! To celebrate, I’m releasing a special series of 6 episodes featuring artists who have been part of the Chicago family for decades. Ryan Lowe played Mary Sunshine for 21 years on Broadway.

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Chicago is celebrating 30 years on Broadway!

To celebrate, I’m releasing a special series of 6 episodes featuring artists who have been part of the Chicago family for decades. Donna Marie Asbury performed in the ensemble of Chicago for 20 years! She also understudied Roxie and Velma and performed with dozens of celebrities over the years. She has many fond memories of the cast of Chicago.

www.immortaliconsofdance.com

Chicago is celebrating 30 years on Broadway!

To celebrate, I’m releasing a special series of 6 episodes featuring artists who have been part of the Chicago family for decades. First up is Jim Borstelmann, who was part of the original 1996 Broadway cast. Jim worked closely with Ann Reinking, who choreographed the revival, and he shares wonderful memories of working with her and being part of the production that would go on to become the longest-running revival in Broadway history.

In this episode I speak with Erzsébet (Liz) who was a ballet student at the School of American Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine when she auditioned to play Michelle Gideon in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical film All That Jazz (1979). While filming, she met Ann Reinking with whom she shared many scenes and dance sequences. From there they developed a special mentor-mentee-friendship that lasted until Reinking's passing in 2020.

www.immortalciconsofdance.com/book-launch

In this episode I’m speaking with Suzanne Charny who is known as "The Ponytail Girl" in Fosse's "Rich Man's Frug" in the 1969 film Sweet Charity. Suzanne began her professional stage career at 15, when she auditioned for Jerome Robbins inWest Side Story and was cast as a Shark girl in a production that toured Australia. Earlier in her career she was also a featured dancer on NBC’s Hullabaloo. After appearing on Broadway in Do Re Mi and the original Sweet Charity, Suzanne transitioned her career to Hollywood.

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In this episode I interview Virginia Johnson, one of the original members of Dance Theatre of Harlem. where she became a principal dancer and performed around the world for nearly three decades. After her performing career she was the founding editor of POINTE Magazine. She later returned to the company as its Artistic Director, helping lead DTH into a new era.

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In this episode I speak to Jim Huntley, a vibrant 93-year-old dancer, choreographer, director, and producer. Jim’s career spans more than seven decades, from dancing alongside Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Ann-Margret to appearing in Mary Poppins, Flower Drum Song, Babes in Toyland, The Happiest Millionaire, and so many more. Jim Also traveled the world choreographing and directing for television and stage.

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In this episode, Lisa Mordente talks about meeting Bob Fosse as a teenager, and watching her mother, Chita Rivera, rehearse and perform in Chicago (1975). Lisa was the first baby born of a "Shark" and a "Jet"—her father, Tony Mordente played "A-Rab" in the original Broadway production of West Side Story, where he met Chita who was playing "Anita." Lisa recalls the backstage antics of the cast, and the inspiration she found in watching Gwen Verdon and her mother perform together.

Additional Resources:

The Vault

Additional Chicago Footage

Chita: A Memoir by Chita Rivera

In this episode, Marsha Bagwell tells us about her time in the original cast of Chicago (1975) as the standby for Matron Mama Morton and Mary Sunshine. Marsha became Gwen Verdon's personal assistant during the production and was privy to many private conversations regarding the show. She shares unparalleled insight on Bob Fosse's process, Gwen Verdon's generosity, and the quirks and personalities of the entire cast.

The Vault

Additional Chicago Footage

In this episode, Lenora Nemetz discusses working with Bob Fosse as the standby for both Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera in Chicago (1975). She recalls going on for Gwen as "Roxie" during the out-of-town try-out without any rehearsals. Lenora also took over the role "Velma" full time after Chita left the show and Ann Reinking joined as Roxie.

Additional Resources:

The Vault Blog Posts

⁠Chicago History YouTube Playlist⁠