Review by Ron Fassler . . .
The first glimpse that this was going to be an out of the ordinary night at 54 Below honoring the 50th anniversary of the original production of Chicago was that everyone was handed a program before being seated. A program at 54 Below? Is this famed cabaret spot becoming a theater for one night? Well, yes and no. It wasn’t your usual program containing bios of the performers on hand but instead was a through overview of the work of the non-profit “Dancers Over 40 . . . and Friends” which presented this reunion. Co-produced by the charity’s president John Sefakis and Charles Kirsch, the teenager with the theatrical blood of George Abbott coursing through his veins, this was a huge swing at the fences to try and get as many returnees as possible from Chicago’s 1975 and 1996 Broadway versions, or as many that could squeeze onto the tiny 54 Below stage. And as in any ballgame, there were a couple of whiffs and misses.
Due to Chicago playing a few blocks south—and still going strong in its 29th year—allowed just two songs to be performed in full (apparently, these are the rules). This was partially solved by a verse of two from some songs as teasers, leaving the rest of the night for spoken reminiscences and numbers that were either cut from the original or never saw the light of day outside of rehearsal—or Fred Ebb’s apartment. Sadly, seven songs sung in full left a poor ratio of music for a 90-minute cabaret, already long by 54 Below standards. It fell to testimonials as ways of honoring (as advertised) Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, and Ann Reinking—Chicago’s principal creative forces who are all no longer with us. Hearing them delivered by dear friends and associates was fine, but a cabaret show it does not make. And since the choice of what to say was up to each person (this wasn’t a scripted evening), there was a tendency for emotions to overflow leaving certain speeches to go on a skoosh too long. Halfway through, when eight original cast members sat in seats onstage to tell stories, it led to weak on-the-spot improvisations. It would have been better appreciated if a moment for each of them had been set in advance. As it turned out, not all eight were even given the chance to speak.
Serving as host, Marilu Henner brought a sparkling energy to the proceedings. Though not associated with the ’75 original, she was the first Roxie replacement for Ann Reinking after she left the ’96 revival (both met in 1974 as ensemble members in Over Here at the Shubert and it was Reinking who cast her). Henner was joined from time to time by Chicago-ites like Dylis Cromer, Gregory Butler, Marsha Bagwell, and Michael-Demby Cain sharing memories. Another “testimonier” was the always scene-stealing Lee Roy Reams who took to the stage to exclaim, “What the fuck am I doing here? I had absolutely nothing to do with Chicago!”
If only two full songs from the Broadway Chicago were heard, they at least opened and closed the show with panache. James Naughton, who won a Tony for his Billy Flynn in 1996, charmed with “All I Care About Is Love,” accompanied by four of the original dancers from the 1975 original: Michon Peacock (who I saw go on for Gwen Verdon as Roxie at one of the multiple times I saw the show), Candy Brown, Cheryl Clark and Candace Tovar. Naughton was in splendid voice, excellent humor, and the women were having the time of their lives backing him up. A total winner. The other was at the very end when we got a full blast of “All That Jazz” that featured Lenora Nemetz, still belting it out with her trademark energy and gusto. The original Roxie standby, I saw her go on when she filled in superbly as Velma for a vacationing Chita Rivera. She was joined by Paige Davis, who has played Roxie off and on for a dozen years between 2004 and 2016. It was exciting to watch these veterans go through the signature moves, which included eight additional Chicago alumni in this number.
Fred Barton, David Sabella, and Melora Hardin shined brightly in their Chicago specialty songs, performed in full, immune from the intimidatingly strict rule set down at the top. Barton sang “Ten Percent,” the song for Velma’s Agent, a character cut after the Philadelphia engagement. Sabella warbled “I Move On,” used under the credits of the 2002 film, which garnered Kander & Ebb an Oscar nomination. And Hardin let loose with an early version of “Roxie” that she certainly has a done a lot of work on, as it was a well-polished and committed performance: a standout.
Directed Stephanie Pope (a Roxie and a Velma herself) with an assist from Mamie Duncan-Gibbs (a Velma), managed to keep the pace going and all the musical numbers scored. Michael Lavine was his usual ten-level best at the piano and as musical director. And even if it was nice to see Henner strut her stuff as Damn Yankees’ Lola singing “A Little Brains, A Little Talent,” this was supposed to be Chicago’s night. And Javier Munoz, always great, sang Chita Rivera’s fabulous “Where You Are,” though to what purpose? Yes, both were salutes to Gwen and Chita, but it felt like padding. When we had so many of the original Merry Murderess of the Cook County Jail ready and raring to launch into “Cell Block Tango,” our being given nothing more than the first and last line of the song was a bit of a cheat.
Oh, well, you can’t have everything. But for those who attended either the 7:00 or 9:30pm performances at 54 Below of this 50th Anniversary Concert, were at least witness so some theatre history. I may have been a teenager in 1975, but Chicago is one of those shows that takes up space in my brain that can never be shoved aside for something less tuneful or as brilliantly staged. My derby hat, as always, is off to Bob Fosse. Besides, the evening was also a chance to highlight the fine charitable work Dancers Over 40 does and to allow for many of its members to step into the spotlight again, if not for old time’s sake, then for posterity’s.
The full list of those who graciously took to the stage last evening include: Gene Foote, Gary Gendell, Mindy Cooper Grenke, Jeff Gorti, Michael Kubala, Kristen Faith Oei, Michelle M. Robinson, Michael Scirrotto, Jake Siffert, Monica Tiller, and Colleen Underriner.
“Dancers Over 40 Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Chicago” was at 54 Below, 254 W 54th Street, NY on June 18, 2025, at 7:00 and 9:30 pm. For information on Dancers Over 40, please visit https://www.dancersover40.org, and for future programming at 54, go to: www.54Below.org.
Photos by Ron Fassler.
Headline photo: James Naughton, surrounded from left to right by Candace Tovar, Michon Peacock, Cheryl Clark, and Candy Brown.
