WELL DID YOU EVAH?!

Coming soon to the Great White Way...first Usher, then...Tori Spelling?! From the crazy to the mind boggling coming to you live from my blog. Does something seem, oh I don't know, a little off kilter to you? Whether you are a fan of musical theatre or not, the idea of Usher and Spelling on Broadway doesn't quite sound right. Weirder still would be if Spelling and Usher made their respective Broadway debuts playing opposite each other. That probably won't happen...but you never know. These days, it seems like anyone who is anyone has made their "Broadway debut" in Chicago: The Musical from Alan Thicke and Wayne Brady to Rita Wilson and Melanie Griffith, everyone has been in this stinkin' show. If Spelling truly makes her "Broadway debut" in Chicago, this must mean those crazy Weisslers have truly hit the bottom of the barrel in terms of their casting of "mainstream" talent. Otherwise, why else would Spelling of all people wind up on Broadway? I never knew she could sing and obviously she can't act (did anyone actually see So NoTORIous) so why put someone with little or no talent in a genre that is all about hard working talented actors? Again, whether you're a fan of the theatre (musicals or not) you have to know that the hardest working (paid) actors are those who make their living performing on the stage. That kind of work is not for lightweights (even freaking Oscar-winning Julia Roberts was amazed at the stamina it took to act for the stage day in and day out when she made her Broadway debut earlier this year in Three Days of Rain). For ALL our sakes, lets just hope that the next bit of casting news will not indicate that...Paris Hilton will soon be making her Broadway debut in Chicago (for the record, let's hope not)!

Is Tori Spelling Chicago-Bound?
By Andrew Gans
17 Jul 2006

Tori Spelling may be headed to Broadway.

Variety reports that Spelling will likely play Roxie Hart in the New York company of Kander and Ebb's Chicago. The industry paper says actress Spelling — best known for her work on "Beverly Hills 90210" — is "on hold for now, but remains a strong possibility" for a stint as the merry murderess.

Spelling would join a long list of actresses who have played Roxie on Broadway, including current Roxie Rita Wilson as well as Brooke Shields, Robin Givens, Charlotte d'Amboise, Gretchen Mol, Melanie Griffith and Ann Reinking; the latter originated the role for this revival.

Tori Spelling played Donna Martin on "Beverly Hills 90210" and can currently be seen in the TV series "SoNotorious." Her film credits include "Scary Movie 2," "House of Yes," "Trick" and, in a role parodying herself, "Scream 2." Chicago would mark Spelling's Broadway debut.

Chicago currently features Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Rita Wilson as Roxie Hart, Obba Babatunde as Billy Flynn, Kevin Chamberlin as Amos Hart, Lillias White as Matron "Mama" Morton and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Grammy Award winner Usher will begin a six-week stint as Billy Flynn on Aug. 22.

Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.

Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 215 West 49th Street.