Amra-Faye Wright has played the role of Velma Kelly on five continents and is as savvy as they get when it comes to Chicago, Broadway’s longest-running musical revival (it celebrated its official opening night on November 14th, 1996, to be exact). In fact, Wright’s love affair with the international hit dates back to when she was a teenager living with her family in a small town in South Africa.
Amra-Fay Wright keeps Velma vital in Broadway's Chicago. Photo: Jeremy Daniel
“When I was 17, I came across the songs from the original production, so I had been singing them for years by the time I first saw the London production in 2000,” recalls Wright. Barely a year later, in 2001, she joined the London cast as Velma and by 2005 found herself shuttling between London’s West End and Broadway in the role.
“The London production [it closed in 2012 after a 15-year run] was rather pretty, whereas the Broadway show was more gritty and earthy with an older cast, which makes sense since it reflects more life experience. I loved that,” says Wright.
With her lanky limbs, white-blond hair, and masterful way of putting across Bob Fosse’s iconic choreography—lovingly revived and polished by Fosse protégé Ann Reinking for the revival—Wright is inching up on cult status among Chicago fans. Certainly she ranks among the show’s top Velmas, having played the role opposite a formidable list of celebrity Roxies, including Reinking, Christie Brinkley, Rumer Willis, and Brandy Norwood.
For those unfamiliar with the Broadway script—or the film version starring Renee Zellweger as Roxie and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma—Chicago is set in the 1920s and kicks off with shameless vixen-housewife Roxie offing her lover when he tries to end their affair. From there it’s all media frenzy as she becomes the headline attraction of Cook County’s Jail’s femme fatale rogues’ gallery, stealing the media spotlight—and A-list lawyer Billy Flynn (Jaime Camil)—away from the prison’s star murderess, a severely disgruntled Velma.
“I think the problem with Velma’s character is you’ve got to find the humanity and vulnerability in someone bold and brassy and seemingly in control,” says Wright, whose long involvement as Velma (including an eight-performance week) would seemingly pose a problem when it comes to keeping the role fresh.
Even after 15 years of channeling the seductive inmate off and on Wright has never lost her fascination with the undercurrent of what makes Velma tick. “In the show, there aren’t any places where she actually reveals herself to the audience, so it’s up to me to find what lies underneath—the deeper core. I love to remember that in every performance. It’s what makes the character interesting to me,” notes Wright.
And, of course, there’s the show’s killer score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, which serves up one blockbuster number after another, including the musical’s dynamite opener, “All That Jazz,” sung by Velma.
“I love that iconic moment at the top of the show when I step off the top of the stairs and slow-walk forward,” says Wright. “No other show has that kind of grand entrance...it’s brilliant.”
Chicago is playing at Broadway’s Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St. For reservations call 212-239-6200 or visit chicagothemusical.com.
Jaime Camil: A Billy Flynn With Latin Flair
Jaime Camil, the multi-faceted Latin telenovela superstar who won over U.S. audiences as Rogelio de la Vega on The CW series Jane the Virgin, may be making his Broadway debut as Chicago’s seductively smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, but don’t think for a moment he’s “Jaime the stage musical virgin.” Back in his native Mexico City he starred in productions of West Side Story, Aladdin, Hook, and, in 2005, headed the cast of The Mambo Kings.
Camil’s entertainment resume also includes four platinum albums, 20 films (including 200 Cartas in which he starred alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda), and a serious collection of awards and nominations.
But there is one Camil caveat regarding Chicago: he’s only signed on through July 31st so you’ll want to reserve your tickets muy rápido!
Photo: Jeremy Daniel