Broadway triple threat Amra-Faye Wright, 55, who has been reprising the role of high-kicking murderer Velma Kelly in hit musical Chicago for 15 years, grew up loving East London’s Guild Theatre stage.
And so, next week, she will swap the bright lights of Broadway for the familiar spotlight of the Guild Theatre where she first appeared in Peter Pan as a Native American dancer when she was 10 years old.
She needs all the energy she can get for her exacting schedule of eight shows a week – including two shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
“I’ve been playing Velma for 15 years and I was certain last year would be my last in Chicago, but last week they erected a five-storey high billboard of my image in Times Square. I’m still here!” said Wright, who lives in the Big Apple with her husband, drummer Heinrich Kruse, and their two beloved French bulldogs.
And, while she is now firmly rooted in New York, she still performs in Japan regularly where she reprises Velma Kelly – in Japanese.
She may be reluctant to name-drop, but when asked about sharing a stage with tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer who has played lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical, she describes him as “the sweetest guy ever”.
“His humour was self-deprecating and quite disarming. And he was pretty good .”
Wright’s affection for the city where she first honed her craft, is evidenced by her decision to waive her fee for staging Sittin’ On Top of the World. Proceeds will be donated to the Gately Rotary Anns, which are headed up by her old school friend Angela McNamara.
“I do hope folks will come out and support them. They do such wonderful work and the audience will also have the pleasure of three of South Africa’s top musicians playing with me.”
And, once her hometown gig is done, Wright jets straight back to Broadway. “I have a number of one-woman engagements coming up as well, most notably a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.”
l Sittin' On Top of the World will be staged at the Guild Theatre at 7.45pm next Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets cost R200 and are available at Computicket and from the Guild box office. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
‘Chicago’ star brings all that jazz to Guild Theatre
And so, next week, she will swap the bright lights of Broadway for the familiar spotlight of the Guild Theatre where she first appeared in Peter Pan as a Native American dancer when she was 10 years old.
She needs all the energy she can get for her exacting schedule of eight shows a week – including two shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
“I’ve been playing Velma for 15 years and I was certain last year would be my last in Chicago, but last week they erected a five-storey high billboard of my image in Times Square. I’m still here!” said Wright, who lives in the Big Apple with her husband, drummer Heinrich Kruse, and their two beloved French bulldogs.
And, while she is now firmly rooted in New York, she still performs in Japan regularly where she reprises Velma Kelly – in Japanese.
She may be reluctant to name-drop, but when asked about sharing a stage with tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer who has played lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical, she describes him as “the sweetest guy ever”.
“His humour was self-deprecating and quite disarming. And he was pretty good .”
Wright’s affection for the city where she first honed her craft, is evidenced by her decision to waive her fee for staging Sittin’ On Top of the World. Proceeds will be donated to the Gately Rotary Anns, which are headed up by her old school friend Angela McNamara.
“I do hope folks will come out and support them. They do such wonderful work and the audience will also have the pleasure of three of South Africa’s top musicians playing with me.”
And, once her hometown gig is done, Wright jets straight back to Broadway. “I have a number of one-woman engagements coming up as well, most notably a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.”
l Sittin' On Top of the World will be staged at the Guild Theatre at 7.45pm next Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets cost R200 and are available at Computicket and from the Guild box office. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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