Musical ‘Chicago' in its 50th anniversary at the Arsht has Miami stories
Michael Vita remembers when the musical 'Chicago' opened on Broadway. He remembers because he was there as part of the dance ensemble.
The former Miami Beach resident was there to see Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart and Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly.
He was there when it premiered at the 42nd Street Theater.
He was there when they cut a number from the production, one that would have given him a speaking part. 'I was to play the prosecutor and it was a nice scene with Gwen. It introduced a song that was cut called 'Ten Percent.' It was superfluous so they cut that and they cut my lines going into it.'
Needless to say, he was disappointed.
Vita was also there in August of 1975 when leading lady Verdon left the show for five weeks for throat surgery and Liza Minnelli became her understudy.
'They announced at the beginning of the show that Gwen Verdon would not be in the performance and the audience did a disappointing 'ooooh.' And then it was announced that the role of Roxy would be played by Liza Minnelli and and when the audience heard that they went wild,' he said.
There are 50 years of history in the Broadway musical 'Chicago' and with the Broadway national touring production coming to Miami's Arsht Center, the musical's history, past and present, has Miami connections.
Vita, now 84 and a South Floridian who lives at the Court of Palm Aire in Pompano Beach, is proud to have been a part of Broadway history.
'The theater never leaves you,' he said.
But 'Chicago' wasn't his first Broadway show.
Growing up in the Bronx, he began performing while attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. 'I was 17 years old, and a friend called to tell me they were auditioning for a new show 'Bye Bye Birdie.' '
'Birdie' opened on Broadway in 1960 and starred Dick Van Dyke and Rivera, who he would work with again in 'Chicago.'
And almost a decade before he'd dance with Verdon in 'Chicago,' he'd be cast in the ensemble of 'Sweet Charity' in 1966, where she was the lead.
Vita says in all of his time as a Broadway performer he was a feature player. 'I never wanted to be a star; that was too much pressure.'
He left Broadway and the theater at age 50 to 'try something else,' moving to San Francisco to work with AIDS organizations.
While in New York, he helped in the creation of the Equity Fights Aids Committee to 'assist and support [Actors' Equity Association] members afflicted with AIDS.' This then became Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
He's never given up the urge or the love to entertain.
'I do two performances a year in the Fall and in the Spring here at the Court of Palm Aire. I don't sing Broadway showtunes, though, I sing songs that have meaning to me. There are about 125 people that come and it's amazing.'
The Miami connection for the original 'Chicago' starts with Vita and comes full circle with Christopher Cline as the final performances of the current national Broadway touring production for the 50th anniversary year concludes at the Adrienne Arsht Center The show opens on Tuesday, June 17 and runs through Sunday, June 22.
Cline, a University of Miami graduate, has been with the production for its 2024-25 season of the 50th anniversary tour of the show.
Originally from New Jersey, he graduated from University of Miami 'exactly two years ago' with a BFA in musical theater.
'I'm in the ensemble and I also play Sergeant Fogarty and this is my national tour debut.'
Just after graduation from UM, he joined the cast of 'Mamma Mia!' on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. 'I was on the ship about seven or eight months but worked for Royal Caribbean for a year on land,' he says, adding that Royal Caribbean's studios for rehearsals are on the campus of Florida International University.
'I was happy to be in Miami. There are people from all over the world in those studios. I have friends I've made from just about every country,' says Cline.
Being a part of the 50th anniversary tour of 'Chicago' has been an experience for the performer, he says, on many levels.
'There's maybe an additional responsibility and a bit of pressure to really honor the show, but I also remember that I am just a small piece in this large puzzle that was created much before I was even here.'
Cline believes that the show is still playing on Broadway because it's 'timeless.'
'There's one moment I hear every night in the show that always kind of makes me chuckle to myself and it's when Roxy and Velma sing, 'In 50 years or so, it's going to change, you know.' And the irony of it is that it's been 50 years and 'Chicago' hasn't' changed. And I think that it will be around for another 50 years; it will resonate with a whole different generation.'
If you go:
WHAT: 'Chicago'
WHEN: 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 17 through Saturday, June 21. 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21 and 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22.
WHERE: Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
COST: $41 to $182 (includes fees)
INFORMATION: (305) 949-6722 and arshtcenter.org
ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don't miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com.
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