Amra-Faye Wright: 16 Roxies and 1 Velma (Me!) in Chicago
About the author:
Amra-Faye Wright is having a heck of a summer. The South African triple-threat with a shock of platinum hair and legs that go on for days is playing Velma Kelly in the mega-hit Chicago. That part is no surprise—in addition to her numerous stints in the Broadway production, Wright has played the merry murderess in the West End, Johannesburg and Cape Town as well as European and U.K. tours and both tenth anniversary productions (in New York and London). Yes, Velma’s silver buckle shoes fit her perfectly. So how is this summer different? Well, the long-running hit, which is always a star-magnet, is awash in new headliners. The one constant? Yep, Wright. Here, the actress muses about her numerous (and we mean numerous) co-stars.
Consider an ever-changing landscape: Is it the scenery that moves or the person observing it? When asked what it’s like to be a “constant” in Chicago as Velma Kelly in an ever-revolving roster of Roxies, Billys and Mamas, I really had to think about it. Am I standing still and everyone’s rushing by me? Or am I the one on the move?
To a large extent, I have been the one on the move, I have played this role in six countries, and have bounced back and forth across the Atlantic for some time now. However, since the start of my current contract on Broadway in February of this year, I have played with three Billys (Tom Wopat, Tom Hewitt and Brent Barrett), five Mamas (Carol Woods, Sofia Vergara, LaVon Fisher-Wilson, Chandra Wilson and Roz Ryan) and five Roxies (Melora Hardin, Charlotte d’Amboise, Bryn Dowling, Bonnie Langford and Samantha Harris)—and that’s not even counting understudies!
Over the years, I have played opposite approximately 16 Roxies. But let me just put this in perspective: While playing either Roxie or Mama, Charlotte D’Amboise, Roz Ryan and Carol Woods have had their fair share of Velmas as well—15 in all. Wow! [Producers] Barry and Fran Weissler sure know how to keep a show running! I am grateful for that.
When casting stars in Chicago, the role choices are usually Roxie, Billy or Mama, as the physicality demanded of Velma is probably more challenging to cast. (Except of course, for Roxies like Charlotte d’Amboise, who could dance the socks off Velma!) I do believe that one needs to have a certain quality of knowing worldliness in order to play Velma effectively. That quality has to come from being a certain age or having lived life at double speed. Or both? Well, that takes some doing.
My journey from a small farm in South Africa (yes, I had a farm in Africa!) to Broadway has not been conventional, to say the least. There are very few things I haven’t tried in and outside of show business. I have dabbled in most genres of the entertainment industry. I was bathed in ignorance for most of my journey, which allowed me to be fearless and jump headlong into the next adventure. (I’ve noticed that the more you realize what you don’t know, the more fearful you become of failure!)
My erratic lifestyle has not always been a happy solution, and regrets... I’ve had a few. But can I stop? No! And now I find myself with a Green Card in the greatest city on Earth and adoring every minute of it—except for the fact that my husband (the drummer for the Brit Rock band OSWALD) lives in the U.K. Nevertheless, I do feel like I might want to grow a root or two here. But then you know what they say: “If you want to make God laugh, make plans!”
So, getting back to what it's like to be a semi-constant factor in a rotisserie of Roxies… Obviously, every new actor brings a new point of view, and I have to say, I relish the opportunity to have a fresh take on making the scenes work. A change is as good as a holiday, and what a joy to meet new and sometimes seemingly unlikely folk on stage—bringing new stuff with which we can play. It does keep our musical director, Leslie Stifelman, and the dance captains busy-busy, and from a purely a technical point of view, it can sometimes be challenging. But from an audience perspective, it’s an opportunity to return to the musical again and again.
After all, they want to see the Billy they love, a brand new Roxie or their favorite Velma. And that Velma is kicking higher and higher and now adding somersaults to one of her numbers. Yeah, and could her hair get any blonder? Consider it part of the ever-changing Chicago landscape… and all that jazz.
