It’s Sunday morning! Why are you waking me up?
Carol Woods
A quick game of Ms. Pac Man to start the day – oh yeah!
Carol Woods
I love Ms. Pac Man, when it works properly. It gets frustrating when these little machines that I buy on Amazon.com break down. I don't like it!
Carol Woods
A wholesome breakfast. Vegetable soup. Mmm good. Ugh!
Carol Woods
A mouth full of start-your-morning pills and vitamins.
Carol Woods
Look at that face… don't I look happy?
Carol Woods
I see progress! You don’t get to see the part where I’m in the shower. It ain't that kind of party!
Carol Woods
Okay, let's hustle… let's go to work!
Carol Woods
See, I made it to the car and I'm on my way to my wonderful job at the Ambassador Theatre. Chicago yay!
Carol Woods
On my way into the historic Midtown Tunnel!
Carol Woods
Finally out of the tunnel – Manhattan!
Carol Woods
Still driving – now stuck in traffic. It’s times like this I need a chauffeur!
Carol Woods
Look! There it is – the Ambassador Theatre, home of the marvelous and fantastic Chicago. Just look at that marquee. It is so exciting – I love this show!
Carol Woods
I'm in the parking garage with my guys, José and José. I'm getting ready to go into the theater now.
Carol Woods
Backstage! My wonderful Bianca Marroquin plays Roxie. We say hello at her dressing room door … on my way upstairs to my dressing room.
Carol Woods
This is my wonderful dresser. His name is Rick Meadows but I call him “Big Daddy.” When he’s not dressing me, he’s also the Managing Director at the Mabel Mercer Foundation.
Carol Woods
Time to start the makeup. And my ritual makeup prayer: “Lord, we need to change this face into a Diva Face! We need it right now, Lord! Right now! Right now! Amen!”
Carol Woods
One of my fabulous covers, the amazing Donna Marie Asbury (who also covers Velma Kelly) stops by my dressing room for a quick hug, because she loves me and I love her.
Carol Woods
Me and my dressing roommate (and my other fabulous Mama cover) Nicole Bridgewater. She’s so cray-cray and I love her!
Carol Woods
My head is not that big … but my hair is! This is our hair & wig supervisor, Jenna Robinson, trying to get it all contained.
Carol Woods
Finally! Mama’s almost ready. Almost.
Carol Woods
Me and Big Daddy, getting me ready to go on for my Opening Number.
Carol Woods
Intermission with Mahlon Kruse, one of our intrepid stage managers. In my job description, I am (apparently) required to carry my stage managers from their office to the calling desk before the second act.
Carol Woods
Matinee’s over. Wig’s already been snatched off to get prepped for tonight. I’m on my way up those stairs to the dressing room again. Can I do it?
Carol Woods
Dinner break… or naptime? Time to enjoy some take-out egg foo young. Also makes a comfy pillow.
Carol Woods
Here we go again! Me and Jenna. I supply my hair and she supplies her expertise.
Carol Woods
Sunday night! And another hug from Donna Marie.
Carol Woods
Mama and her Kitty… Melissa Rae Mahon (Go-To-Hell Kitty).
Carol Woods
Brent Barrett and R. Lowe make a “Mama Sandwich” backstage! I love them both so much.
Carol Woods
But I love my Stage Managers too! And David Hyslop and Mindy Farbrother are two of the absolute best ever.
Carol Woods
Mama and the Maestro! I get a quick hug from Leslie Stifelman before we start Act Two.
Carol Woods
Act Two is moments away! Ryan Worsing and I wait in the wings… waiting for the cue…
Carol Woods
…although sometimes that cue takes longer than usual, so Ryan puts on a private show while we wait.
Carol Woods
Ready for my next entrance with the amazing Amra-Faye Wright. She’s sexy, she’s talented and she’s hilarious! I wish you all could see some of her backstage shenanigans in between scenes. They’re priceless.
Carol Woods
Life imitating art, backstage: "When you're good to Mama…!" Let's go sing our duet, Amra. Get out your notebooks, kids – it's time for some "Class."
Carol Woods
Mama from the wings… "Whatever happened to fair dealings…"
Carol Woods
"…and pure ethics…"
Carol Woods
"…and nice manners?" Whatever, indeed. This number always gets a laugh!
Carol Woods
And we're done! One more curtain call.
Carol Woods
Show some love for our amazing Chicago orchestra!
Carol Woods
And that's it, folks. Now it's time to head home and catch some z's. See you at Chicago!
Carol Woods
*
The Broadway production also stars Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Olivier Award nominee Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn and Paul C. Vogt as Amos.
The revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. The musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in November 1996 where it remained through February 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre on Feb. 11, 1997, and played that house through Jan. 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre, its current home, on Jan. 29, 2003.
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.
The Ambassador Theatre is located at 219 W. 49th Street.
Visit ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
