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February 11, 2000

'Chicago' Hope

by CLARISSA CRUZ
Entertainment Weekly -- #525 Page 65

Bebe Neuwirth just can't get enough of Velma Kelly, the murderous vixen she's now playing--again--in the hit revival of "Chicago." Neuwirth won a Tony for the show, which opened in 1996. "I just loce the show, and I was anxious to come out and dance some more," says Neuwirth, who'll be in "Chicago" at least through February 23. "One night on "Cheers," and more people knew me for that than for all the theater I had done, but I'm a dancer first." The producers are dancing, too, since Neuwirth's return made ticket sales nearly double. The 1920's musical isn't the only one benefitting from TV-star replacements: Former "Melrose Place" doctor Jack Wagner (no stranger to on-screen split personalities) dons the black cape in "Jekyll & Hyde" through April. Do not, however, count on Susan Lucci to take over in "Annie Get Your Gun" when Bernadette Peters hangs up her hat this summer. The show's publicist denies rumors that Lucci (who stepped in for Peters during the holidays) will take over permanently. Lucci's publicist, however, says the star is still in talks with producers. What a soap opera!