The Chicago 50th Anniversary at 54 Below – DO40’s Biggest Event Ever!

Megan VanWaus
Jun 22
5 min read

Updated: Aug 24

How Many Times Can We Say “You Had to Be There?!”

(Or be there by joining DO40 as a card-carrying, dues-paying member to view our Members Only page of videos from panels and performances!)

Original Chicago cast members sit in a row on stage at 54 Below, dressed in elegant black, raising one arm in unison during a seated number, with the Dancers Over 40 banner behind them. — **The Cell Block Tango Ladies from the original production**: Standby **Candace Tovar**, dance alternate **Monica Tiller**, **Candy Brown**, **Lenora Nemetz** (standby for Gwen and Chita), **Cheryl Clark**, and **Michon Peacock**.

Well, this was the biggest event in DO40 history. So good, we did it twice—and sold out twice in one night! Never before in the annals of DO40 history has that happened. DO40 toiled behind the scenes for over a year to prepare for this, laying the groundwork for DO40 members—CHICAGO veterans all—to come on board from the East Coast to the West.

We made a concerted effort to include the current revival cast and were pleased that the Verdon/Fosse Legacy provided dancers as well, showcasing CHICAGO past, present, and future (one of the V/F dancers is set to begin his first touring company of CHICAGO this fall!). That’s what we do, that’s what we’re here for—to preserve our History, Legacy, and Lives while paying it forward to the next generation.

At the same time, we’re fostering social and interactive bonds among all our creative artists and encouraging continued creativity and participation. Our members have taught classes, written books, plays, musicals, cabaret acts, and more. We provide large and small events to bring our members together—whether in person or online—where we reach a wider swath of our community.

This Event: Chicago 50th Anniversary

James Naughton speaks at 54 Below during the Chicago 50th Anniversary event, while original cast members perform with bright pink feather fans, adding flair to the classic number. — **Original Revival Billy Flynn** James Naughton, with original cast members **Candace Tovar, Michon Peacock, Cheryl Clark**, and **Candy Brown**. Musical director **Michael Lavine** on the 88s.

This event—if you hadn’t heard (!!)—was a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of CHICAGO: past, present, and future. We honored Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, and Ann Reinking, with original and revival cast members, hosted by Golden Globe nominee and former revival Roxie Hart, Marilu Henner.

Performers and participants included original cast members Candy Brown, Cheryl Clark, Michon Peacock, Gene Foote, Gary Gendell, Candace Tovar, Marsha Bagwell, original standby for Mary McCarty, Monica Tiller, original dance alternate, and Lenora Nemetz, original standby for Roxie and Velma, and a Velma replacement in the Broadway company. Also on hand were original Broadway revival members James Naughton, David Sabella, Mindy Cooper Grenke, and Michelle M. Robinson, along with Gregory Butler, Melora Hardin, Paige Davis, Dylis Croman, Jeff Gorti, Michael Sirrotto, and Kristen Faith Oei, and special guests Lee Roy Reams, Javier Muñoz, Fred Barton, and Michael-Demby Cain.

From the Verdon/Fosse Legacy: dancers Coleen Underriner and Jake Siffert. Also in attendance: Peter Talbert (Ann Reinking’s husband).

DO40 has produced many Fosse/Verdon events over the past 20 years, including The Women of Fosse, The Men of Fosse, I’m Not Lola, The Verdon/Fosse Legacy, and the 40th Anniversary of Bob Fosse’s DANCIN’. DO40 is proud to preserve the History, Legacy, and Lives of all the wonderful dancers and theatrical artists in our community.

Back at 54 Below

This was Dancers Over 40’s second foray at 54 Below, where many DO40 members have performed at other events and benefits. DO40 is known for giving back to the community—especially Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, where we have raised over $60,000 at the BC/EFA annual flea market over the past 17 years.

DO40’s dance concerts have also benefited BC/EFA, the Anti-Violence Project, the Entertainment Community Fund, and Project Achieve/NY Blood Center and Columbia University’s HIV Vaccine Trials Unit. This is only the second benefit for the organization itself in over... 30 years.

So Many Friends (and Theatrical Family) in the Audience

A sultry performance unfolds on stage at 54 Below, with a singer in front and backup dancers dressed in black hats and sheer costumes, channeling signature Fosse style. — Deleted song **“No”** from *Chicago*, performed by original standby for Mama Morton **Marsha Bagwell**, with Fosse dancers **Michael Kubala, Jake Siffert**, and **Colleen Underriner**.

DO40 members in attendance included Christine Reisner, Joshua Ellis, Sharla Herbert, Joe Ahumada, John Gilvey (author of the upcoming two-volume biography of Gwen Verdon), Virginia Seidel, Julie Pars Cadenhead, Daphne Foreman, Susan Sigrist, Steven Reed, Sue Samuels, Kurt Peterson, Advisory Board member Lori Tan Chinn, Board members Leni Anders, Sharon Wendrow, Patrick McCarthy, Lawrence Leritz, Sasha Spielvogel, and Ken Bloom.

Other friends of DO40 included Claudia Perry, Michelle Bombacie, Lisa Biagini, Emerson Valentina of Mental Health Broadway, producers of the CHICAGO revival Fran and Barry Weissler, Ben Vereen, Mike Paleos, Karen Kawamoto, John Bonelli, and Jorge Benitez from Project Achieve and Columbia University’s HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Nikki Feirt Atkins of the American Dance Machine, Joe Lanteri of STEPS, Rosie Bentinck from the Chita Rivera family... and so many, many more familiar faces! We were also thrilled to see new faces and people eager to join DO40.

The Team

This special event was produced by DO40 in collaboration with podcast wunderkind Charles Kirsch (on his way to Harvard this fall!). Michael Lavine was the musical director. The show was directed by CHICAGO revival alums and DO40 members Stephanie Pope-Lofgren and assistant director Mamie Duncan-Gibbs. Also on board for assistance: Lacy Darryl Philips and Michael DiFonzo.

The Highlights

Cast members perform a high-energy number at 54 Below, with Marilu Henner, Lenora Nemetz, and Paige Davis at the front, joined by dancers in black costumes mid-choreography, hands raised dramatically. — **Lenora Nemetz** and **Paige Davis** lead *All That Jazz* with **Colleen Underriner, Michael Kubala, Kristen Faith Oei, Michael Scirrotto, Jake Siffert, Jeff Gorti**, and **Michelle M. Robinson**.

Of course, the stars were our nine original CHICAGO cast members: Candy Brown, Cheryl Clark, Gene Foote, Gary Gendell, Lenora Nemetz, Michon Peacock, Monica Tiller, and Candace Tovar, performing All I Care About is Love, I Am My Own Best Friend, All That Jazz, and a short panel moderated by host Marilu Henner.

We also featured several rare and cut songs from the show, including:

“No,” performed by Mama Morton understudy Marsha Bagwell (with a Fosse-inspired trio to back her up)
“Ten Percent,” performed by Fred Barton
The original Roxie monologue and song, performed by Melora Hardin
“I Move On,” from the movie soundtrack, performed by David Sabella

We honored our creative artists with tributes:

“Spiderwoman” by Javier Muñoz for Chita Rivera
“A Little Brains” (from Damn Yankees) by Marilu Henner for Gwen Verdon
“Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries” by Michael-Demby Cain for Bob Fosse

We also showcased a video performance of Me and My Baby/Roxie’s Strut by Ann Reinking at Wolf Trap Farm Park, and featured Dylis Croman and Gregory Butler reminiscing about how she changed their lives.

DO40 member and 54 Below regular Lee Roy Reams shared heartfelt stories of his work with Jerry Orbach, Gwen, and Chita. Those tributes alone could have been a show of their own!

A Fundraising Success

We raised $2,780 through ads and silent auction mementos, including:

An original 1973 CHICAGO script from OC member Paul Solen (donated by DO40 president John Sefakis)
A 1974 PIPPIN script owned by board member Lawrence Merritt
Our All I Care About is Love pink fans from the night’s show, autographed by the cast

The Pitch (You Knew It Was Coming)

Four women from the original Chicago cast perform a vocal number at 54 Below, standing in front of the piano, backed by rich purple lighting and the venue’s ornate gold detailing. — **"I Am My Own Best Friend"** / **"Baby Dream Your Dream"**, *Chicago* and *Sweet Charity* duets by **Lenora Nemetz, Michon Peacock, Candy Brown**, and **Paige Davis**.

We simply cannot continue as an organization without the support of—you guessed it—card-carrying, dues-paying members. Our DO40 Facebook page has over 100,000 followers—but most are not members. Our YouTube channel, now nearly 20 years old, has over 1 million views.

We’re in the process of launching a new, more accessible website while keeping our current one archived and linked for reference (and for member-only videos!). We're doing as much as a mostly volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit can do with limited resources.

50th Anniversary Chicago Show (Members Only)

Thanks to our big-ticket events and online presence, we’ve built strong name recognition. So many people think they’re members when they’re not. But we need to translate that visibility into financial support in order to survive, thrive, and present more stories, preserve more history, and bring together our creative artists in an environment where they feel seen, respected, and admired.

End pitch!