Interview with Nancy Lemenager on Playing Velma
Ever since I saw NEVER GONNA DANCE, a flop musical version of the movie musical SWINGTIME, almost five years ago, I have been quite a fan of Noah Racey and Nancy Lemenager, who played the Fred and Ginger roles and have both gone on to other major projects. We spoke with Nancy, who recently joined the Broadway company of CHICAGO as Velma.
Matt: So how did you get involved with “Chicago”?
Nancy: I just auditioned this spring. They asked me to start in mid-July, and then Mya broke her foot. And they asked “can you start this week?.” Everything got bumped up. I wasn’t actually supposed to start in the show till about right now. But it was good to get in a little early.
Matt: What was it like to enter the show so suddenly?
Nancy: It was shocking at first. I was in the middle of assistant choreographing “Camelot” at Lincoln Center. I was trying to figure out whether I could rehearse “Chicago” at the same time, and it turned out to be a quick process for “Camelot.” I was able to juggle the schedule and it worked out great. They were very accommodating. We split the days: one day in the morning, one day in the afternoon. It was a couple of busy weeks.
Matt: What is the rehearse process like for a replacement Velma?
Nancy: I think that it’s based on everybody’s needs. For some people that have never done a show before, it’s different. We rehearsed for two and a half weeks. They taught me the blocking, choreography and music. It was a lot of one on one time, and then they added the cast. Before I knew it, I was on.
Matt: Is this your first time in “Chicago”?
Nancy: No. I’ve actually done two smaller regional productions. One where I played Velma, and another as Roxie. The choreography and the book were different, but I was very familiar with the material. I just had to learn the original choreography.
Matt: How does playing Velma compare with Roxie?
Nancy: They’re similar in a lot of ways and different in a lot of ways. It’s different types of enjoyment. Whenever Velma comes out, she gets a great number. Starting the show with “All That Jazz” and on the elevator is fantastic. “Cell Block Tango.” Singing “Class” with Mama. Roxie, to me, is more of a journey. She kind of figures out herself throughout the play and learns a lot as she goes. And she gets to be a little bit more cunning, more colorful than Velma in a lot of ways. My favorite part about Roxie is the monologue. With roles written for dancers, you don’t get that kind of opportunity these days. They don’t exist. That monologue is pretty spectacular.
Matt: What do you think makes your portrayal of Velma unique?
Nancy: It’s hard to make a comparison because you can’t be really objective about yourself. I try to be as truthful as I can to Velma’s real needs and wants and dreams. And not try to be an idea of who this woman is, but the fact that she really has these desires and dreams of being on top and making it on top and staying on top. She starts the show on top and it slowly gets taken away from her. It’s about how do I get that back? When you’re on top you have no place else to go but down.
Matt: How does the show’s choreography compare with say “Movin’ Out
Nancy: Well, in a lot of ways, physically it’s easier. “Movin’ Out” was the most different. The most athletic and strenuous, even though I was only doing shows a week. In terms of physical stamina, it is not as different as some of the other roles I’ve done. So let’s say stylistically, my body enjoys it a little bit more. The subtly of it, the nuance. For instance, “I Can’t Do It Alone” is an acting piece. Trying to really convince Roxie that she should do this act with you. I really approach it from an acting point of view. And it’s just great to do original fosse choreography. I was not around in his day.
Matt: How long will be with "Chicago"?
Nancy: Right now, I am scheduled to be there till August 13.
Matt: Do you have any other shows coming up afterwards?
Nancy: Not at this moment. A few things are in the works. Nothing solid yet.
Matt: Would you consider doing more work as a choreographer?
Nancy: Possibly. I always keep that door open. It’s not something I’m actively pursuing. I like to keep different options open. I’m currently teaching a movement class with the Shakespeare Lab. I think that the thing I love the best is to keep things mixed up. Straight acting, teaching, musicals. It keeps things fun and fresh.
