By Carol-Ann Rudy
While Chicago has been an 11-year-long hit, one of the longest-running musical revivals on Broadway besides Oh! Calcutta!, the criminally fun production is about to land a couple of “mobsters.” On Nov. 19, two actors from the Emmy award-winning HBO hit, The Sopranos, Aida Turturro and Vincent Pastore, will join the show. Playing at the Ambassador Theatre, the two will stay with the production through Jan. 13, 2008, according to a press announcement.
A two-time Emmy nominated actress, Turturro will assume the role of Matron “Mama” Morton and Pastore will assume the role of down-trodden husband Amos Hart. In the Sopranos, Turturro played Janice Soprano, the sister of boss Tony. Pastore played Sal “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero. For those few unfamiliar with the HBO TV series, it ended its cable television presence in June, with a loyal fan base addicted to the antics of its very human, very flawed, gangster characters.
Chicago, created by Kander and Ebb, is set in the prohibition era, and is based on an earlier play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, also called Chicago, about real crimes and criminals. The late Bob Fosse was the director and choreographer of the original production.
This will be Pastore’s first Broadway experience, although he was approached by the Chicago producers a few years ago. He turned it down at the time, busy with work in Hollywood. Now that he’s back in New York and is a homeowner in the Bronx, it is expected he’ll stay in New York and do some theater. He was involved in community theater early in his career, and this will be the first singing and dancing he’s done since then.
In an Associated Press report he said he’s preparing for the role by sleeping a lot, trying to get his body adjusted to performing at night, sleeping later and staying up later for the tough schedule he’ll be facing. He said he’s in love with the play and is looking forward to working with some great people.