Hello, this is Mizuki from the team. I had the chance to see the Broadway musical Chicago, starring Ryoko Yonekura in her return engagement after two years. For those who have never heard of her, Ryoko Yonekura is a well-known actress in Japan, and our team is from Japan, hence the thrill.
From July 1 to July 14, 2019, she appeared for a two-week limited run as Roxie Hart. I went on opening night, full of excitement, and here is my report.
Table of Contents
About Chicago (special engagement starring Ryoko Yonekura)
The show is also famous as a proving ground where the lead roles change hands frequently. Many performers have grown into major stars after taking on this stage. It may be one reason Yonekura has returned to the role of Roxie three times.
If you review the plot and highlights in advance, you will enjoy the performance even more. See the detailed page below.
This engagement plays at the Ambassador Theatre
Ambassador Theatre
Our office is about a ten minute walk away, so we often guide guests to the venue. During our July visit, exterior construction partially covered the signature marquee, but the theater’s outer walls displayed photos of past casts in striking rows.
Address: 219 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
For the theater’s history, interior, and seating layout, see the guide below.
From our ticketing experience, we received a high volume of inquiries not only from travelers from Japan but also from Japanese people living in the US. Seeing an artist take on a global stage always feels inspiring.
Front row center in the orchestra
How to read the ticket: ORCHC BB 112
Row BB (front row), seat 112
We usually do not recommend the very front row because you often have to tilt your head up the whole time, but Chicago is a rare exception.
In most houses, the orchestra plays in a pit and the stage deck sits higher, but in Chicago the band is onstage and the playing level is lower. Even the front row works beautifully here, putting the action right in front of you.
Meeting Ryoko Yonekura up close stage-door experience
Of course we headed to the stage door. Knowing many fans would be waiting, we ran out immediately after the show, but…
After about 30 minutes, Yonekura finally came right in front of us, but the crowd surged and it became impossible to reach her for a signature.
If you want an autograph, we strongly suggest stepping out during the curtain call to secure a spot behind the barricade on the sidewalk.
Click images to enlarge
Post-show impressions of Chicago starring Ryoko Yonekura
Some guests asked whether Yonekura performs entirely in English. She does, and while people might not immediately picture it from her screen work, years of ballet training show in her physicality, and she sings and dances with precision.
Chicago’s costumes reveal plenty of skin and can be daring. Yonekura performed in a striking black dress with a deep open back and carried it with ease.
Yonekura plays Roxie, not Velma
The show centers on two unforgettable women, Velma and Roxie. Roxie, who has killed her lover, comes across as a charming and slightly dangerous innocent, whereas Velma, a former star, projects strength and swagger.
In the film version, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Velma and Renee Zellweger plays Roxie.
Given Yonekura’s strong, steely image in some roles, you might expect her to fit Velma better. Onstage, though, her comic timing, expressive face, and agile movement made for a terrific Roxie. Without comparison to anyone else, her more petite frame also heightened Roxie’s appeal. It was a reminder of how versatile she is.
Her English shows hard-won craft
As someone who learned English later, I know how challenging pronunciation can be. Compared with some native performers, a few sounds occasionally had a non-native color, but the comedic timing was spot on, and the audience laughed at every punchline.
There are lines with a bit of regional accent by design for Roxie’s character, and she delivered those with clarity. It felt clear that a huge amount of focused work went into this engagement.
A few touches unique to this engagement
Minor spoilers: one line describing the crime scene included a reference to wearing a kimono to check the front door, and there was a deep, kneeling bow gesture at another point. These touches, while brief, nodded to the performer’s background in ways that felt playful and memorable.
Whether those choices came from Yonekura or the creative team, they mark this run within the show’s long history.
Also read our standard Chicago review
We focused here on Yonekura’s engagement, but we also have a separate, in-depth guide to the regular production with highlights, how to enjoy the theater, and money-saving tips. We recommend reading it alongside this report.
Broadway Musical Discount Tickets – On Sale Now!
Find the best Broadway ticket deals right here – faster, cheaper, and backed by local expertise. Get ready to experience the magic of Broadway!
- Get discount tickets easily with instant booking
- The most detailed musical guides and reviews
- Dedicated support throughout your Broadway experience
