Chicago 50 - No. 37 - Me and My Baby Strut

The first version of this number featured Gwen doing an Eddie Cantor--style number with the ensemble of men dressed as giant babies dancing behind her. In a conversation I had with Candy Brown, Michon Peacock, Lenora Nemetz, and Pamela Sousa, they said that Gwen hated that number (and they even felt they could see her discomfort in these pictures). What replaced it was "The Strut" which cut the ensemble down to two men dressed in suits and bowler hats dancing behind her. This version highlighted Gwen's dance abilities more favorably, and is what ended up in the show ultimately.

Chris Chadman (left) and Gene Foote (right) recalls that the strut was put into the show the Thursday before they opened on Broadway.

Lenora Nemetz, standby for Gwen and Chita in Chicago, talks about "Me and My Baby"

In 1985, Chicago was staged in Atlantic City, with the original sets and choreography. Chita Rivera came to play Roxie Hart instead of Velma. This footage shows Chita as Roxie in the "Me and My Baby" strut.