Christina Anthony (Photo Courtesy of Broadway In Chicago)
When actress, comedian and writer Christina Anthony hits the CIBC Theatre stage, it will truly be one of those full-circle moments, a return to the city where she honed her acting and comedic skills.
From now until March 2 at the CIBC Theatre, Anthony plays Miss Scarlet in “CLUE,” the lead role in the murder mystery comedy inspired by the board game and adapted from the 1985 film.
This East St. Louis native, who now resides in Los Angeles, got her start here in Chicago at Second City. Anthony also performed at two of the country’s most notable Black theater institutions.
“I’ve loved my time on the road, but I am so excited to come home to Chicago,” Anthony told The Chicago Defender in a recent interview. “There’s nothing like the audiences here. Working at places like the Black Ensemble Theater, ETA Creative Arts Foundation and The Second City taught me how to be funny, how to be entertaining, and how to do it quickly.”
That experience has stayed with Anthony throughout her career. Whether performing in Los Angeles, New York or on tour, she carries lessons from Chicago’s theater community. “Chicago shaped me as a performer, and I’m glad to be coming back,” she said.
The Challenge of Miss Scarlet
Anthony’s portrayal of Miss Scarlet in “CLUE” is a fresh take on a beloved character originally played by Lesley Ann Warren for a film set in 1954.
For fans of the movie, the Miss Scarlet Anthony plays is nothing like Warren’s portrayal.
“My Miss Scarlet is going to be different from the Miss Scarlet that is in the film. I’m Black. I have two Black parents and four Black grandparents, so I thought about that when I took on this role,” Anthony said.
In playing Miss Scarlet, Anthony had to imagine how a Black woman would move in the 1950s.
“She’s a madam. She’s a businesswoman, and she started her business in Washington, D.C., in the 50s,” said Anthony about her character. “How savvy do you have to be, and then, to put a funny spin on it, how conniving do you need to be?”
“But in the end, it’s a fun night, and you have to come and find out if she stays alive or if she’s a victim in a mansion.”
Anthony intentionally avoided studying the movie version of Miss Scarlet too closely. “I glanced at the film once and then vowed to never look at it again,” she says. She was empowered by the director and writer to do so, to play a real person on stage—one that real audiences can relate to.
“I hope that audiences see that there’s a place for them in this story too. There’s room for different interpretations, and I’m carving out my own space.”
Lessons from TV to Theater
From CLUE the theater production (Photo Courtesy of Broadway In Chicago).
Working in television taught Anthony many valuable lessons, but theater is a different challenge. “On TV, you do a scene for a few minutes and then go to a commercial break,” she says. “‘Clue’ is 75 minutes of running—no breaks, no cut scenes. You’re in it with the audience for the entire time. It’s fast, funny, and intense, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.”
Anthony believes “Clue” is an ideal first theater experience for audiences. “It’s family-friendly, easy to digest, and a lot of fun,” she says. “If you’ve never been to a Broadway show, this is a great place to start.”
‘Chicago Gets It Done’
Photo Provided by Broadway In Chicago
And speaking of places to start, when Anthony mentions the city that helped launch her career, she shares everything she loves about it, from the work ethic it instilled to the food.
Her favorite Chicago memories were the trips to JJ Fish & Chicken and hanging out at local lounges, especially the ones along Stony Island. “We’d go to places we had no business being,” she laughed.
“We would be begging to come in, like ‘please, please,’” recalled Anthony. “We were just out of college with no business being up in there drinking dark liquor, no business.”
Yet, in “show business,” where grit and perseverance are vital to success, she cites her training in Chicago as foundational to her success.
“When I moved to LA, somebody asked me to come to a job where I hadn’t auditioned, and I said, ‘I haven’t auditioned.’ And the guy said, ‘But you’re from Chicago. Chicago gets it done.’”
Anthony did the gig, but that saying has remained with her to this day: “Chicago gets it done.”
For More Information
What: “CLUE” (based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, written by Sandy Rustin with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price and featuring original music by Michael Holland).
Where: Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC THEATRE (18 W. Monroe St)
When: Feb. 18 – March 2
Ticket Info: Individual tickets are available by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com or any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Groups of 10+ are also on sale by calling (312) 977-1710 or by emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.
What Else: Run time 90 minutes with no intermission
Age Recommendations: The show is suitable for ages 12 and up. All persons entering the theater must have a ticket, regardless of age.
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